So guys this is my new fic and no I won't abandon this one because I've already six chapters in. Please review once you've read it cause I love feedback.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my OC's and original material.
~Chapter 1. The Reaping~
Clove
Chive is sleeping. I should wake her but I'm too tired to deal with her worrying and childish whining. It's the day of the reaping and Mum still isn't back. She went to visit a neighbouring village two weeks ago and hasn't been back since. We all know that the mountains can be rough but the weather's been placid so it shouldn't take this long to get there and back. Maybe she got held up.
I get out of bed quietly so as not to wake her and head into the kitchen. My older brother, Mace, is in there with Fennel making breakfast, both of them are bare foot wearing moth eaten pyjamas. The state of their clothing isn't really a concern though because the games provide the perfect opportunity for District 1, 2 and 8 to trade so we'll all get get new clothes soon, probably jewellery too if Dad brings home enough money.
"Mum isn't back yet." Fennel complains. "Any idea where she is? She said she'd be back for the reaping."
"We'll see her at the town square. I mean everyone has to be there." I assure him. "Then she'll come home with us and we'll all have a nice meal."
"With Cato?" He clarifies, hoping the answer is yes because he gets on with Cato.
"Uh maybe." I say, wanting to change the subject because things with Cato have been getting weird recently. "I'm going to get dressed. Eat quickly and I can brush your hair before we leave." He makes a face at me but I know he likes having his hair brushed by me, it makes him feel more like a child.
I leave the kitchen and go into the bathroom to scrub any lingering ammunition dirt from my pale skin and clean my teeth. The dress I put on is expensive and originally belonged to my mother but it finally fits me. The smoky grey fabric is soft against my knees and fits perfectly against my athletic frame. Hair rolled up into a delicate ponytail, I walk back into my bedroom to wake Chive.
"Clove." She yawns. "Clove how long do we have?"
"Ages, Chive, ages." I reassure her. "Mace made breakfast." I say, changing the topic to lighten the mood.
"I'm not hungry." She says rolling away from me.
Her fear of the reaping is sweet. She's only ten so her name won't even be on a slip but she worries for us. Mace's name won't be there either, at nineteen years old he's officially the man of the house as Dad spends most of his time working—he's a peacekeeper. Fennel and I could be reaped though. It's a prospect that scares us all, being District 2 citizens we'd never admit it out loud, but reaping day makes everyone want to run to the woods and hide.
"You need to eat Chive, food will keep you healthy. If you start to skip meals you'll get ill."
I want to add that if she ever gets reaped, a lifetime of being well nourished and extremely fit would keep her alive in the games. I don't say it though—we don't joke about the games on reaping day—instead I just kiss her cheek gently.
"I'll eat if it makes you happy." She resigns and trudges into the kitchen with me close behind.
~Things I Left Unsaid~
I manage to eat half a loaf of bread, an egg and some dried fruit before I start to feel a little sick. Luckily there's a knock on the door and I rush to answer it, hoping desperately that it's Mum.
"Oh." I want to close the door again now that I can see who it is.
"I was supposed to make sure you guys got to the square and everything." Cato stands calmly at my door, blonde hair flicking into his face.
"Mace is here, he can take us. Sorry about the waste of a journey." I rub my arm nervously.
He shrugs. "It's not a waste. I'll go with you. It'll give us time."
We do the same thing every year, always contemplating that this will be the last time we see each other. He has two more reaping days after this, I have three and every time I start to pity myself I remember that Fennel has five more and Chive has all of hers waiting.
"Mace!" I call. "Cato's here. I'm going to wait outside with him."
I can hear his less than tasteful reply from the kitchen but I ignore it. I've come to understand that this loathing is a typical male thing, something about competing for dominance in my life. Rolling my eyes, I walk outside with Cato and sit on the doorstep.
"I assume the same plan is in place?" He asks me.
"If Mace can't manage, you need to take Chive—Fennel can manage by himself. If your mum gets ill or your dad is needed somewhere else, I'll take little Kyra and look after her until you get back."
"So confident." He laughs. "So sure."
"I know you Cato, I know that you would win…but don't volunteer, I don't want you to volunteer."
He gives me a reassuring hug and grins. "I promise I won't volunteer. I don't want you to volunteer either." He looks me in the eye with a wry smile and I know from that gleam in his eye that he's proud of himself. "I got you a present."
"So early in the season?" I return his smile with one of amazement.
"I've been saving it for a while. You can't have it yet, not until your 16th birthday. You can look at it though."
