Chapter 6
Will and I walked into the blinding lights that shined down on us, representing the sun. The crowd cheered as we walked through, but it wasn't a loud crazy cheer. I kept my eyes stern and my back straight, staring at the crowd with a smirk. The time was ticking and I saw they were about to start the fire works. Before the first explosion shot into the sky, Will picked me up bridal style and twirled me around in surprise as the firework shot into the air, forming farm animals, pink pigs, brown horses. The colorful ashes falling around us as he twirled me. I giggeled as he continued to twirl me, the crowd now roaring with cheers it was almost deafening. He set me down as the next wave of explosions went off in the air, forming the words district 10 with a cows face next to it. I looked at him adoringly, a huge smile on my face, I slipped my hand down his arm and grabbed his hand gently. The crowd awed at us. I smiled and we put our hands together in the air and the crowd went ballistic! I looked around with a huge smile, loving the attention. My dress twirled around me, the sun making us shine. Will looked down at me and picked me up again, twirling me again before gently placing me down, showing lots of leg to the crowd. The cheered at that and I smirked. He gently held out his hand and I placed mine on it and we walked down the isle old fashioned, smiling proudly to the crowd. Before stepping off the stage he stopped infront of me and told me to look back at them. We did and they cried for us. I didn't wave, only smiled. I turned back when I felt him grab my hand, seeing his lips near my hand for a kiss, I pulled back tauntingly and jumped off the stage, motioning him to chase him. The crowd loved our tease. My plan had worked.
We stood there listening to the President Snow's long dreadful speech, I couldn't help but stare at District 12 who was close to outshining us with there outfits on fake fire. I glared at them, they made me sick. I know she volunteered for her sister but my district 2 side was to strong. I turned back to look at District 2, Cato and Clove looking gorgeous in their golden armor. Cato's muscles nice and big, beautiful just like him. He saw me looking at him and smirked, I quickly looked away but I could still see him staring at me from the corner of his eyes. I wasn't as much to look at but I was hoping it was enough for him to notice me and not that bitch from District 1, Glimmer. I looked over to see Clove, she looked pissed at me. I don't blame her. I felt she was throwing daggers at me, probably that was what she was wishing she was doing. I tried to shake the thought but couldn't. I felt Will grab my hand and looked at him sadly, taking away my hand and wrapping it around his arm, leaning my head on his shoulder.
The thing finally ended and we were ushered to the back were our mentor smiled. "I liked it, teasing each other, a little bit of skin. I like your game," He said before I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I turned around and my heart froze.
"How do I look?" Cato asked smirking. I smirked back, trying to retain my laughter. " Like you just got out of the Gladiators movie," I retort. " SO sexy?" He asked smiling. "Eh," I teased. He leaned into me and whispered in my ear, " I saw you staring," He winked and gently touched my shoulder, "Good seeing you," he said before walking over to a very angry Clove.
Me and Will walked back up to our rooms, enjoying a lovely dinner. Chocolate grilled bread and fudge sundaes, chicken salade and cream tart. I ate lightly before wandering to my room to quickly change into my silk pajamas and then walking over to my balcony. I looked down at the cheering people rewatching the chariot ride. I saw Will's and mine and hoped sponsers would love us, of course they would. But enough to keep us alive? To keep me alive?
I woke up the next morning and changed into the skin tight sweat suit they gave us. I ate a light breakfeast, Vanialla poradge with smoked goose bits. I wipped my mouth and walked over to the elevator, knowing it was time. The ride was slow, I dreaded each moment.
District 1,2,4, and 5 where already there. We stood in our assigned section in the circle and waited the for the rest to show up. I felt Cato and Clove glaring at me. I tried ignoring them and was glad when Will stepped in the way.
