#cato beringer

xx

Delly’s P.O.V

  Delly’s mind raced as her conversation with Asher ran through her mind, knowing that Panem heard it too; she could only hope that they didn’t read what she read. This place, these Games, weren’t for people like you and Asher - soft people with soft hearts - but then again, isn’t that how everyone starts out? Soft?

  “You’re gonna get your face stuck like that if you don’t ease up” Johanna teased and you looked up with your eyebrows still pulled together, lines crinkling your forehead

  “Sorry,” you laughed lightly, “I just… Asher is… he’s not acting like himself”

  “How so?” she asked

  “You can’t tell?” 

  “I’ve known the two of you for all of 5 minutes,” she joked, a smile clear on her face before she turned to the fire, “he seems like the same kid. Scared, unsure, sticking to his sister like glue…”

  “But that’s just it!” you exclaimed, “that’s the thing,” you repeated, quieter this time, “he’s scared, of course, who wouldn’t be, but he’s… trying to get rid of me”

  “Get rid of you?” she said, raising an eyebrow in disagreement, “yeah, I don’t see that. I mean he’s literally right beside you”

  “Can you do something for me?” you changed the subject, Johanna nodded softly, “can you find a way to get him out of here?”

  “I–” she stammered, putting her hands out to distance herself

  “I don’t know how,” you added, you were sure it was impossible, “but there has to be a way. My parents can’t lose their baby”

  “That’s not how the Games work,” Johanna scoffed, “I mean, Beetee–”

  “Can I,” Cato interrupted Johanna, who seemed to be more than happy to let him take over, “sorry, can I borrow Delly for a second?”

  “No, no. Don’t be sorry,” Johanna chuckled, “be my guest. Just don’t do anything you don’t want on camera.” Her wink made you roll your eyes but not before your cheeks went rosy pink. Cato took your hand, guiding you away from the group that sat around the fire, the warm glow fading into the distance

  “Hey,” Cato said to you softly, like it had been ages since he’d talked to you and wanted to ease into it, “how are you doing?” You raised your eyebrows before letting out a gentle giggle

  “I’m fine, Cato,” you smiled, “how are you?”

  “I just..” he scoffed, holding your hand in his as he searched the air for the right words, “you and Asher seemed like you were having a pretty intense talk and I wanted to make sure everything was okay”

  “Thank you,” you said, “he’s… I think this is all finally getting to him. I never thought I’d hear him say the things he said. That he felt like he was giving me away”

  “What does that mean?” he chuckled and you just shrugged

  “Cato,” you sighed, “I’m scared he’s giving up. That he doesn’t think the plan will work or that our kiss changes things somehow”

  “I mean, it changes things with us, in here, but not with you two”

  “I think it’s more about it changing the plan,” you admitted, “I think he thinks that I’ll have to leave him behind”

  “Delly, he knows you’d never do that”

  “You should’ve heard him though,” you said, dropping your hand from his so you could rub your forehead, “he said if something happens, let it happen to him. That I should be the one to make it out of here, not him. I can’t let that happen. I don’t want anything to happen to him, it ca–”

  “Hey, hey,” Cato brought you close to his chest to comfort you, his arms wrapped tightly around you, as if he was trying to hide the tears that fell from your eyes. “Shh, shh, it’s okay,” he said softly, doing his best to calm your nerves, “I won’t let anything happen to him, I promise. Okay? You don’t have to worry about anything; well, at least not about that.” You chuckled as you cleaned the tears off your face, finally getting a chance to look at Cato in the moonlight again. The moments that you’d had with him, authentically, have been so few that you wanted to bring one back but, if you were being honest, you didn’t know how. The kiss came after days of tension, of charged space between the two of you, of keeping a secret that was only a secret to the Audience. Now that it was out there, you didn’t know how to make a move. Even at his home in District 2, he always initiated things but it’s different in the Arena. Neither of you wanted to put on a show but neither of you knew the right way to express yourselves - was there a way?

