Once we were back at the Cornucopia, I almost collapsed onto the ground from exhaustion. It had been a LONG day. Instead, however, I walked over to one of the crates, grabbing a sleeping bag, and unfurling it underneath the tarp that was set up alongside the pile of supplies.
I crawled inside, zipping the fabric together. I had just closed my eyes when Cato pulled a blanket up alongside me, lying on top of it, and using only his jacket for warmth. I felt his arm wrap around me, and I realized soon that he had fallen asleep.
I sighed, my mind buzzing.
The games were coming to an end. How many of us were there left? I don't remember, I lost count. What would happen if Cato and I were the final two? No, don't think about it! But, I can't, what am I supposed to do? Kill myself probably, I could do it before Cato could do anything to hurt himself. They would scoop him up into the hovercraft, and then he'd go home... Be safe... Yeah, that's what I'll do, I mean, how could I continue my life if Cato wasn't there with me? I couldn't. So, I'll do it, make sure that he makes it out of here. I mean, I don't have anyone to go home to. Well, I mean, I have my mother, but she doesn't care about me. She didn't even come to say goodbye, not even to congratulate me on being picked. Nothing, not a word.
The anthem played, stopping my previous thoughts, as I looked up at the sky, which revealed the face of the boy we had killed earlier.
I sighed again, my mind more at ease now, as I drifted into unconsciousness.
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The next morning, I woke early for a change. Cato, and Marvel were both asleep, but Ian was still on guard. Come to think of it, Cato had made sure that I had never had to take a shift. It must only be, what, three in the morning? Ian looked exhausted.
I pulled myself out of the sleeping bag slowly, away from Cato's arm, trying not to wake him.
I then stood, and grabbing a container of dried fruit and nuts, I sat down next to him on the crate. "I can take over now if you want. I'm not tired." I said in a soft whisper, not wanting to wake the others.
"Okay," he said, clearly exhausted, and stumbled over to his belongings, resting his head against his backpack.
I looked up into the sky. Was it real? Or was it another creation of the game makers?
I sat like this until the sun began to rise. I swallowed the last bite of my food, grabbed a water bottle, and took a swig to banish the salt from my tongue.
"What are you doing up Clover?" Cato asked, and I jumped a little. I didn't realize he was awake. He sat next to me, taking one of the supply bags, and pulling out an apple.
I handed him one of my knives. I know how he likes to eat it. I learned this from when we were little. I hadn't eaten fresh fruit in a long time. My mother doesn't support me. I came into these games so that if I came out I could support myself. I mean, yeah, I ate food, as much as anyone in 2, but it wasn't exactly good. I ate leftovers people would give out, I ate the fruit that no one would buy. Yeah, it's gross, but it's how I fed myself. I wasn't exactly wealthy. We don't all get what we want.
Cato accepts the knife, cutting off a chunk of the apple and handing it to me. I placed the slice of fruit in my mouth, biting down and letting out an involuntary moan of pleasure. I felt a little embarrassed, as I wiped away the juice that was dribbling down my chin.
"It's that good?" He asked, with a smirk. Yeah, you know what happened next. I melted.
I nodded my head, swallowing.
"I haven't gotten to eat a good apple since we were little, when you used to buy them for me, before training." I said, wiping the juice from the apple on my hands off onto my jacket.
"You know, I missed you once training started." He said. We hadn't talked since, because we knew that we might end up in the games against each other.
"Yeah, me too. It didn't do any good though. Look where we are. But, why'd you volunteer Cato? I mean, why go in if it means having to watch m- one of us dying? Why go in together?" I ask.
He sighs. "I wanted to protect you, make sure that you got out, send you home."
"To what? Back to my mother? My fathers grave? There's nothing there for me. You have family. I only wanted to get into these games for the money, so that I could support myself, leave my mothers emotional abuse." I say, getting a little angry. I didn't expect to feel Cato's lips on mine. It was soft, gentle, reassuring. He pulled away, cupping my face in his big hands, and searching my eyes with his blue ones.
"It's going to be okay Clove, I promise, you're going to go home, live a whole new life. Okay? That's all I want." He says, not letting my answer as he pulls me close, and holds me tightly, but gently all the same.
I felt tears stinging my eyes, since I wasn't going to let that happen. I was going to die in these games, whether by my own hand or not, I wanted him to go home. He had 3 brothers, a loving mother and father, a house, a home. I didn't. Cato had something to go back to, and I was going to do anything that I could to make sure that he got there.
I only know two things right now. I love Cato more than anything in the world, and I know, that he's going home. Even if it means my demise.
