Ignite The Flame Within | Cato Hadley X Male Reader | Vol. 2

1 ~ The Distance Between Us

The orange pastel-colored sky slowly faded as the sun set further behind the mountaintops, their peaks outlined by a gentle golden light that looked nothing but magical. I knew we were almost there and that I should probably be getting dressed, but I didn't move. I stayed motionless, knees pulled up closely to my chest as I stared out at the beautiful setting sun through the glass of the train. The once pristine earl gray bed sheets lay in disarray, a reminder of the previous night of restless sleep. I hadn't cared at all to fix them since I wouldn't be here much longer anyway.

If it were up to me I'd try to forget the games entirely, live my life with my family, and pretend like the whole ordeal was just some twisted nightmare. But the Victory Tours and camera crews made it all impossible. I couldn't even go a whole month without having to film another update video for the Capitol. It was always the same type of script, filled with propaganda and hidden messages. They used me like their puppet, regurgitating the same information they fed to me. I usually hated them, the only thing I got out of it was seeing Madelyn, but today was different.

Back in the Capitol, at the train station, the night Cato and I had to go our separate ways was the last time we had seen each other and tonight marked three months exactly. It had been that long since we had spoken, since we had a conversation, or kissed, even hugged. Ever since Madelyn had informed me about filming an update video with Cato, I had been counting down the days, longing for the moment when our paths would cross again. I envisioned his eyes lighting up at the sight of me, and I pictured myself running into in his open arms while he whispered sweet nothings in my ear. And I'm finally going to meet his family, although he's never met mine. Maybe that will be the next propaganda video in a month when we finally get to see one another again.

Living like this was soul-crushing. It wasn't just the filming; I could tolerate that. What truly tormented me was the distance imposed between me and the boy I loved. After my mother's passing, I shut myself off from numerous people. The vibrant world I had once inhabited turned into one of darkness and despair, where everything and everyone seemed to further my misery, ultimately revealing the grim reality. People perished daily from starvation, injuries, overwork, and more, reminding me that I was just another mature resident of District 7, bereft of hope for a better life.

Hitting rock bottom had come when I heard my name called for the Games. It felt like a death sentence. While I yearned and hoped for victory, deep within, doubt lingered. I never truly believed I would win until I met Cato. The day we trained together, the day he taught me to fight, was the day I found a glimmer of faith in myself.

That little spark of hope that kept me going through it all was started by him. Even when Jenna or Rue died, just remembering the way Cato made me feel helped me push through those emotions, despite whether I realized it or not.

The light in the outside world I watched disappeared in the blink of an eye; my room turned to darkness, which pulled my mind back to reality. The train was in a tunnel. Madelyn had told me about it, It would only be another thirty minutes before the train arrived. It was now that I realized that I should have already started getting ready instead of looking out the window feeling sorry for myself. At least that's what Johanna would have told me if she were here.

I slide back off the bed and rush toward my closet. The large metal door slides open with a slight push revealing the large variety of clothing and other accessories. My hand skims through the fabric as I search for something to wear. Back home, before the games, I only had one "fancy" outfit that I wore to things like the reapings or special events. Everything else I owned was work clothes or my dad's old tee shirts I used as sleepwear.

It all completely changed after I won. It seems that I can never walk out of the house wearing what I'm comfortable in anymore just in case I had to be taken for pictures or update videos. My whole wardrobe had been specifically pieced together by the capital, it felt that no part of my life was in my control anymore. I hated how they made me dress, I thought I looked ridiculous compared to everyone else in District 7. I felt like an alien, I felt almost like them, like the Capitol's people. Only I didn't choose this type of life, I was forced into it.