  “I…” you tried to say something but a noise in the distance caught your attention, “what was that?” you said shakily

  “I don’t know,” Beetee replied, still a few feet away from you and Cato, “what time is it?”

  “Not time for anything new” Finnick answered hesitantly, “it can’t be”

  “Someone must be here,” Johanna said roughly, turning to Finnick, “Gloss?”

  “Maybe,” he shrugged, “is he all that’s left now?”

  “Cashmere,” Asher added, “she’s still out there. It’s the two of them and the six of us”

  “I don’t see anything,” you said, moving closer to the group, Cato keeping his body in front of yours

  “Put out the fire,” Beetee said. It was only embers to begin with, just something to keep everyone warm, but it seemed that was enough for them to know exactly where to look. Finnick and Johanna threw sand on the fire before meeting the group where they were - everyone back to back to catch every angle. You still couldn’t see anything, and the rustling of the trees was gone, if it was ever really there. “Stay close,” Beetee continued, “just because we don’t see them, doesn’t mean they can’t see us.” Nobody moved, nobody spoke, for what felt like a lifetime, until there was a small noise in the trees; a wind moving through to prepare for the next terror of the hour.

  “There,” Johanna whispered, nodding toward the trees, “I saw something over that way”

  “What was it?” Finnick asked

  “Who was it?” Cato added

  “I don’t know,” she quietly snapped, “I saw the trees move. I thought I’d give a heads up so you could get your little sword out and finally use it”

  “I’ve used it,” Cato huffed, “just focus, Johanna.” You still couldn’t see anything and you weren’t sure what was coming next. You looked over at Asher, who was hyper focused on the area that he had in front of him and in his own little world - he wouldn’t have turned to you if you shouted his name. “There,” you heard Cato say under his breath but he only seemed to say it to himself

  “Cato?” you said quietly, leaning in to him but he pushed you out of the way harshly and you fell to the ground; you were shocked for a second until you realized that Cato was getting you out of the way of Gloss’ sword before throwing his own. There was a tenseness in the air as Gloss stumbled out of the trees with Cato’s blade deep in his chest, you couldn’t bring yourself to stand up; in disbelief, in hesitation, in a strange act of self-defence, you weren’t really sure, but you just stayed on the ground, motionless. Cashmere ran onto the beach as Gloss fell to the ground and there was a burst of panic before Johanna eventually rushed Cashmere, pushing Asher out of the way, with the axe that Gloss had been carrying. Johanna grunted as she battled District 1’s Female Victor, the axe plunging into Cashmere’s side as she fell to the ground and you shuffled backward on the ground so her body wouldn’t land on yours.

  “Delly, get up,” Beetee said, as Cashmere’s body laid next to you, her vacant eyes facing you now, “get up!” You finally followed his instruction and got to your feet, looking around and realizing both the District 1 siblings were gone; now lifeless bodies that once were fiercely determined to succeed. You ran to Beetee and the rest of the group as the Gamemakers sent in the hovercraft to pick up Gloss and Cashmere. You watched as a claw came down, wrapped the two in separate baskets and brought them into the hovercraft; you couldn’t remember actually being this close to the hovercraft when it was picking someone up, it was different then you thought it would be. It almost felt gentle for the Capitol. You were brought back to the Arena when you suddenly became very aware that there was no villain left. It was just five people you’d come to feel safe around, with one person you’d do anything to survive with and one that you couldn’t live without. As the gongs went off for Cashmere and Gloss, you couldn’t but think, with only the six of you left, would someone go against the unspoken alliance? Who would be the first to turn?

xx

Asher’s P.O.V

  As the group continued walking along the beach, you kept an eye out for any changes that might have happened. You couldn’t be the only one thinking about it - that someone still had to survive to get back home, especially if Beetee’s plan didn’t work. You watched Finnick and Johanna lead the group, Delly and Cato not too far behind them, while you and Beetee trailed at the back. There was a small moment between your sister and the tall, blonde Victor, that you wondered if you were the only one to notice - they hadn’t done much since their kiss on the beach, you weren’t sure why but when you caught Delly looking up at Cato and him looking back at her, there was a quiet peace between them. Their peace made you feel at peace and hopeful for what might happen with them. 

