"I volunteer as tribute," Clove yelled out the four words she had been dedicating her whole life to. Heads cocked in the direction of the brunette in the crowd. The word had already spread that the seventeen year old would be the one to volunteer. It was quite an achievement but no one had expected any less from Clove. As a child she had always ranked the highest whether it was agility, tactic, or her specialty, knife throwing. She could have even been the best knife handler District 2 had ever seen. The only reason she ranked below Cato was due to her size, strength. Of course she thought it was ridiculous that Cato would be rewarded for having good genes and being a guy, but she figured she'd show them how stupid it was to glorify being a muscly, overgrown toddler in the games when she stealthily took everyone out.
District 2 had a lot of negative feedback for the candidates this year. Cato had barely passed his tactic test, but had easily slipped by the other categories. He wasn't extraordinary and if there were a better Career in his year, Cato wouldn't be entering the games this year. But, he certainly looked the part of a victor.
Clove had felt cheated as well. The girls in her year had been lazy during training and had been kicked off, leaving a smaller number of female possible candidates. Her trainer said that she wouldn't have been joining this year. They were saving her as a certainty to win next year, but that had not been able to happen. Clove didn't really know what to think about it. She was having her first ever period of doubt, but if there was anything Clove was good at, it was covering up unwanted feelings.
"Clove Carnigan as our District 2 female tribute," the announcer publicized.
Clove strode through the crowd, it parting and making a neat walkway for her. Every step she took was under close inspection and she knew it. She was so busy making her steps stiff and precise, she didn't even hear the announcer move on to the boy bowl. The name picking was just a formality because everyone knew who was required to volunteer and if anyone besides Cato or Clove dared to volunteer, the repercussions weren't pleasant
Some 17 year old's name was called and a deep, certain voice shouted, "I volunteer."
There both Clove and Cato stand; side by side, looking like a force none of the districts would want to reckon with. At first glance, the slim form of Clove didn't look like a killing machine. But, the longer you looked at her wicked grin and rigid stance, the more you want to take her attention away from you. Cato on the other hand looked as if he was a handsome, cunning boy who grew up throwing knives at squirrels and killing hamsters.
"Take a look at District 2's 74th Hunger Games tributes."
The crowd's applause rumbled throughout their immense assembly building.
"Make us proud and we shall see one of you two again." The sentence sounded like a challenge. It was said with such nonchalance. "Oh one of you is going to die brutally and we'll watch and wait for the other to come back. Or both of you will die and humiliate your district. We'll try again next year, no big deal." Clove was going to be remembered though. She was not going into the games to not make an impact.
No one came to visit Clove before she left but her trainer. She barely noticed as she sat drilling the wall with her stare.
"Follow the two guards into the 2nd compartment. You'll go into a room where you will see a brief video on train safety. It's not that important since you're district has made sure to keep our railroad completely safe. We'll meet again in the lounge where the true fun begins. I can't wait for you two to experience Capitol treatment," the escort informed, looking unnaturally perky meanwhile Cato and Clove were trying to separate his soul from his body with their eyes.
This wasn't the first time Clove had been on the Capitol train. Her whole fifth year class had gotten the opportunity to have a school field trip onto the fancy rail transport. This was very rare and Clove wouldn't be surprised if her district were the only ones to do it. District 2 had made been the ones to make the contraption after all.
After seeing the highly dramatic safety video, the two tributes entered the lounge car. Brutus, their mentor who was also one of the best District 2 victors in Hunger Games in history, sat like a statue in an armchair. Clove wasn't interested in the intimidating man, but she bet Cato wanted to ask for an autograph or something, but of course he wouldn't. He wasn't THAT stupid fortunately.
Their escort, Jaax (Clove had surprisingly remembered his name), stood on the other side of the room opposite from Brutus, sipping his hot beverage. Jaax was no doubt attempting to blend into the extravagant pattern on the train walls, though that was impossible because of his cringe-worthy, pink suit. Clove almost laughed out loud when she realized that the Capital born male was frightened of the old District 2 killer.
"You two, did either of you eat yet?" the middle aged man suddenly snapped, surprising even Clove. His voice was rough and evil.
"N-" Clove was about to answer falsely but never even finished.
"Do it. Eat." And he left. Obviously Brutus was a man of many words.
"Try the Lobster Frittata," Jaax chirped and scurried off in the opposite direction Brutus went.
The Lobster whata? What is that?
After a few beets, Cato grabbed one of the pastries and lazed on one of the sofas.
"Fuck yeah," the blonde boy chomped on a muffin and grabbed another. Clove stared mindlessly at how the muffin looked tiny in his enormous hand before briskly walking past him.
"I'm finding my room," Clove mumbled and began her search through the carriages.
She staked her claim in a room with dark crimson walls. It was the last room before the District 2 section ended. She was confused as to what she was exactly supposed to be doing. First of all, she needed sleep so that seemed like a promising decision to make while she awaited the details of her fight to the death.