DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Hunger Games or any of it's characters. All rights belong to Suzanne Collins.

Chapter Four:

I'm running. Running from something. Or someone.

I can hardly feel my legs, and my face is soaking with sweat, and I feel hot. My cheeks must be the deepest of reds, until I see something ahead of me. It is then I realize that I am not being followed; I am chasing this person. A brawny frame clad in deep black clothes, who is panting just as heavy as I am, and when he slows to glance over his shoulder, I see his brown waves peeking out from behind his hood, and see his startlingly light blue eyes that show blatant fear. He doesn't speed up once more, so I jump to gain the upper hand I so badly craved, and with my fingers barely grazing his shoulders, I manage to make him pause, and he allows me to bring my weight crashing down on him, pinning him to the hard rock ground. I take a breath, and absorb my surroundings.

I have chased this man from the outside of my house all the way to here, some alleyway between two shack like places in the most dirt poor part of town. He lays there, his attempts to shake free being prevented by my heavy weight, even though I am only 12.

I sneer in his face, and pull out the sword from the hilt that I attached to my hip. The blade glints in the dim light, and I give a low, throaty chuckle as I position it over the frightened boy's heart. I put on my most sadistic smirk and plunge the blade into his chest.

And again. And again. And again.

I spring up in bed, panting. I rub the back of my hand against my forehead, and I pull it back, the scarred skin now soaked with sweat. I have had the nightmare before, though the word nightmare is slightly inaccurate. It's more like a reliving. A reliving of my first kill. The murder of my cousin. The death of Brandon King.

I swing my legs over the side of my bed, and begin to crack my neck, until I pause, leaving my hands placed upon my neck and head, taken aback by the sense of déjà vu that overwhelms me. I sigh, knowing that the past is already coming back to haunt me, and I stand. The fluffy white carpeting and dainty and quaint furniture is of such contrast to my stature it's comical, yet is so similar to my mother's style. I run a hand through my matted mess of blonde hair, realizing that today I will not shake the past, what has been. It is always so after I have that dream.

I trudge, each step exaggerated by exhaustion, into the cold bathroom attached to my room. The tile is frigid beneath my bare feet, and I eagerly jump under the hot stream of the water in the shower. The water hits my back rapidly, relieving the tension that lies in the muscles, and massage my thick neck, digging the pads of my fingers deep into the skin upon the twisted, tight muscles. I close my eyes, and tilt my head up into the steady stream.

Yesterday's talk with Enobaria did not go as well as she obviously hoped. Our mentor immediately began ranting about how conceited Clove was for leaving like that. Sometime amidst the swears and obscenities pouring out of her mouth for a good twenty minutes, her hard brown eyes began to soften and she cut herself short in the middle of a degrading remark about Clove's poor stature and appearance, and began to laugh. This sound of amusement differed greatly from her low, sadistic chuckle; it was more musical, it was light and airy and, if she weren't the fearsome Enobaria, who at the end of her games had a smile that dripped with crimson blood, I would say it was startlingly close to a giggle. Enobaria stood and mumbled to herself, "I believe that I like this girl." She made her way out of the cabin, calling, "She may yet have a chance in these Games." Enobaria paused outside the door to her quarters and pulled the knife out of the wood, and began to stroke the handle almost gently, and she mumbled in a barely audible tone, "She reminds me so much of myself." She grinned, and the golden tips on her strikingly white teeth shine even in the fading light, and she disappeared into her room.

Moe and I remained seated, and I could see the discomfort Moe was experiencing. Obviously Enobaria was in charge of such matters normally, and had been the past 7 years, probably even when Moe was a tribute himself. He hesitated before slowly asking me what I thought of each and every tribute, and calmly listened as I told him everything I thought. I mentioned the weaknesses I saw in the strongest competitors, and the possible upsides in the measly ones. But the strengths I pointed out were of very few in quantity, as I often laughed at the pathetic children, the ones so clearly sentenced to death. As I talked, Moe wrote frantically on a scrap piece of paper, and his left hand moved so often, the sound of the pen scratching softly on the sheet was heard so frequently, that I figured he must be writing down almost everything I was saying. When I finally had finished over examining the boy from 12, Moe held up his hand in a gesture that meant he would speak with me in a moment. He thoughtfully consulted his notes before scribbling on the paper. He smiled pleasantly at his work and showed me his efforts.

