Chapter 1: The Beginning
Clove
I woke up in the early hours of the morning only to find out that I was too excited to go back to sleep. Today will be my first training as a career tribute. I was very happy when I passed my test to be trained as a career tribute. I will finally get the chance to enhance my skills and to learn how to use weapons that I'm not yet familiar with. It will also be an opportunity to show off to everyone, especially to my parents.
My dad became the victor of The Hunger Games during his time and he's really looking forward to me becoming the same as him. On the other hand, my mom didn't get to participate in the games due to physical health problems when she finally came of age (18) and was planning to volunteer during that year. Because of that, she's been encouraging me to do what she had not done. What my parents have said didn't trouble me at all. I really want to participate in the games and win. I will become a victor just like my father and accomplish what my mother didn't. I will bring pride and honor to my district.
Two hours have passed and I'm in the dining room with my parents. They're also looking forward to this day.
"Clove," my mother said. "Today will be your first training as a career tribute. Do your best and impress everyone." She doesn't need to tell me these things. I will definitely do my best and impress everyone.
"I will mom," I said. "Of course I will."
"Make us proud Clove," my father said.
"I will dad," I said. "You know I will."
My parents drive me to the Academy and said goodbye as I stepped outside our car. I quickly look for the Training Center. As I stepped inside the Training Center, the familiar sound of people doing their training greets my ears. I was watching them do their training when a boy, probably a year older than me, caught my attention. He is tall, muscular, handsome and blonde. He also looks very strong. He cuts the dummy's head off with ease using his sword. He cuts all of the remaining body parts of the dummy as well. But he probably sensed that someone has been looking at him because he turned his head on my direction. He gave me a cocky grin and I glare at him before he gets back to his training.
Minutes later and the trainer has arrived. Everyone stopped training at once and turned to face him.
"Good morning everyone. Before you get back to your training, I would like you to meet Clove, our newest member," the trainer said coldly. "Come here Clove and show us what you've got" I quickly come in front with everyone watching me.
"Hello everyone. I'm Clove and I'm skilled with knives," I said confidently. I saw the blonde boy looking at me lazily.
"Then show us how skilled you are to be able to get in here," the trainer said, again with his cold voice. His words pissed me off, especially with his tone. I'm thinking of grabbing some knives and use him as my target.
"Ok," I said confidently. I grabbed some knives and aim at my targets on the wall, too bad it wasn't that cold, boastful trainer. I send three knives one after the other at three different targets and not one of them missed. I turned to look at everyone and was glad to see them pleased with what I did.
"Not bad," the trainer said coldly once again. What is wrong with him? Is he doing this on purpose? "By the way, I'm Allan." What a very ugly name, same as him. "Nice to meet you, Clove."
"Liar," I said inside my head. I gave him an untruthful smile before he turns away and I proceed with my training.
I trained with the knives even though I know that I'm already skilled at it. It's just to show to that Allan what I'm capable of with knives. I was busy throwing knives when the blonde boy suddenly came towards me.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey," I said too.
"You're really good with knives. Who taught you to throw knives like that?"
"My father, ever since I was little."
"I can't tell. You're still little, "he said, laughing. Well, he's telling the truth, but still.
"You'll regret calling me little when this knife is already struck in your heart," I said menacingly. I glare at him for a second and turn away from him when he said, "By the way, it's been nice meeting you little one." I walked away from him without another word and train with the spear.
Cato
I'm training as usual when I saw Clove, the little girl from yesterday, training with the sword. I sigh as I see her not even able to hold the sword properly. I came towards her.
"Grip it tightly or it'll slip right through your hand," I said to her. She turned to me. I grabbed her hand with the sword and did what's right. The dummy's head ended up rolling on the floor. "That's the right way."
"I'm not an idiot. I know how to handle a sword," she said, sounding annoyed.
"Yes, you're gifted with knives, but with swords, I'm guessing you're not," I said teasingly.
"Ok. I acknowledge the fact that you're good with swords and I'm not. Happy?"
"I'm Cato," I said. "You're Clove, right?"
"Right. I got to go."
"Where?"
"As far away from you as possible," she said, walking away. And that is how Clove and I got acquainted.
I've been training lately at night when I heard someone come inside. I turned and saw Clove already grabbing some knives and aiming at her targets.
"Why did you come here? It's already late at night," I said loudly to her.
"I can't sleep at home so I decided not to waste my time there and come here instead to train," she said. "Besides, I can come here anytime I want. So stop acting as if you own this place or something." She's really fierce even though she's small. Her knives then went flying through the targets and not one of them missed.
"You're really good," I said to her. "You know what? With skills like that, you can really qualify for the games. Are you planning to volunteer?"
"Isn't that asking the obvious? What are you expecting? Of course I will. But only when I'm already 18," she said. "I'll be a victor just like my dad and accomplish what my mom didn't."
"I see," I said. And I smiled at her. Surprisingly, she smiled back.
Clove
Two years have passed and here I am, sitting with my back on the wall of the training center with Cato. We are staring at the remaining pieces of the dummies scattered on the floor. We have been training from morning until night and here we are, very tired of what we have done.
"Cato, do you think either of the two tributes our district has sent this year will win?" I asked.
"No, I don't," he answered. "They're not as good as you and me."
"Really?"
"Really. Wait until next year," he said.
"What do you mean?" I asked him though I think I already know the answer.
"I will volunteer next year and win," he said determinedly. "I will be the victor and bring pride and honor to our district."
"Are you sure Cato?" I asked, a little worried. I don't know why I'm worried. I think it's because we've been friends after all, but still. He nodded. "Cato, you're only 16 next year."
"I know Clove. But I know that I can do it. I know that I can win. Don't you trust me?"
"I do. I do trust you. And the year after you became a victor I will be as well," I said to hide away my worries.
"Good," he said. "Come on, it's getting really late." We both stand up getting ready to leave. "Clove, do you want me to accompany you to your house?" I was startled.
"What do you think of me? A kid? I can take care of myself," I said, quite annoyed.
"Are you sure? It's really dark," he sounds worried, like he cares for me. "Besides, girls shouldn't be allowed on their own especially at night."
"Do I look like most girls? I can handle it."
Cato
I went inside my room as I got into our house. I think about what happened earlier. I ended up accompanying Clove to her house even though she's been really against it. I don't know why but I just want to see her got home safely, that's all. I don't know why I care so much about her when I shouldn't care at all.
"No! I don't care about her," I said to myself. Then why do I have to tell her those things, which sounded that I really cared? Well, maybe I really do.
"No! I don't," I said to myself again. But wasn't she worried about me when I told her that I would volunteer next year. She sounded worried. Is it possible that she cares for me?
"No!" I said to myself once again. She's Clove. What am I thinking?
Clove
I'm lying on my bed but I'm not yet asleep. I'm still thinking about the events earlier. Why did Cato have to accompany me here? He has never done that before, to me and to anyone. He has always been a bully in the Academy. Sometimes he even bullies me. But what he did earlier was strange, what he said earlier was strange and how he acted earlier was strange. He acted as if he cares for me, as if he's worried about me, and maybe that is why he accompanied me here.
"No!" I said to myself. Cato is the one who we're talking about here. He is someone who doesn't care about anyone. He is someone who I think doesn't have feelings. He's Cato. What am I thinking?