Author's Note:
Hey guys! This is like... the very first fan fiction that I made. Please rate and review! And a little note before you read it. Clove is DEFINITELY NOT OUT OF CHARACTER HERE. I just made up some story on why she is sadistic and ruthless in the games, you'll see the 'Sadistic Clove' on the following chapters. Apparently, the Clove in the first chapters is considered as kind and caring and she isn't a career. There's some twist that I made to make the story interesting. But there's something that happens later on why she changed. This is kind of a 'Prologue' but nonetheless, please enjoy!
I'll Protect You
Chapter 1 – The Reaping
Cato's POV
"Clove Martin!"
Elise Winnings' voice resonated in my head.
Whose name did she just call?
But then, as if sensing my question, she repeated the name of the girl tribute that will be representing our district for the 74th Annual Hunger Games.
"Clove Martin? Where are you?" she said, impatience visible on her voice.
I was shocked.
Clove was chosen!?
I turned to look at Clove from my right; a little distant from where I am. But despite the distance, I could clearly see that she was frightened. She met my eyes and I mouthed, 'stay strong.'
Why does it have to be her? She doesn't know anything about fighting. Unlike me who was trained to enter the Games.
We vowed just yesterday that none of us two will be volunteering for the games. But I know that she said that mainly because she knows I would.
I waited for those vicious girls from my school that would be willing to take her place. No one was willing to volunteer.
She had no choice. It has to be her.
I watched her make her way to the stage slowly. She was buying time. But it was hopeless. All these bastards care about is fighting and bloodshed.
I've been stuck in my reverie when Elise Winnings' had called out the male tribute.
"Jared Morel." And a little, sickly and skinny boy has been called. There's no way they're gonna last a minute in the arena!
I thought up of ways on how to help Clove, she can't be dying there. Never.
All of a sudden, I knew exactly what to do to keep her alive. I raised my voice and shouted the words that will save her at a confident, brute and fearless manner.
"I volunteer as tribute!"
I tried my best to walk confidently with a straight face towards the stage. Elise Winnings obviously have the hots for me as she keeps on getting near me and putting her hand on my shoulder until Clove and I shake hands.
Clove's grip was more than needed when she shook my hands, and I looked straight into her eyes. Anger and fright are clearly visible in her, and so to not add insult to injury, I just raised my eyebrows as if I don't understand anything about our situation.
"Why are you doing this!?" she hissed under her breath, just loud enough for me to hear it. I could sense that she's at the verge of tears, with relief and anger in her voice. I squeezed her hand harder and told her in a confident voice, "Don't worry. Nothing bad will happen." and before she could say anything back, I let go of her hand and walked towards the room where I'll be saying my farewells.
We were finally on the train that will take us to the Capitol. Clove is ignoring me now, probably because of what I did at the reaping. She sat on the side of the couch, embracing her legs. She's staring at a distance, and I could feel her mind is racing into a lot of thoughts at the moment.
I sat next to her, with the hopes of getting her attention, but failed.
"Are you gonna keep ignoring me?" I said, maybe catching her attention. Silence. I sighed, and I brought my face near hers.
She finally turns to face me and her face reddens by our closeness. I smirk, and told her, "Did I get your attention now?" She suddenly backs down far more to the side and shouted in a somewhat insecure voice, "What do you think you're doing!?" I laughed, and said, "You keep on ignoring me." She seems to ponder the thought as if she never heard of the word and said, "I'm not ignoring you. It's just..." and she lowers her eyes to the ground.
I didn't talk, I know that she's just hesitating on whether to say what's on her mind or keep it to herself. I know that she would tell me the problem since we've trusted each other since 10 years.
She turned to me, and I gave a 'go on' look. She sighed and said, "In 2 weeks, we'll be killing each other." She's hesitating to continue again, and she looked me straight in the eyes. "You're a Career. You trained for this your entire life. I'm just... nothing. In order for you to win, you'll need to kill m-" and I immediately put my hand in a 'shh-ing' gesture in her lips. She stopped speaking at once and I said, "You're all worried about that? Don't worry, I won't do anything to you." She gave me a questioning look and I immediately added, "Odds are somebody might kill me before you do." For some weird reason, that made her a little comfortable. Is it really comforting for her that I get killed?
Suddenly, I could hear Enobaria at our back, laughing at something at the TV. We turned at the sound of her voice and divert our attention at the TV.
I could see the reaping in District 12, a little girl probably 6 years younger than me was reaped. Someone who looks a bit similarly like her volunteers for her place. She's skinny, brown-haired and has grey eyes. She looks like she's 2 years younger than me. Their escort asks her name, and she says, "Katniss Everdeen." Huh, what a weird name.
"I'll bet my buttons that's your sister, wasn't it?" her escort asked, and the girl named Katniss hesitates for a moment before saying, "Yes."
"Let's clap for District 12's very first volunteer!" her escort says, and no one claps. Who would clap for something stupid like that?! And unexpectedly, the whole District 12 are raising their hands to her in a gesture that means 'Farewell'.
I snickered, and said, "How stupid. That's suicide. Her other herd are even too excited to say goodbye to her." And Enobaria joins my laughter. I look at Clove and wonder why she isn't laughing.
She looks offended and defended the District 12 girl. "That was admirable, it was brave of her. And that gesture was a sign of respect, not just some stupid 'Farewell'."
There she is again, playing the good girl. I corrected her, "That was suicide, it was stupid of her. And that gesture was sign of disrespect, just some stupid 'Farewell'." And Enobaria and I snickered together. I turned to face at her again, and I can see her glaring at me. I flinched, I stopped laughing at once. It was the first time she's glaring at me this intensely.
"If it was someone you love, would you not do it?" she said, and strode off the room. I stared at her as she went out of the room. Weirdly enough, her words sort-of reached me.
Because after hearing her words, I sort-of understood why the District 12's girl tribute did it.
Author's Note:
Was it okay? Like it? Well, fluff or other things you expect comes in the next chapter. Please rate and review! It would be so much appreciated.