  There seemed to be a feeling of safety for a moment, allowing Finnick to make some joke in Delly’s direction and she said something that made the three others around her laugh before she looked back to find you. You smiled and nodded at her, she reluctantly turned back to Johanna and Finnick but you were happy that she was getting along with everyone; you were taken out of the carefree feeling when a bell tolled - a new hour, 8pm from how Delly had been counting, which was…

  “The Heat Spike?” you asked yourself 

  “I don’t think so. It was the Siren’s,” Beetee said, looking in the direction you’d all just left, “the one that drew us all in.” You nodded as you remembered Wiress walking across the beach, and the feeling as you followed her before falling into the sand. You could tell by the look on Beetee’s face that he was remembering Wiress’ last moments. “These tricks,” Beetee continued, bringing your attention back to him, “they’re wearing us down. The Games have always been this way. If the Tributes don’t kill you, the Arena will…”

  “Doesn’t that mean the Gamemakers are killing us?” Asher questioned

  “Shh,” Beetee mockingly held a finger in front of his lips, “don’t let them hear you say that.” It was clear what he was really saying. The Capitol, the Gamemakers, Snow, they were the ones killing Tributes, but they couldn’t get their hands dirty; blood didn’t come out so easily. Saying it out loud though, might be the death of you entirely whether you survived or not. The Siren Song trap didn’t stop at a barrier when you’d gotten trapped the first time, so you were cautious of everything around you

  “I think it’s getting louder…” you said, trying your best not to whisper so you weren’t mistaken for the Arena’s whispers “don’t you?”

  “I can’t tell” Beetee replied

  “Asher?” Delly called as she ran to find you

  “I’m here,” you answered, “don’t worry”

  “I’ll always worry,” she smiled before pulling you in for a hug, “that’s what I’m here for.” You hugged her back tightly as you realized her worry was real; not that it wouldn’t be but– “Did you hear anything? See anything?” your thoughts were cut off by Delly’s questions

  “No, just the bell” Beetee said

  “I thought I heard something but it seemed far away,” you said, “but I didn’t see anything”

  “What exactly would we see?” Finnick asked Delly. You shrugged as he scanned the group and Delly hesitated, scanning her mind about what might be out there

  “I don’t really know…” she finally said

  “There’s nobody else left, Cartwright,” Johanna sneered, “there’s nothing else to see. This ‘terror’ was all sound”

  “But it did bring us somewhere,” you countered, “when I followed it last time, I wound up being dragged into the ground”

  “Well, not this time,” Johanna said. She seemed annoyed when a second ago, she was laughing with the others, but it didn’t take long for her to soften her tone as she explained herself. “I know last time it drifted past the barrier that we all thought existed but it doesn't seem like that’s the case this time.” After being silent throughout the group's questions and arguments, Cato finally spoke up

  “We should get going if we’re going to make it to the tree in time” he said and the group nodded, turning back to the original direction but making sure they kept an eye on the sun for the right direction. You went back to listening to the conversations ahead of you - Finnick teasing Johanna, Johanna throwing quips of her own, Delly and Cato laughing lightly - and this time you felt so far away. Maybe the trick was still tricking you, making you think everyone was leaving you behind.

  “What’s going on in your head?” Beetee said, surprising you enough that you gasped and let out a small laugh

  “Nothing,” you replied, “just listening to them”

  “You know, they’re scared too,” he said. Maybe to ease your mind, or because he knew that it was something that could be on your mind, “that’s what getting close to people in here will do. Getting close to anyone, anywhere, really. The thought of losing them, by your own hand or someone else’s, is one you’d rather not have.” You could understand what he meant. You never had the kind of relationships back home that you did in here, you were always Delly’s brother. Yes, you had friends of your own but people knew you because of her first and foremost. At the same time, you knew Delly had always felt like she was on the outside. Between the three of you, Peeta was the centre; he made friends so easily and he brought Delly in, and you were allowed in because of Delly. Back home, Delly really only had Peeta and you, and when Peeta died, it was just the two of you. It was different here though. Maybe it was because of the interviews, maybe it was because of her story with Cato, but everyone flocked to her in here; she was important to them.

