Chapter 2-The Reaping
Clove's POV
"Up! Get up! UP!" On the last syllable I'm jolted out of my slumber by a thwack from my mother's towel. I jump up and instinctively grab it and wrench it out of her grip. I was in the arena last night… in my dreams, my nightmares, and there was Cato standing over me, my last competitor, yet it wasn't Cato. This was a boy I had never truly seen before, someone simply masquerading as Cato, his foot on my writhing chest, his sword swinging over his head and then coming crashing down, down, to where my heart would be.
Slap. "Ouch!"
"Give me back my towel you vile girl!" I release it instantly resisting the urge to shout back. "What did I ever do to deserve you as a daughter?" I clench my firsts, wanting nothing more than to hit her, do as I've been trained, but no… that won't get me anywhere. "It's the reaping get dressed and get going! If you're reaped then thank the lord!"
Shit, the reaping, I'm meant to meet Cato outside. I know he's trained for this is whole life but he's one of my best friends, well one of my only friends and I'm probably his as everyone else is terrified of both of us especially when we're together, no-one dares pick a fight with either of us anymore, last person Cato fought ended up in the hospital with a broken spine, a broken arm, and a cracked skull. Last person who tried to pick a fight with me ended up with a knife in the abdomen. He just about made it. Just.
I dress quickly and head out of my apartment, sliding down the stairway and then find Cato waiting for me.
"Sleep in?" Cato can't help but sneer at me and I just roll my eyes at him.
"Yeah yeah, hi to you to Cato. You okay?"
"You kidding me? I got picked to be a victor, let's do this!"
I smirk at him before we set off, talking about basically anything except the games, when the subject does crop up he promises me he's not scared, to be honest I completely believe him, if anything I think he's pleased, even if I'm not. He is my best friend and I'm not too fond of the idea of him going into the games. Okay so I'm a little jealous, but I'm also worried, even though I know he can win there's still the possibility he's die. He told me months ago he was hoping he'd be picked and his greedy parents want the money, he'd love the glory, and he doesn't want all this training to just be wasted, but he never honestly expected it even if he is one of the strongest people in our district.
When we finally arrive at the districts centre I smile and wave at Cato saying "Go get 'em! I'll see you in the justice building!" Before heading off to my appropriate area. A few of the girls in my section back away as I approach. Many would be down heartened at this, but me? This is power… they fear me, as they should, all of them know not to cross me. I never miss.
Our escort steps up onto the platform, no idea what their name is. He smiles at us and greets us all before playing the Propo about how the districts came together, rebelled, lost, blah blah blah, this is punishment. Heard it, seen it, don't care, which bitch is going to die this year so my best friend can come home?
"Ladies first!" Get on with it… The escort walks towards the two huge glass balls on the platform and steps towards the one of the left, the girls. In that ball each slip holds a different name, some names in their more than once, for some names, it's their first time. Every name of every girl in the district between the ages of 12 and 18 is in that glass ball.
She places her hand in the bowl and twiddles her fingers around, brushing the tips along the top pieces of paper, before snatching one up between two of her bright pink nails, and pulling it up to eye-level. She coughs, clearing her throat, and then snaps the seal, stretching it out between her fingers.
I hear the name, yet I don't hear it. But everyone's looking at me, and no-one's going up to the stage. The escort reads the name again, and this time I hear it. My name. Well crap. I flick my ponytail and walk up to the stage smirking. "Sorry didn't feel the need to pay attention." The escort looks a little shocked, but recover, and a few people laugh darkly at my statement. Good, now other tributes won't think I was just being an idiot and not paying attention, like I was doing, but heck they don't need to know that.
"And now let us see who will be our male tribute this year." Well I already know it's going to be Cato, as do Jyro and Enobaria and nearly every trainer in the district. "Roberto Jylin" 3…2…1…
"I volunteer!" And there it is Cato's voice. Cato walks up to the stage calmly and smiles pleasantly at the escort, not glancing at me. I know if he will he'll break slightly, it's not like it's that dramatic but only one of us is coming out, which I have to admit is crap, when one us comes back it's going to be dead boring without the other to take the mick of, though I guess I'd be able to train people and get away from my stupid mother if I came back, and there'd be the other victors, but it would still be boring.
"And what is your name dear?" Oh my god that capitolite accent is so annoying… why can't I be going into the arena with her for goodness sake, they're going to force me to kill kids that are either a challenge or pathetic, why not simply send in people that if died, would do the world a favour.
"My name is Cato. And before you ask, I'm 18."
"Well then, let's hear it for this year's tributes from district two!" We're scurried away to the justice building where I sit calmly until my sister comes in. I only have three relatives, and I'm damn sure my stupid mother isn't coming, no doubt she's celebrating, if I win or lose she gets what she wants, be it a stack load of cash or a dead daughter who she's hated since birth. And my other sister, just a year younger than me, has been living with my dad since my parents split up when I was only 10 and even though we live in the same district and were close until that time, now we barely ever speak.
