So, again, this is the edited version of this chapter. And again, totally different! And I think it's a bit longer than the other chapter. And please note, the Games will be slower(as will the week), and will be different, frankly. I hope you like it and I'd love to see some comments or anything. I'd love to see how I can fix this at all. :) Thanks for reading!
Chapter Three: Breathe
Basically, I was shocked. I mean, do I really want to try this? But Enobaria and Castor were trying to talk me into it. I was going to refuse, until I saw the arrogant smirk plastered on Cato's face. That's when I decided I would try it. And hopefully I would win. Although, I've never picked up a sword in my life.
Enobaria handed me a lighter sword, while Cato had a heavier, denser metal for his sword. Frankly, I was nervous. Okay...scared to death is a better explanation of it. We stood ready on the mat, him looking arrogant and me just...feeling determined. Finally, I hear the shout of Enobaria saying, 'start'. That's when Cato runs at me.
Seeing an eighteen year old Victor running at you with a sword is slightly freaky. I quickly sidestepped out of the way, a look on my face saying I wasn't expecting that at all. His smirk only grows with this act. Finally I shake it off and try to tune out that little voice inside my head. Normal, yes? I think it's called a conscience. It only gets you into trouble.
I hold up my small sword near my face as he swings his. I hear the cling as metal hits metal. I watch as his face grows red and he flicks the blade to the left, mine twisting painfully in my wrist. The hilt of my sword slips from my grasp and I hear it clatter against the ground loudly. "You've lost," He states with a smirk growing on his face. He swings his sword again and I side step quickly.
"Not exactly," I state, smirking as well and kicking the sword up by the hilt with my toe. I grab the blade, trying to keep it in my hand, and wince in response. I flip the sword and point the blade back at him, feeling the sting of the small cut.
He swings his blade again near my ankles and I jump out of the way. However, I lose my footing and crash against the mat painfully. I yelp and then I feel the cool metal on my neck. "Yes, exactly," Cato replies arrogantly, stepping out of the way.
I sigh and stand up, rolling my eyes. I just lost...to this arrogant Career! I wipe off my forehead with my right hand quickly, wincing as blood mixes with sweat. Castor runs over to Cato and begins talking rapidly. Seriously?! Is my younger brother really going to try to converse with this guy again?
I'm ripped from my thoughts when Enobaria roughly grabs my wrist and pulls me from the building. I raise my eyebrow and send her a questioning look but she doesn't say a word to me. Besides the occasional grunt from Enobaria, the walk is silent. And then, suddenly, I see where we're going. "Why the Victor's Village?" I ask her hesitantly. That woman is a bit scary, I admit!
"We're staying here for the week," Enobaria replies with a tone that implies that I am unintelligent.
"So...I'm staying at your house?" I ask, raising my left eyebrow slightly on my forehead.
"Unless you want to stay with Cato you are," Enobaria tells me with a smirk, in which I send her a repulsed look. Ew! That is so gross to even think of that.
Right when I'm about to reply, Enobaria drags me into a very well kept, large house. I'm amazed when we get inside. There's a black and white marble kitchen to the left and a cozy looking room on the right. There's a brick fireplace and a few couches sitting around it. I feel my eyes widen as Enobaria drags me up the large stone steps. My feet pad against the wood floor as we walk down the hallway. "There's your room. Bathroom inside there. Go clean up."
I nod at her orders and she steps into a room right across from my bedroom. I bite my lower lip softly and step into the room she indicated was mine. It was rather simple but ornate at the same time. The bed was a full sized bed and was a cream color. The window was bare and stood a great view of the mountains near District Two. The carpet was black and soft as I slipped off my shoes.
I pad over to the bathroom and turn on the water for a shower. Like Enobaria had said, I needed to clean up. Frankly, I smelled horribly. I strip quickly and hop into the warm water. Before being Reaped, I'd always had a rather cold bath, if any at all. So a warm, even hot shower was a nice change. When I'm done, I search around for a first aid kit. My hand hadn't actually stopped bleeding, so it wasn't just a small cut.
