54

We get the car, driving them to out house. " Where are we going?" Dom asks looking out the window.

" Can't tell you that until we get there."

We get to our house, both of them look at the houses in amazement, " Just think if you win, you could live here to." Cato chimes in.

Dom and Dezzy look at eachother before following us to the woods.

" Tie these to your belts." Cato instructs.

They do hesitantly, " Ok, so it's you two against me and Kaylaya. If you grab the ribbon you killed them, whoever has the other team's ribbons win."

" You guys are victors though. How are we supposed to beat you?" Dom scoffs.

" You two need to figure that out. we'll be content if you last longer then 5 minutes. We'll give you a head start." Cato teases tying the ribbon to his pants.

" I'd go." I say.

They go, running through the woods.

" How long do we wait?"

" Who said we're waiting? I'm tired from you waking me up and I just want to rest." Cato says.

" I wanted to see if they were ok. I saw your worry to you know."

" Yea, I care about my tributes. I'm not completely heartless." He comments giving me a snide look.

I chuckle, " I know, your a big softie."

I start running, Cato was behind me mumbling he's not.

The woods floor was wet, they were leaving tracks..this was going to be to easy.

We walk slowly trying to see or hear anything, we hear mumbling and them walking.

I look at Cato who was already looking at me we burst out in the clearing seeing the both of them. They look at us before sprinting, we were hot in their tails, we eventually get them.

" You know, if we had weapons this would be completely different." Dezzy sulks.

" What if something happens to your weapons then what?

Dezzy rolls her eyes, " Make some?"

I nod " Yes."

" Didn't know we were allowed to make any."

" There's no rules in the games, as long as you kill and give them entertainment they or we don't care." Cato says.

We get back to the clearing, the car still there. " The care will take you back to town. Practice if you want. We'll see you tomorrow."

They say goodbye going into the car.

" Come on." Cato says.

I follow him back in the house, resting for most of the day.

The next couple weeks were training for half of the day, we got to know the tributes and analyze them. Their relationship grew but it's still unsteady, one day their ok, the next they fight like dogs ready to kill eachother.

They can't work with others, and that will be a problem. The thing you don't want to do is have a shaky alliance.

But they both have potential, both know what they're doing. They have more kill sense then survival though. 12 has more survival.

I hope these last couple weeks have been ok, I hope they are ok. I'd be lying if I didn't miss them.

I'd also be a liar if I said I didn't want them to win. I'd rather have them win then my own district, and it's horrible to say I know.

Tomorrow is Reaping.

We start the games, this time I'm coming as a mentor.

" Good job today you two. Rest for the rest of the day, we have a big day tomorrow..look your best." Cato says looking between the two of them.

They nod looking at me, " I agree, you need to look as tough as possible."

They leave soon after, I sigh watching them leave.

" Come on, let's get home." Cato says.

The car ride I was quiet, answering if he said anything. I didn;t feel like talking the realization was now setting in, 3 or 4 of them will be dead.

Killed by other tributes, mutts, natural causes, or themselves or their allies.

That makes my stomach tie in knots. It bothers me that all I'll be able to do is watch.

When we got there Enobaria and Brutus were there. " What do they want?" I mumbled. I wasn't exactly in the mood to deal with Brutus's jokes or Enobaria's attitude.

" What are you two doing?" Cato asks. He waits for me to get out of the car grabbing my hand walking towards them.

" Came to talk to you two before you leave us for a couple weeks." Brutus says. " Your the only two people we can deal with."

I scoffed, " Thanks."

" Are you going to invite us in? I'm freezing." Enobaria asks.

There's that attitude.

I know she doesn't mean to sound snippy all the time that's just how it is but when you don't feel like dealing with it, it can be annoying.

Cato let's go of my hand opening up the door. Brutus and Cato walked in first, leaving me and Baria. She was giving me a look like she wanted to say something.

I raise my eyebrows at her, " How are you feeling?" She whispers.

" Nervous."

She nods before going in so the guys don't suspect anything. I know this conversation isn't over yet.

" What do you guys want to drink?" Cato asks.

" I'll take whatever, same with Baria." Brutus says sitting on the stool.

" Kay?" Cato asks looking at me.

" Bourbon."

He grabs the drinks handing them out to all of us, "We'll go out by the fire." He suggests.

We all follow, Cato and Brutus go to get fire wood. Leaving me and Enobaria...and the unfinished conversation.

" Your close with your tributes?" She asks.

" Which ones?" I ask looking at her.

She looked at me then at the fire, " You like all of them?"

