Chapter 3: Tension In The Train

Cato

Why is this happening? Is this fate? Clove and I shouldn't be in the games at the same time. Because we will end up killing each other. I don't want that to happen. I don't want our friendship to end that way. I don't want to lose the only person who accepted me as a friend, and by my own hands. Because I will definitely kill her. I will definitely kill everyone. I will be the victor no matter what it takes, even if it means tearing Clove and I apart.

I met up with Clove and our escort, Archie. Clove is very quiet while Archie is so excited to lead us to the carriage, to the train and to the capitol. Maybe Clove wasn't expecting what happened earlier at The Reaping as well. She wasn't expecting her name to be called. She wasn't expecting us to be in the games at the same time.

Finally, we have arrived inside the carriage that will take us to the train. Clove and I sat on opposite sides of Archie.

"It seems like the two of you are very tough," Archie said with his irritating accent. "Which is definitely not a surprise since you're from District 2, of course. So, do you two know each other?" I was about to answer when Clove spoke first.

"No, we don't," she said stiffly. I was startled by what she said.

"Clove…," I began but Archie butted in.

"But it is possible that you have trained together, right?"

"Yes, we have trained together," Clove said.

"So there is a possibility that you two are friends."

"No, we're not friends," Clove said stiffly again. What is the matter with her, denying our friendship to someone? "And as I've said, we don't know each other." This is really getting out of line.

"Clove, what is the matter with you?" I said loudly. "What are you saying?" I turned to Archie. "To clarify things here, we do know each other and we're friends. And I don't know what is wrong with her, to deny all of these facts."

"Cato, ever since our names were called earlier at The Reaping, we don't know each other anymore," Clove said stiffly once again without even looking at me. "We're not friends but enemies starting from that time, and you should know that by now." And then I came to face the truth. What she said was right. We don't have any connection with each other anymore.

"Ok, I understand," I said to her. "So you better watch your back during the games because I might sneak up on you anytime and kill you right before your eyes." I said menacingly. But of course she won't give in without a fight.

"Like I will allow that to happen," she said, now looking at me dangerously. "Before you even try to kill me, you're already on the floor screaming for mercy."

"Oh, really?" I said teasingly.

"Really."

"Ok, calm down, both of you," Archie said, looking a little bit scared. "You're not yet in the arena." And she glared at me as I gave her a cocky grin before turning away from each other. Somehow, that brings back memories from our first meeting.

Clove

It looks like Cato and I will really end up killing each other. I know that it will be hard for me to kill him but I also know that I have to. I have to win and to do that I have to kill even him. That's why I want to forget him completely if possible because killing a stranger will be so much easier than killing a friend. But why am I thinking about these things again? We don't know each other anymore. We're not friends but enemies now. I should think about different ways to kill him instead.

Finally, we have arrived in the train. I am very happy to be in this train knowing that I'm already a tribute representing our district and a soon to be victor of The 74th Annual Hunger Games. Cato and I sat on one of the couches and Archie sat on another couch facing us.

"As you see, this is one of the wonderful things about this opportunity because even though you're here and even though it's just for a little while, you get to enjoy all of this," Archie said. I think he's talking about the refreshments here. Yes, they look pretty appealing but for me, and for anybody from our district, I suppose, this is nothing new. I think this is for the poorer districts who have never tasted anything so wonderful probably their whole life.

"I'll just go and get your mentors to give you some advices, ok?" Archie said as he stood up. "And don't you dare try to kill each other while I'm away." He gave us one last look and walked away to find our mentors. I was a bit irritated by the way he sounded. He sounded like a parent talking to his or her children. I'm not a child any longer.

"Clove, let's be allies at first," Cato suddenly said. "Your skills might really help the career pack, you know."

"Considering how much you needed my help, ok," I said teasingly. Cato just laughed at me. "Anyway, our mentors will probably be Brutus and Enobaria, right?" I looked at Cato and he nodded. I noticed that he looks pained and hurt. I wonder why. "It'll be really good, having them as our mentors, knowing how good they performed during their time in the games and having been crowned as victors." Cato gave me a weak smile and nodded. I wonder what's wrong with him. We stayed quiet for a while until footsteps were heard and three people made their way towards us. One of them was Archie and the two others were unmistakably our mentors, Brutus and Enobaria. They sat on the other couch facing us.

"So, for now, I think it is best for us to watch The Reaping of the other districts, for the two of you to know who your enemies are," it was Brutus who spoke.

