Trapped

I'm a lot happier with this chapter! There's gore and injections and the like at the beginning, but I don't know whether I'd class it as in your face or not. So if you have a weak stomach, just read a bit further down, ahah. Enjoy!

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Blood, pain, an Avox with his head smashed in. More blood. I hear someone scream again and it takes a few seconds to realise that it's me. I cling onto the back of the sofa, scared that Cato is going to detonate at any moment and explode, ripping me to shreds as well. I can sense the insanity flickering through his flecked eyes, and it doesn't settle well with me. As he turns to face me, I prepare for the worst. He takes a deep breath. And then he starts to collapse, his body twisting and writhing violently, and I see Lysander behind him with a needle. Its as if I am Cato, I can feel my eyes getting droopy, the dark shadows edging my vision as my view of the room becomes blurry and unrecognisable. I'm slowly drowning in the darkness, feeling more and more lost and confused. Red. Blood. Then the escape of sleep.

Sleep doesn't really give me an escape. I see the Avox girl's face as Cato seizes her throat, the pools of the sticky red substance, the look in his usually collected eyes that terrified me. I have seen him like that before, more than once, when he goes on killing rampages and I have to calm him down. Back at home. It's hard to even remember now. One time, a boy angered him to the point of madness, and he cracked his neck. The boy only just survived it, thanks to his Father knowing someone in the Capitol who dealt with major injuries. But nothing compares to the purely delirious, bloodthirsty sarcasm I saw in Cato's eyes when he killed those Avoxes.
"Clove?" Hallien pushes the door open as I open my eyes. She sits at the end of the bed and I feel a waft of cool, sweet, Capitol scent drift through the room. I sigh and try to sit up in the mountain of pillows that now surround me. How long was I out for?
"What have I missed?" I try to say it with some sort of cocky air, but the graveliness of my throat prevents it.
"Clove, are you alright? You blacked out and starting talking, and then just fell silent. We were really worried. You've been out cold for nearly two days now." She sounds genuinely worried. Probably because she doesn't want a weak, ill girl in her precious Career pack. I cough and lean back.
"I'm fine. I think it was just shock."
"Well that is what we're aiming for the the Arena. If you can't cope, you'd better watch out. And just try not to make many kills." I scoff when I hear her words of supposed warning.
“Are you kidding? I’m a Career, you idiot.” I shake my head and pull back the covers, “Wait, if I’ve been out for two days, does that mean that it’s the last day of training?” I feel my stomach drop as I count back the days. Yes. The last day. The personal sessions are tomorrow.
“Yes, I know. Just... just make sure that you stay safe, Clove. If I want anyone to win, it would be you, you know that? I know I’m just supposed to be your mentor, but I always pick favourites. Look out for the parachutes in the Arena.” She gives a steady smile, then stands. I listen at the door until I know that she’s far away, then grab some clothes and struggle into them. Favourites, whatever. She’s probably said exactly the same thing to Cato.
Wait. Cato. Where is he? What happened after I passed out?
“Hello?” I pull my top over my head as quickly as I can when I hear someone else at the door. It creaks open yet again, and I see a wary pair of eyes staring at me. I blush when I realise that I’m stood in a top and underwear, but try not to care. The dark circles underlining Cato’s eyes make me feel bad, was it my fault? Probably, seeing as I was the one to fall in love with him, let him kiss me, kiss him back. I edge to the back of the room, my nerves kicking in as he steps in. Is he still mad? “Clove, I’m sorry.” He takes another step towards me and runs his hand through his thick, dirty blonde hair.
“No you’re not. You’re happy you killed them. You felt accomplished.” I snarl as the words pool up in my mouth like poison. I’ve hurt him.
“How would you even know that, I never -”
“Because I... I know you better than anyone else, Cato. Sure, we never spoke back in District 2, or rarely, anyway. But I watched you. And I really do know you better than anyone. I know the way you work, and I admire it. I know your tactics, your strengths, and your weakness.” I mumble the last sentence, trying to finish it as soon as it had started. He looks at me in pure surprise and for a second I think he’s going to flip out again. Instead, he leans forward, holding out his hand. I take it slowly, feeling his fingers flex around mine, trying to get used to the contrast. His huge fingers, his rough skin. I look back up into his eyes again, and try to register the odd feeling in my stomach. It’s not butterflies. It’s not romance. It’s the feeling I link with Lisbeth running at me for a hug when I get back from training, Mother’s crumpets, Father’s whistling, and my childhood. It’s the feeling of comfort. Of home.
“I would ask about my weakness again, but you’re not going to tell me, are you.” He shakes his head, a chuckle bursting from his mouth. It’s hard to imagine him, the chiselled, laid-back teenager from District 2, being able to inflict pain and death with his bare hands. I sigh again and grab my trousers.
“Mind letting me get dressed?” I say, with a hint of annoyance.
“Fine. But I’m not leaving.” He laughs and lets go of my hand, plopping himself down on the bed.
“Please.” I raise an eyebrow when he doesn’t move, then turn towards the bathroom. He beats me to it. I roll my eyes and tug on my trousers. “Happy now?”
“No.” He mumbles and I find his hands around my waist. My heart beats faster than ever as he pushes his hands through my hair and into a ponytail. I punch his chest in jokey anger, wanting to get training and figure out some tactics. But he’s got me trapped in his grip as he shuffles us across the room and gets a hair tie. I start to cry out, not in pain, but in amusement.
“Let me go, you idiot!” I push him again and again, but when I look up at him, he has an obvious smirk on his face. I smack him, the carry on trying to get out of the iron barrier that are his arms.
“You’ll have to bribe me, Clove.” For a moment, I give up. I push all the thoughts of training out of my head and focus on the slightly unsteady heartbeat that is Cato’s. How would I bribe him? I wonder, but then it clicks. I tilt my head up a little and free my arms, moving them up around his neck. I feel his arms relax and he closes his eyes, parting his lips a little, as if he expects me to kiss him. I use the opportunity and push him hard in the stomach, throwing him back onto the bed, then rushing to the door, running down the corridor and collapsing with laughter in the elevator.