  “You’re gone again,” Beetee laughed, your thoughts clearly taking over your face, “what are you thinking now?”

  “Nothing really,” you said, “just about what you said. I get it. You all know - knew - each other in one way or another. I’ve known you for what? A week? And I don’t know what losing someone in the Arena, to the Games, looks like or feels like”

  “You haven’t lost your sister though,” he said, almost as a question, but he must have been seeing the concern on your face, “she’s right there”

  “It’s just…” you said, searching for the right words, “I’m finally seeing her go back to the Delly from home. And I think they are, too”

  “Meaning…” Beetee pushed gently

  “They appreciate her,” you replied, gesturing in front of you, “you appreciate her. I appreciate her but I’ve always appreciated her. It just seems like she has her light back, and they appreciate her light…” You hoped you didn’t sound cheesy but you could see Beetee smiling at you and you knew he thought it was cheesy

  “We do see her light,” he admitted, “I think Caesar and Cinna made sure of that”

  “You know what I mean though?” you added, “she was always that smiling girl. One of the few in District 12 that was lucky enough to be able to wear anything other than grey. That made her bright. Light. If it wasn’t for Peeta, people wouldn’t have recognized her as anything other than the girl in the yellow dress.” Beetee didn’t have anything to add and you didn’t mind; it felt like enough to you. You were happy that your sister was finally herself again. You watched as Cato moved as close to her as possible, finally taking her hand in his, and it hit you. She’s meant to get out of here, you thought to yourself, and you’re going to make sure she does.

xx

Delly’s P.O.V

  You were doing your best to keep an eye on your brother but with him trailing behind with Beetee, your attention was easily stolen by Johanna and Finnick teasing each other. 

  “Everything okay?” Cato asked

  “Yeah,” you said, “just worried about Asher”

  “He’s with Beetee,” he scoffed playfully, “nothing is going to happen to him”

  “Not right now,” you said, “not this very moment. But what about whatever the next trap or trick or terror is in store?”

  “What’s gonna make you not worry about him?” he asked, taking your hand in his. This was the first romantic thing either of you had done since the kiss and it made you feel a bit more calm

  “I won’t stop worrying until he’s home,” you said through a grimaced smile, “look, I know, I know that that’s a terrible answer. But I’m his big sister. I can’t worry about anything else.”

  “You have all this to worry about,” he said, gesturing to the Arena with a forced smile, “if that makes a difference?”

  “Cato,” you said calmly, “it’s only us left.” You took a deep breath before looking back at Asher and Beetee - you didn’t know why everyone had turned out to be so nice but, “we’re not all supposed to be here,” your thoughts came out of your mouth unintentionally but they were true.

  “I know,” he replied, looking down at your hands before bringing them to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to the back of your hand, “but we are here. Isn’t that a good thing?”

  “Is it?” you questioned, “someone has to come out alive. You know that better than anyone. Someone in this group is going to be that person…”

  “Maybe,” he returned, “maybe not”

  “Let’s go, keep walking,” Finnick scoffed as he noticed you and Cato were stopped

  “Look,” Cato said as the two of you continued, “I don’t really know what happens next but I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. Either of you”

  “Cato, please,” you sighed, “can you just.. do something for me?”

  “Anything,” he said with a smile, “what do you want?”

  “If it comes to it, and I know I’ve said it before, but if it comes to it,” you said quietly, trying to hide the trembling that was starting, “leave me behind”

  “What?” he said shocked, his eyes opened wide as he stared at you. He was locked on you but he still managed to walk unfazed by everything in front of him, as if he knew exactly how to avoid it. It wasn’t until you spoke again that he finally faltered, bumping into Finnick as your last request left your lips.