CHAPTER 4

CLOVE:

Its second before we go out of the shadows. The District 1 carriage is right in front of us. Marvel and Glimmer are dressed in all pink outfits. With pink feathered headpieces. Ugh. They look even more pathetic like this.

Glimmer turns around to looks at the Tributes behind her. She skims back all the rows back to front, but stops her blue eyes at ours. She looks at Cato, and gives a flirtatious smile, totally ignoring me. I can't stand her. She is for sure going to die in my hands.

"4, 3, 2, 1" I mutter, and music begins as their carriage starts to move into the opening.

Then our carriage stars moving. The two black horses are so trained they aren't even steered by anyone.

The crowd was cheering, but when we come out they're roaring.

"CATO! CATO! CATO!" One side cheers, as the other side cheers "CLOVE! CLOVE! CLOVE!" I love this. They're cheering for us, not for Glimmer or Marvel or anyone. Us.

"They love us" I say, and Cato can barely hear because of all the noise.

"They love you" He says grinning. Not his evil grin, the one he makes before killing his prey. His funny grin, the one he makes for me. I smile back. But then, the crowd roars even louder, getting up from their seats. At first I think it's for us. But then I look at the screens not too far and all the camera's are focused on the girl and boy from 12. And they're on fire.

CATO:

The crowd just started cheering louder for the two from 12. How could they. I look at the screens, and I see them in black outfits, and. And they're on fire?! Its like they are leaving a fire trail from the back of their capes.

"They're stealing the show" I say, but Clove doesn't even answer. I look at her, and she looks angry as hell. Now I know, I really underestimated district 12. But now they got on my nerves. And when people get under my nerves, they die. Watch out girl on fire I think. You'll pay for this dearly.

CLOVE:

And to make it even more annoying, the two hold their hands in the air, and the crowd goes wild for them. I want to just take out the knife that I hid from Michal in my head piece, but I know that would make it worse for my District than it already is.

CATO:

It's finally over. President Snow made his speech, and now all the carriages are bringing the tributes back inside. The carriage is high, but I get off easily. Then I notice clove having trouble, she's in heels too. I make a small laugh as I hold out my hand to her. She looks angry at the fact that she can't make it down on her own. But realizes she has no choice so she takes my hand and jumps.

You two were great, Michal says coming over with Enobaria and Plumberry. Enobaria looks as angry as us.

"The bitches from 12 stole the whole fucking show" Clove almost yells.

"I know" Enobaria snaps back. "You two are going to kill them first in the arena, for my sake." She adds and Clove nods.

"Don't get all fussy" Plumberry says trying to brighten up the mood.Then they walk in. The ones from 12 and their team. I stare at them, and notice that the girl and their mentor don't seem to be on good terms. I want to gather as much info as possible to possibly use it against them in the arena, but their mentor notices, as they leave.

CLOVE:

We get back to the building and go up to our floor. The tension is still high between me Cato and Enobaria. In District 2 we don't really cope with anger too well. And clearly Plumberry and Michal know this, because I notice how silent they were on the way. Possibly afraid we'll burst from anger.

I immediately turn to the hallway and go to my door. Slamming it so hard, I don't think Enobaria ever slapped it that hard.

I jump on my bed and lie there trying to calm myself. And as if in a pattern I hear two other doors slam shut, one right across from me, Cato. And one not too far to the right of my, Enobaria.

"You'll pay for this girl on fire" I say out loud, hoping she could hear me, even though she is 10 floors above. "When I get my hands on you, I'm going to make your death long and painful. So any and everyone who placed their bets on you will regret it"

It's been such a long day, but I still don't feel tired. Hours pass as I roll round and round, in my bed trying to sleep but failing. I get up and check the clock on one of the shelves.

12:05 AM

Great, only a few more hours till the first training day. I get up out of bed and creep up to my door. Opening it as quietly as possible, afraid that if Enobaria or one of the staff hears me they'll bring me back to my room. I go to the sitting room we were in and see a balcony opening.

Fresh air, I think, that always helps clear my thoughts.

I slowly slide open the crystal clear door, and the balcony is actually pretty big. I walk in and see Cato, his arms on the bars at the end.

"Cato" I say quietly.

He immediately turns around, I bet he thought I was Enobaria. But when he saw me, his eyes and muscles relaxed.

"Can't sleep?" He says and I nod. "Come" He says and I walk over to where he is standing. Now I'm really wondering if these bars are for decoration or for safety, their so low that I don't want to come closer.

"Come closer" Cato says, but I just look at him, as if he understood, he said "Don't worry, I'll catch you"

I come closer and look down, there is a party a few miles away, I hear some faint music too.

"Not that" He says lifting my chin up.

I look up and see the the sky, dark blue, almost nothing to be seen but the moon. "What" I say confused.

"Remember the skys back at home" He says. And I do, it would be so beautiful back in Panem. The skies would be lit up by the stars, some big, some small. It makes me homesick. I look back down, those people. They are partying, when soon 24 of us will be in an arena fighting to survive for their entertainment. The anger gets to me, I feel my blood boiling, opposing to the cool breeze there is. I don't realize that I've titend my grip to the bad so much, my hands slip and I fall forward. In just a split second my brain thinks, wow Clove, your going to die from freefall, instead of winning, or at least dying in a major battle.

But I feel Catos arm wrap around my waist just in time. I find my self half leaning on Cato and half in mid air. I'm still looking down, but this time in shock. When I look up to Cato he seems as awkward as me. But then he smiles, "Told you I'd catch you"He says.