Chapter 19

Frosted leaves crunched under my feet as we walked. I shivered and wrapped my arms tightly around my body, trying to stay warm. The temperature had continued to drop rapidly each night. Unfortunately for us, that's when we did our hunting. Cato and I set out each icy night, trying to find our last few victims, trying to get home. The odds hadn't exactly been in our favor. We hadn't even seen a sign of life in the last two days and our time was dwindling. It wouldn't be long before the audience grew bored and the Game makers made adjustments.

Our food supplies was also running low. We occasionally received meals from sponsors, but they didn't last long. I found myself weak with hunger and wishing I paid more attention in our hunting classes. I did end up killing one rabbit, but it wasn't enough to share and I couldn't seem to kill another. It had only been two days since Marvel's death, but the days were dragging by.

However, we did have a bigger problem. Katniss Everdeen was in the way of my victory. We decided that Twelve had scored her eleven with her archery skills. I had only scored a ten and that made her better than me. She could be watching us at any moment and we wouldn't even see her arrows piercing our skin. I hated that we needed something to protect ourselves, but I knew we couldn't risk it. Each time a parachute arrived I hoped it contained some sort of armour, but it never did. That wasn't something our sponsors could provide. So, when a feast was announced, we knew we had to go.

The moon shone from between the trees, illuminating the arena in a light glow. I shoved my hands deeper into my pocket's as the frigid air seeped through my jacket. I cringed as the anthem began to blare through the arena, announcing that there had been no deaths today. I glanced at Cato as he cursed under his breath. He was hoping to see Lover Boy because according to him, Peeta should already be dead.

Tomorrow morning was the feast where everyone would get the item they desperately needed. I was sure there would be blood. That was the whole point of the feast. That's what they wanted.

We were headed to the edge of the woods, where we'd camp until dawn. We had more than enough time to discuss our plan and I knew it would work. We arrived at the Cornucopia and took out our weapons, eagerly waiting for the rising sun. Suddenly, the ground split in two and a table draped with a pale tablecloth and four backpacks rose out of the ground. Cato reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. It was time for the execution.

Centuries ago, Cato had promised that I could kill Katniss and he had kept it. I was her assassin and I would not fail. We stood on the edge, waiting for the perfect moment to break free. Someone beat us to it. The girl with the fiery red hair sprinted through the plain and snatched her bag. Cato jumped to his feet, eager to follow her trail.

"I'm going after her," he announced, grabbing his sword.

I didn't like the idea of splitting up, but I didn't protest. "Okay, we meet back here? After I've hopefully killed Katniss and gotten the armour and you've killed Five."

Cato smiled and brushed his lips against my forhead. "Go get her, Clove," he said and took off after Five.

I was perched at the edge of the woods, two knives gripped tightly in my hand. I could see her clearly, hidden among the trees on the other side. She looked around quickly and cautiously moved forward, bow in hand. Suddenly, she was sprinting, but I was just as fast. The knife shot out of my hand, heading straight toward her head. She dodged my knife and reached for an arrow, sending it toward my chest. I avoided a fatal hit, but the arrow still punctured my left shoulder. I gritted my teeth as pain surged through my arm. I yanked out her stupid arrow and peeked at the blood seeping through my jacket. Luckily, I was right handed.

Katniss sprinted toward a tiny bag that could only fit something as small as a tube of medicine. I immediately realized it was for Lover Boy, for the wound from Cato's sword. They were trying to survive toegther, just like us. The next knife was flying out of my hand as soon as she had a grip on the bag. It sliced her forehead, sending a stream of blood pouring down her face. She staggered back, her fingers fumbling for another arrow. I saw my chance and I seized it. My body slammed into her's, sending us tumbling toward the ground. I knocked her flat on her back and pinned her body to the ground.

"Where's Lover Boy, District Twelve? Still hanging on? " I asked, twirling a knife in my hand. A smile creeped across my lips. She was right here in front of me and I was going to kill her.

"He's hunting Cato," she growled and proceeded to call out Peeta's name.

I rolled my eyes. Did she really think I would fall for that? "Liar. He's nearly dead. Cato knows where he cut him and you've probably got him strapped up in your little tree while you try to keep his heart beating." I smirked and reached for the bag. "What's in the pretty little backpack? The medicine for Lover Boy? Too bad he'll never get it." I trade the knife in my hand for a smaller, daintier one. "Cato promised I could kill you, I'd give the audiance a good show." I can almost imagine them now, cheering and on the edge of their seats.

