Chapter 10

The Reaping

There was loud and unusually happy chattering through the crowd as I went forward to register myself with the rest of the sixteen year olds. I can't believe that later I won't be in the District anymore. I was feeling a surge of energy as I walked towards the cluster of teenagers… maybe it was from excitement, dread or whatever… I'm not good with identifying emotions. But at the moment, I'm just going to pick excited. I am. I'm excited of leaving and never seeing Magdalena for a short while or forever (if I get killed, it's a win-win situation for me).

I looked up at the Justice Building and saw the usual Capitol-embossed decorations all over the place, it was sickening. I never liked the Capitol very much, I saw them as self-indulgent and stupid like most of the people around here. Whenever I get a glimpse of the people from the Capitol, I'm repulsed by how they looked like…by how almost inhuman they look like in comparison to all of us. I wonder if they still have their normal features underneath all those stuff they put on their face.

I shuddered at the thought that maybe this year, the designers would make us look like them. What would I do then? I can't kill them…Can I?

Suddenly there was silence and the Mayor Jaurin, District Escort Andrew Smotherbee (what's up with people wearing yellow?) and the living Victors of the District went out of the Justice Building and took their respective places. They were all muttering excitedly to themselves, as though they're going to see an exciting spectacle and they might as well since nobody but the District knew about me and Cato. Andrew Smotherbee was going to have the ride of his life when he sees us volunteer, he always gets so excited that his wig would jump from his head.

The mayor stood up and greeted everyone a loud, "Happy Hunger Games!" Which was then returned by thousands of excited District Two people. He then smiled as he asked the crowd to settle down before he read the long and sleep-enticing history of Panem which always ends to this Hunger Games which actually is a punishment but was masked by the Capitol as a festivity to be celebrated. The only positive thing about this is the fact that the Victor will be rich beyond belief and considered as a famed celebrity in Panem, this was the part that I craved.

If I win, Magdalena will lose her power over me because I am a Victor myself, I'm not just her daughter but I will have my own wealth, I won't depend on her anymore… Wait. If I win… Cato won't… I turned my head towards the seventeen year olds by the front and saw, quite easily, Cato who was looking so pensive that it was hard not to be threatened by him. He had his lips pursed tightly and his eyes boring straight at Andrew Smotherbee who was speaking so jovially right now. As I stared at Cato, I remembered the warm lips which gave me my first kiss and felt my cheeks burn slightly. What the hell is this? What is wrong with me?

My heart jumped as he turned his head towards me, his eyebrows meeting in anger. His lips were moving and I had to wake myself up from my stupor to actually read what he was saying, "Volunteer now, Clove" I whipped my eyes towards the stage and saw that the Victors plus the Mayor was looking at me pointedly, waiting for me to volunteer for the twelve year old who was slowly marching up the stage. Suddenly, I raised my hand and yelled, "I volunteer!" I went towards the young child and pushed her out of the way… I didn't mean to but this is what I signed up for. I had to be ruthless, power-hungry…everything I was. The only good thing to this is that I was saving this young girl's life for another year… She won't stand a chance in that arena without training.

The Peacekeepers escorted me up the stage and I stood beside Andrew Smotherbee and his bright yellow get up. He asked for my name and I smirked proudly, "Clove Holt, the next Victor." What I said made him giddy.

"You aren't the daughter of Magdalena Holt, are you?" He asked with a bright smile which nearly blinded me. I nodded and he squealed happily, "Oooh, exciting!" He then tried to contain himself and looked back at the crowd. "And now, the boys!" He looked very happy to be here as he did the years before. Andrew put his hand inside the bowl containing the names of the boys and I met Cato's eyes. He looked determined and uncaring, I guess he could pull off the role better than I could. "And the male tribute for District 2 is…"

Cato's eyes softened as he stared at me, I gave off an inaudible sigh.

"I volunteer!" He shouted and then pushed the boys standing before him away his path. He almost lounged at the chance, I'd say. Cato mounted the stage, without taking the stairs and stood by me…and Andrew Smotherbee, of course. He took the mic from Andrew and introduced himself, "Cato Byrnes, the next real Victor!" With that, the crowd cheered louder than I have ever heard them before. He was a real crowd pleaser. Why wouldn't he be? He was the ideal Victor.

I didn't understand anything else when I faced Cato and took his large hand in a firm handshake. I looked up at him and knew that there was no backing out from this now. I had lost. I had no chance against Cato Byrnes. He was too big, too powerful and too dedicated to lose… I had lost because he was not just an ally to me anymore. He was something else much more special than that and that kiss just proved it. He may not mean anything, since he might not remember a thing about the Pre-Reaping Party, but I took it all…gesture and all.

We turned to face the cheering crowd to give our final bow as official tributes always do before leaving for the Justice Building. This is a sign of being proud that you got chosen and is promising safe and of course, victorious return from the arena. The District was not hoping we'd both come back because that's really not possible. They're rooting for only one and I discover I'm rooting for the same person.

