Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot…

Clove's POV

The Reaping of the 73rd Hunger Games

"Welcome to the Reaping of the 73rd Hunger Games!" District 2's escort, Pippa said.

"Our boy tribute will be...Theodore Hubert!" A kid, barely 13, walked on stage.

"Now our girl tribute of District 2 is..." I held my breath as she picked the slip.

"Clove Harrison!" I could have broken down on the spot, but I worked up enough courage to walk up on stage.

"Are there any volunteers?" I looked at the crowd, and for once, no one wanted to volunteer. I could feel the tears running down my cheeks. Theodore was pale, but at least he wasn't crying like I was.

"Ok! Well congratulations to our tributes of the 73rd Hunger Games!"

When I was in the Justice Building, I completely broke down. I couldn't survive in the Hunger Games! I was the school nerd; I was weak and wouldn't hurt a fly. I sighed as I just sat there. My parents died when I was young, so I knew no one would visit me. But suddenly the door opened, and there he was.

"Cato? What are you doing here?" I asked as he walked over and I felt my cheeks burn. I mean yeah I don't like him like that, but I was still blushing for some reason.

"I came to say goodbye, what do you think I'm here to do?" We sat in silence for a while until he spoke up.

"Clove, promise me something. Do whatever you can to stay alive, no matter if it means killing someone." I bit my lip and nodded. I have never liked killing people, ever since my parents were murdered.

"Cato, I don't like killing." He glared at me.

"Yeah, but would you rather kill one person and live, or stay innocent and die?" I didn't answer him.

"Cato, please leave." He sighed and left. Just as he got to the door, he turned around. I watched as he came back over to me, and crushed his lips on mine. We broke apart after a while and I stood there in shock. He looked me in the eyes.

"Just in case you don't survive." And with that he left.

3 Weeks Later

This is it. I am finally the victor. I can go home now. Everything can be the same as it was before, except I've completely changed. I'm not the nerdy girl I used to be. It all started with my first day in the arena.

I was keeping watch for the other Careers. I was thinking about my chances of going home. I knew the other Careers had a plan to get rid of me because I was so weak. I couldn't shoot an arrow to save my life, and I couldn't collect food without injuring myself. I watched as my allies slept. Then I saw the knife next to our supplies. I breathed in as I thought of what Cato said.

"Do whatever you can to stay alive." I picked up the knife and looked at it. Since I was the top student in my grade, I knew every part of the human body, and I knew all the parts that could be fatal if hit. It wouldn't hurt to try. I held my breath as I stabbed the knife in the District 4's back, and the cannon fired. I smiled to myself. This wasn't so bad. I stabbed it in District 1's, then District 2's, and by the time everyone was dead, I felt a rage burn in me. I would be the victor of the 73rd Hunger Games.

I remember when the hovercraft took all my allies. I was one step closer to going home. I spent my days running around like a mad woman. Every living thing I saw, animal or human, I would get my knife and kill it. That was when I realized my passion for killing. It wasn't a good thing for others, but it made me feel relaxed. I watched as the hovercraft took District 3 and then dropped a rope down. I climbed up quickly and sighed when we flew away.

It has been 2 hours since I was named victor. When we came to the Justice Building, I was put in the medical wing to get fixed up. Then I came out of the room, and there he was. Cato walked towards me and smiled.

"Congrats!" He said and he tried to hug me, but I quickly pulled away.

"Don't touch me." I spat. He backed away slowly.

"Wow Clove, I'm so threatened." I could tell he was joking so I grabbed the vase sitting on the table next to me.

"I'm not the girl I used to be and I'm not afraid to smash this on your head." He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Wow Clove. What happened to you?" I glared furiously at him.

"What do you mean, Cato?" I said, grimacing on his name.

"You used to be so nice and innocent. Now it's like you're a completely different person." You could hear a pin drop through the silence as we stood there. I sighed.

"Well Cato, if you think I'm so different, then why don't you leave?" He started walking away when he suddenly stopped.

"You know Clove, you aren't the girl you used to be. You aren't the girl who I fell for." With that, I ran away from him down the hallway. I stopped by a bathroom and walked in. I could feel tears forming and the rage burning though me. I gripped the counter when I suddenly froze. I looked up into the mirror and saw my face for the first time since the games. My eyes were burning with anger and my teeth were clenched together. I wasn't like this before, angry all the time. I was the orphan girl and the teacher's pet. Now I was a killing machine. I was a monster almost. I knew the Games did this to people, but I never believed them. I looked at my reflection one last time. I was a mess. This was all the Capitol's fault.

What have they done to me?