Melting Ice

Chapter 37

Clove

Sometimes I would wake up and see doctors crowding around me, asking questions.
"Hey honey, how are you feeling?", a plump nurse asked.
"Fine", I mumbled.
Other times it might be Cato, softy speaking to me telling me I'm okay, it's all going to be alright.
Then there was Kayla,"It's all my fault!", she would cry.
"It's not Kayla", I would tell her, half conscious, "I promise". I keep my promises.
Brianna, "Today at nursery, a girl took my doll. But I let her play with it". That made me smile.
Today I woke up to the smell of disinfectant and...pancakes! Pancakes drizzled with sugary syrup and perhaps a few strawberries on top. That's what I want right now.
"Morning Clovers", says a soft male voice, stroking my hair gently. Cato.
"You have pancakes", I mumble.
"Indeed I do", he laughs taking a bite.
"Do I get any?". I seriously need some pancakes right now.
"Nope", he laughs, "Sorry baby, doctors orders".
"What do they know? They are stupid".
"Tu quoque", he mumbles.
"What?". What the hell is he on?
"A flaw in arguing", Cato explains.
"Ugh", I pause to look into his shining blue eyes, "I want to go home".
"I know, but the doctors need to make sure your stable. That means no more cutting".
"How long will it take?".
"Let's ask, yeah?". I nod my head quickly at this. Then I fall asleep again.
Kayla is looking at me when I open my eyes.
"Your awake, good", she says first of all, "So I went to the doctors bla bla bla and now I'm eating again".
"That's all?", I ask. I sit myself up for the first time in ages.
"I miss you", she adds.
"I miss you too Kayla".
"Your coming home soon", Kayla informs me.
"How soon?".
"Like, tomorrow".
"Tomorrow? I have only been here a few days".
"Months", she corrects me, "The medicines you were taking effective your time judgement".
"Months?", is all I can say.
"Months", Kayla confirmers.
"How much have I missed?".
"Nothing really. Oh, and Plurtarch wants to see you".
"When?".
"He's waiting outside".
"Right now?".
"Right now". Ugh, people. "So I better get going, see you later". Kayla hugs me tightly before leaving me alone in this white washed room. I still want pancakes.
"Miss Kentwell", he says seconds later,"How are you?". Perfectly straightened outfit, shining shoes, gelled back hair. Typical Capitol.
"I could be better", I tell him with a small smirk. Wow, my arms ache. Probably from all the needles and tubes stuck in me. Do I really still need all of them?
"Couldn't we all?", he laughs half-heartedly. Nah, I'm fine. Minus the self harming issue that almost killed me. Apart from that, I'm fucking good.
"I have an offer to make", Plurtarch continues in his deep voice that doesn't match his perky outfit or his chubby body.
"No, I'm not killing anyone. No, I won't become a prostitute. And no, I won't become queen", I say just to clear things up.
"No, no my dear" he chuckles. Or was it a giggle? Guys don't giggle- he is more of a man-do they? But 'chuckle' is a weird word, right? "Just...an offer", the long pause worries me, "I, as your leader, would be honoured if you would come back with me to the Capitol, just for a short while".
"What...for?", I say returning the suspicious pauses with squinted eyes.
"A mission", he tells me. Oh dear, I'm going to die.
"What type of mission?", I ask.
"Ever wondered what's out there? What outside of Panem?", I don't get to say my answer, "We want to explore. Not to far, just to a place called Canada".
"Canada?", I shakily say, "We were told it was all gone".
"Lies, Miss Kentwell, all lies".
"What am I supposed to do?".
"Come with me, as support. As a bodyguard?".
"I told you, I'm not killing anyone", I hiss.
"Who said anything about killing?".
"When do we leave?".
"One month. We leave from district 2 to go to the Capitol in one week".
"H-how long will this last?", I stutter.
"A few months", he says.
"What do I get out of this?".
"Pride, victory. Money...".
"Anything worth my time?".
"A chance to change. You don't have to be a cold blooded killer".
"What if I like being that?".
"Then good for you", again with the chuckle/giggle issue, "Come on Clove, do it".
"Fine", I say without thinking straight, "Now leave", I dismiss him with the hand not covered in tubes.