When the Hammer Falls // Cato

Nothing is going on today. It's just like I expected. Tributes scattered throughout the facility, and I'm just standing here throwing some punches at the punching bag. Fighting is my way of life. Hand to hand is easier, and if someone charges at me with a dull weapon at least I can do something about it. But the odds of anyone harming me is slim to none. I punch the bag a few more times. One hand after another. All I'm doing is imagining it being a tributes head. Can't wait to get the blood on my hands.

I hear the words. At first, I think it's another tribute wanting to talk. One glance up and I know now that I'm staring at one Katelyn Persimmon. The darling victor from eleven. Several thoughts run through my head. Is she here because she knew both of my brothers? Trying to get information for her tributes? A simple hello? Only when I hear that she has respect for my brothers do I grasp the reason she is here. The reason I believe she might be that is. Mason or Orion must have been a friend or as close as you can get to being friends with fellow tributes. Of course, I could be completely way off the mark here. Might be a quick conversation where she might tell me some of my brothers last words or something. I never did get the chance to see them standing in district two alive after they both left.

She does ask why I volunteered. I have several reasons. My own personal reason is to restore some honor to the family name. Bring pride back to district two. I could lie to her, yet she'd probably pick up on the bull and call me out. No, I suspect she has an inkling of why. "I'm sure you know why. You knew both of my brothers. One I'm more alike." That'll be Katelyn's answer. I wouldn't doubt she walks away now. She knows who and what I am.

More words reach my ears, and I'm taking them in. Listening to them. Mason was a fighter. A strong, brave man. But it wasn't enough in the games. He fell, and knowing he died only crushed me on the inside, but on the outside it made me stronger. Maybe Kate is right. Maybe turning people into punching bags isn't all it's made out for. Just wait until I can get a hold of them with weapons. A cocky grin twists across my face, but soon it's gone as she speaks about Orion. Orion was nice. He was a genuine guy. Someone I'll never be. Don't want to be him, and they both respected her.

And she wants to help me. Like I need help. I almost laugh, but I hold it down cause she's trying to be nice. Katelyn won the games. She came home alive, so she did something right. She talks about how I could kill one of her own tributes, and that's always a possibility since Kirito is mentoring them. He did kill Orion.

To top it off she talks about torturing, and threatening me if I disrespect them. Why would I prolong a death? The only person I ever did that to was the stupid peacekeeper back in two. I'm more a quick kill guy. Make the suffering end. Make it clean because messy kills take away from the skills. "I'll cut your goddam balls off and feed them to you. And then I’ll find a way to really hurt you.” My eyes widen as she leaned back. "Do you understand me? My respect for your family only goes so far.“

This isn't a laughing matter, but I can't help the smile spreading from ear to ear. I would never torture anyone as much as I love fighting and killing. But would she really cut off my balls? The thought makes me cringe. Maybe I'll respect her because I'm not willing to destroy something that makes me a man. "Tell you what. Your threat did its job. Let me warn you in return. I've been to the detention center for burning a peacekeeper alive. I'll give your mentees a quick death if I happen to run into them. Tell me something. If you're just handing out threats like they're candy..... Why not actually do something. I don't have long until I'm off to the arena. Don't threaten me or I'll kick your ass."