Return of the Mockingjay

Chapter 36

I step back from Cato's outstretched hand, backing myself into the opposite wall of the pit, why is he doing this and how can I possibly trust him?

"Katniss, I know this doesn't seem to make any sense but you've gotta trust me"

"Why should I trust you, you're a killer Cato. And, you're a mutt"

Cato takes his hand away "You're not wrong Katniss, I'm all of those but I want to help you, if you could trust me I can keep you alive"

Cato turns his head away toward the sound of someone coming in our direction, I can hear them crashing through the low slung branches.

Cato turns back to me "Time's running out Katniss, you can either stay here until another tribute comes along and kills you or you can take a chance and come with me"

I quickly weight up my options. He may be a mutt but what Cato said makes sense, I really have only one option as I leap forward and hold up my hand for him to grab. He leans down and takes it pulling me up from the pit. I get to my feet and stare at him, unsure to what to say or do but he just grabs my arm and pulls me away in the opposite direction to the oncoming noise.
We run and run, all the time Cato has a tight grip on my arm stopping me from escaping although I'm so confused that I don't really know what I want to do. If I did manage to get away I don't know where I'd go or how I'd survive. I'm still unbelievably thirsty and I'm starting to feel hunger pangs, my stomach's empty and I'm struggling for energy, where is Cato taking me?

We reach the other side of the forest, again this is bordered by large tall buildings but the street outside isn't as heavily overgrown as before. I can clearly make out the railings which separate the forest from the street, burnt out cars litter the street and Cato drags me up a flight of steps into a brownstone house. Only when we're inside does he release me and I rub my arm trying to alleviate the soreness from his rough treatment. Cato steps back to the door, peering up and down the street to see if we've been followed.

"Why are you helping me?" I ask suddenly.

"Because you don't deserve this, any of it" he says while still looking out into the forest across the street.

"But how do you know, you're just a-"

"Mutt, yes I know" he finishes for me

"Listen Katniss, as mutts once we were fully grown we have to be taught, not just fighting skills and combat but how to speak, simple maths and stuff, things that could help us in the arena. Part of our training was to watch the Games we originally took part in. It made me sad to see the real Cato, the cold hard killer with little or no remorse. For him killing was just a function, a way of life, it wasn't just about winning for him. And then when you'd beaten him and he lay on the ground being mauled by those mutts you ended his life with your last arrow, the arrow which was keeping Peeta alive. I know you were also trying to end the games but that action of killing Cato made me see the real you and I made my decision there and then that when the Games began I'd help you get out of this place alive. I have nothing to live for, I'm just a Mutt that was grown on a farm somewhere and my life means nothing, I shouldn't even be here"

I just stare at Cato, trying to read a deceptive expression, anything that might give away his true intentions and reveal to me the old callous killer but there's nothing, all I see is a sincere face which seems hell bent on making me understand.

"Okay, but won't the Gamemakers kill you, for helping me?"

"Who knows, for all I know I could drop down dead right now, but I think they'll leave things as they are, it's good entertainment right?"

I nod silently, thinking of the gamemakers in a room somewhere planning their next move, of how to manipulate events to 'improve' the show in some way.