Suzanne Collins owns everything! She's so wonderful! Without further ado, the Reaping.
Chapter Five.
District 2's reaping takes place at 9:00 and there are so many other places I'd rather be. Standing in the scorching sun, wearing stiff clothes and facing the possibility that I could be going into the Hunger Games with my boyfriend, isn't the highlight of my day. We're all grouped in sections according to age group, the 18 year olds closest to the stage. The younger you are, the farther from the stage you are. It's a rarity to go into the games at a young age in District 2, there's always volunteers.
The sun scorches down on us, as we stand in front of the Justice building. I can see the line of chairs on the stage. Dan the mayor, Athena Star our idiot escort. And our two mentors, Enobaria and...shit, Edward. I better not go into the games this year. It would be wrong, all wrong. However, I do feel pretty proud when I see the rough shape Edward is in. Tape around his nose, bandage around his head, deep purple bruises everywhere. I got him good.
"It's so hot," a blond on my right complains.
"Oh shut up," I snap and she does, while moving as far from me as possible.
Finally most of the District has arrived, the rest are crowding the streets, watching on large screens. Betting on who the mayor chose for the games. I'm sure many have bet on Cato, he's bigger than all the 18 year olds, you can see him clearly in the crowd.
He looks calm, almost excited. But I can peel away the layers and see what's really beneath. Cato is scared, the only time I have ever seen Cato scared in my life. He is scared for me, scared of the chance that I could be going into the games, the chance I could die and he would lose me forever. Scared that I will be the only thing standing in his way of winning. The only thing he would have to protect. I believe he would do anything to protect me. And that's what scares me.
Athena Star steps quickly up to the microphone. I mean, as quickly as she can in those monstrous pink heels. Her outfit is a catastrophe. A sparkly pink dress, tight just past her breasts then poofs out way past her hips. She has pink glitter all over her body, a pink wig and a face covered in pink makeup. She looks like a pink fairy princess. I always wonder why the Capitol people dress the way they do, do they even realize how ridiculous they look? And sound?
Speaking of sound, Athena kicks off the reaping.
"Welcome, welcome. I'm Athena Star and I'm District 2's escort this year! Happy 74th Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour," she doesn't want the odds in our favour, she wants a good show. "Now the mayor will say a few words."
Dan steps up to the microphone, as Athena shuffles back to her seat, "welcome District 2!" he begins. "From the treaty of treason: In penance for their uprising, the Capitol decreed that each year, the Districts shall offer up one young man and woman, between the ages of 12 and 18, to be selected in a public 'Reaping'. These tributes shall be delivered into the Capitol custody and then transferred to a public arena, where they will fight to death, until a lone victor remains. This victor shall be crowned in glory and riches, to remind the Districts of the Capitol's generosity and forgiveness. Henceforth and forevermore this pageant shall be known as the Hunger Games. This is how we will remember our past, this is how we will safeguard our future. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favour. Thank you." Dan takes his seat again, his eyes find mine. Mocking me. I have to remind myself he can't force me, no one can force me to do anything.
Athena returns to center stage, "there will be a change this year," she states, "boy's first." Dan's doing, now there's no way for Cato to know whether I'm going into the games or not. No way he could make the hard choice not to volunteer. Athena then heads to the glass ball, containing the boy's names. Her long fingers reach into the glass ball, she shuffles the papers around for a moment. Finally she clutches onto one and takes it back to the microphone, it doesn't matter what name she reads. Cato will volunteer.
"Anthony Gilbert," the cameras land on a skinny 12 year old.
However, Cato lunges forward to volunteer.
He cockily saunters up to center stage, showing off his huge muscles and sheer size. He towers over Athena, who gulps. Cato grins maliciously.
"What is your name," Athena asks.
Cato replies lazily, "Cato Skinner."
"What a handsome tribute for District 2!" she exclaims in her silly accent, "give him a round of applause." Loud cheering rings through the District and his friends hoot and holler. Everyone thinks we'll have a victor this year, now that they've seen Cato.
"Now for the girls," Athena takes her time getting the slip of paper. The anticipation is killing me, I can't go into the games this year. Not along side Cato. Next year is my chance. It has to be.
Athena unfolds the paper slowly, on purpose. "Clove Serena," Dan can't force me to do anything, but he doesn't have to. And I already know there is no way anyone will volunteer. He has made sure of that. I glare at Dan all the way up to the stage. He smiles and I want to sink one of my knives into his throat. My anger is good, I will look malicious on camera.
Then I have to shake Cato's hand and his reassuring grip is what holds me together. Why does this have to happen to us, out of all people? This is Edward's fault, Dan's fault, my mother's fault and I hope they all rot in hell. However, I intend to keep my promise to Dan, everyone will know about his affair with my mother. Hey, if I make a promise, I keep it.
I rush up to the microphone, slipping through the arms of the peace keeper. "Dan and my mother have been having an affair," maybe not my best choice of words, but hey. What can I do when these peace keepers are trying to pull me towards the Justice building? I let them we I see the crowd's astonished faces and Dan's wide eyes. I hope they got that on camera, I hope all of Panem knows. What can I say? I keep the promises I make. I have promised to make Cato the victor and that's another promise I intend to keep. I will get Cato back here alive, even if it kills me. Which is what my path seems to be leadingto. I'd rather die than come back here without him.
