My eyes flickered open, trying to block the sunlight. I sat up and stretched my arms out in front of me, trying to become accustomed to morning. I looked at my alarm clock. Seven thirty. The reaping wasn't until nine. I still had plenty of time to sleep. As I began to roll over and cover my head with my pillow, my father burst open the door and began to yell.

"Cato!" he shouted. "Wake up! It's reaping day!" I groaned and rolled over to look at him.

"I still have time to sleep." My father's response was a punch in the abs.

"Get up Cato." With that, he left.

As I rubbed my bruising abs, I sat up and looked around my room. The metallic décor was reflective of the sunlight, making the room brighter than it actually was. I had trouble looking at it, so I finally hopped out of bed to go get breakfast.

Waiting for me was six strips of bacon, four pieces of toast, four eggs, and a bowl of fruit. My mother always insisted on making me big meals, to bulk up for the arena. My six year old sister Cora was sitting in the seat next to mine. I gave her a quick kiss on the head before sitting down to eat.

"Cato, when you're done eating, you need to go outside and train." My mother said while eating a forkful of eggs.

"Haven't I done enough training? The reaping's today. There's not much more I can do at this poi-." At this point my father came downstairs and threw whatever he was holding at me.

"Dammit Cato! Get it through your thick head! You're volunteering today, and you have to be prepared if you're going to win!" I ignored him, and continued to eat my breakfast until the plate was empty. I grabbed another slice of bacon and a sword before making my way out to the backyard.

The 'training center,' as I preferred to call it, was filled with weapons, dummies, targets, and anything else you could ever possibly need to 'succeed' as my father would say. Past the yard, you could see the nut, the main military for the district. It's where I would work, if I wasn't going to win.

Then I began the same routine I do every day. I start messing around with one of the dummies, practicing combat moves and sneak attacks until it was a mangled disaster. I moved on to the pull up bars. Then push-ups. Then I left the yard and jogged for a while. When I came home, I had enough time to take a shower and get changed for the reaping.

I come downstairs to see my family dressed and ready to go. We all look very simple. My father and I wear matching silver dress shirts and black slacks. My mother wears a simple silver dress. Cora is wearing a white dress with a silver sash around it. She runs up to me and pokes me in the leg, about eye level to her. "You look pretty Cato!" I couldn't help but laugh. "Oh I do, huh?" I picked her up and began to tickle her, making her squeal in delight. We didn't even have time to relish what could be the last moment with each other before my father rushed us all out the door.

As we got to town square and the justice building, I saw Mayor Pickertt on the stage, along with the escort, Kesla Porter, and the mentor, Brutus Hollins, who won the 52nd Hunger Games. My father immediately shoved me into the section where my peers were, the other 18 year old males. I knew what my family expected of me, and I knew what I had to do.

Kesla walked up to the stage with her usual speech, in the strange Capitol accent we're all so comfortable with. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to this bright and glorious day! I am simply ecstatic to announce to you the male and female tributes who are allowed to honor District Two in this 74th annual Hunger Games!" The speech was received with cheers and whooping that went on for miles. When the cheering died, Kesla spoke into the microphone with a simple "Ladies first!" before walking to the bowl on her right hand side.

She fished around for a while for buildup. When she finally grabbed a slip of paper, she made her way back to the middle of the stage. As she opened up the slip, she cleared her throat. You could cut the tension with a butter knife.

"The lovely lady to honor District 2 in these Hunger Games is…. Clove Alcen!"

A girl who appeared about 15, walked up the stage with confidence to her friends and family's many cheers. I don't recognize her from school, although that's most likely the age difference. One thing I noticed though: She looked near identical to Cora. I bit my lip, I knew what was coming next.

"And now, for the gent-"

Before Kesla could finish her sentence I ran out of line and made my way up the stage before I was stopped by peacekeepers. I pushed the peacekeepers away from me and said the words I never thought I would enjoy saying.

"I volunteer as District 2 male tribute."

Everyone was over the moon. Even Kesla and Mayor Pickertt were clapping. When I got up stage, Kesla asked what my name was. I leaned in close and whispered it. With that, she grabbed me and Clove's hands, raised them high above our heads, and uttered the words I've been longing to hear since I was 12 years old.

"May I present to you our District Two tributes, Clove Alcen and Cato Davis!"