This is my own little story of the Hunger games, in the point of view of Clove, this is definitely Clato, I will probably be having sequels to this, Catching Fire and Mockingjay, but heck, we're only on the first chapter here! Hope y'all enjoy this What If sort of story.
I don't own the Hunger Games, as cool as that'd be.
Summary:
In a twisted world where Careers have souls, two best friends are thrown into the horror of the Hunger Games. Together, they face a journey that neither of them expected to be so frightening. Follow Clove in the 74th Hunger Games, in a fight to the death unlike any other seen before.Chapter 1
I blink my eyes up at the white ceiling above me. Sunlight streams into the windows and I squint against the bright glare. I roll away from the light, but it still blasts against my eyes, keeping me awake. Groaning, I sit up and swing my feet over the side of the bed. I stand up and walk out to the kitchen, a chill running up my body from my feet, where they lay on the cold tile.
My eyes find the cabinet where the clean china dishes are. I open it and take out four bowls, setting them on the table. I then take cans of fruit and spoon them into the bowls, humming lightly a song I'd heard someone singing just the other day. It doesn't even come to my mind for a moment until now that today is the reaping. After all, it's not my year to volunteer. I stop in what I'm doing for a moment, thinking.
It's Mary Lou Steiner's year to volunteer. I can't help but snicker at that. She's stuck up and rude; practically my mortal enemy. The best part is, she's the most uncoordinated kid at the academy. Can't shoot a bow, can't throw a knife, heck, she can't even lift a sword. The only thing she's got going for her is her… okay hand to hand combat, as if that would do her any good in my opinion, and her manipulation. At least I have decent aim with knives and can hit far targets.
My thoughts are broken off as three boys run in laughing and screaming, and a girl walks in behind them, looking like she hadn't gotten any sleep. The kids are my little brothers and little sister. I'm sixteen, and the three boys are five-year-old triplets. My sister is twelve years old; the first year she was entered in the reaping, second year at the academy.
Mother always gives her the task of keeping the triplets under control… she learned that that job wasn't for me when she left the house for a couple of hours and she came back and knives were lodged in the walls where I tried to hit my screaming and running brothers. I grin as I think of that. Obviously, I threw a little to the left of their heads so I wouldn't hit them, but she didn't know that at the time. My smile falters when I really think of my mother. Once again, though, the boys interrupt my thinking.
"Hey, Clovey, Clove!" one of them squeaked, pulling at the skirt of my nightgown. "I'm HUNGRY!"
I roll my eyes and say, "Okay Nick, sit in your seat and eat your fruit."
He pouts. "I want CHOCOLATE!" He smiles brightly and the other two squeal in agreement. I pinch the bridge of my nose, letting out a long breath. Luckily, my sister, Kathryn, is there to get them to shut up.
"Mother says we have to eat fruit," her voice sounds tighter than usual, and a little fearful as she says, "Clove does her best to take care of us when Mother is away, and you should respect that and eat your breakfast, regardless of what it is."
Nick nods and sits down, Henry and Tucker settling in on either side of him. Nicholas is the ringleader in their group, Henry the quiet one, and Tucker the… just strange one. Tucker never speaks unless he's given sugar, and the things he says aren't really normal at all. We don't know what's wrong with him, but the other two make sure he doesn't do anything too weird, so we don't worry.
The three of them stuff their faces with fruit, while Kathryn sits down and eats a few bites before pushing the bowl away and standing up. Her eyes fall to the floor and she mumbles something incoherent- I think it was 'I'm going to get ready,'- and she begins to walk away.
I follow her and take her shoulder gently in my hand, turning her around to face me. I kneel down to look into her green eyes, pushing her bright blonde hair behind her ears.
"Kathy, what's up with you?" I say in concern.
She looks down and shrugs, mumbling something else.
"Kathy." I say in a firmer tone.
Her eyes refocus on mine and then fill with tears as she falls forward into my arms. I rub her back as she cries and she begins to explain.
"I'm finally twelve, and I'm entered in the reaping this year, and I don't wanna be, Clove, I'm scared! I know I shouldn't be… I know it's Mary Lou's turn, but- well- you know Mary Lou better than anyone Clove, she's a big meanie! What if I'm picked? What if she doesn't volunteer like she's supposed to? What if I die, Clove, what then?"
