promises • cato the hunger games

Twenty

Penny's POV

My mind's definitely awake but I can't break my body out of this coma thing I'm in. I sense Cato come back in, thank God, but I can't force myself awake and ask him where the hell he's been.

I feel something get jabbed into my arm, and then something again. I flinch involuntarily at the stabbing pain, but I still don't wake up. What has he injected into me? Was it an antidote? Did a sponsor send it? Well then why won't I wake up?

Wake up! I tell myself. Wake up! Wake up!

I use all my strength to force my eyes open, and keep them open, and I see Cato for the first time in days.

"Penny? Oh my God," he gasps.

I blink my eyes furiously, trying to un-stiffen them. I force my mouth open. "C-cato?" I manage to whisper. He laughs, relieved, and pulls me into a hug. I notice his cheeks are wet. Is he crying?

"Hey, don't cry, Cato. I'll be fine," I say. "Look, I'm feeling better already."

"I'm not crying! There's dust in my eyes," he says. "And er, I'm just glad you're okay," he adds quietly.

"Thanks for saving me. What happened when I was asleep?" I ask.

"Nothing, it's probably been boring for them, that's why they had a feast and I could get your medicine."

"And did you kill anyone just now?"

"No, but I want to kill that Twelve girl," he scowls.

"What did she do?" I ask, but knowing Cato, her breathing is enough to induce murderous thoughts.

"She took my bag."

"No she didn't, you managed to give me that antidote."

"Well, she stole the bag that I'd stolen from her before she'd took it."

"What? Actually, don't tell me," I sigh. He's really impossible sometimes.

"Oh, and I've got Thresh's bag too," he says.

I would've felt bad, Cato taking his potentially life saving bag, but Cato opens it to reveal enough food for today and tomorrow. We both cheer and shout and laugh like crazy people for a few minutes.

I'm starving, I haven't eaten in ages, and I consequently reach out for an apple. Cato slaps my hand away. "No, we have to be sensible. We have to ration it."

"But...."

"No buts. We can't be greedy. We'll regret it later, when we're starving." I roll my eyes at him. I'm starting to feel really drowsy, maybe it's the drugs. I rest my head on Cato and close my eyes. "Hey, you're not going back to sleep now, I've just woken you up," he says, shaking me.

"Sorry. You know what would make me feel more awake?" I say sleepily.

"What?"

"Food," I say, looking longingly at the bag.

"No, not yet, we need to make it last."

"Oh please, Cato. I'm starving," I say, and right in cue, my stomach starts making whale noises.

He laughs at me. "Fine. One apple, nothing more."

"Thank you!"

I don't think I've ever been so happy to eat a single apple.

"I'm going to go to sleep now, wake me up soon, so you can get some sleep. You need it," I say truthfully. He hasn't slept in at least a week, and it's showing. Though to be fair, he's probably been taught to stay awake and live without sleep.

"Okay," he says, probably being glad to finally get some sleep.

"Is it cold in here?" I ask, starting to shiver.

"Not particularly. It must be your temperature lifting," he says. "Come here," he says, holding his arms out to me. I bury my face in his chest and he wraps his arms around me, and rests his head on mine. "I'll warm you up," he says.

"I love you," I whisper. "Really, really love you."

"I love you too, Penny," he says. I fall asleep almost instantly.

~

When I wake up Cato's already asleep. There's no point in waking him up, so I just leave him. I'm even colder than when I went to sleep, but I do feel a lot better. It still hurts, just not as much. No where near as much.

I'm still starving. I consider taking more food, but that wouldn't be fair on Cato. I'll wake him up later.

Much later, I feel bad that he's missed out on so much sleep because of me. Come to think of it, he's sacrificed loads for me already. He's saved me so many times. My life wouldn't even be enough to repay him.