Finally all the districts showed up and a woman came and stood in the middle of us. "This year the rules are different, you're allowed to train with other tributes, fighting. But if any of them get seriously injured you will make up for that tribute with a family member. The instructors are even harder this time, they're allowed to hurt you. If they hurt you, you'll be given medicine to heal. This will help you take the pain." So the capital was being evil this year, creating more of a show. She continued. "Train hard, eat right. There are no rules except to kill. We have a new gamemaker so keep your mind open," She said before letting us begin. I saw Clove immediately run straight to the knives section, throwing knives at all the moving targets, the instructor's mouth dropping to the ground in shock. I immediately saw Cato walk up and ask Will to fight. Cato was around 6'2 and all muscle, Will was around 5'9 and had a slight build. I was nervous for him. "um Will let's do something else. Cato pick on someone your own size," I said but Will wanted to show me wrong, he liked wresteling. But he's never wresteled with Cato. So I let them walk away to the wresteling mats while I walk over to the spear throwing sections, making sure to hit in the gut, stepping down at the end to rip it out and stabbing it into the hard skull. I trained hard, making sure to throw further as I trained, lifting weights, stretching my legs, practicing to climb faster. It was a good work out, peaceful almost till I felt a knife hit my target. I looked over to see Clove staring at me, smirking. I ignored her and threw my spear. And then I heard a scream. I turned around to see Cato slamming Will over his body and onto the floor. I ran over to the knife Clove threw and slipped it into my waist band towards the back. I ran over as fast as I could jump on Cato's back, putting him in a choke hold. He gripped my bony arms and slammed me into a wall. I slipped down and tried to run away but he grabbed my wrist and threw me on the floor, smoothly laying ontop of me, pinning my arms above my head. I saw the wild in his eyes and tried to catch my breath. "I win," He smiled. And I did the same "Not yet," I head butted him and pounced on him, pinning him down, my knee's on his muscular arms and swiftly pulling out the knife and putting it to his neck. "I win," I smirked before looking his body over and getting up and rushing over to Will. "Impressive," He said as I helped him up. I saw Clove trying not to stare, I couldn't help but show off. "Hey Clove," I shout to her and at the moment she turns around I throw the knife back at her, making it land in the nearest wall to her face. " You forgot this," I say emotionless before coolly walking over to the plants section.
The bell rang and they ended Training. We all boarded the elevator and instead of waiting to get off at level 10, I snuck off on 2 and snuck into Clove's room and waited. She eventually came in after dinner. She saw me sitting on her bed, looking out her window of the city. She slammed the door and reached for the drawers in her bed side table, pulling out sharp silver dinner knives. "What do you want?" I turned around, seeing the knives pointed at me. I smiled at her charm. "I want to be a career, but I wanted to clear things up with you first," She growled. "Fuck no. get out," I took a step forward and she threw a knife at my, aiming for my head. I ducked and dove for her, beginning to roll around on the ground clutching to her, feeling the knive barely slit my skin. I knocked the knives out of her hands and pinned her to the ground, my blood slowly seeping down to the ground. "I know I left, but-" "You left me!" She screamed. "You. We were a team but you used me to learn to throw knives. You use Cato to? What the hell are you doing in District 10!" I breathed. "Because after I found out my dad rapped someone from a poor district I knew I had to help them. So I trained with you and left to help them. Who knew I'd get picked same year as my best friend. You don't think I didn't think of you? I did every day I thought of you! My District pride is to strong! Will is as close as a brother and I have no problem killing him! He knows he's gonna die and it's going to be from me. But you and Cato though… I don't know. i do know that I'm here and I'm going to give the Capital a hell of a show. We can work together and get over this or we can just kill each other," Her face softened. "Okay we give them a show. But it's gonna come down to the two of us I can't wait to see," She smirked. I unpinned her. "Feels like I'm stronger then you," I challenged, wrong choice. She rolled me over and pinned me down. "We'll see," She grinned but then stopped. "You really missed me?" I nodded and she got off me. "We're okay for now," She gave a very small smile and motioned me out. "see you tomorrow," I got up and smiled, "Tomorrow, if you don't kill me tonight," I teased before walking out. I felt the shift in her eyes. We were going to be okay till it was just the 2 of us left.
