Chapter 8: My Future
The door creaks as I step into the house. It is silent except for muffled voices coming from the kitchen. I tiptoe through the hall and put my ear against the door.
There are four voices in the kitchen. One I recognize as my mother. Another is Dido. The other two are male voices, none of which I recognize. What are they doing in there? Are they planning my death? No, no, they can't be. My mother wouldn't let them, would she? No, she wouldn't. Well, she might...
"Stop it!" I yell, crashing through the doorway. All four adults stare at me, mouths agape.
"Clove, honey..." my mother begins.
"Stop it!" I repeat. "I know what you're doing! Just stop!"
"You- you know?" Dido says. "Well then, what do you think of it?" she asks impatiently.
"What do I think of it? What do I think of it? Why would I like it at all? You're plotting my death! Do you think I'll like it?"
"No, Miss Bellicost. We are not planning your death. We are planning your career." This man has a pretentiously shaved beard. It swirls around in intricate patterns. His eyes are brown and almond shaped, so piercing that it's almost like a needle.
"Clove, this is Seneca Crane," says my mother.
Seneca Crane... I've heard that name before... He was the Head Gamemaker! He has choreographed my death before, but I escaped. I don't like the way he looks at me, as if seeing where the best place to stab me is.
That makes me angry. No... furious!
"Aaaaah!" I launch myself, screaming, onto Mr. Crane. He falls to the ground and looks terrified, as if he didn't expect my attack. Does he honestly think I would believe such rubbish? I kneel on his chest and growl in his ear, grabbing his arm and bending it backward, hearing a satisfying crack. He howls with pain, and I giggle happily. His pain is absolutely wonderful.
"Clove!" my mother yells.
"Go away!" I scream at her. "I hate you!" She was planning my death, contrary to whatever lies she might have told me.
"Clove, honey! I love you, but you have to stop this! Mr. Crane didn't do anything to hurt you! We were trying to plan your future-"
"What, my future death?" I say sarcastically.
"No, honey, your future job."
I don't get up, but I stop trying to break Seneca Crane's other arm. My mother looks scared and pleading. I almost feel sorry for her. Almost. But I still hate her.
"Clove, please?" Tears are coming to her eyes. God, this is embarrassing. My mother, crying in front four adults, one of whom is unconscious because he was plotting my death.
"Fine, whatever," I say icily, feigning nonchalance. I stalk over to the knife drawer and select the biggest knife. My mother and Dido stare at me in horror. I don't care. None of them moves to stop me, although I'm sure they know what I'm going to do.
I walk over to Seneca Crane and stab the knife into his neck. His eyes jerk open and he screams, joining in with the cowardly cries of my mother and Dido. I plunge the knife into his chest. Then he dies. Blood seeps from his eyes and nose and mouth.
I see Cato. He chokes on his last breath, his mouth bleeding, his screams high-pitched and guttural, the light leaving his eyes.
Falling back into the present, I notice my mother and Dido staring dreadfully between me and the corpse on the kitchen floor. The other man - I had forgotten he was here - smiles a frigid smile. I see him mouth the words, "Very good" just before I black out.