I like Cato Byrnes and I'm going to get killed because of this. I told myself as we were taken inside the Justice Building. I was separated from Cato and I took notice that it was only then that he had let my hand go (he may have taken my hand during the final bow). I turned my head and searched for him, for any clue at all for his feelings to me but he was gone. Damn it, I've gone from killer to sappy in one night. Damn you, Cato Byrnes, damn you for making me feel this way.

The Peacekeepers locked me inside a room for the goodbyes and I knew that nobody would even think of saying goodbye to me. I was too detached from everyone else to actually have visitors. However, I was wrong…

"Clove?"

I know that voice! "Grandmother?"

Here was my grandmother, out of her dream-like state, just to say goodbye to me. She went forward, probably as fast as her feet can carry her, and wrapped me in a tight embrace. "Oh, my dear Clove." She sobbed. The probability that she'd lose her only granddaughter probably woke her up and I was almost glad she was here for me. "I can't let you go too. Not you too." She said again and again as I gave in and hugged her. This was my grandmother, my only family, crying for my lost life. "You don't have to go, I'll take full responsibility for your life just don't go."

She held me like this till the Peacekeepers had to pull her away from me. My heart broke as I watched my usually peaceful grandmother claw her way back to me and I held back my whim to go to her too… I can't let my grandmother down. When I win, if I get over Cato's tight grip on me, I'd come back and take her away. I'd make her feel better. I'd love her the way she loves me.

Love, huh? I guess this is better than my previous reason to win. Yeah. It's so much better than getting away from Magdalena. I'll win for my grandmother, so she won't have any heartbreak anymore. I'll come back, like Magdalena. Another one will come back for her, after so many were taken away from her.

"Clove!" Cyrus and Cyril chorused as the door opened. They ran towards me with big cheeky grins on their faces. "You're a tribute! Wow!" They began gushing about how cool it was knowing the two tributes and seeing them up-close before they go to the Capitol for the Hunger Games. I gave them a weak smile, knowing that only one can go back. It was either me or Cato…or, I just realized this, none at all. While the twins continued, I looked up to see Celestine still by the door. She was holding unto Cassandra's hand and they both looked like they had been crying. They must already have went to see Cato before coming here to see me… I was actually touched that they came to see me.

"Celestine. Cassandra." I spoke softly and Cato's mother gave me a smile before coming in and pulling little Cassandra inside the room. I saw the little basket that Cato's young sister was carrying, it was full of… "Strawberries."

Celestine met my gaze and she smiled tearfully, "Cato said you liked them. We bought him apples so we thought you should have some too before you leave." I offered them the untouched sofa but she shook her head, "We're fine. We just came here to see you off…" She hesitated for a moment, she seemed like she doesn't know what to say without it sounding weird. Imagine her saying, "Do your best but don't kill my son." That'll be really awkward. "Cato is lucky to have you there with him. Do the District proud, Clove."

She didn't say anything about not killing her son… Maybe she was that realistic that even though Cato had a large chance of winning, he may not come back. She's telling me that Cato's lucky to have me, no matter if I'm there as an enemy and not the ally. This is the thing I don't like about the Byrnes family, they really make me feel guilty about being who I am and having thoughts unlike theirs.

When they left, there wasn't anyone else coming through the door. My own mother did not come and say goodbye. I guess I was expecting something that really wasn't going to happen, I guess I was hoping Magdalena would show something more than her Victor side but I guess I was wrong. I was so wrong and it hurts. I'm not going to say that it isn't because it does, it just does. The only weird thing is that I didn't let out a tear about it because it only made me want to fight to show her how I'm going to get back to the District and rub it to her face that I can be more than I am now.

I was not paying attention to the cameras or Andrew Smotherbee's incessant chattering after ward. Nor was I paying attention to Cato's presence beside me. I was just blank all throughout the ride towards the train, I barely even had time to digest what was happening anywhere outside my body. I was just standing still, looking around and not making sense of what people are telling me. It was like I wasn't even there but somewhere far away…

The only time I shook myself awake was when we were in the train, I looked around and saw Brutus and Enobaria with us. I remembered that we were going to be escorted to the Capitol with our mentors, the recent Victors. I was almost glad that my mother wasn't my mentor, she wasn't my ideal mentor throughout this whole ordeal. Enobaria wasn't half bad, besides her innate bossiness, I can tolerate her nasty demeanor. She reminds me of me… Well, a bit.

Enobaria wasn't all that in the inside, right?

"Panem to Clove." Brutus nudged my shoulder with his big fist and I immediately focused back on them, who were all looking at me weirdly. "Enobaria's got so much work to do if you're going to be like this. We're already talking about how you'd be in the Training Center." Brutus took my spaced out moment earlier with a big grin, unlike Enobaria who was glaring at me. "Okay, for Clove's sake and to make sure that Cato got it all…"

Cato's face scrunched up, "Hey." He had his big stature squeezed into one of the dainty seat inside the Tribute Train while Brutus had the wider sofa. I had occupied a seat like Cato and Enobaria was standing behind Brutus, as though she was giving him the lead but I know she isn't. She is the boss around here and not even Brutus could take that away from her.

