Enemies to what? (Clato)

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: The hunger games belongs to Suzanne Collins, I only own my own characters.

"Clove?" My eyes shoot straight up to the figure and are met with a pair of icy blue ones looking directly back at them. He loosens the pressure on my throat again, and I wiggle out of his grip completely. Landing next to the tree, I steady one hand on it, and rub my throat with the other one. I can almost feel the red print from his arm and the nonexistent bruise ready to form. I try to speak but my throat is tight and I end up coughing instead. I grab onto the tree with both my hands and cough, taking long breaths every once in a while. After what seems like 3 minutes I am able to form proper sentences. I look back up to where Cato is standing, his face red from waiting.

"Cato? What the heck are you doing here?"

He scoffs and crosses his arm over his chest. I notice that he is not wearing his training gear, and was immediately taken aback. I had never seen him in anything else before.

"Seriously Clove, your really asking me that? Don't you think I'm here because I live here?" My eyes widen. This is the super rich part of town. I always though Cato would be rich, but to be one of these families? There are only a few lucky kids to have that title. I turn away from him lost in my thoughts. Leaning against the bark I ran the list of families who lived in this neighborhood over in my head. There was 5 families. The Johnsons, The Sevinas, The Hadleys, The Lawsons......who else? I searched desperately in my head for a name, but found nothing. I turned back to Cato and looked down. I didn't have to look up to know that a smirk was burning across his face right now.

"If you must know, my name is Cato Hadley. I happen to live 2 houses over from the center of the neighborhood, which just happens to be the very place were standing in!" He says his name as if it was a miracle, and I try to hold back the throw up that came from the sound of his voice. I slowly look up and see him smirking down at me.

Suddenly his eyes narrow and I am once again pinned against the tree. I reach up and scratch at his arm breathing for air. He grits his teeth fighting against me and puts more pressure like he did earlier that night.

"I will ask you one more time. Why. Are. You. Here." His arm presses down so hard on my throat that I think my windpipe will break in two, and black spots begin to dance over my vision. Just as I am about to lose consciousness he pulls back. I crumple to the ground taking deep breaths as soon as I land. Air. Perfect, wonderful air. I have never appreciated it as much as I do in this moment. I begin to hack once again. As my racket stops, I wipe the saliva that dabbed out of my mouth while I was coughing. My eyes travel upward to Cato who I can tell will put me through the same torture for a third time tonight if I do not answer his question.

Clearing my throat I begin.

"Well you see 'Cato Hadley" I say mimicking him on how he said his name, "I am here to get some water for this old lady I saw in an alley way while I was walking home. This old lady was very sick and looked as if she was on her death bed!" My eyes are wide and I know if somebody saw me from a distance they would think that I was crazy because of all my hand motions.

Cato looks at me up and down. Suddenly he bursts out laughing. In between gasps he manages

"Do you really think I would believe that?" Suddenly his voice goes low, and I get the feeling that he is not supposed to be out here either." What are you really here for?"

Since he moved away from me when he laughed, I make a last minute decision. Opening my mouth as if I am about to speak, I bolt. Straight into the woods.