Chapter Four

Glimmer

I was awoken by a commotion in the hallway outside my room. Marvel, who had been sitting next to my bed while I slept, peeked into the hallway.

"It's just that weird girl from District Two," he said, sitting back down.

"Really?" I sat up and looked out of the tiny window into the hallway. Sure enough, Clove, the girl from District Two, was being dragged down the hall by two big security guards. She was screaming and thrashing about. I wonder what she did.

I didn't think Clove was weird. During our days of training, I had watched her throw all different types of knives. She was good. REALLY good. When she showed off to the Gamemakers, she got a nine. I only got a seven! We'd been allies during the Games, but since we were with other tributes, I actually didn't get to talk to her that much. I wasn't too upset about that, though-she had a problem with her temper. During training, she'd punched a trainer just because he'd accidentally given her a dull knife instead of a sharp one.

I laid back down on my bed. "How do you think she got here?" I asked Marvel.

Marvel snickered. "They thought she was dead when they picked her up. She pretty much was. I guess they fixed her up. Wanna know how she died?"

"How?"

Marvel's smile widened. "She got hit in the head with a ROCK!"

I busted our laughing. "A rock?" I choked out. "She lost to a rock? That's pathetic!"

Clove

Get me out of this place. Get me out of this fucking place. I prayed. I sighed. Nothing seemed to be working. "Please?" I added quietly. Nothing.

I've been in this butt barn for two week. It's horrible. First of all, the food tastes like crap. Correction: The food is crap. Second of all, there's that gross old man. I've managed to avoid him so far. Third of all, this bathroom situation sucks. It turns out that the toilet in the middle of the room was just for the people in here who were disabled and couldn't make it to the real bathroom. I was totally thrilled when I learned that, but the alternative isn't that much better. The good bathroom is down this super long hallway. It's a pretty nice big bathroom, I guess. The problem is that if there's someone waiting to use the bathroom, you only get five minutes. And the workers only clean it twice a week, so there's soap and dried toothpaste all over the sink, and the shower is disgusting.

Suddenly, the entrance door creaked open. Was I finally being let out? Nope. False alarm. Or should I say, another false alarm. That stupid door's been opening and closing all week.

In stepped a woman with shoulder length light brown hair and a pretty face. She quietly walked over to her bed in the corner and drew the curtain around it without a word, just like always. Her name was Annie, and she's from District Four. She won the Games some years ago, but she went crazy afterward, so they kept her here in the Capitol. Annie's lucky-she gets to leave every day and walk around the building and stuff. She only has to sleep here. I, on the other hand, am under lock and key around here. If only they would just let me out for a breath of fresh air, I could knock out my guards easily and run for it. But, no. They only let people out for the day if they've been here at least month and are stable enough to be let out. I plan on getting out of here before then, so I guess no leisurely walks for me!

I shuffled to my little corner and slumped down on my bed, exhausted. From across the room I saw the old man get up from his bed and slowly start to walk towards me. I swore under my breath.

"Clove Tremain?" the old man asked when he approached me. "From District Two?"

Wow. I didn't know he could talk that well. I answered, "Yes, I'm Clove from District Two."

"You were in the Hunger Games with my grandson," he said slowly, like he was trying to understand something.

I snorted. "What? No. I was in the Hunger Games with a guy named Cato, not your-" I suddenly got what he was saying. This was Cato's grandfather.

He seemed to see the surprise on my face, and he nodded. "Yes, Cato is my grandson. Well, he was, until he…" Cato's grandpa's eyes filled up with tears and he looked away.

With a jolt I realized that he must not know that Cato's alive. I jumped off my bed and helped him onto it. I lowered my voice and said, "Cato isn't dead! He almost was, but they did surgery and he's almost as good as new!"

He looked up at me. "Do not lie, Clove."

"I'm not! I protested. They did the same to Marvel and Glimmer from District One! They did it to me, too! Do you not remember when I died?"

Cato's grandpa blinked. Then he smiled. "Well, I suppose so! Oh, praise the Lord! My grandson is alive!" The a sudden look of recognition flashed across his face as he looked at me. "I believe I know you from somewhere else, as well…" he said. "I got it! You are Cato's…girlfriend, correct?"

I swallowed. Was. "Um, yes, sir, I am."

Cato's grandpa seemed to see through me. His face hardened as he said, "Clove, do you still love my grandson?"

"I..um…yes." I found myself saying. It was then that I realized that I still did love Cato. And I realized that I needed to talk to him. As soon as possible. And I also realized that I was going to get out of there. Tonight.