promises • cato the hunger games

Twenty-Three

Cato puts his hand up, telling me to be quiet, which annoys me slightly because I was being quiet, it was him who wouldn't shut up.

"You go and get her," he whispers.

I shake my head. I can't kill her.

"Go on," he says again. "Come on, Penny. She's an easy kill. She can't go anywhere, we've got her trapped."

I shake my head. I don't like this murderous Cato. To be honest, it kind of scares me.

"Penny, go on. I would, but I'll probably break one of the branches, and fall."

"I can't, Cato. I just can't."

"Just think of it as another step home," he says, knowing it'll sway me.

I sigh and give in. I nod slowly, and he passes me one of the knives he got for me from the Cornucopia. I take a shaky breath and start to climb. I feel awful, debating whether or not to kill someone, especially when they can hear, and then climbing up and up, closer and closer to their death.

I climb the tree slowly, as if I'm trying to give her a chance to hide, or defend herself, though I know she's most likely unarmed.

I look up and see her nearly at the top of the tree. She's completely trapped now. It's either wait for me, or jump and die anyway.

I climb up to her branch, and watch her edge away. Fear and sadness flicker through her eyes. She looks down, but realises there's no point in climbing.

Even if I didn't throw a knife after her, Cato's waiting right at the bottom of the tree trunk. And he wouldn't be as hesitant as me.

"Please," she begs quietly, though she must know it's pointless.

"Penny!" I hear Cato shout.

"I'm sorry," I tell her. "But I need to go home, back to my sister, she needs me, I need her," I gabble, as if I'm trying to somehow justify killing her.

"PENNY!"

"I'm so so sorry," I say again, before throwing my knife at her chest. She tries to curl up, but she isn't fast enough, and it hits her, almost right in the chest.

She doesn't scream, she doesn't cry, she just lies there, staring right at me, her eyes piercing me, like the knife that I've just used to pierce her chest. I watch the life leave her eyes.

"I'm sorry," I repeat, and turn and climb down, falling on the last few branches I'm in such a state. Cato gently picks me up from the floor, and gets me back to my feet.

"Are you okay?" he asks softly, just as the cannon goes off.

"No," I tell him, and I start to cry. "I can't believe I did that, what's wrong with me? I'm just evil."

"Oh, Penny. No you're not. You had to do it. She would've killed you. She's probably killed quite a few people by now."

"She wasn't armed, Cato. It wasn't fair of me to kill her."

"She's clever though. She's probably been setting traps for people. I bet she would've set one for us if she lived much longer."

"That doesn't justify killing her."

He sighs. "Look, let's just go, okay?"

I nod and follow him around the tree and down a clearing. There are still tears pouring down my cheeks. We hear the hovercraft come and take her body away. 

"Cato, can you carry me?" I ask him. I know it's lazy, but I suddenly feel so exhausted, mentally and physically, and honestly, I just can't be bothered to keep walking.

Cato just says, "Sure," and puts his bag in my back too, and gives me a piggy back.

"Thanks," I whisper, and rest my head on his shoulder.

"You've just got to let it go, Penny. It'll get easier, I promise."

"When?"

"I don't know," he sighs.