I saw neatly organized notes at the top of the paper, several sentences wrote beside the name of one of the tributes. Below was a chart, a table of sorts, that separated my competitors into sections: allies, threats, and bloodbath. The first two sections are self explanatory, and the last signifies all the tributes I think will lose their lives in the fight at the Cornucopia, or will be easily slaughtered after hand. The two tributes from one are under allies, and I see Clove is found under both allies and threats, which obviously means he doubts Clove will accept he invitation into the Career Alliance. All tributes from 3 to 10, excluding the female from 4, are under the startlingly long list of 'bloodbath' victims. The little girl from 11 is also on this list, at the very end. Her partner is under my threats and allies list, and both tributes from Twelve are under my threats list. I glowered at Moe, angered at the fact that he took my suspicion of them hiding something as fear. I rose from the couch and stalked to my room on the train, and did not emerge for dinner.

That was all that happened Reaping Day evening, aside from the idle activities I partook in in the sanctity of my quarters before I crawled into the king size bed. Did they do this purposely? To make the empty feeling in my chest, and undoubtedly in all the tributes, swell? I certainly felt so, staring at the abandoned side of my bed as the movement of the train softly lulled me to sleep.

I slowly wrench the handle in the shower to the right, effectively cutting off the water. I step out into the bathroom that is now flooded with steam, yet the tile still manages to be cold beneath my feet. I shake my head, water droplets flying off my dampened hair, in a similar manner to a wet dog, and attempt to forget the thoughts hanging over me. I must not appear distracted before my mentors, my escort, and Clove.

Broad figure clad in a simple grey t-shirt and coal black sweatpants, I emerge into the cream colored hallways, walking to the dining cabin. When I arrive, if I was suspecting to be alone, I would be unpleasantly surprised by the crowd gathered here. Our escort has taken the seat closest to me, the seat at the head of the table, and is wearing an interesting looking outfit composed of purple and orange plaid pants and a tank top of a faint scarlet hue, both of which fit her body in an extremely unflattering manner. Enobaria is dressed in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, both a dingy grey color, which tell all who lay eyes upon the tanned woman that she does not care in the least about the blatant and disapproving stares directed her way by the blue haired Capitol woman. Moe sits next to Titania, picking at his food, dressed in clothes similar to my own. Clove sits silent and still at the chair next to the vacant head seat, a plate of hot food sitting in front of her which she refuses to even acknowledge. Smirk already plastered on my face, I walk towards Clove.

I am soon idly chatting with the girl with the mysterious green eyes, all the while ignoring the obvious gestures being performed by my mentors to get me to invite her into the alliance. We are in the middle of our meals when I glare angrily at the ever persistent Enobaria, and clear my throat, "So Clove, ho-"

"No." she spits. "I will not just join your petty little group of Careers just because you ask me to!"

Enobaria jumps up from her seat, finger pointing accusingly at the girl across the table, but Moe restrains her as I attempt to regain hold of the conversation, "What if it's not just because we asked you to?" Clove seems taken aback that I would actually bother with this extra trouble to get her to join, and looks up from her food, capturing my gaze. "What can I do to make you join?"

Clove sighs, "The truth? Not some kind of lie to make him come off as cooler than I am? Or less pathetic?" I nod firmly, and my mentors pause in the middle of their silent struggle, Moe clutching to Enobaria's arm like a lifeline as she tries to crawl over the table to attack Clove for calling her precious Careers pathetic. Clove averts her eyes, and mumbles, "Don't make fun of me for my size. No comments about how small I am, or how scrawny, nothing." I start to laugh, and Clove lunges towards me, yelling, "You think this is funny?" My eyes spot the knife in her hand, and I immediately bite my tongue, shaking my head no. The knife shakes in her grasp, just as her voice shakes as she whispers, "Promise me. Just, do it."

