I watch in terror as she steps up to the stage. I'm paralyzed, watching the girl that I love volunteer to die. What was she thinking? Suddenly, the instinct to protect Clove comes alive, and I'm surging through the crowd, trying to find Dorell. Once I locate him, I quietly grab him from behind and wrap my arm around his neck, suffocating him. I keep the hold until I feel him go limp. Good, he'll be out just long enough for me to volunteer for him, I think. A few people that were near Dorell stare at me, but in their eyes, I see pity. They know how much I love her. So they stay silent.
"Now, who among you young men would like to volunteer?" Recida chirps happily.
"Me." I growl, walking up to the stage.
"Well, who might you be, young man?" She asks.
"Cato Fayson." I look at Clove, and I can see the fear and sadness, barely hidden behind her mask of indifference.
"Well, there you have it. I present to you, the tributes from district 2, Clove Cadon and Cato Fayson!" Clove and I shake hands, and then we are quickly whisked into the justice building. They usher us into two separate rooms for the visitation period, but all I want right now is to be by Clove's side. My first visitors come immediately. MY PARENTS. They tell me everything is going to be all right, but I know it won't be. Either I will die, or Clove will. Maybe both of us. I know that they can sense that too, so instead of rejecting their comforting words, I just nod and give them both a tight hug.
My next visitor is Dorell Rimos. He comes in, absolutely furious.
"Why did you do that? I was supposed to volunteer, not you." He yells. I just stay silent. "I don't know what you think you can gain with taking my place in the Games. Either way, you'll lose. You would have been better off letting me protect Clove."
I just stare at him sadly. Suddenly his expression softens, and he adopts a more comforting tone. He tells me to take care, and leaves the room. Moments later, a peacekeeper comes to escort me to the train. As soon as we've boarded, I look for Clove. Once I find her I embrace her, saying nothing.
"You shouldn't have done that." She murmurs into my chest.
"Well, you didn't really give me a choice." I say. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to spoil the last few days we had together. And I didn't want you to do something stupid. Like this."
"Too late." We stand in silence for a few more minutes before Clove looks up at me.
"What if we're the last two left?" She asks worriedly. I think for a moment before responding.
"Then we'll split up the remaining food and go our separate ways. I'm not going to kill you Clove, no matter what happens."