Chapter 8

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It's time to be strong

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It's time to be strong.

_________________________

Apparently, Peeta pulled the love card too.

Cato for sure wasn't happy about that. He wanted to kill both of twelve the second we got in there. As soon as we get off the pedestal just immediately kill Katniss with his bare hands.

Brutus pushed open the doors ahead of me. We walked outside as I could see a hovercraft waiting for our arrival. I looked at him and took a deep breath. He nodded at me.

"You can win this, Kat. If you're smart about the things you do," He reassured me. "Don't let your feelings towards Cato hold you back." He put his hand on my cheek.

As I was walking to the hovercraft, all I could think about was Cato. How is this going to go down? Will Cato kill me or will someone else do it for him? What happens if we're the last two alive?

I walked up the ramp and saw the other tributes sitting in their seats. Cato and I made eye contact and he looked at the seat next to him. I sat down as I heard him sigh. He looked tired, as most of these tributes did since it was so early in the morning.

"Did you get any sleep last night?" I asked quietly. He shook his head.

My leg started to bounce as I watched the ramp close shut. A lady was walking around with a device that went into your skin. She walked over to Cato and he lifted up his arm without her having to say anything. I watched the device go into his skin and beep a couple of times. She looked at me next.

"Give me your arm."

"What is that?" I asked. She grabbed my arm from me and a sharp pain ran through my entire arm. I winced as it pulled out.

"Your tracker." She moved onto the next person.

I looked at my arm and saw there was a circle as to where the device was placed. It looked as though it didn't even enter my arm. My palms were sweaty, my knee was bouncing. Cato noticed it, but wasn't amused enough today to say something.

I think even deep down Cato was nervous.

Suddenly the hovercraft raised itself in the air. And I felt my stomach churn as we were being lifted off of the ground. I didn't like this feeling. I sat back in my seat and grabbed my own leg tightly. Cato put his hand on his leg, which brushed mine. His pinky touched my hand ever so slightly. I think that was his attempt of comforting me. It worked, somewhat.

Minutes later the hovercraft was already landing. It thudded on the ground and the bars clicked to signal that they were unlocked. The other tributes pushed up the bars and we all stood up. My heart beat elevated as I saw a huge building in front of us. It was a dome shape, but it quickly disappeared as we were forced inside.

This is it. This is where I'm going to die.

I felt a hand place on my back, Peacekeeper's were directing us all in different directions.

"Wipe that look off your face when we get in there. It's time to be strong," it was Cato. He whispered it in my ear as he walked the opposite direction I was instructed to go towards.

I slowly walked towards a room and saw a Peacekeeper motioning for me to come towards him. He basically shoved me inside of the room, I turned around to glare at him but the door slammed in my face.

I heard a chuckle behind me and jumped. I turned around to find Ramsey. I sighed and walked towards him.

"You do have that attitude, don't you sweetheart." He opened his arms and I rested my head on his shoulder. He patted my back.

"You're as talented as they come, Kat," He encouraged. "Use that charm I know you have, but don't be too flirty with Cato." I stepped back from him and he gave me a black coat. He helped me put it on.

"I'm scared," I whispered. He brushed something off my shoulder.

"They just want a good show, my darling," He said and pushed some of my baby hairs down in my high pony tail. "I don't know if anyone's told you this. I believe in you, I truly do." I pressed my lips together. My thoughts couldn't even form properly at this point. "You have to believe it in here though." He touched the center of my forehead. "Imagine how proud your parents would be if you went home."

What's home without Cato?

"Thirty seconds." A panic ran through me as I made eye contact with Ramsey.

"My parents don't care," I tell him.

"Then do it for yourself."

Do this for yourself.

Not Cato, not your parents, not Roland.

You.

"Take a deep breath Kat. Seriously." I breathed in slowly. He grabbed my shoulders. "Don't let Cato get too cocky in there. Let him make most of the big decisions, but stand up for yourself, question his decisions sometimes. Don't let things go down so easily." I nodded. "And definitely don't listen to anything Glimmer says, she got the lowest score out of everyone." I nodded again.

"Twenty seconds." He pulled his hands down from my shoulders. I sucked in a nervous breath.

He motioned for me to go on. I turned around to see a clear tube and I slowly walked over towards it.

"I'll see you when you win, Kat."

Maybe in my dreams.

Shut up brain.

"Ten seconds"

Fuck.

I stepped into the tube and it closed almost immediately. Ramsey nodded at me, only once. A couple of seconds later the bottom platform I was standing on started to move up. I immediately placed my hands on both sides of the tube.

A bright light beamed in my face as I got lifted into somewhere where the air was cool. The green tree's didn't look like real ones, the air didn't smell fresh - though they made it look like we were in a real forest. I narrowed my eyes as I looked around and took in my surroundings. My eyes found stream of water not too far away.

I darted my eyes around each of the tributes. I found Cato and he nodded at me. I nodded back. 'Wipe that look off your face when you get into the arena'. His words ran through my head. I stood tall and tried to look as confident as possible as I looked back at the cornucopia that was a couple hundred feet in front of us.

50..49...48

My mind went towards what happens if Cato stabs you in the back? Who do you go to then? Do I stay by myself? I know I have enough knowledge to keep me alive. Honestly, I'd just stay in tree's, only 'hunt' if I have too. I think that's the rule I'll keep for myself that I would never say aloud as a career. Only kill if in danger. But I still have to stay strong and confident.

30...29...28....

I thought of my parents, were they watching? Were they proud of how I've been doing so far? Or did they already stop watching? What about Roland? Was he proud of my 10?

10...9...8...

I took my position as I looked at the cornucopia. What happens if I don't survive the bloodbath.

3...2....1

Let the Hunger Games begin.

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