It is sometime past noon when we hear a scream-a manly kind of scream-Thresh's scream. Thus followed by a cannon shot. Peeta and I have just finished eating my game when we hear Thresh's agonizing scream. I notice it is getting dark real fast when I'm sure it must not be past 3.
"We have to run." I say to Peeta, trying to remain calm.
"To where?" I don't know why, but somehow I know how to answer his demanding question.
"Cornucopia. They are going to end this game. It is down to the three of us."
We pack our things, throwing everything inside my bag. Which is pointless actually, seeing we won't be needing our supplies-either we live or die. But bringing our supplies with us won't cause any harm either, so just in case. I grab my bow and arrows-I count five, not much to hunt a Career I suppose. Hand Peeta my knife just for reassurance. We start running to the north. Better be fast, because slowing down won't get us anything.
As we run, I get flashes of memories, mostly about home and Prim telling me I could win. And here I am running for my life. I got the shot. I can go home, we can go home.
"Katniss, do you hear that?" Peeta wakes me from my day dreaming mode.
We stop for a split-second to listen to our surroundings. The bushes rustle with movement. A shadow of what seems like an enormous and monstrous thing appears. I manage to catch a glimpse of its eye before Peeta drags me to run, run away from that mutt which eyes resemble with Thresh's sharp
and stern but forgiving eyes.
We've been running for a solid minute when two other mutts suddenly appear from God knows where. We've dragged into Cornucopia, so my guess earlier was right after all.
When we arrive, we instantly climb the Cornucopia. Peeta lend his hand for me to step at and climb. I give my hand and pull him up the best I could. The Thresh mutt nearly lay its paw on Peeta boots, I sigh in relief that thing never occur.
For a second I think that it's finally over. The game that once seemed formidable finally over. I start thinking about home, again, and worrying sick about the resemblance of the mutts with the fallen tributes-I've seen Thresh, Glimmer, and Foxface mutts-when I realize there is still Cato to worry about. When I snap back to reality, all I see is Peeta on Cato's deadlock. I position my bow and grab an arrow, ready to shoot.
"Go ahead and he is going down with me." Says Cato arrogantly, spitting blood. He grins and all I can see is his teeth covered in blood. I believe there are broken limbs involved too. Peeta is gasping in search for air. I'm amused how Cato still manages to do his death grip after all the damages going on his body.
"Shoot. I'm already dead anyway. One more kill is the least I can do." He shows cockiness instead of horror or pain. The Capitol must be cheering right now.
I'm panicking but still content to aim my arrow straight. Peeta suddenly makes a move, drawing an 'x' on Cato's palm with his blood-covered hand.
That's it. This is my chance. This may work. I don't hesitate and shoot straight into Cato's palm.
What happen next seem flashes on a speed light. Cato screams in agony. Both of them fall off the Cornucopia. Turns out the plan didn't work. My heart drops to the pit of my stomach.
"Peeta!" I cried out of desperation.
I content myself to see the mutts grouping around Peeta, tearing his life away. Then the mutts leave. Boom. At least he dies a quick death. I start to whimper, thinking about the boy I was starting to love dies in front of me. All because of me.
Sudden realization hits me on the face. There was only one cannon. And I see Peeta died. Which means Cato is still alive, somehow. My face shows pure horror when I see Cato manages to climb back to the Cornucopia. But instead of running or positioning my arrow, I sit still, both hands hug my legs.
"Go ahead and kill me. I know you are still capable of doing that." I say emotionlessly, stare blankly into the wood ahead of me, preparing to die. I'm done trying. I'm not going back without the boy I've started to love.
"I'm done with killing. You go ahead and kill me. End this and you can go home." Cato just sits six feet away instead of killing me, and copies what I'm doing. I know this is my chance to kill him, to avenge Peeta and to go home back to Prim, mom, and Gale; but somehow I just don't want to. I feel numb when I think about home. Without Peeta, home won't feel like home anyway.
It has to be hours after the hovercraft took Peeta's body. Four or five hours maybe. And we just sit side by side there for hours, silent is covering us.
It's funny how I don't feel hatred towards Cato. I'm supposed to hate him for making these happened to Peeta. Without him, Peeta and I can go home. But I just don't hate him. Heck, I don't feel anything either, I feel numb. I shield myself from flood of emotions. I'm sure Peeta wouldn't want me to grief for him. He was always too good, he was the best from the rest of us. He should had won. I'm just vile, I don't deserve to win and go back home alive when Peeta didn't make it.
"Let's just kill ourselves." He gives me a funny and questioning look.
"Yeah, that might do. I have nothing at home to look forward anyway" I'm shock with him being honest with me. Hours ago we were enemies, and now, out of the blue, we share our feelings?
Well, I still have Prim and Gale actually. But the thought of living without Peeta breaks me. Now I know how my mom must had had felt when she lost dad. So I reach out my right pocket and grab the nightlocks I was saving for Cato and hand it to him. It's funny how I end up using the nightlocks for Cato, but also for me this time.
"On the count of three." He says without hesitance in his voice. At this point I don't care about anything anymore. I don't care if Cato agreeing this is only him tricking me to my own death. I don't care if Cato doesn't eat the nightlocks. I guess I've been broken so much I won't heal.
"One." I look around the arena. This place is actually beautiful, reminds me of home, but kids died here.
"Two." Cato and I look at each other. I examine his face; made with sharp angles. He has a sand-blond hair and pool-blue eyes that somehow remind me of Peeta. Sigh. Cato is the biggest tribute this year-must be at least 6'2" in tall and 200 pounds in weigh-his body is made of muscles. He is a Career after all.
"Three." We were ready to shove the nightlocks down our throats when Seneca Crane's urging voice stops us.
"Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, may I present you the victors of 74th Hunger Games; Katniss Everdeen and Cato Hadley!"
YOU ARE READING
Pleasant Nightmare
FanfictionIf you had a dream about your loved one who is dead, is it a sweet dream or a nightmare? If you had Fallen in love with the enemy, is it a nightmare or a revelation? I don't own anything. All characters belong to Suzanne Collins.
