Chapter Two: The Hardest Part

Standing on the stage, I nearly forget that of course I won't be the only one who will be representing District Two.

"And now, it's time to find out who our boy tribute will be!" trills Sparkle. She crosses over to the other reaping ball, leaving me standing alone in the middle of the stage. She digs around for a few seconds, and pulls out a name. I'm focused again now—this person will either be my ally or adversary. Probably both.

"R—"

"I volunteer!" The cry comes from the middle of the eighteen-year-old section. It's a voice that sounds familiar, but I can't be sure until he comes forward. And then I see him, pushing his way forward, a triumphant expression on his face.

Cato Vripah.

Oh God. I'm so dead.

My hands start to shake. I know Cato. He's probably the strongest person in our district, at least out of those eligible for the Games. He's not as talented as me with knives, but he's absolutely deadly with a spear.

I take a deep breath and force my face to arrange itself back into a smile. I can't afford another lapse like that. I can handle Cato. Yes, he's formidable—but he has some other issues. It's not that he's actually mental or anything, but he sometimes acts like it. The doctors have a name for what he has, but I can never remember it. Cato has concentration issues, and he often lets his temper get away from him. Because of this, I'll be able to beat him.

Still, I can't entirely keep myself from staring at Cato somewhat fearfully as he mounts the stage and takes his place beside me. Mayor Galbroh reads the Treaty of Treason, same as every other year, then motions for Cato and me to shake hands. Then the anthem plays, and we are escorted to the Justice Building by a small group of Peacekeepers. We have an hour to say goodbye to our friends and family before we leave for the Capitol.

The room I'm conducted to is amazing, to say the least. I mean, I live in District Two, it's not like I've ever been deprived of anything, really, but this place… I would kill to live here. Maybe I will.

I'm jolted out of my reverie when my parents walk in the room. They have very different expressions on their faces. Dad always says that his Games were the worst days of his life; he hadn't expected that when he volunteered. Mother, however, felt exactly the opposite. And in her sharp features I could see an emotion that I never thought she would direct at me. Pride.

Mother immediately runs to me and hugs me. "Good job, Clove," she whispers into my ear. "I know you can win. You're smart, you're brave, and you're very talented."

Dad starts talking strategy. "Remember, when you're training, there are two different approaches you can take. You can show everyone exactly how talented you are, or you can hold back. Enobaria will know what the best thing for you to do is." I nod.

"Make sure you have allies," Mother cuts in. "It's going to be your best shot. I know Cato is a little… unstable, but ally with him too. He's strong and determined."

Right. I'll be part of the Career pack, as other districts have named the strongest tributes (traditionally those of us from One, Two, and Four). Some Careers resent the nickname, but I think it's perfect. We've been training for this since we could walk; it's our career choice.

Dad interrupts my train of thought. "Get as much sleep as you can in the next week, because you want to be as alert as possible in the arena. You never know when an ally could turn on you, especially when there are only a small number of tributes left."

They go on like this for the next half hour, cramming my head full of strategies and warnings. Then a Peacekeeper knocks on the door to signal that our time is up. Mother actually hugs me again, and says, "I'm so proud of you, Clove. Never forget it." Dad hugs me, too, and I pretend not to notice that his hazel eyes are moist.

"I love you both," I tell them confidently. "I'll see you soon." Then they're gone.

I lean my head back and exhale. That was exhausting. Of course, I knew that would happen, that both my parents would drill me with information one last time. I thought I had been prepared, but really… I'm glad that's over.

A Peacekeeper suddenly pokes her head around the door. "Someone else here to see you," she says.

I nod, but my eyebrows rise involuntarily. Who else would bother?

Then my next visitor struts in, and my face twists into a disgusted expression. It's Basil Shay.

"Why are you here?" The words leave my mouth before I give them permission. But come on, this girl hates me. I hate her. What is she doing? As if hers is the last face I want to see before I'm carted off to the Capitol.

Basil glares at me. "Well, you haven't changed much, have you?" she snaps. "Can't a girl come say goodbye to her old best friend before that friend dies?"

"I'm not going to die," I snarl. "If you're here to rub something in my face then I'll have the Peacekeepers escort you out. What do you want?"

Basil bites her lip. "Um…" She's stalling.

I roll my eyes. So she still does that? "Look, Basil, I have better things to do with my time than listen to you. Tell me what you want or get out."

"Fine!" Basil exclaims. "I want you to die so Cato can come home please!"

I freeze. Then I'm yelling at her. "What the hell, Basil? You really think I'm going to, what, commit suicide or something so some guy I don't even know can come back home? Right." I glare at her.

"You don't get it!" Basil cries. "Cato… he's my friend. I don't want you to die, either, Clove, I swear. But ever since we kind of stopped talking, I've been friends with Cato. And I really, really couldn't stand it if I lost another friend to the Hunger Games."

Two years ago, Elia Madd was killed by some girl from District Six in the Hunger Games. Elia had been really close to Basil… I'd totally forgotten.

I hesitate, then shake my head. "I'm really sorry, Basil… but you know I can't do that. So you know, though, if I can't win then I know Cato will."

Basil looks heartbroken. "I get it, Clove. I guess I just couldn't help asking." She looks towards the door. "I gotta go." Then she trudges past the Peacekeepers and, I assume, leaves the Justice Building.

I can't help feeling a little smug. For years, Basil Shay has been the bane of my existence. And now, I can finally get her back by taking Cato from her. I'll be happy to kill him myself, if it comes to that, just to make her miserable.

No one else comes to visit me. I don't care, and I know why anyway. I don't have a lot of friends, but the ones I do have know that saying goodbye would be completely unnecessary since I'll be back home in a few weeks anyway. We all know that. Except maybe Basil… and Cato.

I stare around the room until the rest of the hour is up. Then the Peacekeepers take me to the train station, where Cato and I will be spending the time it takes to get to the Capitol.

It won't take long to get to the Capitol; District Two is very close. Then, in a matter of days, we'll be in the arena. And I can't wait.

Hope you liked it! From now on the chapters are going to be a lot longer... I kind of wanted to get through the reaping quickly so that I could get to the Games themselves. By the way, Doc Manager is irritating me... when Basil asks Clove to die so Cato can come home, that first sentence (I want you to die so Cato can come home please) is supposed to be written as one word... because she's supposed to be speaking as fast as she can. It just makes more sense that she'd add 'please' at the end, to me anyway. Just thought I'd mention that. Thanks for reading, and please review!

~What the Quell