If you recognise it, it's not mine.
Slash and stab and twist. Pull the sword out. Spin round and swing the heavy blade through the air. Another body falls to the ground. Breathing heavily, I stop, look around.
The ground is littered with scraps of fabric and straw. I hear clapping, slow but impressed. As I turn, I know who I'll see.
"Did you really have to destroy them all, Cato?"
I shrug, sheathing my sword as Enobaria walks towards me. Even from several meters away, her pointed teeth gleam and I shudder inwardly. Even now, long dress rustling as she walks through the ruins of the practice dummies on the floor, she radiates power, strength, danger. She pauses just in front of me, and I have to stop myself from flinching as she leans forward.
"The reaping is in one hour," she says, voice soft and acidic. "You will be ready, yes?"
I nod, swallowing as her sharp teeth are revealed for a few brief seconds. Her long painted nails dig into my shoulder, pushing me away.
"Go, then."
I turn to walk to the door, unbuckling the sword from around my waist as I go, but then she calls me back.
"Cato. One moment."
She crosses over to me, heels clicking on the floor. Her hands close round my shoulders, icy blue eyes looking straight into mine.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
I nod, not breaking her gaze.
"Cato, you have one chance to back out. Believe me, I know what it's like out there."
I twist free of her grip, irritated.
"I have trained since the age of four. I am one of the best fighters in the district, and I can think of a dozen different ways I could kill you right now."
Her teeth flash, an inch away from my face. She paces round, voice rising.
"I am not saying you are not capable, I am saying that this is not the only thing you could do with your life!"
"This is my life!" I shout back, angry myself.
"No it's not, Cato. You're young, strong, you could do almost anything."
I stop, glaring hard at her.
"Could I be a hero, Enobaria? Could I be famous, idolized, a role model? Like you?"
"There are other ways!"
"It's like you said. I have one chance. What are you even talking about, you volunteered yourself!"
"And I was young, and stupid!"
Something has changed in her voice. It is thicker, shriller. Suddenly, I am angrier than ever before.
"Is that what I am, stupid?" I say coolly, voice low.
"All those years, training me to fight, to kill, what were they for? So I could stay home, watch other people fight, envy their honour for the rest of my life? Is it, Enobaria?"
"Cato..."
"I want to be somebody, is that so hard to understand?"
"This is not a game, Cato!"
I turn and walk away, sending a last, bitter reply over my shoulder.
"I think you'll find that it is."
I stand near the edge of the crowd. Enobaria, Brutus, Lyme and the rest are all on the stage, while the escort reaches into the bowl for the female tribute. I look at Enobaria, but she stares straight ahead, clapping mechanically as a slight girl with brown hair walks to the stage. I recognise her. Everyone will. That's Clove, the girl with the knives. Now the boy's name is read out, some pathetic kid. I glance at Enobaria one last time. She is laughing at something Brutus just said to her, deadly teeth flashing in the sunlight. Then she looks at me, for just one second. Then her gaze flicks back to the rest of the crowd, cold and locked. I step forward, and suddenly I'm running, shouting as I hit the steps. And I am in the game for the only honour I could get in my life.
I am Cato. Swordsman. Tribute.
Hero.
