Promises (A Clato Fanfic)

Chapter 22: Final Interview

Clove POV:

It has been 2 days since we got out of the arena. Today is the day of our interview. My prep team comes to get me ready. Alex walks in my room and I run up and hug her. This is the first time I've seen her since the day we went into the arena. "Hey, I told you you would make it out. I'm so happy to see you. I missed you so much." she says.

"I'm happy to see you too. I missed you more. What will I be wearing for the interview." I ask her.

"It's a surprise, but first Snow wants to see you." Oh shit. I think.

"Does he want Cato too?" I ask her.

"No, just you. Be careful. Don't make him mad." she tells me and walks away. Two peacekeepers come and get me and lead me to President Snow's office. They open the door and I enter. "Ah, Miss Fuhrman. I'm so happy to see you. How've you been?" Snow says to me.

"It's nice to see you too, sir. Such an honor. I've been doing great." I say as nicely as possible.

"Great. Now I want to talk to you about your little stunt. I let it happen just this once and you don't get any second chances. Understood?" I nod my head. "Great. Now you may go get ready for your interview." he says and two peacekeepers come and get me and take me to my dressing room. I see Alex. "There you are. Are you ready to see your outfit?" she asks me.

"Yep, sure am." she tells me to close my eyes and I do.

I wait another 2 hours and she lets me open my eyes. I'm wearing a peach colored dress that comes to my knees and it has a heart on the back. I'm also wearing some nude colored flats with a big pearl necklace. I look stunning. "Thank you so much Alex. I love it." I tell Alex.

"No problem. Now lets get you backstage." she says and we walk backstage. 2 weeks ago, there were 24 tributes standing back here, now only two of the 24 are left and we are standing where we were two weeks ago. The thought of this makes me want to go back in time and not volunteer. I guess I should be happy that me and Cato made it out, but I wish I didn't have to kill anybody to get here.

The minute I see Cato, I run up to him and hug him. I start crying into his chest. It's a good thing I have waterproof mascara. "Hey, what's wrong?" Cato asks me.

"Everything. Two weeks ago we were here with 22 other people. Those people are dead and all because of us. Then there's Snow and-" he cuts me off.

"What about Snow? Did he hurt you?" Cato asks concerned.

"No, he just told me no second chances. I don't know what he means. I know he's not happy, he made that clear."

"Well, he can't hurt you. I won't let him. We're in this together. Whatever happens to you, happens to me."

"Promise?" I ask him.

"I promise." he tells me. He kisses me, but we're interrupted by someone talking to us. "6O seconds." a robot like voice tells us. We break apart and get ready to go on stage.

"Welcome. Tonight, we will see the victors of the 74th Annual Hunger Games, Clove Fuhrman and Cato Ludwig." Caesar says and the crowd goes wild. We walk hand in hand onto the stage. "Hello Clove and Cato. How've you been since the games?" Caesar asks me.

"We've been doing great." Cato replies.

"That's good, now tell us. What do you two plan to do in the future?" Caesar asks us.

"Well, we eventually plan to get married and start a family. We both can't wait to be mentors." I say.

"Well, I would love to talk some more, but I believe we have a video to watch." I forgot about the video. Every year after the game, they make the games into a 3 hour movie and make the victors watch it.

First they show our reaping, me volunteering then Cato volunteering. Then they show the parade. Me and Cato looking vicious. Then the scores, and the interviews. Cato telling the world he loves me. Then the bloodbath. This is the part I've been dreading. I don't want to see myself kill these kids. They show me throwing that knife into the boy from 9's back. Then they show Cato cutting open Evan's throat. Then it shows Glimmer's death. I start to cry so I bury my head into Cato's chest. He runs my back in a soothing motion. I look up and they're showing Marvel and Rue's deaths. This makes me cry even more. Then they show the feast. Thresh holding me against the cornucopia then Cato saving me. Then they show me killing Katniss. I can't watch it. Sure her love was fake, but she did live someone. Her family. I took her away from them. Then they show me looking for Cato. Then the mutts and Cato saving me, again. Then they showed winning. That's the end of it.

They turn on the lights and Snow comes on stage. He's holding one victor's crown. Probably for Cato. Then he breaks it in half and hands me half and Cato the other. "May I present to you the victors of the 74th Hunger Games, Clove Fuhrman and Cato Ludwig." The crowd cheers then we walk off. Tomorrow we can go home. We can spend the rest of our lives together. No more Capitol and no more games.