I'll Be Beside You (Sequel to I'll Be Watching You)

Crazy, Nuts and Volts

BROOKE POV

I found it so unusual that Cato was crying over someone's death. As he sobbed into my shoulder, I couldn't help but wonder if something bigger was going on. Why would a complete stranger sacrifice herself to save Cato's life? If it were anyone else, they would've been happy to let the mutt kill Cato to get him out of the Games. I guided Cato back to the beach and we sat down on the wet sand. Finnick stayed in the water, spearing fish in the shallows with his trident. He came back with 3 salmon, handing one to each of us. Cato slowly sat up and got to his feet, wading his way back into the water. He leaned down and grabbed something out of the sand. He came back to me, shaking water of the object in his hand.

An oyster. He used his bare hands to pry open the shell and retrieve the pearl from the inside. He threw the shells back onto the beach and handed me the shiny white rock.

"I want you to keep this for the rest of your life. Don't ever say I didn't give you anything."

I smiled and tucked the pearl into one of the secret pockets of my wetsuit. He took a large bite of salmon and we both turned back to the Cornucopia. I rested my head on his shoulder, taking a bite of my own salmon. Finnick leaned against one of the trees, holding his fish in one hand and leaning his trident on his other arm. A rustling made us all jump.

"Someone's here."

I immediately pulled an arrow out of my sheath and aimed it towards the trees. 3 figures came out of the jungle, all covered in crimson liquid. One of them keeled over, while another ran into the water. The third figure walked around the beach in a daze. Finnick looked at the figure in the water and his eyes widened in realisation. He ran towards the 3 figures.

"Johanna!"

"Finnick!"

Cato and I ran towards them as well. Johanna came out of the water just as Finnick wrapped his arms around her, some of the red tinge rubbing onto his wet suit. I looked at the figure wandering around on the sand, I noticed that it was Wiress. She was muttering under her breath, her eyes staring at nothing. I went over and grabbed her by the arm, but she squirmed out of my grip. Cato went over the third person keeled over on the sand. It was Beetee. He sat up very slowly, Cato putting his arm around him for support. All three of them were covered head to toe in the red liquid. Johanna and Finnick came to stand beside me and Cato.

"We went far into the jungle where I thought it was gonna be safe. That's when the rain started. I thought it was water, it turned out to be blood. Hot, thick blood, it was coming down. It was choking us. We were stumbling around, gagging on it blind. That's when Blight hit the force field. He wasn't much but he was from home."

She swiped a piece of hair out of her face and turned away. Wiress came closer to us, her words now loud enough to hear.

"Tick Tock. Tick Tock."

"What's wrong with her?"

Beetee took off his glasses and rubbed them on his suit.

"She's in shock. Dehydration isn't helping. Do you have any fresh water?"

"We can get some. We got a spile from sponsors."

Wiress still stumbled around blindly. Johanna went over to her, when Wiress suddenly grabbed Johanna by the shoulders. She kept on shouting in Johanna's face when Johanna pushed her to the ground, yelling at her to be quiet. My hormones took over and I saw red. I ran over and tackled Johanna, is both landing on the wet sand. Cato and Finnick raced over and broke us both apart.

"What are you doing?! I got them out for you?!"

I stood up, breathing heavily as Johanna got up too, wiping her nose with her sleeve. I looked up at Cato.

"Got them out for me? What does that even mean?"

****
CATO POV

I watched Brooke take Wiress down to the waters edge to clean off all the blood. I stayed with Beetee, bandaging his knife wound that he got during the Bloodbath.

"So what did you get from the Cornucopia that deserved a knife in the back?"

"I got this coil of wire. I invented it and I'm surprised that the Gamemakers actually let it be in the Games."

"Is that some kind of killing tactic? Haymitch told us that you won your Games by electrocuting 6 tributes at once."

"Haymitch is a dear friend. You could say it's a last resort in case something goes wrong."

"What do you mean?"

He opened his mouth to speak when I heard a squeal of delight coming from the water. Brooke held Wiress' head in her hands and had a grin on her face. She dragged Wiress out of the water and stood in front of us. Johanna and Finnick joined us.

"What's wrong Brooke?"

"I've figured it out! The reason why Wiress keeps saying 'Tick Tock' over and over again."

"Why?"

"It's a clock. The arena is a clock."

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Hey guys,
I just put that little Cato POV in there so that way it is seen that he is suspicious about this years Games. Beetee almost revealed too much info to him 😉😉

I am so pleased with how many people love my books and I love each and every one of my readers/fans. Thank you guys so much for reading my books.

Luv yas,
ChrissieSlytherin xxx