Child Of The Mockingjay

Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

            “It’s about our last night in the arena, and the following year. It’s something you were never taught in school, something that only Ma, Prim, Gale, Haymitch, Cinna and I know. On the last night, when we were declared winners, Katniss did something extraordinary.

            “We watched him die. Cato, that is. Katniss shot him on the hand, the hand threatening to break neck. I was pathetic, I had allowed my leg to be mauled by the Mutts, and it hurt oh so very much. I could barely walk, could barely live, actually. The blood had been seeping through my bandages, staining them a deep read, I had lost so much blood, but I was thankful that I was still alive.

            “That was until I had finally ascended the structure. Cato grabbed me and pulled me to the top ledge with him. Your Ma hadn’t noticed yet as she was a level below, defending herself from the Mutts.

            “I was trapped, you see. I stood there watching and dying while your mother risked her life for us. She eventually climbed up to a safe level, and turned to see me. Her dark hair was mattered from weeks of neglect, her face was bruised and smudged, yet she was still undeniably beautiful. When she noticed I was in the hands of Cato, her grey eyes widened and she instantly pulled her arrow and bow out.

            “Cato starting talking, hysterically I might add. He made a certain kind of sense. He said I would definitely die whether she shot or not. If she didn’t, he would snap my neck like he did to another tribute. His hands and my neck were in the perfect position for him to do it. Or she would shoot, miss and kill me, or if she shot him he would pull me over too, and she would never be able to save me from the Mutts. I suppose he was thinking that with his armour and abilities he may be able to survive.

            “I had no idea how to get us both out alive, but I had to get her out. She had to win, as me returning without her would break my heart. It wouldn’t be worth returning.

            “I had an idea; I drew a small ‘X’ on Cato’s hand. And she shot. The arrow landed directly – she never misses, not even then. His yelp of surprise and pain was deafening, but when he fell into the pit of the Mutts, I couldn’t help but think that we were wrong. The Mutts ripped him apart for hours. They had dragged him into the mouth of the cornucopia, where we couldn’t see him. Yet his moans… the sounds that came from the mouth haunted me for the rest of my life.

            “Hours this went on. Katniss and I huddled there, keeping warm in the chilly air. Her closeness was a drug; I wouldn’t let her move away. I don’t believe she would have if she could. I was almost dead, I wished Cato would die so we would be crowned and they would save me. Selfish thoughts, as I should have wished Cato dead so he could be put out of his misery, but I didn’t. I wanted me saved and Katniss free of the games. She couldn’t even shoot him with her remaining arrow; he was still out of sight.

            “It was nearly dawn when he exited the Cornucopia. His body was not human; instead it was red, raw flesh. Somehow he was still alive. Screams, moans and pleas for us to kill him still came from him. The cannon hadn’t sounded yet. All I could think about was, why are you making us suffer, making Cato suffer. But I knew why: entertainment for the Capitol. No-one could draw their eyes from the screens I had heard. The world had stopped. In that moment of enlightenment, I knew that they had to be stopped.

            “Katniss shot him in the head; the only place left his armour didn’t cover. I was so frightened, afraid that she had missed until I heard the cannon go. We had won, survived the games against all odds. I was nearly dead, but I knew the Capitol would fix me up. All that was going through my mind was happiness that Katniss would live.