"Alright, we'll have a look at the Recap later but we all know it's only One and Four we'd have competition. Gloss and Cashmere usually gets the attractive ones and we all know how looks does in the Games." Brutus shrugged, since he wasn't exactly the best-looking one out of the Victors. What he had was his big bulky body, which scared the hell out of most of his competitors, and his ability to hold the heaviest of equipment and make it seem like a feather. "But we'd give those sponsors something they can't refuse." He gave us a big grin, "A pair of winners."

Enobaria crossed her arms over her chest, "Act like you're going to kill them any moment you get. Ruthless, blood-thirsty and craving for that crown even before the Games start. In the Training Center, you'd do your best to stand out. Show the other Tributes that they don't even have the slightest chance of getting out alive. As tradition, we'd pair you up with whoever bimbos Cashmere and Gloss get but you two, show them who the boss is. Don't be pushed to the side."

"One don't get bimbos…" Andrew Smotherbee cut from where he was sitting but he doesn't say anything else because Enobaria sent him a look which made him shut his mouth out of fear.

"You two aren't there for friends and I'm not going to pretend that you have to go and makes friends of the wimps from One. This is the Hunger Games. One of you might not even get home alive or worse, the both of you won't but we won't linger on that thought. Brutus and I can't fight out there for you. We do work but you do most of them. We handle your sponsors but you get them. As Ram may have practiced you, you two are ruthless. The most ruthless Tributes out there, play it like that and sponsors will be scrambling to hand you everything they have."

They continued to speak about what we can and can't do once we've arrived in the Capitol.

Most of the things that Enobaria and Brutus were telling us weren't new. Most of them, we've learned throughout our years in the Center. That place doesn't just prepare you battle-wise but it prepares you for the whole Hunger Games, the sponsors and all. The only thing different now is that it really is happening. Back then, I didn't take it seriously but now, I drink in all their words and hopefully try and get them all right. I know I'm prepared.

We went to the viewing area after dinner and all of the District reapings were shown, mostly shortened and cut into five minute clips. District 1 managed to get two blond tributes and the girl, horrifyingly named as Glimmer, was startlingly beautiful that even Brutus and Cato whistled softly when she smiled brightly towards the cheering District One. I grumbled to myself and continued watching as the clips moved on to our District. I was shown and my spaced-out moment looked as though I'm concentrating with my eyebrows meeting and my lips pursed before I volunteered. Cato looked monstrous as he lunged forward and volunteered. As a pair, we looked strong and threatening.

The other Districts weren't as lucky. The ones from Four looked weak, there was one from Ten who was crippled ("How will that boy survive with my Victors?" scowled Brutus as the boy was helped up the stage) and there was a little girl, who looked like she was ten, from District 11. She was smaller than me, with wide eyes that would haunt you if you stare at them long enough. I silently hope I'm not the one to kill her. Cato squirmed on his seat when she was called and no one volunteered for her, he seemed uncomfortable with that girl as I am. Her District partner was a large one, almost the size of Cato.

Enobaria stood up and prepared to make her way to her room when District Twelve was shown. It was one of the outline Districts and was the poorest District of all, most of their tributes were thin ones who looked like you could kill them with a fork. Their only living Victor was that drunkard who won during a Quarter Quell which when you look at him now, you'd wonder how he did it. There was something new with this District though that even surprised Enobaria. A volunteer.

"I volunteer as tribute!" The girl from Twelve stepped forward to claim the place of that little blonde girl who looked almost like that one from Eleven. She went forward and introduced herself as Kat…what? Katniss Everdeen? She and her District partner, Peeta, looked unlike most of their Tributes. They looked like they actually had a chance this year.

Enobaria watched Katniss Everdeen with narrow eyes and met mine, "Let's see." She smirked and then shook her head before marching off to her room.

Brutus stood up and stretched his long arms, "Tomorrow, we'd be in the Capitol, better get some rest." He said before he asked for a drink from a nearby train crew, I forgot what Brutus said they were called, and went off. Cato remained seated beside me, unmoving. He seemed surprised, like we all were with Twelve. I didn't speak and felt him sit up straight.

"I guess this is it huh?" Cato said softly. "We're officially tributes."

I nodded but refused to look at his eyes, "I guess so."

There was a few more minutes of silence before he stood up and shove his hands in his pocket. He turned to me and smiled weakly, "May the odds be ever in your favor."

I looked up and saw something different in his eyes, "You too." With that he left. I knew that tonight was the last night I'd see the real Cato because tomorrow, everything will be different. Tomorrow, we'd meet Capitol people and prepare for the Tribute parade.

Tomorrow, the Games will begin.