"I promise."

Clove smiles, almost gratefully, and walks gracefully, each motion fluid as she exits the room. She pauses however, in the doorway, and places her hand upon the frame, calling over her shoulder, "Consider it an alliance."

Something about the confidence, the definiteness in her tone makes me smile.

"So," Enobaria says airily after our lunch courses are removed from before us, "Shall we discuss our alliances? Since now," Enobaria takes the time to smile slightly at Clove, "Our own is complete."

"I'll ally with the tributes from One and Four, as long as I can kill the blonde when it comes down to it. Something about her tells me she's only valuable for her looks," Clove pauses, a sadistic smile creeping onto her face, "It's going to be a shame when her hair and makeup gets all messed up."

"I agree with Clove, but I do not want the boy from 4 in our alliance." Enobaria agrees with me, as she enthusiastically nods when I speak, but the trace of pain appears on Clove's face once more, and she bows her head to hide the unmistakable hurt in her eyes, quietly mumbling in assent. What is her deal? I think to myself, shaking my head disdainfully at my District Partner.

"Oh, I'll be back soon. I would like to grab the recordings of Cato's conversation with me from yesterday." Moe stands and excuses himself.

"Attention all tributes, mentors, and escorts. Attention all tributes, mentors, and escorts." A high pitched, nasally voice drones into the train's intercom, "We will be arriving in the Capitol in a matter of minutes. Please make the preparations necessary to be off the train at Grandiose Station in approximately 5 minutes." There is a clicking sound and all falls silent, indicating she has nothing left to say.

"Oh, we don't need that strategy meeting now. You know you need to befriend the tributes from One and Four, and yes, you must befriend all four. If the tributes from Four have some connection, you ignoring him may upset the trust between you and her. But this is all simple enough," Enobaria waves her hand, brushing away the trivial matter. "If I hurry, I'll be able to fetch another drink. Do as you please; for one of you, this will be your last 5 minutes on a train." And with that Enobaria struts out of the room.

Neither Clove or I stand, we remain on the plush seats even as we hear the door to the cabin slam shut, even as we hear Moe take a seat in the living area, repeating our other mentor's words by telling us that we will discuss strategy later. The train quickly submerges into darkness, indicating we are in the tunnel built into the mountain, the only connection between the outer lying Districts and the so called magnificent city at the center of it all.

The rock we are barreling through greatly reminds me of home, as it does for my District partner, who rises from her seat and crosses to the windows, the barrier between us and they earth. She places her petite hand upon the glass, and in the reflection I can swear I see a tear sliding down her cheek, but the cabin is soon flooded by too much light to tell.

Clove gasps, and I join her at the large windows, finding myself also awestruck by the sight of the tall, gleaming buildings, bright, shining lights, and neon colored spectators who watch eagerly as the train rolls into their city.

The Capitol.

Author's Note: Not as descriptive as I'd like it to be and my shortest chapter so far... but it will do. I hate to keep my readers waiting like this, so I had to post this. I had an incredibly busy week, as I tutor, babysit, play basketball, and have loads more homework than last year because I just got into Junior High. Yes, I'm in 7th Grade, and that's why I so badly wish for acceptance and reviews because there is a lot more I could be doing with my time if no one likes my stories. However, due to NeonHedgehog, Randomcat100, rlyter3, LinskyRex, and Firnight, I know this is not true... But it's still nice to hear. :D

So, Cato's first kill. Kind of dark, but I had writer's block and that was the first thing I thought of that I could kind of expand on. Clove's request was just to show insecurity, that even she is human. Sorry if you don't like what I am doing to make her have more depth, this is just how I in vision her. Next chapter is about stylists, and then the chariot rides. Depending how fast I write the first part of it decides whether of not I add the chariot rides to the chapter. But we are in the Capitol now! Things can only get more exciting from here! And don't worry, Clato is going to happen in the chapter in between chariots and interviews. Ha ha it gives you something to look forward to!

I love love love you all for reading and please review! :D