LOVELY

~ 2.10 ~

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'With crippled anger.
And tears that still drip sore.
A fragile flame aged.
With misery.'
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Seated on the lap of the last person alive that she loved, Indiana watched as the moon rose and the Capitol anthem began. Cato squeezed her closer when the faces appeared.

Wiress (District Three) – Killed by Gloss Summers (District One).

Mags (District Four) – Killed by poisonous fog.

Blight (District Seven) – Killed by force field.

Ophelia (District Six) – Killed by mutts.

Gloss Summers  (District One) – Killed by Katniss Everdeen (District Twelve).

Upon seeing her uncle's face in the sky, Indiana's hand tightened violently around her bow whereas Cato's arms tightened around her waist; constricting her from tearing across the beach and bashing Katniss' skull in with the nearest object. Unfortunately, Indiana had to bury her sorrow and hatred as she knew Katniss needed to be kept alive for the sake of Panem. As long as she ignored the other girl's existence, Indiana believed she could keep a handle on her murderous tendencies.

The young, blonde couple were the only Fallen Tributes still alive and in the space of two days, the majority of the tributes were dead. They were being picked off like fleas. The last face in the night sky was Cashmere's, followed by the cause of death.

Cashmere Summers (District One) – Killed by Johanna Mason (District Seven).

"What?" Indiana whispered, betrayal coursing through her.

During their trip through the forest, Johanna had offered her condolences for the loss of Cashmere and Gloss. At the time, Indiana believed her apologies were out of friendly love and sympathy; people always apologise when they find out you've lost someone. But now, Indiana knew she was apologising due to the guilt and blood on her hands for the responsibility of Cashmere's demise.

"Indie-."

"Don't you dare!" Indiana interrupted, jumping up from Cato's lap and scrambling away from the advancing woman (who had tears in her eyes).

"How could you?"

"I never meant for-."

"For what? For me to find out?!" Indiana shrieked, lip wobbling as she stared at the woman she had once called a friend.

Johanna couldn't stop a tear from falling as she stared at the heartbroken girl, knowing she was to blame for the devastation. Storming off before she broke down in front of the Allies again, Indiana grabbed her weapons and began using one of the trees as target practice. Of course it helped that she envisioned Katniss and Johanna's faces.

"The second we get our chance, we'll break apart from the group and go our own way. We've done our part." Cato pulled her into his chest and held her close, her tears thankfully not dampening the waterproof fabric of his suit.

"I've lost everyone to these stupid Games. Mum and Dad. Aunt Cashmere and Uncle Gloss. Marvel. I have no one left," she mumbled more to herself.

"You have me, Indiana. I'll always be there for you." Cato unclasped the chain around her neck and slid the ring off the golden, symbolic ring. "I'm yours for as long as you'll have me."

Crouching down onto one knee for the second time that week, Cato took the small hand in his own and gently slid the Hadley ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand.

"This belongs here from now on."

Instead of responding, Indiana pulled him up and kissed him passionately (for the second time that week). Winding her hands in his hair, she gave it a sharp tug. He eagerly responded and slid his hands down to rest on her ass, squeezing gently. Despite being surrounded by hundreds of cameras, the pair of them wasted no time in stripping each other of their clothes and erasing some of the pain.

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When morning came, there was another delivery of bread, which everyone feasted on before splitting to do his or her separate activities. It had been unanimously decided that the group should put some distance themselves from each other whilst also ensuring they kept an eye on the one another.

The couple from Twelve were in the water, Katniss teaching Peeta how to win. Johanna took a nap whilst Finnick sat besides her weaving a net out of vines. Beetee played with his wire, muttering under his breath. Cato and Indiana had taken up sparring each other to pass the time. However, the memory of his hands on her body reminded them of the previous night and their sparring match turned into a session of teasing and giggles.

"Remember this?" Cato smirked, his large hands harshly gripping her waist.

Crouching down, Indiana swept his legs out from underneath him and straddled his body, pinning him to the floor.

"Remember this?" The blonde chuckled, pecking him on the lips.

Before things could progress further, Finnick called out for the pair of them. Letting out a groan of disappointment, Cato accepted Indiana's hand and allowed himself to be pulled up off the soft sand.

"I think we can all agree that our next job is to kill Brutus and Enobaria," announced Finnick.

Letting out quiet snarls, Indiana's temper boiled at the idea of murdering two people she had grown up knowing and a muscle in Cato's jaw jumped at the idea of murdering the two people who had mentored him.

"I doubt they'll attack us openly again, not now that they're outnumbered. We could track them down but that would be both dangerous and exhausting." Beetee explained.

"Do you think they've figured out about the clock?" Katniss asked, shuffling away from Indiana at the mention of Brutus and Enobaria being outnumbered. After all, they were outnumbered because their allies had been murdered by two of Indiana's own 'allies'.

"If they haven't, they'll have figured out that some of the zones are wired for attacks. I think our best bet would be to set a trap. What happens at exactly noon and midnight?" Beetee asked.

"The lightning bolt hits the big tree." Cato stated.

"Yes." Beetee praised, causing Cato to smile proudly at himself. "After the bolt hits at noon, before it strikes as midnight, we run the wire from the big tree all the way down to the saltwater. When the bolt strikes, the electricity will travel down the wire and into the beach surrounding the water, which will still be damp from the wave. Anyone in contact with those surfaces at that moment will be electrocuted."

"That's genius." Indiana agreed, surprised at the cleverness of the idea. "Even if the Careers aren't electrocuted, the seafood will be fried. We have enough sponsors and knowledge of the jungle that we'd be safe but they might starve. This could actually work."

"This will require all our efforts, the decision of whether or not we should attempt this is up to the rest of you. Are you in?"

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'I do not want to be afraid.
I do not want to die inside just to breathe in.
I'm tired of feeling so numb.'
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