Beautiful Scars

Kiss

On Tuesday morning, I get up early and stop by the Hawthorne's to say good morning to Melody and bring some baked goods. They tell me Katniss left already. So I hug Mel and say goodbye.

"Thank you for going. They won't let me." Prim tells me and hugs me again.

I arrive at the prison. I've been told I can only have one car key, my ID and to leave my cell phone and wallet in the car. But that's not the issue. There are several camera crews just outside taping me as I go in. Finally, someone recognizes me.

"Mr. Mellark are you here for the parole hearing of Cato Johnson?"

"Are you hoping he doesn't get out today?"

"Were you happy to hear of his cousin, Snow's demise?"

Claudius Templesmith comes out to tell them, "No questions please."

"The good news is, they can't tape anything that goes on inside the hearing. Bad news is, a few of them can come in under the pretense of being an opposer for Cato getting paroled. Which means they will have more questions when you get out." Claudius tells me.

When I get in, I sit down next to Katniss. She looks like she hasn't slept. I grab her hand in mine.

"You should've kept my dream catcher for yourself." I say to her quietly.

"Do I look that bad? I'm nervous as it is. Haymitch said even though he couldn't be here, they are gonna do everything in their power to keep him behind bars. But he didn't sound too sure." She tells me.

I nod my head, and take a deep breath. Then, I see him. Cato is cuffed at the wrist and ankles. He's walked out by two guards but in an expensive looking suit, instead of an orange jumper. He sits about 10 feet away from us and turns to smile at Katniss. He doesn't seem surprised to see me there.

They present him to a Board of Hearing Officials. They listen to his lawyers make some statements on behalf of the FBI. Then he gets to talk. He sounds completely remorseful for his actions from four years ago and he blames a lot of his actions on drugs and alcohol which he states his late cousin provided. He wishes to return to society and help other young boys, who give in to drug and alcohol peer pressure, know his story so he can stop things like this from happening again. Like that was his only crime.

Next, they show a tape of Katniss they shot earlier. They call it a Victim Impact Statement. In the tape she relates the effects on her of the crime committed. She talks about the nightmares and having to see Dr. Arelius. She talks about the effects that Snow had on her as well. They allow this because Cato put a lot of the blame on him, his lawyers are probably hoping it will take some of the heat off him.

"Are you alright?" I whisper to Katniss.

She squeezes my hand.

Caesar Flickerman says a few things and while he does, Claudius explains to Katniss and I, that we hope to put more time back on his sentence because Cato promised to help find Snow and he died before they could. Meaning he didn't help them actually catch him.

Unfortunately, Cato's lawyers counter with the fact that, Cato couldn't have known that he would OD before authorities could find him. So, the board decides that the FBI should honor their side of the bargain.

Flickerman tries and fails to get them to see why he should not be let out. In the end, Cato is granted parole with probation.

The look on Cato's face is again, not one of surprise.

"I can't believe this is happening!" Katniss yells in the waiting area they have us.

"I know, but Kat try to calm down. I'm just as mad, but you can't do anything that would jeopardize yourself. Melody needs you. It's gonna be okay." I try to reassure her.