Chapter 4
Breathe, Clove. Breathe, I think. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
How could this possibly happen? One slip, out of thousands!
I see little Caleb, the contours on his body coming out of the crowd. His face looks as if he's about to cry. He does start to tear, but I look down to my feet, because I can't take it if he's crying. I look up and see him from the corner of my eye. He wipes away the tears on his face and starts walking on small steps, toward the stage.
I look down to my feet again. Now, I know that I'm going to have to sacrifice myself to make sure Caleb wins.
I don't see it, but I hear it. "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" A deep voice says from the crowd.
I look up, and see that it's Cato. Oh yeah, he turned eighteen a month ago. I remember.
I watch as Cato runs towards the stage, pushing Caleb tiny little body behind him. "I volunteer!"
I look at Caleb and see the surprised look on his face. He doesn't say anything, but he knows that this is all wrong. No one should be volunteering for him. However, I'm glad that someone volunteered for him, so he can be safe. On the other hand, I'll be up against Cato. Strong, show-no-mercy Cato. Fight against him, and I'll be dead in no less than a minute.
I look to Galea, who has a surprised look on her face. "Uh, I believe we have a volunteer!" She gestures towards Cato to come up to the stage.
Caleb's still standing there, confused. He turns to me and I mouth the word "run." He catches it, and runs off somewhere to the crowd where my mother is.
Cato climbs the stairs swiftly and stands next to Galea.
"What's your name?" Galea asks.
"Cato Hadley."
"Everyone, please give a big hand to our newest volunteer, Cato Hadley!"
Everyone cheers. Not because the boy volunteered, but because they have another year to be safe.
After a moment of cheering, Galea says, "Well that's all for this time! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the tributes of District Two for the Seventy-Fourth Annual Hunger Games! See you all next time—oh, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"
She gestures Cato and I to the door behind us, and we walk towards it at the same time. Come on, Clove. Be selfish. Be brave. Be fierce. I tell myself.
When we get near the door, we bump into each other trying to get through the door. We both stop, look at each other, and before Cato could say something, I elbow him in the stomach. "Watch where your going, Hadley." I growl.
That's good enough. Be a tribute from District Two: tough, selfish, fierce. I tell myself what the trainers told me.
Cato stops in his place, groaning in pain, crossing his arms over the spot where I elbowed him. I snicker, and go through the door, satisfied.