I freeze, and all I can see is Ivy's little face crumpling as she realises that her older sister has been selected. Her lips form my name, and then I hear her piercing scream of 'Clove! No, no, no, please, not Clove!' I stand there solidly whilst all heads turn my way, and Nimi calls out 'Clove dear, come on up now, no need to be shy!' I begin my walk to the stage, and try my hardest to ignore the pitying looks I'm getting, and most of all, to hide the slight trembling in my hands. I climb the steps, and Nimi trots on over to me, taking my hand and leading me to the middle. Her smile is more than I can take, and I look away out into the audience, forcing my hand out of her clammy grasp. She turns to the microphone, and cries 'Look at her! Isn't she a sweetie! So small! How old are you dear? Twelve? Thirteen?'
'Fifteen' I mutter, gritting my teeth with annoyance that she assumed my age because of my small stature.
'Oh wow…you certainly don't look it!' she chuckles, and then proceeds to stick her hand back in the bowl for the boy's name. She rummages around for what seems to be forever, and I just stand there, frozen to the spot. She eventually digs her hand out, clutching another slip of paper. She unfolds it, and I see the same just as she calls it out. 'Lucas Feldman?'
I scan the crowd to find the chosen male, and there he is, shock etched across his face. He is just starting his walk to the front when a loud voice shouts 'I volunteer as Tribute!' My head whips over to the source of the shout, and find him. Cato. Obviously he would do this, he has a reputation for being the most bloodthirsty and eager trainee in the whole district, not to mention being deadly. My eyes follow the huge teenager as he proudly makes his way up to the stage, a huge grin across his face. He's one of the many who want to be in the Games, to fight everyone to the death and come out alive, to bring pride to their District. He strides towards me and Nimi on the stage, and faces the front, an arrogant smirk on his face. I know that face well, thanks to the many times I have seen him in the training centre, his piercing grey eyes, spiky blonde hair, the curve of his jawline…many would consider him to be handsome, and I've heard tales of his heart-breaking. But when he is training, he's always in fighting mode, never paying any attention to me…not that I would have had feelings for him, or ever can now. He is brutal. I look him up and down, taking in the pure amount of muscle on his body, and the way he towers over me, looking down on my tiny form. In a way I'm glad he has volunteered, as that weedy Lucas kid would be an embarrassment to our district in the arena. We will make a good team; we've practiced together many times in the facilities provided in 2. He eventually notices my staring, and winks at me, catching me off guard. I turn away, and it turns out that all the time I've been examining him, Nimi has been talking, so I quickly tune back in to her speech, right as its ending.
'District 2, these are your tributes! Say goodbye now, as it is time for them to leave you, and head to our glorious Capitol, where their future awaits!'
The crowd explodes, cheering and waving as we make our way to the Justice building, where we will say our goodbyes to our families. I reach my little room, and no sooner have I sat down Ivy bursts into the room, followed by my father and Willow. She reaches for me, and I take her into a long hug. Her tears are staining my dress, and even though I am not afraid for the Games, I feel myself tearing up at the realisation that I will have to leave her.
'Please don't leave me Clove!' She sobs, and I smooth back her hair.
'Shhh, shh now Ivy. Don't cry, don't cry. You believe in me don't you?'
'Of course!' She cries, her tear filled eyes gazing up to mine.
'Then there is now need for all these tears, because you know I can win, don't you! I will come back home to you, you just have to believe, okay?'
She nods, and opens her mouth to say her last words to me. 'Just..just promise me you'll win, okay?' She whispers.
'I promise' I whisper back, and she hugs me tighter. I kiss her on the forehead, and take in her scent, trying to file it away so I can remember it when I'm in the arena. I then let go, and Willow takes her hand, giving me a sorrowful look. He doesn't talk anymore, since Mum died, but he communicates all he needs to in that one look. I nod back at him, and then turn to my father as Willow leads Ivy out. She gives me one last wave, and a smile back at her. My father just looks at me, and finally grunts 'Come home a winner, or not at all.' He walks out on me, and I crumple back onto the sofa. I'm on the brink of tears, but no one can know this, so I take a deep breath to compose myself, and put on a big grin for the spectators outside.
A peacekeeper comes to collect me, and I walk with him to the front of the building, where Cato, Nimi, Enobaria and Brutus are waiting. We all walk over to the waiting train which will take us to the Capitol. I smile back and wave at everyone, the crowd's enthusiasm fuelling me, and then Nimi tries to grab my hand, which snaps me back to reality and a snatch it away. 'Relax sweetie, I just wanted to lead you to the train!' She exclaims, before stalking of into the carriage. Cato's smirk grows wider, and anger fills me, making me see red. I run towards him, whilst whipping out one of my knives from a holster on my thigh, and pin him against the train, holding it against his throat. 'Are you laughing at me?' I snarl, my eyes narrowing and getting darker, as the always do when I'm angry. His eyes widen for a moment, and then he relaxes. Before I know it we have switched places, with me backed up against the train and my knife arm trapped behind me, rendering me helpless. He leans in close, his dangerous eyes full of mirth, and whispers 'So what if I am, princess?' The princess does it for me. His face is uncomfortably close to mine, and I can feel his eyes on my lips. So I do the only thing I can: I head-butt him with all my strength. He stumbles back, dazed, and then I'm on top of him, my knife back at his throat. He squirms slightly, trying out various methods of escape, but I'm ahead of him. His eyes meet mine, and I down to his ear. 'Don't EVER call me princess again. Got it?' I spit, and he gently nods his head. I rise, and slide my knife back next to the others on my thigh, then turn away, thinking I'd won. But then Cato comes up behind me, and wrenches me into a headlock. I try to wriggle out of it, but he's far too strong. He could snap my slim neck in one tiny movement, but instead he leans in close, and murmurs 'Not bad, princess, but I can call you whatever I want, and there is nothing you can do about it. Got it?' His voice turns into a falsetto at the end, obviously mocking me. He lets go, and I stalk over to the train, and he runs to catch up with me. 'Hey, wait up. You're better than I first thought, princess. Maybe we will make a good team.' He drapes his arm over my shoulder, and I flush, before wriggling away and stepping through to the first compartment.