Five Feet Of Fury (THE HUNGER GAMES)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The silence was almost unbearable for Amy-Jean and a cool sweat had formed on the nape of her neck. It took everything in her to not constantly turn back to look at Cato, fearing any moment he might drive his massive sword straight into her unsuspecting back.

"What's it like in District 10?"

Cato's voice rang out a few metres behind her and Amy-Jean sighed, not slowing.

"It's alright." She said after a short pause, "It's dangerous work and smells like shit but it could be worse." There was a short pause, "And District 2?"

He let out an audible sigh and she heard branches crack behind her loudly,

"It's good, as long as you don't work in the stone quarries." He replied, "That's real dangerous work but other than that, we're the best, the strongest."

Amy-Jean didn't even need to turn around to know his stupid, arrogant grin was plastered all over his face. Turned towards the front she rolled her eyes, "Well, not everyone has the privilege of good housing and food." She said, "And training academies."

Cato hummed in response, "Looks like you're doing just fine on your own."

The girl laughed drily, "Yeah." She mumbled playfully, "Imagine what I could do trained in all those weapons, nobody would stand a goddamn chance." Cato laughed back and Amy-Jean wasn't sure if she liked the sound. It was deep, almost intimidating but somewhere, there was some amusement, some human.

There was another pause, less uncomfortable this time before Amy-Jean hesitantly spoke up, "Your interview," She began slowly, "Did you mean what you said? That you always wanted... this?"

"Of course." Cato replied instantly, "The games are the greatest thing ever invented." His voice sounded different, monotone almost, like the words had been drilled in again and again.

"So you aren't afraid of dying."

This time, the response wasn't instantaneous, 

"I won't die." His tone was darker but Amy-Jean heard some uncertainty in his voice. She laughed harshly without humour, "Well what about your career buddies? Won't you be sad to see them go?"

There was silence behind Amy-Jean but she heard his footsteps still steadily behind her.

The small girl felt particularly daring at that point, "Clove?"

His footsteps stopped abruptly.

"Careful 10." He warned, any previous amusement in his voice eradicated, "I like you, don't test me." Amy-Jean bit the inside of her cheek but didn't respond to his veiled threat. 

The next half and hour or so of the walk was spent in complete awkward silence, neither wanting to particularly start up small talk.

Amy-Jean had just stepped over a jutting branch when she stepped on something hard. Frowning, she looked down and had to bit down on her tongue to not gasp.

A small, shiny canteen lay on the floor.

She whipped her head around to see Cato a good twenty metres behind her, slashing at some branches she had been short enough to duck under. His face was contorted as he swatted at the pesky greenery.

Then to her horror, she saw the little girl from District 11 walk out from from a large tree a small bit ahead of her. As soon as the girl spotted Amy-Jean her eyes widened and Amy-Jean desperately waved her hand in a shooing motion to get the girl to run away. She ducked back behind the tree and Amy-Jean kicked the canteen into a nearby bush just as Cato escaped the mesh of branches, gingerly fingering a cut on his cheek.