Interdistrict

Chapter 2: The Chase

Even though her tribute was passed out from the drugs she was given, Coral stayed by her bedside. She fell asleep in her chair and around midnight felt Finnick gently shake her arm to wake her up.

He convinced her to go to her room to sleep. She was grateful that he didn't make any comments about wasting her time with Violet since she would be dead soon. She knew he was thinking it but she was grateful to him for not saying it.

She wished she could detach herself from her emotions as easily as he did but she couldn't. Last year and the year before had been the same. When her tributes had died she had grieved for them. Finnick had simply been disappointed and within a day he had gotten over it. A part of her envied him and wished she could be like that, but she couldn't let herself become that way. The Games had already taken so much from her, she wasn't about to let them take her humanity. Feeling loss and pain was a part of being human. She had promised that she wouldn't become a mindless drone like a lot of the other victors.

Instead of heading up to the 4th floor, Coral decided to stay on the ground floor and go to the hotel bar. It was an extravagant space like all places in the Capitol. Giant, sparkling chandeliers hung from the roof as soft jazz played in the background. She briefly wondered how much one of the chandeliers were worth and how many people it could feed if it were sold. Thinking about it made her nauseous. It disgusted her. She pushed her thoughts aside, walked to the bar and sat upon one of the stools and ordered a drink.

Without realising it, as she sipped her icy, raspberry daiquiri, she began rehearsing in her mind what she would say to Violet when she woke. How could she tell her that her leg was going to remain broken? How do you tell someone facing death that it would now be certain? That there is no chance of coming out alive at all?

Coral's thoughts were interrupted when someone sat down on the stool next to her. She didn't turn to look at them but her peripheral vision told her they were broad and muscular.

"Can I buy you another drink sweetheart? You look like you need some cheering up."

She turned to see Cato smirking at her. She downed the rest of her drink hastily and set it down on the bar with a light clink.

"I was just leaving," she responded curtly as she hopped off the stool. She wasn't going to deal with this asshole tonight. She didn't want to have anything to do with him.

The last thing she expected him to do was follow her to the elevator.

"Oh come on love, there's no need to be that way," he taunted as he caught up to her. She ignored him and walked faster but her small steps were no match for his long strides.

When they reached the elevator she pushed the 'up' button harder than was needed.

"You know, most women let me by them a drink before they invite me up to their room but I'm happy to make an exception for you since you're so desperate to get upstairs."

Coral was no longer ignoring him.

"I didn't invite you anywhere asshole!" she snapped as she turned to look at him. Her response was meet with a smug grin. He had got her to speak to him. She wanted to punch that grin right off his face.

"There's no need to fight it love. I would show you a good time. You clearly need it. All you do is frown."

Coral's temper flared and she glared daggers at him.

"I don't sleep with people who take pleasure in murdering the innocent. I remember how you were in The Games. I know what you are and what your idea of a good time is. Forgive me if you beating the crap out of me while you rape me doesn't sound appealing!"

Cato was no longer smiling. He swallowed nervously as he processed what she had said but she didn't notice. She wanted to get away from him as quickly as she could so she pressed the button again with more fervour than the last time.

The elevator let out a soft 'ding' as it reached the ground floor and the doors slid open. Cato watched Coral step in without saying anything but as the doors began to close he composed himself and jutted his arm out aggressively to stop them.

Coral looked up in surprise. Cato gracefully stepped into the elevator without saying anything, he then calmly placed his hands in his pockets and patiently waited for the doors to close again.

He was looking straight ahead and not at her and the realisation suddenly hit her with full force that she was about to be trapped in a confined space with a dangerous predator who she had just insulted.

As the doors closed a bolt of nervous energy jolted through her body. She prepared for him to attack her but it didn't come. They passed each floor in silence and when it reached the fourth floor she let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding.

That's when it came.

Cato swiftly pulled on the leaver that stopped the elevator, spun to face her and slammed her against the wall.