Katniss struggled from beneath me. The blood from the wound I gave her continued to pour down her face. "Forget it, District Twelve. We're going to kill you. Just like we did with your pathetic little ally...what was her name? The one who hopped around in the trees? Rue?" I grinned as I pushed at her pressure point. "Well, first Rue, then you, and I think we'll just let nature take care of Lover Boy. Sound good? Now where should we start?"

I wiped away the wet blood from her wound with my jacket sleeve. I studied her face, trying to decide where to begin. What would get us sponsors? What would push us ahead? I wondered if Cato had found Five, I hadn't heard a cannon. I smiled down on my victim and grabbed her hair, pulling her face closer to mine. "I think... I think we'll start with your mouth.''

I traced the outline of her cracked lips with the tip of my blade. "Yes, I don't think you'll have much use for your lips anymore. Want to blow Lover Boy one last kiss?" I purred. She stared me down and spit a mouthful of blood in my face. I felt my cheeks flush and I realized how stupid I was being. Why hadn't I killed her yet! I needed to stop stalling, so Cato and I could get home. "All right then. Let's get started." I raised the knife up, ready to strike, but my body was yanked through the air before I could make my mark.

The massive boy from eleven gripped onto the hood of my jacket, letting my body dangle. I let out a piercing scream as he pushed me up against the wall of the Cornucopia. I tried to push myself out of his grip, but he was too strong. He could have snapped me in half.

"What'd you do to that little girl? You kill her?" He yelled, shaking me.

I searched for words, panic shutting down my body. "N-n-n-no! No! it wasn't me!" I whimpered.

"You said her name. I heard you. You kill her?" He roared, "You cut her up like you were going to this girl here?"

"No! No, I-" I stopped mid sentence, noticing the massive rock in his hand. That was it. I was going to die. "Cato! Cato!" I screeched. "Cato!"

"Clove!" His voice was distant, drenched with fear.

I called out his name again, my voice choking up. By the time Cato arrived, it would be too late. Eleven's dark eyes bore into mine, tearing me apart. My heart was racing and my entire body was trembling. This is it.

Thresh brought down the rock and time seems to stop before pain exploded into my head. White hot pain. My vision swirled and twisted as I felt my body crumble to the ground. I didn't even try to get up. I gasped for air, as a moan escaped from my lips. I cracked open my eyes, exposing blinding lights and a blurry figure.

"Clove!" Cato cried, collapsing to his knees. "Stay, stay with me, Clove! We can still win! We can still make it home," he cradled my throbbing head in his arms, as his body trembled. "Please."

I wanted to grab his hand, and I wanted to pull him close, and I wanted to tell him everything would be okay, and I wanted to kiss him, but I couldn't. I looked up at his eyes that were filling with tears. I'm so sorry.

"Don't do this, Clove." he warns, voice cracking. "God damn it, don't do this." "You have to stay with me," he ordered, brushing away a strand of my hair.

"Please, don't go," I gasped.

"I'm not going anywhere," he choked. It was then that he realized I really was dying. I wasn't coming home with him. He cradled my head, letting his tears dampen my hair, unnoticed. I just wanted to see him, but my eyes won't open. I was putting in everything just to open them, just so I could see him, but there was only blackness. I just wanted to see his messy blond hair. Just wanted to see his dark lustrous eyes and his lop sided smirk. Just wanted to see him, one last time.

I started to feel everything begin to fade.

"Damn it, Clove! You're too strong for this!" I wished he was right. I thought all my life that I was born to throw, born to train, and born to kill. When all this time, I was just another piece in the games. Another tribute, born to die.

I could feel myself slipping away, as he spoke. I wanted to cry, and I would have if I had the energy. I wouldn't have cried for me. My fate was simple. I wanted to cry for Cato, the boy leaning over my mangled body. I even wanted to cry for my father, who now had a dead wife and daughter. A part of me wished my mother was watching me right now. Telling me I was brave and not to be afraid of what lies ahead. I wanted her to grab my hand and take me away, lift away the agonizing pain.

"I love you, Clove Sevina," Cato whispered, in my last moments. I wished more than anything that I could say it back. He knew, I know he knew.

I let myself sink deeper and deeper into the blackness until there was no point in hanging on. Death was so light, so easy.