I was lead to a room in the Justice Building and given a short period of time to say good-bye to my family. My father and sister walked into the door. Emerald stood in the doorway, arms folded with a scowl.
"Clove, what the hell were you thinking?" Father yelled.
"I was thinking that she'd die in the Arena. I stand a chance." I lied. Telling Father that I did just so she couldn't would make him hate me… even more than he already appeared to. Emerald balled her hands into fists before walking over to me. A stinging sensation came over me when she flattened her hand and slapped my cheek. The ducked my head slightly before straightening it again and staring at her in the eyes.
"You took away my last chance of being reaped! I hate you! Don't bother coming home! I'll kill you if you get back!" she threatened.
"I'm not afraid of you Emerald. Like I said, you wouldn't stand a chance in the Arena or against me." I said. "I'm not as weak as you think."
"But you're so much smaller than anyone I know. Small equals weak. That's a fact." Emerald mocked.
"That's not true. You're stupid. Stupid equals weak and dead during the bloodbath. That's why I'm here and not you." I finished. Before she had time to reply, Father butted in.
"Clove, I'm afraid, neither of us wants you to come back." he said, holding out his hand. He placed something into mine. I opened my hand to reveal a small silver pendant in the shape of a star on a white chain. "Take it with you. It's the last thing of your mother's that I own. I don't want it back either." he said.
I wasn't incredibly shocked by that. My father always kept things a secret and he always had a hatred for me, yet every muscle in my body seemed to melt away into pudding. I felt weak.
All my life, I had felt stabbed in the back, but only now did I not have a place to come back to. I felt lost and even more envy than before. Emerald flashed me a smug grin before taking Father and walking out the door.
I had a feeling that I had dug myself a hole, but I never expected death threats or banishment to come out of this. It didn't matter. Being up against Cato, I had no chance of coming out alive anyway.