CATO
The lights bathe us in a glaring pool. I kiss Clove one last time, knowing it may be the very last time. Her hand finds mine and I notice it has stopped shaking. While her hand is in mine, the tremor disappears. A voice shouts. Clove lets go of my hand. She slides off the counter and retrieves her robe. When she stands back up, the tremor is back. I am suddenly cold. All this takes only a second.
"What the hell are you doing?" I spin to face a surely bald man with blue tattoos. Brutus. And Beside him, Enobaria. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?" I've never seen him this angry. Clove backs away from me. A vein pulses in Brutus's neck. I try to be angry but I am honestly relieved. Brutus is probably the best person to have walked in on us. I start to yell back at him for interrupting, for acting like he's in charge of what I do, but I don't.
"I'm sorry," I say quietly, "I'm sorry." Brutus freezes for a second. I watch as the anger drains from his face. He sighs and rubs his eyes wearily.
"Okay," he sighs again, "okay. Clove, kiddo, go with Enobaria." Clove whimpers and takes a step closer to me. I know I shouldn't, but I turn and place a hand on her cheek.
"It's not your fault," I whisper, "Don't blame yourself, Clover." I know Clove well enough to know this is exactly what she is doing. She nods and leaves the room. Enobaria gives me a death glare before following Clove out.
As soon as the door shuts, Brutus starts his lecture. It's funny how he's always felt like more of a father than my own. "Boy," he shouts, "what were you thinking?" Even the yelling is kind of nice. My parents don't care enough to get angry. "Do you have any idea how much danger you've put us all in?" He stares at me but I am at a loss for words.
"I--I," I stutter, "I know. I know." I stare at him hopelessly. Brutus softens.
"What am I gonna do with you? Mirren would know." He shakes his head. Guilt washes over me. Because of my carelessness someone else might die.
"Oh God," I bury my face in my hands. Brutus rubs my back comfortingly. I freeze. Look over my shoulder at him. This is new territory for me. I shift uncomfortably. But it's actually kind of nice.
"People make mistakes. Especially stupid kids." I give a short laugh but it doesn't sound like me. Brutus lets his hand drop and meets my eyes. "I'm going to fix this, boy, no one else is getting hurt." There's a surprising ferocity in his eyes.
"I don't understand why it's so wrong." My voice cracks. "I love her." Brutus must hear the misery in my voice because he starts rubbing my back again.
"I know, son, I know."
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A few hours later I am woken from a restless sleep by a blood curdling scream. Clover. I am up and running before her next cry starts.
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Clato: The Cost of a Broken Heart
FanfictionClove trained her entire life for the Games. She left District 2 to escape her father and tormentor, Favian, and bring honor to her District. Against all odds she and Cato both managed to survive. But one of them was meant to die in the arena. And P...