His right hand slips into his trouser pocket—the same pair he wears to dinner with the Mayor, I note—and pulls out a small metal locket. It has a design of a wing with carefully handcrafted feathers and little metal cogs. I take it from him, open it and look at the picture on the inside, it's of Chive and Fennel sitting on the swing in Valley park.
Cato takes the locket from my hand and stuffs it back in his pocket.
"You can change the picture when it belongs to you."
"I think I have one of you. I'll put that one in." I say with a hint of sarcasm.
"You're sweet." He says, flashing me that slightly arrogant grin of his.
"I know." I turn my head and kiss his cheek.
Someone clears their throat behind me and I know without looking that it's Mace. He doesn't hate Cato exactly, he just doesn't want me to get hurt. Cato and I have had our ups and downs but I've learnt to recognise that he only does seemingly bad things because he's trying to be a good friend. Mace doesn't see it that way.
"Are you two ready?"
Cato stands up and offers me his hand. We both dust ourselves off and I go back inside to get Chive. She doesn't even resist as we make our way to the square. When we get there I give her a hug and kiss her forehead before Mace takes her hand and leads her off to where the non-reaping citizens stand. I notice that my mother isn't amongst them.
Before we separate off, Cato gives me a hug, puts on his coolest stare and joins the boys' lines. I file in with the girls, have my blood sampled, move into line and face the Justice Building. I see Fennel standing straight and to attention just as he had been taught to.
The Mayor and his wife take their seats at the side of the stage and it is obvious that they are nervous for their son, in fact it's the only time during the year that he takes priority over Cato, the pride of District 2. Lottie Hanmacker walks out next. As a fairly important member of the Capitol—she's Caesar Flickerman's niece—Lottie started choosing tributes at the age of 17 and was bumped straight up to District 2 from District 8. Despite only being 24, career wise she's more successful the likes of Effie Trinket.
She's also known for making Capitol attire look stunningly stylish and today is no exception. She's wearing a short green dress with long leather boots and a giant lime coloured bow around her platinum blonde hair.
"Welcome everyone to the beginning of the journey towards the 74th annual Hunger Games. As always your Mayor will read from the Treaty of Treason and because the Capitol are feeling most generous, a video has been made for you all to see. Happy Hunger Games District 2!"
I drown out most of the Mayor's rambling. Even though District 2 produces a fair amount of victors and is favoured by the Capitol, it doesn't mean that we in any way like the Hunger Games or agree with the Treaty. The assumption that just because we are Career tributes, we like the way innocent children are made up, paraded and advertised to kill or be killed, is wrong.
Lottie walks back to centre stage and starts to talk again.
"Well ladies and gentlemen. It is time to pick one boy and one girl as the tributes to represent District 2 in the Hunger Games. And may the odds be ever in your favour! Ladies first!"
She removes her bright orange gloves to reveal a beautiful set of well-manicured nails. Then she delves her hand into the bowl full of names, the girl's one. My name will be in there four times as will most girls of my age. Her fingers connect with a sealed slip of paper and she picks it up.
"And the female tribute for District 2 is…" She opens the slip and reads it. I silently will for it not to be me. I hope and pray that it isn't me and then she says the two words that I've been dreading. "Clove Harlington."
My heart is pounding in my chest and I can hear my sister's scream resounding in my ears. I put on my game face and practically glide forward to the stage. I give the district a huge smile and the charm offensive has begun. I immediately know my strategy, I'll act like the pride of District 2, present myself as a capable killer but remain likeable and charismatic.
"And now for the gentlemen." Lottie says gleefully. She picks the name from the boy's bowl, Fennel's name will be in there twice and Cato's five. She twirls her fingers around and from somewhere in the boys section there is movement. Someone is walking out of their line and into the main isle.
"I volunteer."
My heart stops. I know that voice. I know that voice and right now I wish I didn't because it's him, it always has to be him.
I can hardly breathe as he walks up towards the stage. Lottie offers her hand but he doesn't take it. The look on his face is one of steely determination and I want to hit him, I so desperately want to hurt him for what he's done.
"Well, as usual District 2 is always keen to volunteer for the games. What's your name?"
"Cato Knight."
There is a harsh silence in our district because everyone knows. Everyone knows that we're close friends, many people believe that we're more than that. He turns and gives me the smallest of glances but I can't do or say anything in response. I am detached, I cannot feel now, I won't feel now. So when Cato goes to shake my hand I make it firm and strong but my eyes don't reflect friendship or love, they reflect the fighter that is to come. There is no question about it, the games have begun.
So the Careers of District 2 have been reaped. What will happen to them? Find out in the next chapter but for now...
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Ella Bella xx (virtual cookies for anyone who reviews)