the games ↠ cato hadley

alternate ending

so, this is following everything from the story except that tatum didn't get the bow when katniss fled from rue. it starts at the beginning of the Feast. also cato's speech leaves me a blubbering mess every time so woot woot

...

I reached for the bag labeled with a 2, then, after some thought, I grabbed the one with a 12 too. I turned to run and was met by a blade at my neck. 

"Drop the bag," Katniss said. 

Fuck. Think, Tatum. Think.

"What if I don't?" 

"I-I'll kill you." She wasn't confident, but that just made it worse, as she wouldn't hesitate to kill. She was trying to prove herself, whether to her own mind or the Capitol. I slid my hand down my thigh and unsheathed a knife. I threw her bag and swung my arm back, stabbing her leg. 

I felt what was coming before it happened. 

She fell down before she fell back, and the weight of her body sunk the knife into my stomach. Instantly, searing pain spread through my abdomen. 

I took a sharp breath in. Thresh stood at the edge of the woods, his face in absolute shock. She scampered off towards the bag and I moved as fast as I could back towards the cave. Every step was excruciating, but I was determined to get back to Cato. 

"Cato!" I called out as I reached the entrance. "Cato." I pushed the branches out of the way and practically fell into the cave. The blade was still lodged in my abdomen, and I could tell I didn't have all that long left. He was awake when I looked at him, his expression horror-stricken. I quickly opened the bag and pulled out a syringe, then stuck the needle into his shoulder, pushing the medicine in. 

"What happened?" Tears were welling in his eyes. "I told you not to go."

"It's okay, Cato." He laid my head in his lap.

"No, no. You were supposed to go home. We were supposed to go home." He cried. I was beginning to get teary, and the pain was subsiding.

"I took Katniss's bag and she got mad. Thresh just stood there in shock." I took a shaky breath. "Tell my Mom and Alexa that I love them. And Clove too. Tell them I'm so sorry I didn't get to say goodbye."

"No, you're going to tell them yourself, because you're staying with me. Ok?"

"Tell Cree I said goodbye. And you," I grabbed his hand, sniffling. "I love you. But I need you to be happy. I need you to be okay without me. Promise me." 

"No, no, you're not going anywhere, you're staying with me because I love you."

"Cato, please," I pleaded. 

He nodded, salty tears dripping onto my own. "I promise." He sobbed. 

The pain was gone now. "I love you, I love you, I love you." I chanted. I was trying so hard to keep my eyes open, but I was so tired. I let my eyelids flutter shut, embracing the warm feeling washing over me. "I love you." I breathed out.

3rd Person P.O.V.

The blonde boy pressed his face into the girl's chest as the canon went off. 

"No!" He screamed. "No! She was supposed to go home! She was the good one!" His whole body shook violently and his voice dropped. "I'm so sorry baby, I'm so sorry. I was supposed to get you home. I promised you." He kissed her forehead and wiped the tear still rolling down her temple. "Goodbye, princess. I love you," He sobbed. He gently pulled her body out to a clearing in the woods, holding her until the hovercraft came. 

His eyes filled with rage as he remembered what she told him. Thresh just watched.  He re-entered the cave, collecting his shirt and sword, before venturing into the forest to find the District 11 tribute. He stalked through the trees for days, eventually catching sight of the dark-skinned boy. It was nearly pitch black, only the artificial stars providing light, but Cato had no issue following him. 

When Thresh's back was turned, Cato came running out from the shadows. 

"You!" He yelled. "You didn't do anything! You just watched!" He slashed his sword across Thresh's torso and the canon went off not long after.

 A pair of large blue eyes lit up in the darkness. Cato froze. 

They were Tatum's eyes. 

In his moment of weakness, the mutt jumped onto him. He stabbed through its chest with his sword, letting out a pained cry. He ran through the woods, fighting off mutts every once in a while, trying to get to the Cornucopia. Eventually, the silver horn was in sight and he pushed himself harder to get there. 

Katniss and Peeta were already on top of it, their backs to him. Another mutt pulled him down and raked its claws over him. He stayed silent, stabbing this one as well. He climbed up the the of the Cornucopia, then grabbed Katniss's shoulder and threw out of the way. He punched Peeta, aiming the sword at Katniss, but was tackled by the boy. Peeta tried to push him over the edge, but Cato threw him into his District partner. He picked Peeta up again, dragging him to the side of the Cornucopia. Turning to Katniss, he swung his sword at her, but she dodged, so he held her head over the mutts, choking her. She struggled for breath, but Peeta picked Cato off of her, throwing him to the surface. Cato regained control, holding him in a headlock at the edge as Katniss aimed her drawn bow at him. Blood dripped from his many wounds, and tears streamed down his face.

"Go on," He said. "Shoot. Then we both go down and you win." Peeta struggled against Cato's grip. "Go on. You killed her. I'm dead anyway. I always was right?" He sniffled. "I ju- I didn't know that till now."

 He looked around the sky. "How's that? Is that what they want? Huh?" Katniss's bow followed his stumbling movements. "Ha," He said, moving Peeta away from her aim. He moved his hands to where he could break Peeta's neck. "No. Nah, nah," He struggles. "I can still do this. I can still do this. One. More. Kill. It's the only thing I know how to do." Peeta tapped his finger on Cato's hand. "Bring pride to my District. Not that it matters." Katniss changed her aim and shot his hand. He screamed and let go, and Peeta took the opportunity to throw him into the crowd of barking mutts below. He screamed in pain, crying out every time a mutt sunk its teeth into him. 

Katniss looked over the edge, drawing her last arrow. 

"Please," He whimpered.

She let it fly, and the canon boomed.

A/N: i linked the vid bc it makes it easier to understand. i cried writing this and not tryna sound weird but i hope i did well enough that you cry too.

wc: 1173