Wrong Place, Right Time - Cato Hadley x OC

Chapter 16: The Finale

My armour is already on, so I tuck my water bottle into my pant pocket just in case. We decide to leave most of our bags by the water; we likely wouldn't spend another night here, the only bag Cato is carrying is the little one I got from the feast. 

I have three knives lining my belt and my spear already in my hands. Cato is relying only on his sword. As of right now, there's no sign of Thresh. How will the game makers force him to us? 

I'd never admit to Cato how worried I am. The reality of our situation is hitting me fully. Either we kill Thresh, or at least one of us dies. 

My hands shake as we walk to the centre of the field, right to the Cornucopia. Cato notices and grabs my hand for support. We're almost to the base of the horn when a scream from the only part of the arena we have yet to explore takes our attention.

"The game makers wouldn't just kill him off, right?" Cato voiced my question, but before I could reply, the sight of a terrified Thresh was barrelling towards us. 

Behind him is a huge bear-like creature, no doubt a mutation from the Capitol. By the mere sight of him across the field, I can tell the bear is easily 10 feet tall and about the same in arm's distance, as it somehow makes Thresh look small. 

I don't hesitate to throw my spear onto the top of the Cornucopia and attempt to climb up after it. Cato climbs to the top easily, not waiting a second before he leans down and helps pull me up the rest of the way. My feet barely missed being sliced off by the bear's razor-sharp claws. 

Thresh is on the top - he must have climbed up the other side. He's panting, but soon enough, he recovers and has grabbed me and is trying to throw me over the edge.

My stomach drops when I realise what he's doing, and I instinctively wrap my arms and legs around him as tight as I can, trying to stop him from being able to get rid of me. 

He's groaning as he flails around, trying to get me off of him when Cato goes behind him and stabs him in the side with his sword.

In response to his new wound, Thresh leaps back, trying to get away from Cato's blade, which only results in him sending me off of him, about to go over the edge.

"Hali!" Cato shouts as he sees the predicament I'm in. 

He ignores an injured Thresh and once again stops the bear from getting to me. I'm kneeling now, trying to catch my breath, when I look over to see that the enhanced bear is scaling the Cornucopia right to where we are. 

Cato, the only one on his feet, waits until the bear begins to pull itself to the top and stabs it in the neck with his sword. A wailing noise comes from the mutt's mouth as it plummets to the ground.

I now see that Thresh is on his feet, and Cato's sword is still in the bear's throat on the ground. I reach beside me to grab my spear and toss it to him. He's not as good with the spear but still knows how to function with it. 

At the same moment, Thresh swings his blade, and Cato blocks it with my spear, narrowly avoiding a potentially fatal wound. I stand up, ready to help Cato, but he shouts for me to stay.

What? This is the finale, potentially life or death for both of us, and he wants to handle the opponent on his own? 

The sound of metal clanging fills the air. I'm trying to get a good angle to throw a knife at Thresh, but the boys keep moving, and I can't risk hitting the wrong one. 

Suddenly, mid-fight, I feel the once-sturdy Cornucopia begin to crumble beneath my feet. The boys notice it, too, temporarily stopping their swings. I slide down the side just as Cato jumps down next to me. He looks for the bear with his sword, only to find it has vanished.