Chapter 4: Into Pieces
That day was totally awkward. Clove doesn't trust anyone. I bet she doesn't even trust Myna. Why should I trust her? The Careers are the best alliance to make. I have no idea why she's acting like this. The train reeled in. The Capitol looked amazing! Tall clean buildings rose up from the cement and fountains were adjusted at most ends. There were stone bridges and walkways. The gardens smelt heavenly. It reminded me of mother. My fists clenched. I was heading out.
Myna was leading us into a building where I could already see tributes lining up to find their rooms with strong but tensed and stressed looking mentors at their sides while oddly colored people were already examining the and taking notes. I could see the tributes from one. One was a tall boy around my age with blue eyes and brown colored hair. He looked strong and durable to become a considerable career. The other was another tall girl around 5 feet and 7 inches. She had wavy blond hair and bright green eyes. You can say she was pretty but I've surely seen prettier. They looked strong enough for the part. Hopefully they're not dim wits or there will not be much for us, Clove would be gone alone and District 4 according to the small glimpse of them I've seen were decent but with only 3 people that would be difficult and what if the kids were so stupid that other tributes would notice us.
"So you guys are in the second floor I believe!" says Jellyian, our escort. She was pale with orange contacts. Her hair was a bright blue and tied in silly curls lacing down her back.
"So what do we do there anyways?" Clove asked politely.
"Oh we're going to wait till your stylist gets here, he's kind of slow." Jellyian said in a bubbly voice.
"I always get the slow guys!" I said. My prep team gave gasps and a couple of offended looks. Clove gave more of 'I'm going to stab you in the face' expression and then she just laughed. I gave a weird expression and I just carried on. We lounged in a couple of highly expensive couches. There was a giant T.V. the size of the wall that we were looking at. The Career districts usually have better rooms because why give the rest a good room when they're going to die anyway (well most of the time). We started watching the reaping while waiting for the stylist to come and fix us.
"Cato, look what I found!" Clove exclaimed totally forgetting that moment on the train.
"What is it Clove!" I said annoyed. I hope she's not trying to shove me in a closet, which actually is better than being in a room with her now that I think of it. I look over to check. To my amazement there was a mini training room with knives and swords since bows and arrows and spears would take up to much space.
"Oh, they just added that room one or two months ago. They felt like the Careers have to have something unique to its room especially District 2! They mostly win anyways so why not? After all District 2 supplies our Peacekeepers, District 1 with this fine luxury that we even are using now and 4 with fine lobster tails and shrimp! Don't forget victors, 12 only has 1! Imagine 145 people died from there" Jellyian told us. I didn't like the sound of it when she didn't include the deaths of the two tributes from this year. I mean that I know that either the rest of the Careers or I are going to win. We are usually the strongest, biggest and the best with weapons. We train for this. I know we seem bloodthirsty and all but that's how we survive. We kill. We would kill anyone that comes in our way at any time. Good thing I didn't say that part out loud or Clove would kill me!
I took a sword my strongest weapon of choice and started wielding it around. I twirled it and stuck it into a dummy's heart. Clove took three knives at once and easily shot three knives quickly at the dummy's neck without any sign of remorse. Who would care? It's a dummy! I mean I'd really want to stab a dummy with an overly caked Capitol lady or dude but a plain canvas one. Clove and I were kind of having a competition on who can severely hurt the poor dummies were shredded to pieces. We were laughing as if we were actually friends. Though only one of us can come out or none of us at all. The thoughts left me wondering.
"Only one of us can come out of none of us at all Clove!" I told her.
"I know! I'm sick of it! These harsh laws just tear me up! I'll never be allowed to be free. That's one of the reasons I don't want to make an alliance. If I make a friend then they'll die. I can't take this anymore. I can't be another person that would betray… or be betrayed. I don't think there's anything to do. I know we're supposed to be bloodthirsty and would even kill our friends as people would think but we feel the same pain they do- but worse we live through it more. We win more. We live through with the same pain that haunts us worse that 3 or 5 or even 12. The tributes that get killed in the bloodbath are lucky. They get to leave here and just don't have to feel the pain. I guess killing them is actually doing them a favor. A beautiful favor. You see the victors; they're addicted to drugs and alcohol. We feel the same pain as everyone-"Clove had thoughtfully said with a tears swelling in her eyes. She started crying half way through but forced herself to stop. I couldn't take it anymore. I'll kill. I need to survive and I'm doing this as a favor for these kids. That's all that was focused on my mind.