Star Crossed Lovers (Clove And Cato Book 2)

29. Last But Not Least

29.

Evacuated: 2,456

Now as I sit curled in a tight ball I think about all the people that are safe. Of course mother didn't come, or dad. But 2,456 people came out alive. As soon as we left though, the bombs came and rained down on everyone. As the hovercraft zoomed away to 13 you could hear the agonizing screams that could clearly be heard.

"Clove?"

Distracted from my thoughts, I look up through blurry vision and see my brother. He sits quickly beside me, and hooks and arm around my back. We landed in 13 around an hour ago, and I just went straight to my compartment in tears.

"I know you think mother was directing it all at you, but she wasn't. Its my fault she hates us, and she wasn't being herself. She was acting out of order because she's become ruthless. We know where you get it from."

Did I ever mention that my brother sucks at prep talks? No? Well he does.

"Well thanks Geoff, gee that made me better. Can you just go now? You're not really making me feel better," I retort back to him, his face showing a mixture of disgust and pleasure.

"You know someday we will forget all our differences and just come together and be brother and sister."

Then, as if by magic, he disappears leaving me alone curled in a tight ball.

*****

The Capitol.

"You know that Clove Green has escaped the arena, President Sir,"

What a fool. It has been exactly three days since Clove, Cato and some other useless victors have escaped my Games, and I hate to be reminded of that. I should have known Plutarch was in on all of this, he didn't seem quite trustworthy, but he was the man for the Arena job and he pulled together a fine looking arena, although he wasn't what I would call a true game-maker.

"Yes, Fienz, I know of that. If you please, fetch my dear Sallerina and tell her it's an emergency." Fienz bustles away his short frilly green bobbed hair making him the centre of attention as he zooms out of my chambers. I'm apparently supposed to be sick, and must stay in my chambers because I had some bad food. The papers are begging to differ, stating I can't be seen after the shambles of Games we've all just experienced.

The door suddenly bursts open, a woman dressed in a simple black strapless dress with beautiful long white hair walks quickly in, her shoes making the loudest of sound as she approaches me. Fienz, sticking his long nose to see if she had approached me properly, closes the door. I'm sure he's pressed up against it at the moment though, I don't trust that weasel.

Sallerina bows to me, lowering her head before me as if I am a mighty man of great power, which in some ways I am.

"President Snow, you wished to see me." she says sharply bravely looking at me directly in the eye. I smile and come down from my small perch and join her, kissing her soft palms in greet.

"Sallerina I have a proposition to make,"

Sallerina's eyes widen at my statement and I almost smell her excitement.

"Clove Green and Cato Dawn I want inside information, can you get try to find out where they are located and spy on them if necessary?" I ask her, and she nods absorbing my words.

"Don't worry, I have the perfect disguise. Now tell me, where's that little duck, Prim?" Sallerina's gaze is penetrating me, and as uncomfortable as I am I proceed on.

"She's in a holding cell, along with other accomplices."

I can tell from her small smile that this has pleased her, and much to my horror I find myself smiling too.

*****

District 13.

"You can't catch me! I'm much faster than you!" I screamed as Geoff and I played around the lake-side. It was quiet, too quiet and although mother and dad had allowed us to play around the lake, it still felt wrong.

"Clove please be careful, you can't really swim well!" he scolded me, but I just laughed at his lame attempt. Jumping into the freezing waves of the water, my whole body plunged under the water and I felt the oxygen leave my body. Shrieking I kicked my legs until again I surfaced and gasped for breath. Geoff stood still at the edge, not even helping me to the sides.

"I could have drowned!" I screamed tears staining my face. I was so cold, and shaking with fear. He didn't say anything but just kept looking at me with a frown.

"I told you so, you just never listen. You're not the unbeatable, Clove." and then he just walked off leaving me alone. Later that night mother and dad asked if we were OK at the lake, lying I said it was fine and went to bed, never looking at Geoff in the eye. Ever again

I wake up screaming as the vivid vision of 6 years ago haunts my slumbers. I cannot forget that day; when I nearly drowned. Or when Geoff didn't help me. It was horrible. I felt so stupid and useless. Now, as I shift my position in my bed, I think about my home. Is my family dead? Is Geoff all I have left? I just don't know, and really don't want to. It's late, I can tell as I slip out of bed for a small wonder around. Tiptoeing and trying not to wake anyone up, I make it to the kitchens and sneak out the back door where the wilderness instantly greets me. I spy cameras taped around each possible surface, but just stand still outside the warmth of the door. It's nice just to get away from things and take a breath. Tomorrow, will be another busy day. In a few weeks my role will take place. Suddenly a warm grip comes to my shoulder and I freeze.

"Relax, its just me." Cato says softly his voice cut off as he snuggles into my back. I turn around and shove him off.

He holds onto my hands and looks into the black lit night.

"Pretty District," he remarks sarcastically and points to the heaps of barbed wire and gravel surrounding us.

"Beautiful."

"I know this is stupid, but do you mind if we hold of the wedding plans for a couple of years? I mean you're still only 15," he says and that's when I realize it's too good to have him.

"That's fine, I'm not in the bride mood..."

He knocks me off guard as he embraces me in a tight hug and gives me that small hopeful feeling again.

"I love you, and whatever you do I always will."

Letting go of his frame, I smile in the dark shadows.

"We found love in a hopeless place,"

~~~~

The End of book 2