Beep. Beep. Beep. I roll over and check my alarm clock. 8 a.m. Time to get up. It's a big day, after all. Today I will bring honor to my family and to my district. Today I will volunteer at the Reaping, represent my district, and then win the Hunger Games.
I climb out of bed, heading for the clothes I picked out last night. They're the nicest I own - after all, if I want to get sponsors, I need to make a good impression on the Capitol from the start. I double-check myself in the mirror before heading downstairs. I have to be in the town square by ten. Can't afford to be late. Not today.
"Good morning, Cato!" my mom says brightly as I walk into the kitchen.
"Morning," I mumble back, still groggy from sleep. I grab an apple and sit down at the table next to my father.
"Big day today, sport!" he says cheerfully.
"Yeah." I don't feel like talking much this morning, and my father seems to pick up on it and leaves me alone. Right now I need to prepare. It was my father's idea I volunteer in the first place. He's been unofficially training me for years. I'm his only kid, and he wants me to make something of myself. I'm not planning on disappointing him.
I turn to study my mother. I can tell she's trying to hide her nervousness behind a forced smile, but I pretend not to notice. It's clear she's afraid for me, even though she doesn't have to be. I've been preparing for this moment almost my whole life. This is what I'm meant to do.
Before I leave to take my place in the square with the other sixteen year olds, I take a final
look around my house. Being from district two, it's mostly made out of rock. The walls, the floor, and most of the furniture are crafted from cold hard stone. The house isn't very big, but it fits us comfortably. My dad is pretty successful in his field. That, plus the fact that we live in one of the wealthier districts, means I have a pretty good life. It also means that my father has the means to train me. He has expectations. I will not let him down.
On my way to the square, I meet my friend Darron.
"Hey. You ready?" he asks. I glare at him and he laughs. "Okay, stupid question."
"You think?" I say, rolling my eyes.
"So I'm guessing you're not nervous?" Darron raises his eyebrows at me.
"Nah. Mostly I'm looking forward to using all those weapons in the training center." Oh, am I. All that beautifully crafted weaponry. The knives, the spears. And the swords! So many swords! All unique, all deadly.
"Typical Cato. Just make sure you don't forget about me when you're up in Victor's Village!"
"Of course not!" I glance at my watch, then at the sign-in table. "I've got to go check in now."
"Yeah, me too," he says.
"I'll see you later, then," I call over my shoulder as I walk towards the registration table. He nods before getting into his own line. He knows what I mean, that I'm not talking about the hour we get for friends and family. He knows I'm coming home.
I reach the table and check in, giving them a sample of blood. Then I join the other sixteen-year-old boys near the front and wait. The square is crowded with people. The kids, twelve to eighteen, stand in sections based on age and gender in the center. Everyone else fills the rest of the square and the surrounding side streets. I wait patiently through all the speeches, studying the faces of the former victors of district two. My eyes settle on Brutus, who will be my mentor. He seems almost as bored as me.
Finally, our stupid Capitol escort, Atilius, goes to pull out the names. As always, she walks up to the girls' ball first and reaches in. She grabs a name from deep inside the ball, and I hold my breath, waiting to see who my competition will be. Atilius walks up to the podium and calls out the name of the unlucky girl who will have to die.
"Lania White!" I don't recognize the name. I see a rather small girl walk out from the fourteen year old section. After she is announced, Atilius asks if there are any volunteers. A girl marches up to the stage from the sixteen year old section.
"I volunteer as tribute for district two," she announces calmly.
"And what is your name?" Atilius asks.
"Clove. Clove Alexa."
"Well, Clove, congratulations! Let's give a round of applause to this year's female tribute!" Atilius trills. There is thunderous applause, as usual. I take a deep breath. I'm next. Atilius pulls out a name from the reaping ball.
"Tristin Brett!" This time, when he asks for volunteers, I'm the one who steps forward.
"I do! I volunteer!" I almost shout, pushing forward. I take my place on the stage, beside Clove.
"Oh, it looks like we have two volunteers!" Our escort squeals excitedly. I don't know why he seems so surprised. It's not like this is an unusual occurrence. I will never understand these Capitol people. "Now what might your name be?"
"Cato Hunt."
"Hunt! Even the name sounds menacing!" Now he turns back to the audience. "Let's give it up for this year's tributes!"
Once again, there is deafening applause. I turn my attention towards Clove. I've seen her before. She's in some of my classes. I realize she will most likely be one of my allies. I also realize I may be the one who has to kill her. So I watch her. She seems confident, and I can tell by looking at her that she is like me. She has been training for this.
Now it's time to shake hands. I lean in towards her. "Let the Games begin!" I whisper, too quietly for anyone else to hear. Slowly, a smile spreads across her face. This is going to be fun.