I finally find a small first aid kit beneath the counter and open it up. I wash up my right hand and wrap it up in bandages. I sigh slightly and clean up my mess. There had been quite a bit of blood in the shower from my hand.
I search around the in the dresser, and find there was plenty of clothes inside for me to use. I slip on a pair of black shorts that cling to my thighs. I then pull on a white v-neck shirt. Very comfy. Pulling my red hair up into a high bun, I step outside of the room. I walk down stairs and see Enobaria sitting on one of the white couches. I sit down on one opposite her and glance up.
After a while of silence, it's Enobaria who speaks up. "You're close to Castor?" She asks in a scratchy sort of voice.
"Yes. I'm very protective of him," I reply, biting my lower lip afterwards.
"It'll get you killed," She states again, glancing at me once. I hold her gaze and then she adds, "But you don't care."
I shake my head and then it's more silence. I know it's a weakness. I know it's awful that I have to die so my brother can live. But it's a price I'm willing to pay for his life to prosper. "Do you have any other family members?" She asks me.
"My father died three months ago. He was a great man. My mother tries to take care of us all, but I help her with the weight. Then there's Genevieve, who is fifteen years old. We adopted her. And then Castor's twin brother, Pollux. We're all really close," I sigh, realizing just how much I missed my family. I miss not being able to reassure Pollux that we'll all be okay, or hide from Genevieve just how afraid I am.
"Do you miss them?" Enobaria asks. I just nod slowly in response, not understanding her questions. Why would she care? "It'll get worse in the arena. Block it out. Now. Forget about everything waiting for you at home. Get everything out now, and leave the emotions here. Got it?"
I nod at her statements. But it's still hard to process. Forget my family? Isn't that what will help me stay sane? Stay determined to win? Do something or another for myself or Castor? Castor. Now I understand. She wants me to forget my family so I won't think about what might happen if I let Castor die and if I go home.
At that thought, I feel tears well up in my eyes. Castor can't die! "You're saying I have to try and get home? Betray Castor?" I ask, raising both of my eyebrows. At her quick nod, I burst into tears. Without Castor, I wouldn't be the same! I need him, and Pollux, and Genevieve to keep me going in life! I rest my head in my hands and I feel a hand on my shoulder. It's tough and cold and does nothing to help me stop my tears, but I still appreciate the presence.
"My son is in the arena this year." The words were indifferent in her tone of voice, but I knew what it meant. She was trying to help me survive, when her son is going to be out there, too.
"What's his name?" I ask, wiping my cheeks. The tears were there, but they were silent and slowing.
"Clovis. He's eighteen, like you. He'd trained and trained for this. I just don't get to mentor him," She explains to me. I stay silent for a long while and she does, too. Enobaria, whom is a true Career, is willing to sacrifice her son for me. She's ready to help me win at all costs.
"I'm ready, Enobaria. I'll try to go home," I tell her, glancing up. Was that the right thing to say after she admitted to having her son in the arena, too?
"Good girl," Enobaria states, flashing me a wild grin, gold tipped teeth glinting. Right! That's how she won. She ripped out the neck of the other tribute with her teeth. Gross. "Now, we need to discuss your strategy, yes?"
I nod slightly as I realize what this might entail of me. "Aren't the normal Careers going to still be...that group?" I ask her, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"Most likely. However, if it doesn't appear so, I want you to join with the people representing those districts. Got it?" Enobaria asks, her tone sounding a bit more rough. I nod in reply and she continues on. "You're a contender. Get supplies from the Cornucopia. Don't go all the way in for an amazing weapon. But, grab a decent weapon and some supplies and then high tail it outta there. Do. Not. Fight. You hear me? You're good, but not that good, Violet."
"Got it. Okay weapon. Supplies. No fighting. I understand clearly," I reply, sitting up a bit straighter. I could do this, I think. If a District Two Victor thought I was a contender, then I definitely have a chance at coming home. But what about Castor? No. If he wants to win he needs to fight for himself...right?
"Okay, now off to bed. It's near dark already. And we have to train you to be able to starve basically," Enobaria pointed out, that sternness not leaving her voice. I nod and stand up from the couch. I bound up the stairs two at a time and finally reach the bedroom.