The peace keepers drag me through the Justice building, then they lock me in a dust covered room. Red velvet is everywhere. Red velvet couch, carpet, ugg...and wallpaper. It's so ugly. The outside of the room is surrounded in old bookcases, broken down and spotted with dust.
I could feel all the pain of having to go into the games with Cato, instead I chose to feel the triumph of beating Dan. Everyone knows about him and my mom now. I did what I needed to do. Speaking of which, my mother slowly comes through the tall oak door. At first I really hoped she wouldn't come say goodbye, but now I'm glad because I have a few questions. I want to find out about my father before I die. I need to know the truth.
"Why did you do that?" is the first thing she says to me. No, 'I love you' or 'you can make it Clove, I believe in you'. She doesn't love me, I guess I always knew that deep down.
"Because I promised Dan, if he made me go into the games, I would let everyone know about you two," I loung back on the couch with my arms over my head.
"Do you understand the consequences of you actions?"
"Please, shut up. I don't care about the problems I create for you. Actually, I hope I have created a lot," I snarl.
"Why are we like this Clove?" she asks softly.
I actually laugh, a cold mean laugh, "What? You don't know? Maybe it's because you beat me as a child."
"Please Clove…" she begins.
"Save it," I snap. She turns to leave but I stop her, "wait!" She turns to look at me, "there's some questions I need answers to and I believe you owe me the answers."
"Is this about your father again?" she wonders.
"Please," I beg, "I need to know before I die."
She looks reluctant but eventually she says, "your father was from District 1, his name was Andrew Coates. We fell in love."
"Then you killed him."
She looks pained, "is that what you always thought?"
"Yes!"
"Well, you're wrong. When it was the final 2 neither of us would kill the other. So he stabbed himself to save me. I really did love him Clove, his death ruined me." There is so much more I want to know, but so little time. Soon the peace keepers are taking my mother away, I'm not satisfied, I want to know more. But it's too late now to really know the truth.
"Goodbye Clove," my mother calls, "don't give up yet, I'm sure there's a way you can make it!" Then the door is closing behind her. I wish we could have had more time together, I wish I had known the truth sooner. If that's even the real truth at all.
I don't expect anyone else to visit me, but soon the door is opening again. This time Brutus pushes his large frame through the doorway. I stand up as he walks in and he gives me a huge hug. Pulling me tight. Just what I needed, he always knows how to make me feel better. Even if it's just slightly.
"I just went to see Cato, he's pretty distraught," he says after we pull away. His words make my heart contract. I wish I could be with him right now.
"Is he okay?"
"He's dealing," Brutus sighs and sits down, " he kept saying how he couldn't lose you. How he would do anything to protect you. Cato will stop at nothing to get you back here, but I guess you already know that."
"I can't come back here without him."
"I know. Just remember he loves you." I sit down beside Brutus and he puts an arm around me, he was always the father I never had. The parent Cato never had. Cato, whose parents died in a car crash. The story broke my heart when he told me. I know it broke him as well.
"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry Cato". I pull him into a hug, his head resting against my shoulder.
"Don't ever leave me Clove," it was the first time he had ever said something like that to me.
"I'm not going anywhere."
I snap back into reality as Brutus starts talking again. He's rushed now, he knows he's running out of time. "Cato wanted me to give you this, I drove by the house and picked it up." Brutus hands be the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen. It's shaped as a long knife, with a long chain. It's not sharp so can't be seen as a weapon. It opens to reveal a triangular picture of Cato and I. On the outside of the knife there are clovers carved.
"How did he get this?" I run my finger over our names, carved into the back.
"He made it," he says.
"Really?" I exclaim in surprise.
"He started it when the two of you started dating. He always loved you Clove, he was just too headstrong to admit it. He was used to hating everyone and not feeling anything. The way you made him feel, scared him, he didn't want to get hurt. But he always loved you."
I remember the days I used to watch him like every other girl in the academy. Hoping that one day he would care enough about me to really date me. That night he kissed me was the best night of my life, I never told him, but I should have.
"I always loved him too."
"I know Clove."
"I guess I only just realized."
The door opens and the peace keeper says it's time for Brutus to go and I really don't want him to. I don't want this to be the last time I see him.
"I love you," he tells me while leaving.
I don't want to love. I don't want to feel the pain I feel when the door closes behind his receding back. I don't want to feel this anymore, I'll get my wish soon. I'll be too preoccupied to remember the pain. An unrealistic dream, but a good one. I clasp the necklace around my neck and feel the cold as it settles beneath my shirt. I will never take it off, not until the day I die. When it will come back with me in a wooden box.
Then the door opens again. This time revealing someone I really don't want to see.
"Hello Clove."
"Dan."
A/N: OOO the suspense. I can feel it in the air.
Thank you so much for those who have kept with the story so far and have bothered to read and review. Love you bbg s.
xoxoxoxo
So off to the Capitol next chapter. Are you excited? I sure am!
Clato is in the air (god I ship them so hard).
Reviews for my birthday? Lol (lot's of love)
Bye, for now at least.