The Hunger Games: Death of the Mockingjay

Chapter 3

After learning the truth about our involvement in the 74th Hunger Games we decided that would be enough for Rue to take just now. If we continued on into the Quarter Quell and then onto the 76th games it might be too much for her 8 year old mind to make sense of. On our way back to meet Haymitch we pass by the entrance to the 76th games and I can't help but look through the open doorway into what lies beyond. I'm shocked at what I see and like a moth to a flame I'm drawn to the sight leaving Peeta and Rue to continue on to the lobby. I head down a short passageway into what is a copy of my launch room. Others have already made their way to the exhibit and are now looking round at the touch screen consoles littered around the room. On the floor in the centre of the room is my pedestal from where I started the games, above is the sole light bulb hanging from the ceiling and the mouldy green walls are an exact copy of the arena. I can't resist walking to the shattered windows and looking down at the Central Park arena which stretches out below me. I can remember the layout, this end is the launch area, infested with overgrown trees and weeds while at the other end of the park is the lake, the meadow and the poisonous brambles which killed the mutt copy of Finnick. This is a mock up of the arena though, a hologram, the real one still exists back in District 1. I jump as a hand grips my shoulder from behind and I swing round half expecting Peeta to pull me away but this hand is firm and strong and my eyes meet those of my ally from the 76th games staring straight back at me. It's the mutt copy of Cato and without a moments hesitation I embrace him.

"Oh my god Cato its so good to see you, what are you doing here?" I say through my smile.

"I guess they invited me because of my involvement in the last games, I wasn't gonna come but I thought I'd better. In any case, I ain't got nothin' else to do"

"So where you been, you never kept in touch after the war, and where's Kit, I thought you guys stuck together?" I say as we walk out through the doorway and into the hall.

"Well we used to live in District 1, not that far from the mutt farm where we were grown, but then last year Kit became sick and she died in the summer. The doctors think it was some fault in her muttation which caused it"

"I'm so sorry Cato, I didn't know"

Cato shrugs his shoulders "it doesn't matter Katniss, she was a good friend and wasn't afraid to die, in her last few days she seemed to be wanting it to end. And so after that I left District 1 and I've been drifting round the country going from District to District"

This news about Kit brings back memories from my last games. Kit, a copy of a morphling tribute from the 75th Hunger Games. She taught me the art of  camouflage using only the forest as her palette. She gave me a massive advantage in that last night in the arena when I defeated the career pack and escaped.
Cato and I make our way back to the main lobby to find Haymitch, Peeta and the kids waiting for us. Peeta steps forward and shakes Cato's hand.

"Hey Cato, it's been a while" he says.

"Yep, sure has, are these your kids?" he replies smiling.

"That's right, this is Rue and Kyler" says Peeta

Both of them nod nervously at Cato, once again not sure of how they should react to this strange muscular guy who towers over them. Cato crouches down so he's more at their height.

"You know what, your Mom and Dad are very brave people. You should be proud" he says

"I am" says Rue smiling while Kyler looks on with a frown, not quite sure as to what Cato is talking about.