"Hey Clove. You okay?"
"I guess, little bit pissed that it's me that has to go in with Cato but oh well."
"Make me proud okay?" I look up at my sister and sigh. She turned 20 last year and is now happily married in her own apartment. She sees me every now and then and I get on with both her and her new husband, but no-one would be able to tell we were sisters. Unlike me she is tall with practically glowing light brown hair that flows to her waist, and she never wears it up. She always dresses in pretty dresses and has her nails always painted perfectly. Compared to me, she's my opposite, except our eyes, they're the same colour at least, though mine always seem more menacing where as she just seems sweet, but cunning.
We talk about meaningless things for about a minute before the peacekeepers announce it's time for me to board the train. Yay… I walk out of the room calmly, waving once at my sister, and then head straight to the station, boarding the train calmly and taking a seat by Cato who has a scarlet hand mark on his face.
"Farewell gift from your mother?"
"Reminder to come home a victor…" He growls back, obviously annoyed his mother hit him, not that he'd ever block it.
"Enobaria, how long until we can see the reapings of our allies and soon to be dead fellow tributes?"
"Not until tonight, we'll be in the capitol by then and can watch it in the living room on our floor. We're not too far away from the Capitol and the journey usually only takes a couple of hours, no more."
I sit next to Cato and take a piece of toast, having forgotten to eat anything this morning. I give a piece to Cato too and we eat it calmly, flicking through the channels on the television.
"I take it both of you will be allies." Says Enobaria
"Of course. Clove and I will kill everyone easily just wait until the death match, that'll be a show."
"Not really, I thrashed you in just a few minutes last time."
"Really?" I glower as he uses the sarcastic tone. "Last I remember, you pinned me and within seconds I was sat on your back holding your arms above your head ready to dislocate both your shoulders at will."
"And like I said, you got lucky."
"Bullshit"
"Ahem!" Both of us whip around to face Enobaria. "Will the pair of you start acting like fools; I'm expecting a victor this year, understood?" Both of us nod. "Good. Now then tonight on the recaps of the reapings I want you to pay attention and make a list of potential allies, potential deaths, possible bloodbaths, and those who will survive the first half an hour but won't make it much further and in training sessions I expect the pair of you to start forming those alliances and planning strategies and make sure to learn the weaknesses of your allies above everyone else's."
"Why?"
"Because if they don't die you'll have to either split or wait for someone else to do it, or kill them yourselves and if you play to their strengths by accident you'll end up dead and I'm telling you now they'll make sure to learn your strengths and weaknesses. That is all for now if you need me I will be in my room, you know where to find me, when we arrive at the Capitol come get me. That is all."
I watch her walk off holding my breath. Once I'm sure she's gone I lean over to Cato and whisper something calmly in his ear.
Cato's POV
At Clove's words I can't help but burst out laughing and when I look to her I see she is smirking and trying hard not to laugh as well. Our escort, who for some odd reason is still in the room, just looks at us confusedly so I smirk and raise an eyebrow. "May we help you?"
"Honestly we can help you with anything."
"Like… teaching you which parts of your body will fail first."
"Or where the best place is to be sure of a kill"
"And how to help you to an early grave."
She looks at the pair of us astounded before turning on her heels and marching out of the room, outraged. Stupid Capitolite. I turn and smirk at Clove. Clove… the girl who has to go into the arena with me, will it really end up as a death match between the pair of us? We're basically equally matched, where I'm strong, she's agile, where I'm good with swords, she's astounding with knives, but would either of us be able to kill each other? I don't know… let's just hope someone gets to her before me.
Clove finally finds a decent (ish) channel on the TV though there are so many adverts about the latest perfumes, outfits, and (for some stupid reason) wigs.
"Hmm, maybe when I'm victor I'll try out those wigs. Then burn them all."
"Ha, I'm sure they'd suit you Clove. And who says you'll win?"
"Umm… me?" She turns and smiles sweetly at me, though of course I know its sarcasm.
"Oh please you know I'll kick your ass."
"Yeah suuuuree."
"I will."
"Nu-uh"
"Oh shut up." Clove smirks at me in a half-cruel way before she looks out the window and mutters annoyedly "We're here."
I can't help but sigh… this means waking up Enobaria. "I'll go get her then…" I walk through the train before I finally find her door, there's only 4 of us and the driver why are there so many doors? I knock three times, to no avail, and tensing slightly, push open her door. "Enobaria." She sits up quickly, having been asleep, and flings a steak knife in my direction. I duck and spin, plucking it from the air and stand again pointing it towards her.
"Not bad. We're at the Capitol?"
"Yes, the trains about to pull in now."
"Good. Let's go."
Okay so I know this chapter was a little shorter than the last one and I'm sorry, and future chapters will be longer to make up for it I promise. Thanks to everyone for reviewing and if you're still reading please please please keep reviewing, more reviews the better :D! Thanks xxxx