Clato: Cuts Beneath the Surface

Chapter 34

All I want is a creme puff. So I'm in the kitchen looking for a creme puff when wham! I run right into Brutus.

He looks me over with a sour expression on his face. The tattoos running up his neck are like vines. They look like a disease eating him alive. And they almost appear to be moving.

"Watch where you're going!" he barks in his gruff voice. Clearly he didn't enjoy my dinner antics.

"I'm just looking for some food." My stomach gurgles just then, making my point. Specifically creme puffs I think.

"You better watch yourself missy. I don't like that tone." He grumbles. Tone? He has got to be kidding me. I am the last person to mouth off. And I've idolized this guys since I was seven. Until now that is.

"I wasn't doing anything wrong." I say angrily.

He takes another step forward, trapping me against the chrome refrigerator. "I don't care what you're doing now. I see the way you look at Cato. I know you aren't afraid to throw knives at the people trying to help you. You need to stay out of my way."

"Or what?" I find myself saying. My insides boil.

"Or I will have to put you down before you can screw up Catos chance at the crown. Or screw him."

"I'm not a dog!" I spit, "And I could take you any day."

"Oh yeah?" he presses me against the wall, clawing my arms. I stop breathing properly. No no no. Not again. Not another Favian.

"Let go of me." I say, icily calm on the outside.

"Not until you agree to stay the hell away from me and Cato." he growls ominously. He's too close. His hands are like vices on my wrists.

"Get off." I plead.

"Not until you've learned your lesson." he smirks, enjoying my discomfort. I stop breathing entirely. He shoves me against the wall hard and I scream. I don't care what he thinks. I need Brutus to stop.

"Get away from me!" I shriek. He winces at the loud noise and slaps me hard. I hyperventilate loudly, slipping in and out if reality. "Stop!" I cry. Brutus backs away, a terrified expression on his face. He finally realizes what is going on.

"Woah woah woah Clove stop flipping out." he growls and reaches towards me. I shrink away and he grabs me. I yell horribly and he drops me like a ton of bricks.

Footsteps slam into the room right as Brutus throws me to the ground. Whatever air was left in me rushes out. I panic, unable to breathe. Curling up into a ball, I try to calm down but fail miserably.

Cato's voice fills the train car. "Don't touch her!" he yell, fury filling his voice. "Don't you ever touch Clover again!" I hear more footsteps. "I DON'T CARE!" Cato rages at Brutus. "You will not hurt her!" Brutus must have backed down because Cato stops yelling. He kneels down beside me.

"Clover, let me help you." he whispers. His blue eyes stare deep into mine. I wider if I look as rabid as I feel. "Lets get you out of here. Just breath and come with me. I will never let anything happen to you. I promised, remember?" I nod, calming a bit. I do. I remember him promising that.

I can feel the stares of Brutus, Cordelia and Enobaria on us. But I don't care. I focus back on Cato. He reaches towards me but quickly decides against it and draws back.

"No," I say horsely. "You can touch me." I see a little light spark in his sky blue eyes. I unfold myself and take his hands. He pulls me to my feet. Suddenly I'm surrounded by his arms. The hug lasts barely a second before he pulls back and cups my face in his hands.

"You're gonna be all right." He tells me. And even though I am the farthest thing from all right, I believe him. I believe Cato. He puts a protective arm around my shoulders and guides me out of the room, away from out mentors. I can't help but wonder what they think of the whole scene that just went down. Probably nothing good.

Cato helps me back to my room. He follows me in and shuts the door behind us.

Suddenly, I'm all alone with Cato.

A/N please comment and vote! I really want to know what you think and any critiques you might have.