" They all have their personalities."

Her eyes narrow, " Which ones do you want to win?"

That's a trick question.

All. Of course I want all. You get to know all of them and what they like or don't like. You see the glimmer in their eyes when they do something right.

But I know one or none of them will be alive a month from now. I want 12 to have a good mentor, along with a victor, they didn't have one since Haymitch and that was accidental.

I also want the pride of our district, 2 is known for the victors, we're favored for it. The Capitol know we train but they don't do anything about it. All of us are decently fed because we give them what they want.

Respect and always a good show.

" It doesn't matter if I like them or not. The games and other tributes decide that for me." I said softly.

She sighs. " It's better not to grow to attached. I know this is your first group so it's hard not to. Your nervous about losing them?"

" Terrified. I know what's going to happen to them eventually."

" We're back! The young'in over here couldn't split wood for the life of him." Brutus says laughing.

Cato was rolling his eyes " You took the good axe."

Enobaria smirks, " Losing your touch Hadley?"

" No." Cato says quickly.

I smile, Cato gets so bothered when he's not the best. Now he'll be chopping wood with the bad axe until he has a whole pile.

Cato sits down next to me, his arm wraps around my waist pulling me even closer so there's no room between the two of us.

He looks down at my full cup.

" You didn't drink anything." He states.

I nibbled on my bottom lip looking from the glass to Cato " We were talking."

He looks over at Enobaria, " About what?"

I know she won't actually tell him, she understands how I work. " About when your going to have enough balls to finally propose to her."

" Soon enough." Cato says simply. Baria's eyes widen looking at him then at me.

I look at Cato I feel my face getting warm again. He gave me an amused smile before looking back at Enobaria, " Why? Your brother still in pursuit to get her?"

" I think her brother would rather choose a peaceful death." Brutus scoffs.

Baria flashed her teeth, " No, but a lot of men think Kaylaya is pretty. They also wonder how she ended up with a Hadley."

Cato adjusts, " I know you love me. Under all that anger."

She rollls her eyes taking big drink of whatever Cato gave to her.

Cato chuckles taking a drink of my bourbon, I give him a look " What? Your not drinking it." He says taking yet another drink.

I grab the glass from his hand downing the rest of it, I give it back to him " Can you go refill please?" I ask trying to give the biggest puppy eyes.

" I'll be back." He mutters getting up, when he does I felt instantly cold. " And grab me a sweatshirt!"

" That's what I'm here for!" He yells back.

" Whipped.." Brutus yells, Making Cato turn aorund also flipping him off.

They all talked, I added in sometimes but not to much I just sat and listened. My mind was going other places, specifically what Enobaria said.

Am I a bad person for not wanting two to win? And how am I not supposed to get close to any of them? They're kids...people, you treat people with the most respect. Especially ones your throwing in to fight to the death.

" Well, we should get going..You two have a busy couple of weeks. If we don't see you tomorrow, good luck with your tributes..and may the odds be ever in your favor." Brutus says.

Cato stands shaking his hand, " Thanks, the games won't know what hit them this year."

I stand also, Baria comes up to me " Whatever happens...remember what you said before ok? You did the best you could training those kids."

Brutus and Cato look over, Brutus hits my shoulder saying I'll be just fine..he is a little drunk so I can't be to upset. Baria gives me a look before following Brutus back into the house and out the door.

I watch them leave before sitting back down watching the fire. Cato sits down next to me looking at the fire to.

" Is that what you and Enobaria were talking about before?" He says after awhile.

I look over at him, he was already looking at me waiting. I nod before looking back at the fire.

He tilts my head so I'm looking at him. " No matter what happens to them, you'll be ok I promise." Cato says.

" How can I just be ok Cato? they're going to DIE." I raise my voice.

He sighs closing his eyes, probably trying not to yell. He knows it's hard. " You just need to be..for them. If your nervous and falling apart when we're there, how do you think they're going to feel? They're going in there. Not you. Your a mentor now. You need to act like it'll be ok. If we fall apart they will. Then we'll have no victors."

I stand up, done with this conversation but Cato grabs my wrist gentle but firm. " Sit back down, we're going to talk about this before we go there and see them all again."

I sit back down looking at him. " Fine."

He smiles faintly. " They know what they need to do. 12 was lucky to get trained, and I will admit they're good, good enough to take down anyone including our own. And Dezzy and Dom volunteered for this. It was their choice, we ask them to be careers they don't need to volunteer for the games."

They don't need to.. Then why did Aspen want to volunteer? The money.

