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

26 ~ To The End

The games mess people up. They twist our perspectives, making us despise the world we live in even more than we already had before. People go crazy in them or resort to terrible things afterward to make themselves forget. Victors have resorted to drinking, drugs, or sex, but none of it ever works. We always remember the games because they become part of our identity. You go from just a name to a victor's name.

Just a name is ignored by the world while it starves in the Districts, while a Victor's name gets its fill of all the food and money it could want. Just a name can have a family and live a normal life, but a Victor's name must show everything to the public, nothing is a secret anymore. Just a name wouldn't forget about the people they fought for in the arena, a victor's name could. Just a name wouldn't be in this arena in the first place.

My family, the ones I held closest to my heart were none of my concern till now. I told myself they were safe wherever I thought of them, but now I didn't know.

My body is curled up on the ground, my hands bound so tightly to my ears they begin to bleed a bit. Most of the birds had flown away, and the only ones that remained were the few twitching on the ground as life drained from their fragile bodies.

I rock myself back and forward slightly as I hum to myself, not wanting to stop in fear of hearing one speak again. I couldn't bear another person I loved begging for help, screaming for me to save them when I knew I couldn't from here. I had no idea if my family was ok. Finnick had pointed out that they copy. I knew it, but I only realized it when he said it. How else could they get the jabber jays to replicate sound without torturing our families first?

"Y/n!" Yells a horse voice.

Even with the muffling from my hands and the humming, I was still able to hear the voice, and I knew who it was. "Y/n," Cato repeats, only quieter now since he was kneeling right beside me. He reaches a hand out to rub my back, but I flinch. "It's ok," He says in a low voice, "It's been an hour. They're all gone."

My hand finally let go of my ears, providing immediate relief. As I open my eyes I turn up to Cato, and he immediately wraps me in his arms. He rubs my back in circles with his big hands, and I rest my head on his shoulder "It's ok. I'm here. I'm always here for you."

I let what was left of my tears out till I can't cry anymore. Cato continues to hold me, not letting go as he whispers nothing but loving words into my ears.

As Cato comforts me, I notice Peeta doing the same for Katniss, and Johanna doing the same for Finnick, both of them in just as bad of a shape as I was. I feel my grasp tighten as I squeeze my eyes shut. All I wanted was to disappear. Go away from it all, and float in a void of nothing, wrapped in Cato's arms, because he was the only thing that made me feel safe. The only person who could hold me and tell me everything would be ok, and I would believe him. "Ana, she was screaming for help," I let out.

"Ana is ok," Cato assured me in a calm but strained voice.

"He's right," Johanna interrupts. She is now standing as she looks over us. "Same for you Katniss. The whole country loves your sisters. If they tortured them or did anything to them, forget the Districts. There would be riots in the damn Capitol."

I only stare at Johanna with a saddened face, my lips dry, and my eyes strained. "Hey, how does that sound Snow?" She screams while looking around at the treetops. "What if we set your backyard on fire? You know you can't put everyone in here!"

My eyes continue to watch her as she looks back down at all of us. "What? He can't hurt me. There's no one left that I love out there," She informs before turning to walk away. "I'll go get you guys some water."

It takes a little while but eventually, I am ready to move. All of us migrate from the jungle, back onto the beach, not wanting to even see the jungle of that wedge anymore.