Chapter One
Thump Thump Thump
The sound of my knives hitting the targets, ring through the arena. One by one they hit the little red dot, and frightened glances are shot in my direction. Their fear is fuel for my ferociousness. I realize I am out of knives and glare at the others until they stop throwing. I'd rather not wait until they run out, nor would I want one of their stray knives sticking into my back. I'm brave, but not stupid.
"Too scared to go out there and get them?" someone asks from behind me. I snarl at his obnoxious voice, and watch as he marches by. His blond hair gleaming and his blue eyes twinkling.
"Give me one of your knives," I say sharply to the person beside me. They fumble to hand one to me and I wait impatiently. Once I feel the cold metal in my hand I turn to the his back as he bends down to pick up some of my knives. I take a deep breath, focus on my target and throw. It whizzes by his right ear, and takes a chunk out of it.
He stands up slowly, his large hand pressed against his bleeding ear. He gives me a glare that makes the people beside me cower and move away from me. Instead of beating me up like he would to anyone else who dared to hurt him, he hands me my knives. His hand brushes my arm as he goes by.
"You'll pay for that later," he whispers.
"Can't wait," I shoot back before he is gone, gone to get his ear treated.
I turn to see all the other trainees staring at me incredulously, apparently Cato's representation precedes him. Basically, you touch him or look at him the wrong way, you get a bed in the hospital wing. Yeah, that's what I have to deal with.
However, apparently my reputation precedes me aswell, "what the hell are you looking at?" I bark and they quickly look away. The ones closest to me, moving as far away from me as their station allows. No one wants one of my knives in their shoulder.
"CLOVE," my trainer Edward calls from the back of the room. I sigh, grab a knife and slowly make my way over to him. He's about 23 years old, a previous Hunger Games victor and the only person who can truly annoy the hell out of me.
"Can I help you?" I ask when I reach him, I twirl my knife in my fingers. He eyes it for a moment, his brown eyes calculating before he glances back up at me.
"As much as I love seeing you practice your skills, please try not to take a chunk out of my best trainee. He's been picked to go into the Hunger Games this year." His brown hair is cropped short so you can see the long scar a knife made down his face. I wish I was the one who put it there.
"Good for him," I say sarcastically.
He grins, "also, be a bit nicer to the others."
"Gottcha."
He's silent for a moment, "can I leave now?" I ask. When he doesn't reply I turn around and start to stalk away.
"By the way Clove!" he calls, "you look good in those shorts."
I'm proud he doesn't cower under my death glare. I liked my old trainer better, Brutus, Cato's uncle. He was the best, taught me everything. Then he had to go and make errands for the Capitol, and prepare to be a mentor in the games again. So we were left with this barbie. He doesn't even do anything other than yell at us, and look at our asses.
"My ear hurts," Cato complains when he comes sauntering out of the infirmary. He practically has a reserved bed there, he's always getting into fights here. And I think that one nurse has the hots for him.
"How's Nina?" I wonder.
"She's great," he grins, before heading to the swords. People step out of his way as he passes. A couple girls stare at him in need, ya he's also pretty good looking. However he malicious, and forceful and annoying. He's also quite popular now that the mayor has chosen him to go into the games. Each year the mayor comes and chooses one female and male tribute, they are the best in their year. I'm only 17 so next year will be my chance.
Honestly, I don't quite understand the female choice this year. Some girl named Pearl, I mean who names their kid Pearl anyways? Not that I can talk, my name's Clove after all. My mother named me after the clovers in our yard, our grass is practically all clover. All I see are some weeds, but hey, everyone has their own opinions. Just not all of them are right.
So this girl Pearl, she's tall and dark skinned and brown eyed and gorgeous. She swings her dark brown hair as if she owns the world, little does she know I fantasize about smashing her face in. Just cause I don't like it very much. And sure, she can use a sword fine and she can throw a decent spear. But she's not spectacular, she not especially good at anything. I mean, I could beat her in anything here. And that's saying something because I hate the bow and arrow. Still, I could put an arrow into her heart.
"Hello Clove," speak of the devil. Her voice can't honestly be that annoying on it's own can it? I mean, she screams sassy school girl. Like no. Just no.
"Fancy running into you hear."
She must be stupid, I mean...who says that? "Well I train here."
"Yes well," she cuts over me, "I better go train, since I'm going into the games and all."
"If you think you can make me jealous, well, think again. I could beat you into a pulp right here, right now, with my bare hands. I wouldn't push me too far right now, I already think your insufferably annoying."