The fame. We make it sound like it's so good, he just wanted to make it. Make a name for himself.

He continues, " I was nervous too you know.. Though I didn't show it. But, it depends on your will to live and what the games throw at you..so just remember that. And remember there's mentors who don't want to see 2's victory... so any weakness WE show will go to the tributes. Any feeling show after they're all dead or behind closed doors."

" Your making me even more nervous." I scoff.

He squeezes me thigh, " Don't. Enobaria had a similar talk this time last year, though I didn't follow that well, and look what happened. We just need to support eachother. We have 4, we have a good chance at bringing someone home."

I nod, Cato takes my face so I'm looking straight in his eyes ". Promise we'll get through this."

" Ok."

" Come on, you look tired."

We got ready for bed, sleeping shortly after. I slept sound the whole night surprisingly. I heard the alarm of Cato's making all the burden crash on me.

He rolls over shaking me lightly. " Kay...Kay? Come on, we need to-"

I sit up, " Yea.. I'm up."

" We got an hour before we need to leave."

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes giving him the thumbs up.

I decide to get dress right away, if I take a shower then I'll think about it more, which I don't want to do.

I find an all red jump suit so I put that on brushing through my hair putting it up in a pony tail. Doing light makeup doing a bold lip to match the suit.

" What are you wearing?" Cato barges in.

I turn looking at him. He looks me up and down before looking directly at me. " You look....beautiful."

The smile creeped on my face, I could feel myself blush. " Thanks."

" So I need to find a shirt to match that..got it."

" You better hurry up, we need to leave soon."

He smiles, " Ehh.. I got time." He comes closer to me, pulling me into him roughly.

I couldn't help but laugh, " Come on.. you need to get moving. You take longer then what I do."

" No I don't" He says offended.

" You do."

He rolls his eyes, " Fine, I'll go." He gives me one more final look before going back in his bedroom.

I go down waiting for him, he eventually comes down. " Ready?"

I nod, trying to keep as much as the nerves in as I could as we drove there.

" Remember what me and Enobaria did for the reapings?" Cato asks.

" You two just stand there right?"

" Right. Look unbothered, I know the cameras will be on us at some point."

" Ok.... What about 12?"

" The lower districts don't have their mentors on the stage. Only 1-4 have them on."

" When will we meet them again? Tonight we'll watch the reaping."

Cato looks out the window, " I'm not sure."

Great, so they're going to watch the reaping with no tips or commentary.

We get there.

My heart was beating so fast I thought I was going to faint, but I won't.

I need to look the part for our tributes.

The town square was packed, every kid from 2 was there and their parents. Last year at this time I was with Aspen worrying about his safety.

All what happened in a span of a year.

" Let's take our places." Cato whispers to me. He already had his emotionless face on, he looked cocky and he's better then everyone.

I do the same, I lift my head looking straight ahead focused on the stage blocking out everyone and everything.

I see Neffy, she gives me a warm smile. I slightly curl my lip departing from Cato going on the girls side. I look around for Dezzy. Maybe that's what Baria was doing last year, looking for Lexus instead of judging us like livestock.

But it is Baria..she was probably doing both.

I find her looking at me, she looked nervous but she still looked ready for what's coming. I was about to nod at her when Neffy started talking.

" Welcome, welcome! To the 76th annual Hunger games! Thank you for all being here with us! Before we continue to select our courageous male and female the Capitol has a special movie for us!"

I had to control myself from not rolling my eyes, which I do every year. Instead I avert my gaze from the crowd slowly to the TV standing a little straighter.

It talked about the Great War and how the Hunger games started. Why still punish us for the things that happened 76 years ago? Right, because the Capitol are all brain washed freaks, for the most part.

Neffy sighs her smile extra bright from all the work she gets done. " Wasn't that Lovely?! Without further ado let's pick our tributes!"

She claps to herself waddling from her metal dress to the girls first. I find Dezzy in the crowd looking at her. She was taking a breath focusing on Neffy.

Neff swirls her hand in the bowl, picking a name.

" Priya Kentwell."

My eyes widen, looking at Neffy. Control Kaylaya... I catch a glance at Cato he was looking over at the girls. I look straight again... Dezzy better volunteer otherwise I'll kill her myself.

Luckily Dezzy was weaving through the crowd, finally yelling " I VOLUNTEER!" I let out a small sigh.

Dezzy jumps on the stage walking confidently, gliding almost.

" What's your name?" Neffy asks.