I close my eyes for a moment. She has a good point. Mary has had it out for me for as long as I can remember, after all. Why not take it out on my sister? People don't volunteer when it's not their turn. It's simple. There's no reason to. Why volunteer when you could have a greater victory by having more time to train? I take a moment to reassure myself, telling myself that Mary Lou knows the consequences, which are awful.
My grip tightens around Kathryn and I stroke her hair as I say, "It's alright, Kathy. Mary Lou may be a big meanie, but she knows the consequences of not volunteering on her turn. She will volunteer, I promise. And if she doesn't…. then I will, Kathryn, I will not let you die I promise you."
She nods into my shoulder and I feel her relaxing slightly. Gently, I push her back and wipe her tears away with my thumbs. "You have nothing to fear," I whisper, "I'll keep you safe. Now do you want to start getting ready? I can do your hair for you, if you'd like."
Her face brightens up immediately and she nods, running off down the hall. Sighing, I stand up and return to my brothers. To my dismay, Tucker is standing on Henry's shoulders, and Henry is standing on Nick's back. Tucker is bouncing on his toes to try and get the box of… chocolate chips. Of course.
Shaking my head, I pick up Tucker and set him on the ground. Then I take Henry off of Nick's back and pull Nick to his feet by the hand.
"Go on, you three, put on something nice for the reaping."
Nick looks like he's about to argue, but I give him a death glare and he nods, running off to his room with Henry and Tucker right behind him. I then start off towards my own room. I'm walking in when I hear the front door open. It's my mom.
I turn and run to the door, finding a very worn-out brunette standing there. She's shaking her head as though trying to stay awake and leaning against the doorframe. She then notices me and smiles.
"Clove," she murmurs, "sorry I was so late. I meant to be home last night, but there was a meeting that came up and I couldn't miss it."
I shrug and say, "Its fine. I just did what I usually do," I try to hide the bitterness in my tone, "every morning. I got up, fed my little siblings, and had them go get ready."
My mom nods gratefully and stumbles off to her room; probably for a nap before the reaping.
I walk to my room and look at the purple dress hanging on the doorknob of my closet. I take the silky fabric in my hands and remove the dress from its hanger, sliding out of my nightgown and replacing it with the purple dress. I then go into the bathroom, where I stand in front of the mirror and quickly curl my hair.
Soon after I finish, Kathy comes in wearing a yellow sundress, her blonde hair falling in natural waves down her back. I smile and nod, and she walks to the stool in front of the mirror, climbing up on it.
I put her hair in a fishtail braid, then curl it up into a bun, pinning it up with bobby pins. She smiles as I do so and says in a soft voice, "Thanks." I just nod solemnly and say, "We'd better head off soon. The reaping will be starting in a half hour."
I see the panic in her gaze and I immediately regret pointing that out. But I assume it's better that she know now then the moment we have to leave. I shake my head and say, "It's okay, don't worry, it'll be fine I swear."
She seems to calm down a little and walks out of the bathroom into the kitchen. My mother is there, wearing a dark blue dress, with the triplets all in tuxedos chasing each other around.
"Ah, good," she says, "you two are finished. It's time to head out."
We go out and head to the town square, where people are gathering. My mother leads the triplets to the roped off area where the family members too old or too young to be entered stand. I lead Kathryn to the entrance.
I gently push her ahead of me and say, "Don't worry it'll be alright."
I honestly don't know how many times I'm going to have to reassure her. She keeps getting panicked about every mention of the reaping. Luckily, she does alright when they prick her finger and dab the blood off. She then walks off and goes to the group of twelve-year-olds, and I lose sight of her.
Silently, I hold out my hand to the Peacekeeper sitting in front of me. She smiles warmly at me and says, "Clove, great to see you!" I smile back and say, "You too, Rita."
I hardly notice when she pricks my finger and I walk away, waving at her when she waves at me. I then walk to the girls in my age group. A lot of them are gossiping. I see Mary Lou snickering at me from a little way away. Suddenly, I feel a something cold creep up me, sending shivers up my spine. Something's not right. I can feel it. At that moment, I pray that they don't pick Kathryn.
So? How'd you like it? Please review! Chapter 2 coming soon! I know there's no backstory yet by the way; why her mother is so tired, who her friends are, what her district's usually like, where her father is, etc. etc. but it'll come in later.