"Oh Clove, always so cocky and stupid." Then she puts me in a headlock. I mean, seriously? I thought people knew who I was, I mean I have extensive training and you think you can get me in a headlock. I would laugh but she's cutting off my air supply. People are turning to look at us, even Cato has stopped fighting to see what's going to happen. Will the new female tribute win against big bad Clove?
I don't think so.
I kick her into the knees and she buckles a bit, then I throw my head back with all my might and slam it into her nose. She lets go of me and puts her hand to stop the flow of blood pouring out of it.
"Think you can beat me?" I snarl, circling around her, "think again."
I lunges at her and punch her face, she goes to punch me and i grab her fist. My nails digging into her skin, she goes she kick me with her long skinny legs but I stomp down on them with the heel of my boot. She falls under the pressure of my kick. I climb on top of her and start pounding her face in. My knuckles scream, she screams. She tries to throw me off her, and I slam her head into the floor. She goes limp, I hope she enjoys her concussion.
I pull myself off her and glare at all the astonished glances. I turn around to stalk away but someone's hand is on my shoulder, her hand. She has a knife to the back of my throat and she's breathing heavily.
"Always make sure your opponent is down, before you turn your back to them."
My hands are behind my back, and I feel around for the knife stashed in my belt.
"Remember this day, remember the day I beat little Clove."
I find the hilt and slowly wrap my hand around it. "Remember…" she begins but I duck low and whirl around, she goes to stab but the knife slides over my head. I'm nimble and fast, something my small size actually helps me with. I lunge at her with my knife and stick it into the top of her leg.
She screams and blood starts pouring out of the wound.
"Remember to pick on someone your own size next time," I snarl at her, "maybe then you'll win". I know, low blow. But really, you're going to put one of my knives to the back of my neck. Seriously? She's too dumb to go into the Hunger Games anyways, I've just done District 2 a favour.
Edward is shaking his head, "really Clove? It had to be our tribute."
"She started it," I say, as the nurses wheel her down to the infirmary. "Someone going into the Hunger Games should be smarter than that anyways."
"Now the mayor has to pick somebody else," he says with a shrug, "and he's not going to be happy about it."
"He'll get over it," I reply.
"Maybe you should care more," Edward snarls.
"Maybe you should suck my dick."
Edward takes an angry step forward and I pull out one of my knives. Then someone's hand is on my shoulder, does he honestly have to be apart of this right now?
"I think Clove is a little worked up today," Cato says to Edward, trying to calm him down, "I live next to her, why don't I take her home. Make sure she doesn't get into any trouble."
"I don't need a babysitter…" I begin but Edward cuts me off.
"That sounds like a good idea Cato, go ahead and take her home." Ugg, seriously? Is now a really good time for this, come one Edward! He's such a dick.
"Come one Clove," Cato pulls me through the crowd of trainees, they stumble to get out of our way. We pass the hall entrance to the infirmary, and head to the tall glass door that leads in and out of the training centre. The training centre if a huge concrete building, covered in tall glass windows that look out into the dark forest. The only forest in District 2. Most people only care about the mountains here, mining for stone. But the people who built the training centre thought the forest was good for training in. The training centre was made by one of the first victors of District 2, they thought it would be a good idea to prepare the children with enough money, their whole lives for the games. There's a lot of money floating around 2, so there's a lot of trainees.
Not very many are good enough to be picked for the games though. Our system is one of the reasons District 2 has so many victors. Like my mom, who I really don't want to deal with right now.
Once we're out of the doors, Cato pulls me around the side of the building and into the forest. We go in far enough so no one could see us by accident, once we are a safe distance Cato pushes me up against a tree.
"Did you really have to go that hard on her? She's dumb as a post," he says in my ear.
"She deserved it," I say.
He cuts me off when his lips crash into mine. His kiss is strong and he quickly opens my mouth and finds my tongue. Did I forget to mention me and this jerk are in a steady relationship? Yup, two psychopaths going steady. I mean, who can complain about this though.
He pulls away for air and gives me a cocky looks.
"Are you always so insufferable?" I say, "nobody in their right mind would deal with you and enjoy it."
"You're not exactly in your right mind, now are you Clove?"
I decide not to let him know how right he is, he doesn't need a larger ego right now.
A/N: I know I have also started a Fannie (someone please tell me if that's their really couple name or not, I have no idea), but you know, I had this idea. This little inspiration to write, oh their much sad love story. Except a less sappy version then my last one. More bad ass you know?
Your probably don't, I just had some sugar :)
Ya so read some more, or don't read some more. Cause there still needs to be another chapter.
Oh the dilemmas.
I'll try to write more soon.
Okay, okay.
Bye now.