Dezzy smiles looking out to the crowd, " Dezzy Martin."

" Marvelous! Now, for boys!" Neffy waddles over to the boys bowl.

Dezzy looks over at me with a huge confident smile, I give her a small one before looking over at the boys. Cato was watching her, probably making fun of her in the dress.

She does the same, but before she even grabbed a name there was a booming of a strong voice.

" I VOLENTEER!" Dom screamed, jogging on stage like someone was going to take it before him. Neffy smiled, thinking he was cute and glad she'll be by him the next couple days.

" What's your name?" She asks.

" Dom Santiago." He says looking at the ladies making them blush.

" Shake hand you two!" They look at eachother, their confidence to outshine the other showing through, they size eachother up before taking hands shaking them.

" Your tributes!" Neffy squealed. They take their hands lifting them in the air, making everyone clap. They are showing they're a force for sure. The extra confidence making more up for it.

They get escorted to the hall, while Neffy leads us to the train to get settled. Great, we're on the road again, no we're going to the games again.

We get on the train, the overly sweet smell fills my nostrils. " Hey Neff." I ask. She turns around clumsily looking at me with a big smile " Yes?"

" When will we see 12?"

Her smile grew even more then what she was just smiling. " I'm glad you asked, they're here!"

My face drops, " Here..like now?"

She nods.

" H-H-How? Reapings are today, for everyone."

" Theirs were early, they need a mentor. The pre recorded it so everyone else thinks they're still in 12. Come on, I'll show you. Cato didn't tell you?"

Cato knew?

I whipped my head around. " You didn't tell me?!"

He looks at Neffy then at me. " I needed you to focus."

I was mad at him, but the happiness I get to see them over filled that.

Like they read my mind, the door behind Neffy opened reveling Evie and Fero. I open my arms hugging both of them.

" Long time no see you two." I look them over, they still are bitty and looks like they didn't lose to much condition.

" I guess It's nice seeing you two, though we could get off this awful train. I miss 2." Evie mutters.

" Come on children, let's get settled. Our allies will be here soon."

We all go in the main area of the train, I'm reliving all of these memories, last time Baria and River were in here..and Aspen a year ago.

He'll be gone a year now in a couple weeks, that seems insane.

I asked them how 12 was, they said it was the same except they were kept in victors village and got one full meal, which they stuffed themselves so they could last the whole day. They laid around a lot to maintain weight also practicing at night right before they went to bed.

The doors open again revealing 2, they look at 12 and that's when my nerves set in.

Will they except eachother?

" SO these are supposed to be allies?" Dom asks. " DO we still need to stick with 1?"

Ok, he wants to be allies.

Dezzy was still looking at them, analyzing them.

" Doo you have a staring problem for something?" Evie asks snapping at Dezzy.

Which just makes her smile. " I like her. Dezzy." She says.

Evie looks a little taken back. " Evie."

" We all watched you two, your pretty good."

Before Evie could answer Fero did for her. " Thanks, we're glad you guys will like to be allies."

" We'll need to see how 1 is along with the other districts. But if it's just us 4 I think we'd be ok also."Dom says.

I'm glad they're getting along for now.

" Well come on, The reapings will be on soon hurry, hurry!" Neffy instructs waddling towards the couches, sitting down awkwardly.

" Sure you don't wanna change Neff?" Cato asks smirking, trying his best not to laugh.

" No Cato... fashion is pain." She snaps.

" Ok, suit yourself."

the tributes all sit close together while me and Cato sit on the side couch. As I was walking to the other side of Cato, he wrapped his arms around me pulling me down on his lap.

" What are you doing?"

" I'm making you sit on my lap." He says quietly.

" Why?" I snap annoyed, I can easily sit on the side of him.

" 1. Because I know your mad at me for not telling you, 2.... They were looking at your ass."

I give him a 'are you serious?' Look. He shrugs " That belongs to me." He says lowly.

I look away before he can see me blush, he chuckles his hand going lower squeezing gently.

" Stop."

" Stop what?" He asks innocently.

" Cato.." I warn.

He smirks looking towards the tributes, who were whispering looking at us.

" Can I help you?" Cato demands.

" Are you here to MENTOR us Hadley or to drool over Kaylaya?" Evie asks.

Dezzy and Dom look at her like she just shot Snow in front of them, making me smirk at her audacity and Cato getting mad.

I didn't miss their bickers.

" I'm here for everyone except for you.. I hope you don't come back." Cato retorts.

" It won't be that easy, Just think we can be neighbors then!" She says with the biggest grin.