I don't bother to change and flop down onto the cream bed. I'm surprised by the soft blankets, but it only makes me even more tired. I close my eyes and very quickly I'm asleep.
Genevieve appears. She's standing in the woods, I can see her. Why does she...why is she bloody?! I gasp as a smirk appears on her pale face. She grabs her stomach and then holds out her hands. Her hands are stained red. A knot forms in my throat as I think about it.
"Why did you do this to me? You forgot about me. And I got Reaped. Now I'm dead. Why did you forget me?" Her voice asked, it sounded all echoy.
"No! I wouldn't ever forget you, Genevieve!" I scream, tears forming in my eyes.
"You forgot me. I died of starvation," A familiar voice called, reverberating around my skull. Kaz appeared with sunken in cheeks and just a dead look on her face.
"I wouldn't! I would always remember you! Always!" I cry, dropping to my knees.
"You killed both of your brothers. You forgot both of them. You killed Castor, your flesh and blood. Drove a sword through his neck. You forgot Pollux and he was Reaped alongside Genevive. How could you?" My mother asked, tears on her sunken face. "I died alone. Without any of my kids. Because you forgot us all."
"No...No...I! I didn't...I didn't mean...I'm so sorry, Mom...," I sob, putting my hands over my ears. They all step closer, and I can see Castor and Pollux. They both are so bloody. They all surround me, getting closer. I cry and cry, shaking my head. I don't believe it.
"Don't forget us again. It's your fault...all your fault," They chant in an eerie tone of voice.
I gasp and wake up. Tears cling to my eyelids as I stand up. Why is it so stuffy in here? I open the door and pad out down the stairs as quietly as I can. I open the front door and glance back before stepping outside the house. The cool night air hits me like a train. I sigh in relief as the sweat starts to diminish. I close the door and begin walking down the street. I'm almost in a trance, and so it's shocking when I hear a voice. "What are you doing up so late, Sweetcheeks?"
I gasp and turn to where the voice sounded, and see Cato sitting on the front steps of a house. All of the lights are out. Was that his? I glance at him and realize he's not wearing a shirt. I blush bright red and look away from the boy. I hear a chuckle and then footsteps as he walks closer to me. "I just...wasn't tired," I respond, still not looking at him.
Out of my peripheral vision, I can see he's standing right in front of me, in the middle of the road. But I won't look at him. My head is level with his chest, making me blush even more, though. I feel his finger on the bottom of my chin, pushing my head up to look him right in the eyes. "Then why're you crying, Twelve?" He asks, smirking triumphantly.
I roll my eyes and wipe my tear-stained cheeks. "Fine, if you wanna know so bad. I had a nightmare is all. I don't like Enobaria's...strategy," I snap, trying to look away but to no avail.
"And what would that be? Actually try to win?" Cato asks, and I can see that smirk plastered on his tan face.
My face heats up in what I'm sure is anger. Really? You really want to be smarmy with me right now?! "Yes! But...I'm fine with that. But...I don't want to change. I've always been family-centered and she wants me to forget all about them. That would change my entire being!" I yell, feeling the tears again. I know how horribly weak I am. It's just awful.
I feel strong arms wrap around my waist and I know who it is. I just don't feel like shoving him away. I rest my head on his chest, the tears clinging tightly to my cheeks. "I don't want to die. I can't die. I'm really, really scared, Cato," I whisper, my voice wavering.
He doesn't say anything to me. Again, he's holding me a bit too tight like Enobaria's cold hand on my shoulder. But it really does help me a bit, knowing someone is there. "You'll win, Twelve. I won't let you die," He says to me quietly.
I feel him pick me up. The tears still don't stop leaking from my eyes as he carries me into what I assume to be his house. He walks up a few steps and lays me down on a soft bed. I don't open my eyes but feel his arm wrap back around my waist. I peek one of my eyes open and see we're both laying in a bed. His ice blue eyes are just looking at me. What is he thinking?
"Thank you," I whisper, closing my eyes.
"You're not going to die...Violet," He tells me quietly.
So...yeah. Thank you for reading this far and I'd love to hear from you! (As an early birthday surprise maybe...?)