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know as it leaves my hands it will miss。 And then Clove slams into me； knocking me flat on my back； pinning my shoulders to the ground； with her knees。
This is it； I think； and hope for Primˇs sake it will be fast。 But Clove means to savor the moment。 Even feels she has time。 No doubt Cato is somewhere nearby； guarding her； waiting for Thresh and possibly Peeta。
¨Whereˇs your boyfriend； District Twelve？ Still hanging on？〃 she asks。
Well； as long as weˇre talking Iˇm alive。 ¨Heˇs out there now。 Hunting Cato；〃 I snarl at her。 Then I scream at the top of my lungs。 ¨Peeta！〃
Clove jams her fist into my windpipe； very effectively cutting off my voice。 But her headˇs whipping from side to side； and I know for a moment sheˇs at least considering Iˇm telling the truth。 Since no Peeta appears to save me； she turns back to me。
¨Liar；〃 she says with a grin。 ¨Heˇs nearly dead。 Cato knows where he cut him。 Youˇve probably got him strapped up in some tree while you try to keep his heart going。 Whatˇs in the pretty little backpack？ That medicine for Lover Boy？ Too bad heˇll never get it。〃
Clove opens her jacket。 Itˇs lined with an impressive array of knives。 She carefully selects an almost dainty…looking number with a cruel； curved blade。 ¨I promised Cato if he let me have you； Iˇd give the audience a good show。〃
Iˇm struggling now in an effort to unseat her； but itˇs no use。 Sheˇs too heavy and her lock on me too tight。
¨Forget it； District Twelve。 Weˇre going to kill you。 Just like we did your pathetic little ally 。 。 。 what was her name？ The one who hopped around in the trees？ Rue？ Well； first Rue； then you； and then I think weˇll just let nature take care of Lover Boy。 How does that sound？〃 Clove asks。 ¨Now； where to start？〃
She carelessly wipes away the blood from my wound with her jacket sleeve。 For a moment； she surveys my face； tilting it from side to side as if itˇs a block of wood and sheˇs deciding exactly what pattern to carve on it。 I attempt to bite her hand； but she grabs the hair on the top of my head； forcing me back to the ground。 ¨I think 。 。 。〃 she almost purrs。 ¨I think weˇll start with your mouth。〃 I clamp my teeth together as she teasingly traces the outline of my lips with the tip of the blade。
I wonˇt close my eyes。 The ment about Rue has filled me with fury； enough fury I think to die with some dignity。 As my last act of defiance； I will stare her down as long as I can see； which will probably not be an extended period of time； but I will stare her down； I will not cry out。 I will die； in my own small way； undefeated。
¨Yes； I donˇt think youˇll have much use for your lips anymore。 Want to blow Lover Boy one last kiss？〃 she asks； I work up a mouthful of blood and saliva and spit it in her face。 She flushes with rage。 ¨All right then。 Letˇs get started。〃
I brace myself for the agony thatˇs sure to follow。 But as I feel the tip open the first cut at my lip； some great form yanks Clove from my body and then sheˇs screaming。 Iˇm too stunned at first； too unable to process what has happened。 Has Peeta somehow e to my rescue？ Have the Gamemakers sent in some wild animal to add to the fun？ Has a hovercraft inexplicably plucked her into the air？
But when I push myself up on my numb arms； I see itˇs none of the above。 Clove is dangling a foot off the ground； imprisoned in Threshˇs arms。 I let out a gasp； seeing him like that； towering over me； holding Clove like a rag doll。 I remember him as big； but he seems more massive； more powerful than I even recall。 If anything； he seems to have gained weight in the arena。 He flips Clove around and flings her onto the ground。
When he shouts； I jump； never having heard him speak above a mutter。 ¨Whatˇd you do to that little girl？ You kill her？〃
Clove is scrambling backward on all fours； like a frantic insect； too shocked to even call for Cato。 ¨No！ No； it wasnˇt me！〃
¨You said her name。 I heard you。 You kill her？〃 Another thought brings a fresh wave of rage to his features。 ¨You cut her up like you were going to cut up this girl here？〃
¨No！ No； I 〃 Clove sees the stone； about the size of a small loaf of bread in Threshˇs hand and loses it。 ¨Cato！〃 she screeches。 ¨Cato！〃
¨Clove！〃 I hear Catoˇs answer； but heˇs too far away； I can tell that much； to do her any good。 What was he doing？ Trying to get Foxface or Peeta？ Or had he been lying in wait for Thresh and just badly misjudged his location？
Thresh brings the rock down hard against Cloveˇs temple。 Itˇs not bleeding； but I can see the dent in her skull and I know that sheˇs a goner。 Thereˇs still life in her now though； in the rapid rise and fall of her chest； the low moan escaping her lips。
When Thresh whirls around on me； the rock raised； I know itˇs no good to run。 And my bow is empty； the last loaded arrow having gone in Cloveˇs direction。 Iˇm trapped in the glare of his strange golden brown eyes。 ¨Whatˇd she mean？ About Rue being your ally？〃
¨I I we teamed up。 Blew up the supplies。 I tried to save her； I did。 But he got there first。 District One；〃 I say。 Maybe if he knows I helped Rue； he wonˇt choose some slow； sadistic end for me。
¨And you killed him？〃 he demands。
¨Yes。 I killed him。 And buried her in flowers；〃 I say。 ¨And I sang her to sleep。〃
Tears spring in my eyes。 The tension； the fight goes out of me at the memory。 And Iˇm overwhelmed by Rue； and the pain in my head； and my fear of Thresh； and the moaning of the dying girl a few feet away。
¨To sleep？〃 Thresh says gruffly。
¨To death。 I sang until she died；〃 I say。 ¨Your district。 。 。 they sent me bread。〃 My hand reaches up but not for an arrow that I know Iˇll never reach。 Just to wipe my nose。 ¨Do it fast； okay； Thresh？〃
Conflicting emotions cross Threshˇs face。 He lowers the rock and points at me； almost accusingly。 ¨Just this one time； I let you go。 For the little girl。 You and me； weˇre even then。 No more owed。 You understand？〃
I nod because I do understand。 About owing。 About hating it。 I understand that if Thresh wins； heˇll have to go back and face a district that has already broken all the rules to thank me； and he is breaking the rules to thank me； too。 And I understand that； for the moment； Thresh is not going to smash in my skull。
¨Clove！〃 Catoˇs voice is much nearer now。 I can tell by the pain in it that he sees her on the ground。
¨You better run now； Fire Girl；〃 says Thresh。
I donˇt need to be told twice。 I flip over and my feet dip into the hard…packed earth as I run away from Thresh and Clove and the sound of Catoˇs voice。 Only when I reach the woods do I turn back for an instant。 Thresh and both large backpacks are vanishing over the edge of the plain into the area Iˇve never seen。 Cato kneels beside Clove； spear in hand； begging her to stay with him。 In a moment； he will realize itˇs futile； she canˇt be saved。 I crash into the trees； repeatedly swiping away the blood thatˇs pouring into my eye； fleeing like the wild； wounded creature I am。 After a few minutes； I hear the cannon and I know that Clove has died； that Cato will be on one of our trails。 Either Threshˇs or mine。 Iˇm seized with terror； weak f