" I'd rather get put in the games again."

" SHH...it's starting!" Neffy yells.

Evie and Cato give eachother one final look before looking back to the TV.

There he is Ceasar... this time his hair and makeup is red, blood red. Along with his clothes, the color was spot on, I shiver from seeing so ugh red-blood- when Colin was bleeding out.

Cato tightens his grip on me, I take a breath.

" Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen! Here we are for another Hunger Games! I missed it so much, the excitement, meeting all new and loved tributes-"

" Yea I bet he does." I spit, annoyed at his fakeness.

The tributes look at me before going back to the screen. " Kay." Cato says softly.

Right... be firm no emotions. Enobaria was a whole lot better at this...I wish she was here.

" Now without further ado let's meet this years tributes!" He chirps.

It flashes a 1..

They weren't that special... they seemed like they could be good or bad, kinda skinny I suppose from being from a career district.

" Watch them, they could be deadly." I say.

" Why they're sticks." Dom scoffs.

" 1 my year were both skinny, look how they did at the blood bath." Cato bluntly says.

" They didn't last long either." Evie says.

"  Never underestimate. That' a survival tactic, the 'weak' aren't often that weak."

Johanna was a prime example of that, she made herself to be pitiful, she ended up killing and winning.

But I will agree, they might not as big as a threat as Brutus and Mel last year. I'm glad their dead.

Next it showed Dom and Dezzy, When Neff called Priya's name I watched myself, luckily it didn't show that awfully much, my eyes seemed to get larger. Cato looked over at me, he was watching me.

I looked back out in the crowd, soon Dezzy volunteered, I let out a breath. Hopefully no one will really pick that up.

She walked confidently, she was smiling as she walked up..good. People will know she's ready to kill. Dom interrupted to which is good he pranced proudly up. Both locked eyes and smiled while they shook hands.

They're ready to win.

" You two look the part...good start." Cato said.

I was looking at the tributes, Dez and Dom looked at eachother smiling that they looked so good.

Fero and Evie also exchanged glances ,I couldn't exactly read them but I know they were worried.

Hopefully they can pick off some tributes then separate without much issue.

3 was alright, they could or couldn't be part of the careers we world them that was their decision.

4... There Finnick and River were on stage. I thought that one girl was suppose to be a mentor this year we met in 1?

They look like peacocks parading around all over the place, their smiles identical. Depends on the year if they have volunteers or not..we'll see.

Tabby picks the name out of the bowl, " Ali-"

" I volenteer!" A girl yelled.

More volenteers.

She was darker toned, a strong build.

" She'll be a threat, along with whoever else will volenteer." I say.

Next the boys, before Tabby could say anything a tall boy volunteered built just like Cato, Brutus and River.

Double threat.

" DO we take them or not?" Fero asks. He sounded a little fearful.

Before me or Cato answer Dom does, " Why wouldn't we? They're tough. if we know them a little bit we can kill the other tributes and kill them ourselves."

" Then they'll also know our weaknesses." Dezzy snaps back at Dom.

" What weaknesses do we have?" Dom retorts.

Bad relationship.

" If we do, we'll need to kill them quick. If we don't they could side with 1... and if Kay and Cato are right about 1 being lethal..we don't need 2 career groups in the games." Evie says.

Dezzy and Dom glare at eachother before looking at Evie.

" That's a good plan 12..." Cato says.

She smirks at him.

5 and 6 were smaller kids, easy kills.

7 was Johanna's and her kids could be good..if they had training 15 and 16 they were so younger.

As much as I want to we can't side with them. They're weak links and you don't want to many in a career group. 6 will be enough already.

" Leave them." Cato instructs, he said it so I didn't have to, he knows that.

The rest were ok, it'll still be an interesting game. We haven't seen any of the kids in training, I cold see a couple being under dogs.

Then it was 12, there it flashes the gloomy place. Their escourt comes out again, she dropped a lot of weight, she herself looked sickly.

There in the bowls were the two names, the names of the tributes that were here, having to relive another reaping.

She welcomes everyone back to properly announce some of 12's first 'careers' though I feel they aren;t at all. They were reaped, they didn't choose to be picked.

First she called Evie, she went through the crowd this time not angry like it was before... this time she was dead calm, the kinda calm that was scary.

This time she stood like someone would stand if they were from our district.

Next was Fero, who walked like he owned the world, for once 12 didn't look pitiful.

They flashed them before and after, they looked totally different, from skin and bones to now lethal killers, muscled up and ready to win.

I guess time will tell.