deaths door.

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╔═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══╗

deaths door

volume two; murder

╚═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══╝



When her brothers were reaped, Elora had wished upon every star in the sky that it was her instead. She had watched from the safety of youth as her family was chosen to die. She was nine when her brother Noah had been selected and she had cried for his death before he'd even left the district. Noah Clarke was a gentle soul, and unlike his siblings he had never had much interest in wielding a weapon. Elora had grown up learning to fish with a trident, and their eldest brother Adrian was much the same. There was no hope, Elora knew it, Noah knew it, even their parents had grieved his death before he had passed. Noah Clarke had died in the bloodbath.

She had just turned eleven when Adrian Clarke was reaped. She had screamed and cried and begged him not to leave her like Noah did. He left anyway. Adrian made it until the top five when he was killed by the boy from district one. The anger that would forever lurk in Elora was born here. Anger that her brothers had died, anger that the capitol had let them, anger that because she was one year too young she couldn't save them. She had wished she could volunteer time and time again but her childhood had protected her. Not that her age mattered, she would never have been ablate volunteer for a male anyway, but the truth did nothing to soothe the rage that burned within. Adrian may have been bigger and stronger than Elora, but there had always been something that made her lethal. Something that Adrian had lacked. He could spear a fish with a trident but he could not throw it long distances to skewer a human nor was he agile enough to use it up close. Adrian Clarke was not a killer. 

The girl from district twelve had volunteered for her twelve year old sister. Elora did not know much about her, but she knew that much. Knew that she had protected her family in the way Elora had always wanted. She saw the anger in her eyes too, that hatred for the capitol burning within. She knew that the girl had somehow scored an eleven too, knew that she was hiding some lethal skill behind her outlier underdog act, that she could be a threat to Cato's victory. Elora saw a lot of herself in the girl from district twelve. It was almost a shame to see her being chased to her death by a cheering career pack. 

Marvel lead the leering teens with the ever-present bloodlust written all over his face. Clove was just behind him with Coral by her side but with the agility of the two girls they were very quickly leading the pack. Cato and Glimmer brought up the rear once more. The girl from twelve was faster than the both of them and Elora watched with baited breath as she scaled a tree before the careers had even reached the base.

From the safety of the tree branch she could hear the girl mocking the alliance. Katniss, her name was revealed through Glimmers taunting voice. Her district partner stared up at her with a sadness in his eyes that didn't quite fit the situation. He had joined the alliance to hunt the girl down and Elora knew she was missing something when she saw Katniss' reaction to his presence.

She leans over and rests her head on Finnick's shoulder, angled up so she can whisper in his ear.

"Have I missed something? Why is everyone so obsessed with district twelve?"

Finnick almost rolls his eyes at how oblivious she is.

"You seriously have been busy making heart eyes at Cato if you've somehow managed to miss this."

Elora scoffs and rolls her eyes. Cato practically mirrors her expression when Glimmer settles up against him at the base of the tree and Finnick cannot help the laugh that escapes him. They had barely spent any time together but the boy was already picking up her mannerisms.

"Peeta claims to be in love with her. It was a big drama during the interviews."

He clearly doesn't love her if he's trying to hunt her down. No relationship could ever survive the games anyway, only one comes out. She supposed it explained the reluctance to kill her, despite the fact that he had been the one to suggest they wait her out. As the career pack settles in for the night Elora and Finnick do just the opposite. A capitol gala awaits them, filled with wealthy capitol citizens, potential sponsors, game makers, and not to mention other victors. Elora cannot wait till the day she returns home and can spend her days surrounded by her family. If Cato is the victor, if he returns home to her, they will have the life she has always dreamed of. She will return home to Annie and Finnick and Mags to live the rest of her days on the beach. One day, Cato may join her in their home and he can live under the blessing of the sun too. 

Elora hates to think of what will happen if he doesn't.


✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿ ✿•*'¨*'•.¸✯


Stories of separated soulmates were popular legends to tell in district two. Sometimes a far enough distance can make it feel like your heat has been ripped out or like you're ill with a terrible fever. Cato has heard stories of one soulmate experiencing pain or emotion so strong that the other can feel it, no matter how far away. He wonders if that is what is happening now when his heart constantly races and his chest is tight as if someone had decided to sit right on top of him. 

The boy sits alone on the edges of the career camp facing the forest, hopefully far away enough that none of his alliance members can see the stress that has gripped him. The feeling has followed him all day, a kind of crippling anxiety and chronic stress that makes him constantly fear he is on the verge of a panic attack. Cato shakes his head clear. It doesn't matter how real this feels, he knows these emotions don't belong to him. They are so out of place. So out of character for him. He chances a glance up at the district twelve girl who remains perched on her branch of the tree she had so skilfully scaled. 

His sword is gripped in his hand as he traced patterns in the dirt desperately trying to expel the anxiety from his chest. The desperation he feels now is the same fear that gripped him when Elora wouldn't acknowledge him. The fear of leaving her without ever having a chance to even speak to her. He wonders if Elora is only now feeling the same, or if something else has caused the fluctuation in her heart. The sun is only just setting and he turns his gaze to the sky. 

It didn't matter how artificial the arena was, sometimes it could be beautiful. Hues of pink and orange glow from behind a light cloud coverage as if the heavens have descended. The precise gradient of colours reflect a painting in its beauty, crafted by hand no doubt by a particularly artistic game maker. It almost reminded him of the only part of district four he had ever seen, that beach doused in sun glow projected on the bedroom wall of his capitol apartment. It had been breathtaking then because it reminded him of Elora. Cato doesn't think he will ever see another sunset without thinking of her. 

His sword drags repeatedly into the dirt below him and he feels the tension in his chest begin to ease. He smiles down at the words he has written for her, glad that they have the desired outcome.

I miss you. See you soon.

All Cato Hadley has ever wanted is to make his family proud, to provide for them, to have someplace where he knows his heart belongs. Elora Clark became part of his most prized possessions, a part of the family he holds dear, so quickly without even trying. She had turned him away time and time again yet he adored her anyway. He retraced the words one final time. He would comfort her always, no matter what. He risks a glance over to Coral and feels his heart clench. This time he knows the dread that fills him is his own. 

If he is the one to spill her blood, Cato doubts Elora will ever desire his comfort again. 


a/n

sorry that this is a bit of a filler! next chapter will be drama packed though, I promise. I live for the constant angst between Elora and Cato if you couldn't tell!!

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