Minutes later and here we are, watching the recording of The Reaping of the other districts. The tributes from District 1 were called Marvel and Glimmer. These two will probably be our allies in the games. The tributes from District 3, however, do not look like a threat to me. The tributes from District 4 as well, but of course they will probably join the career pack too. The female tribute from District 5 really looks like a fox, with her red hair and all. I didn't pay much attention to The Reaping of the lower districts, though the male tribute from District 10 looks very funny with his crippled foot, how is he going to survive the games when he's limping like that? The male tribute from District 11, however, looks strong, with his huge stature and dangerous looks. I exchanged looks with Cato and I know that he also see this tribute as a threat. The female tribute, on the other hand, is small and looks as if she couldn't hurt a fly. In District 12, a small girl, probably only 12 years old, was chosen, but another girl, probably her older sister, volunteered to take her place. For all I know, she was District 12's very first volunteer and she'll be well-known for that. She is so dead.

After that, we had our lunch. We talked as we ate. Enobaria finally confirmed that she will mentor me and Brutus will take care of Cato.

"So Clove, make sure to do your best in the arena, ok?" Enobaria said to me. "Don't hesitate to kill everyone on your way to becoming a victor, on your way to victory."

"I will definitely kill everyone," I said determinedly. "I will rip their throats open just like what you did, Enobaria."

"That's the spirit," Enobaria said to me. I turned to Cato, glaring at him, but he didn't even look at me.

"I'm not very hungry," he said as he stood up and walked away from us.

"What is wrong with that boy?" Brutus asked. "He's also like that when we entered the room earlier, before we watched The Reaping of the other districts."

"They probably had another lovers' quarrel before we came in," Archie said, looking at my direction. Brutus and Enobaria both looked at me too. "They were also like that when we were in the carriage."

"For your information, Archie, we're not lovers," I said angrily. But he's still looking at me questioningly.

"If you're not, then good, because The Hunger Games is not a place for love," Enobaria inquired.

"I know," I said. "I'll just go and talk to him." I stood up and walked away from them to look for Cato. Where did he go? I searched practically the whole train when I found him, sitting with his back on the wall of one of the rooms near the end of the train. I sat there beside him.

"What do you think you were doing, walking out just like that?" I asked him.

"I just couldn't stand sharing the same room with Enobaria," he said softly.

"But why? She seems nice. And as I've said, it'll be really good, having her and Brutus as our mentors, knowing how good they performed during their time in the games…,"

"Yes, good enough to take my uncle's life away," Cato interrupted.

"Cato…," I began.

"Do you know that male tribute who had his throat ripped open by Enobaria?" Cato interrupted once again. "That was my uncle. The two of them are the only ones that are left in the arena at that time and Enobaria killed him. I was only four years old when I watched that but I know what happened. I also know that what Enobaria did was only a part of the games, but I still can't stand sharing a room with her knowing that she's the reason why my uncle died, why her best friend died, and by her own hands." I was shocked.

"So, you mean, Enobaria and your uncle were once best friends?"

"Yes, they were, but I think it has grown from that, and then The Reaping happened and tore them apart." After that, Cato looked at me and I was surprised to see him so sad, tears forming inside his beautiful eyes.

"Cato, are you sad?" I asked him softly, and then tears started falling down his handsome face. Cato is crying in front of me and I don't know what to do. "Cato, are you crying?" I asked him even though I already know that he is. I just don't know what to do or what to say.

"No, I never cry," he said softly. Look at him, still acting cool as if he's someone who doesn't have feelings. But now I know that he has, after all. I placed my hand on his cheeks and wiped away his tears.

"Don't cry. It doesn't suit you," I said kindly. He looked me in the eye and we stared at each other for a moment before he looked away from me and pushed my hand aside.

"I'll go now." He stood up and left me alone.

After hearing Cato's story and seeing him cry, I have known that he is not a monster, that he has feelings after all. However, in his story, I can relate. Now I know what Enobaria meant earlier, saying that The Hunger Games is not a place for love. She did prove this thing by killing the person she loves during the games. What had happened between Enobaria and Cato's uncle was exactly the same thing that is happening to the two of us right now. We will also end up that way. Only one of us can live. Only one of us can survive. That's our destiny. That's the truth we have to accept. And right now, our friendship is being torn apart by the games as it had with his uncle's and Enobaria's.

Cato

What did I just do? I cried in front of her, that's what. I just couldn't help myself. Memories of my uncle seem to came back to me earlier. We've been close. He's my mother's youngest brother. I'm not that close with my other uncle. He's just different from Uncle Charlie. And then I watched him die, killed by Enobaria, the only girl he has ever loved. But crying in front of someone, especially Clove, was embarrassing. But looking into her eyes, I can tell that she really cares for me and I know that I do too, even though I've been denying this for so long. But we're destined to kill each other, just like my uncle and Enobaria. And right now, our friendship is being torn apart by the games as it had with my uncle's and Enobaria's.