Soon as I stepped out of her room and into the darkness, I motioned myself to the Elevator and pushed the button. I waited for the doors to open. "Who knew we'd get picked same year," I heard his voice and turned around. "Why are you scared I'll kill you?" I teased him and he came closer. "What the hell happened to you? You just left with a stupid ass note," Cato said with a strained voice. " I had to leave. To train other districts," I say emotionless. "But why? Why!" He was getting angry. "Because of my mother. That will not happen to anyone else, they will have a chance." I say strongly, trying not to flinch as he flipped over the table, breaking the lamps and flower pots. "We could have lived in Victor Village! Fucking ruined the plan!" The doors opened, I hesistated. " We both still can," I say and he just looked at me as I stepped into the elevator leaving him quessing my plan. The doors closed and I rode the elevator up to level 10. There I slipped into my room and fell asleep thinking more of my plan.
I woke up as the sun was rising over the capital. The sun rays bouncing off the metal buildings. I yawned, stretched out my arms and legs as I slipped off the sides of my bed. I heard a knock at my door and walked over and happily opened it, seeing an Avox. She had a note. I took it and thanked her, "Sophia, meet me downstairs earlier," from Cato. I smiled and grabbed the Avox, dragging her into my room and asked her to help me pick out an outfit. I came out of my closet every 3 minutes twirling, trying on new outfits. The Avox seemed genuinely happy, actually smiling. This made me smile. I finally came out in a grey air force shirt with navy blue Capri tights and white tennis shoes with a high pony tail. I hugged the Avox before running out of my room, grabbing a piece of chocolate chip bread smeared with fresh nutella. I then ran and pressed the elevator button eagerly, waiting for it to open. I heard the ding and jumped in, pressing the close button before anyone could see me. I waited as it dropped down almost 12 levels, finally seeing it open to reveal Cato punching bags that hung from the ceiling. He saw me and stop, almost smiling. I walked up to him. "So what's your plan?"
I looked at him, a little tired from punching the bag, his blond hair messed up a little. "Well I haven't fully thought it out, but something like you me and Clove compete in the Hunger Games every year until were to old or look to old. We'll give them a show and in exchange we survive and so does Will." He just looked at me, dumbfounded. "That seems like the dumbest plan I've ever heard. You want the Capital to save your friends?"I just looked away. "Yes you me and Clove make a hell of a team. Yeah we fucking rock but damn there going to kill him or worse you," "Then what am I suppose to do!" I screamed. "You and Clove and Will are my family! I can't let you all die! We all have to be together," "Why is Will so important?" "Did I not just scream it at you! Because…" He just looked at me. "What? He's to soft, he's not District 2. Show him who you really are and he'll be disgusted." Cato simply stated before walking over to pick up a sword. "He keeps me sane." I saw Cato swing around at the dummies, chopping off limps. "There's nothing wrong. We could keep you sane to just in our way. The District 2 way. No one can replace the connection we have, the way we do. The way District 2 has. Kill him. Or show him who you really are and you'll see what I mean." My lip quivered at his tone. He was right. But I was afraid that if I stuck with them I would lose all sense of my being. "We are human, we enjoy killing but only do it for the Hunger Games. Then we're done because then comes fortune, fame, fans. That's the main goal." Cato says before slicing off a dummies head and looking at me. "What about us? You want to kill me?" he dropped the sword. " I want to win, but if you come up with a plan so we can both win I won't object," He winked before circeling me. "Let's wrestle," I crouched down and smirked. "My original plan, the three of us live and we mass kill, kill everybody. The trio from 2. Get passed us and survive the Games. Crowd will love it!" I smile before running to him, kicking at his neck. He grabbed my ankle and shoved me to the floor. I flipped up and slid past him, climbing onto his back. He grabbed my leg and swung me to the ground. I rolled to my side but before I could get up he had somehow picked up the sword and pointed it to my neck. I fell down in defeat. "The glory I would feel to kill you," he smirked and moved the sword away. He handed his hand out to me but I pushed it away and climbed up. I dusted myself off. "You'll never have that satisfaction," I said before walking towards the elevator, pressing the button to go to the Snow's office. I saw Cato smiling.