“Why is he ignoring you?” Glimmer asks, glancing over at Cato and back at me. I’m trying to learn some archery before the big day, and it’s not really working. Mainly because Glimmer seems to be spending more of her time gossiping and swooning over the District 4 boy, who she claims looks like Finnick Odair.
“I think I annoyed him a bit this morning.” I look down, fiddling with the arrows as I try to hold back a soft smile that I can feel appearing on the corners of my lips. Cato’s gaze is still burning hard into the back of my neck.
“What did you do?” The girly giggle from Glimmer drags me back to our conversation and away from my stupid thoughts of Cato Kaeron. I’d almost forgotten that I’ll have to try to kill him some time soon.
“Uh, it doesn’t matter.” I bite my lip and practice holding the bow up to my cheek, trying to get the movement to be as fast as possible.
“Is it true that you kissed?” Her words stop mine. I feel a wave of bile flood through my throat and my cheeks flame red. Cato, you’re dead. I throw the bow to the floor and storm across the room. My fingers find their way to Cato’s collar, and with surprising strength, I pull him back towards the elevator, trying not to draw attention, but obviously failing.

“What the hell, Cato!” I scream at him once the doors have sealed shut. I’m not planning on going anywhere, I just know that the whole pod is somewhat soundproof. Let’s see if that’s true.
“Woah, Clove, calm it. What did I even do?” I shove him into the side of the elevator, hoping that no buttons have been pressed. He seems oddly comfortable with the claustrophobic feel of it all.
“You told her! Or you told someone!” My whisper is harsh and rushed, and I wonder if he hears it at all. When he looks at me with a puzzled expression, I know that he has. “You told Glimmer, or Marvel, or someone, that we kissed. I wish we never had! You don’t know how dangerous this is, Cato!” My voice rises back up into a screech.
“I do. I do know, Clove. Lysander talked to me. He talked about love, and how much it hurts. You know that he fell in love with his District partner? And he got hurt. But I told him that we wouldn’t. Because I would die for you. I would, you know. I’m not weak, but I swear, I will do everything to protect you. I don’t want to be sappy. I just want you to live.”
“Well that’s nice, but how does she know? Glimmer? Hm?” I dig my elbows into his sides.
“I had to tell her because -”
“Why? Why would you do that, Cato! Like you said yourself!”
“Because she was hitting on me, OK? Look Clove, keep yourself under control. Please.” He pushes me away and wanders back towards Marvel and Glimmer. I’m left stranded in the elevator, his words about getting hurt running through my head over and over again. I just want you to live. I will do everything to protect you. I can’t let this happen. I walk back to the archery station and feed all my anger into the dummies, a plan slowly forming in my mind. Cato won’t die. Cato will live. I will take his place. I will die. He has to live. He will live. I’m almost convinced when I sense someone behind me. The girl from 5 snaps me out of my daydream and brings my attention back to the Games.
“Well? What do you want?” I smirk, knowing that I sound cocky and slightly malicious. The girl says nothing. “What, do you want me to just stand here whilst you consider your speech? What is it that you want?” I say the last few words slowly, as if she can’t understand me. She still says nothing. I wonder if she’s an Avox, but Avoxes can’t play the games. I turn away from her and continue to shoot, aiming for the bullseye, but hitting arms and legs. Shooting clearly isn’t my thing, so I leave the arrow and watch the 5 girl take it and drop arrows, not hitting the dummy at all. At least that boosts my confidence a little.

“Clove. We need to talk.” Lysander’s voice mutters through the door as I pace across the door. He has to live. He will live.
“Yeah?” I pull the door open to see him stood, rather provocatively, in just a pair of trousers. He’s most likely trying to distract me. As if.
“About Cato.” I close the door on him as soon as I hear the boy’s name. “Wait, Clove, this is really important. He’s in love with you.” I rest my back on the door, refusing to let him in.
“What is that to you, Lysander? Why should it matter?” I choke out.
“Because any compassion shown by a Career just leads to failure. And of course, I want one of you to win.”
“I don’t care.”
“You love him back, don’t you?” I bite my lip hard, so hard that I feel blood starting to seep into my mouth. I press my fingers to the door for a moment. “Clove?” It takes me a lot of effort to manage to whisper in reply.
“Yes. I do.”

Reviews

[RachelKim]

Wow..this chapter is so detailed and intresting...Its beautiful to me!! am seriously falling in love with this book!!! Continue...