The Swing of the Hammer
Authors' Note:
Thank you for reading this! As co-authors of this story, my fellow author and I are going to be alternating chapters of this story. This is our first fanfiction, so please tell us what you think!
Clove's POV
I burst through the French doors into my large spacious room and out into my little balcony over looking the mountains of District 2, fuming with anger and rage. I'm still sweating from the sprint from the Academy to back home. Training hasn't been dismissed yet, so I'm home unusually early, which causes my mother to come wandering up stairs for an explanation. I shoot her an evil look and growl under my breath which sends her backing down into the hallway. She's afraid of me alright, any sane person would be too, even without the knowledge that I carry three knives with me at all times. One on my back and two in my jacket. Even the instructors at the Training Academy are, which is why no one came running after me, no tried to stop me from just walking out, or in my case, sprinting. No one except him.
Cato's here within minutes. But I knew he would come, so I already locked my door. I don't want to see him. Not after what just happened….
The day had started out like all the others, except today was the face off. Every year, the day before the reaping, all the 18 year old kids at the Academy face off by gender. The two winners volunteer at the reaping, and go with off to the capitol with every intention of coming back. Being only 15, I automatically was not part of the selection, but I still was allowed to watch, with all the other people actually paying money to see the tournaments. But I had other plans.
I saw Cato at the end of the hallway, staring at the bulletin board. My relationship with him is weird; I'm his best friend, but he's my frenemy. I suppose that if I wasn't part of the family I'm in now, that he would be my best friend as well, but my father would never allow it. My father is a strong, wealthy man who owns five granite mines in the northern part of District 2. He once was 18 too, like Cato, and had been training at the Academy since he was seven like all of us. It was his year, his year to win, his last year to participate in the Hunger Games. Of course, he won the face off, but he barely beat his friend Boulder, to the title. Boulder had anger issues, and at the reaping where my father was supposed to volunteer, Boulder beat him to it. Boulder won, came back, and had a son named Cato. My father lost his chance at fame and fortune, and his best friend. That didn't stop him from seeking revenge though. My father stole Boulder's girlfriend, the one he told my father was the love of his life, and the one he was going to propose to. My father got Boulder's girl, Sandy, to fall in love with him, and leave Boulder before he even got a chance to come home. He convinced Boulder's father to give him a top ranking job at the mines, and eventually turned into his second son, while Boulder was busy on the Victory Tour. When Boulder's father died three months later, all the mines went to my father, making him a very wealthy man, maybe even as wealthy as Boulder.
For decades, my family has been known for our strong, athletic fighters. So it just so happened that I was to carry on the family tradition. I got my strength and skill from my father, who trained me even before I was seven, the age when I could be entered into the Training Academy. My stunning looks comes from my beautiful mother, Sandy. Every one says that they see her in me, and sometimes, I can even catch Cato's father, Boulder having to look away from me with resent. Altogether I would make a splendid tribute for the Hunger Games. I plan to go into the arena and come back a victor, but I'm not going to wait until I'm eight teen, like how it is accustomed to in District 2. I'm not going to risk being stood up for my spot by some girly princess craving attention. Not like my father. I'm smarter than that. Even as I plan going into the arena early, I wouldn't have chosen this year to go. About a month ago, though, my father called me into his library at home, and told me he thought it would be best if I volunteered this year. I already knew the reason why before he could tell me. For years, my father urged me to beat Cato in a fight, and since then I have. But that wasn't enough to satisfy his hunger for revenge on Boulder and his family. Beating Cato just created our one way "friendship". Now my father wanted me to volunteer during Cato's year so then I could have a chance to kill him on live tv. This does sound kind of tempting considering what a jerk he can sometimes be, but it wouldn't be completely fair because he trusts me as a friend. But my father's wishes come first. And so do mine.
So today, when I walked into the hall of the Academy, I had every intention of volunteering, whether I got picked at the face off or not. To get Cato's attention, and to just scare him and see him shudder for fun, I decided to surprise him. I took one of my three knives, and threw it between his ankles so it would land in the wall he was facing. Cato didn't react, being so involved in the bulletin board. I could tell that what ever he was reading was making him angry because he put his hands on his hips in protest. I threw my other two knives between him arms and onto the wall. Can't ignore that, you jerk. I thought.
He did notice this and yanked all three knives out of the wall and turned me way, and yelled "CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS! The weekly newsletter has Stoney down as most likely to win the face off. Well will I show them. I don't get what the trainers see in him. That little wimp. He just goes here so he wont get fat." Cato crumpled up the piece of paper and threw it at some unfortunate 8 year old.
"Maybe he is really strong, and you're the one who's not noticing that you're the actual wimp." I said teasingly.
"Yeah right, when you're afraid of knives." His anger had gone down by then and we headed to the main gym where the face offs are held.
I continued to walk into the 18 year old girls section which caused confusion from Cato. " Where're you going? You're not eight teen."
"What is this, a night club? Need to see some ID? Since when are you a bouncer?" I said.
" Since now." Cato looked genuinely worried because he knew I'm the best of the girls and that I could easily win the face off and be his District partner.
"Shh." I put my finger to my lip and slipped in line leaving Cato standing there with a concerned look. I wasn't supposed to care. I was a mission, to defend my family's honor.
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