Burning Heart ~ Cato 2 (Completed)

Chapter Ten

I tug at my sleeves as the cold air blasts me. Almost immediately, Cato's hand grips mine.  This is a side of Cato I have never seen. In the arena he was a ruthless killing machine, in the district 12 and in private he was loving and sweet, in the other districts he was cocky. But here, here he is menacing, almost, deadly. His bright blue eyes are a color I have never seen on him. They are dark blue. They are cold. They are, dull. His face is hard, his jaw his clenched. I can feel a small tremble in Cato's rough grasp. As we enter the corridor, two well-dressed people enter my view. And by the clench of Cato's hand, I place them immediately. 

"Cato!" His mother exclaims in an accent close to the Capitols. Even as she loosely hugs him, she keeps her small, pointed nose in the air. When she glances at me, it is no secret of how she feels about me. Cato's hands turn to ice in mine. 

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but we don't have much time to talk" I say with a paper thin smile, attempting an escape. Cato's father turns to me, raking his eyes down me with a disinterested gaze.

"You must be Ashlynn."

It's not a question.

It's barely a statement.

He says it disgruntledly, gauging my face.

I plaster the smile wider. 

"I am, it is nice to meet you."

We stand in silence, and he finally looks away. They envelop Cato into a conversation, pulling him out of my grasp and deeper into the corridor. I watch in silence. 

"Ashylnn?" 

I turn to the voice, and see an older woman. She blends seamlessly into the shadows of the hall. 

"Yes?" I take a step closer to her. As I reach her my stomach drops.

She is the spitting image of my mother.

My breathing speeds up as I take another step towards her. She stands still, watching me with my own eyes. 

"Ashlynn!" I glance at  Haymitch as he walks towards us. I turn to the woman and chills coat my body.

She isn't there.

"Are you okay?" He asks as he reaches me. 

I slowly nod as he takes my arm. He looks at the empty alcove behind me, giving me a worried look. I force a smile as he leads me to Cato. 

When I step out onto the stage, fear seeps in. Everyone here is the Capitol's lapdogs. It's obvious. While in 12, we forage for everything in life, everything is handed to them. They scream for Cato, and he bulks up, turning cocky. As Cato dives into his long and egotistical speech, I can't help but catch the eyes of Clove's family. Chills run down to my bones as I connect eyes with every one of them. Clove's brother scares me more than anything. While her mother, father, and sister have looks of anger, he has a murderous look. 

I can't even focus on my speech, letting my guard down. As soon as the ceremony ends, Cato immediately wraps his arms around me once more, protecting me. 

"You're doing great," He says quietly. 

"I feel like a pig being prepped for slaughter."