AHHHH OH MY GOD GUYS PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! I'm sososososooo sorry that I couldn't upload until now! I had absolutely NO time to write, with all my summatives due and exams coming up! This weekend I won't be able to write either, as I'm away without a computer :s…but I'll try my best to update over the next few weeks, but I'm going to be busy with exams. SO SORRY! I'll try my best to write more, and I hope you like Chapter 7! It's all Cato, which is a change...

(Oh and thanks SOOO much for all the amazing reviews I got! I really appreciated them and you guys are the nicest xxx)

Chapter 7

CATO

The sun beats down on my back as I walk to the training centre. Today is finally the tribute competition. The females go first, which is why Clove isn't with me now. All morning she's been fighting and going through the different stations, with two past victors who will be mentoring this years tributes watching her, along with all the other females. First the competitors are paired into fights, and the winner of each one makes it into the second stage. This is where they enter the gym one at a time, each having a slot of training with the judges. District Two used to have people actually fight each other, with weapons, to win the volunteer spots, but more than a few people died during the competition, so they changed the rules around a bit. Couldn't afford to lose us I guess. Now we just do hand on hand combat until one of the opponents is knocked out. To win the volunteer spot, you have to stand out to the judges, having severe skill and accuracy. I have no doubt in my mind that Clove will win, which is a problem.

Clove is fierce and strong, able to take down any opponent if she has a set of knives. This year if she wins the competition, she will volunteer to be in the Hunger Games. I don't know what I'll do if I lose her. Since I'm 18, this will be the last year that I'll be able to enter the Games. I have to enter. I know that I'll win the volunteer spot too, but am I able to hurt Clove? I think, already knowing the answer in my gut. No. It enters my mind almost immediately. As much as I need this, I can't let her enter. All I know is that I need to convince her not to enter. How, I've no idea.

I push through the heavy door of the center, and am greeted by applause as I see Clove march up to the front of the gym. She stands beside two fierce looking victors, who I recognize as Enobaria and Brutus. Their faces are impassive, as they look Clove up and down. Brutus yells above the noise, and the room goes silent. "Everyone, meet our female volunteer tribute of the 74th annual Hunger Games!" My heart instantly sinks, and I realize that I was silently hoping that she wouldn't win the volunteer spot, as selfish as that may be. I need to win this, and I don't want Clove to get hurt. If Clove is entering the Games this year, it means that there's even more reason for me to. I know she'd probably kill me if I ever told her this, but I need to enter the Games alongside her, in order to make sure that she's the one getting out alive. I look up at her and see a hint of a smile on her face. I know how happy she must be, but she's trying to appear tough in front of everyone, not that the people here don't already know that she is.

Clove steps down from the stage, and runs over. "I did it!" She exclaims, even her eyes twinkling with joy. "I knew you could Knives. You've always had it in you." I say, giving her a hug. "But Clove…I need to win this too." I say, pulling back slightly to see her face. As I say it, her smile vanishes, her expression turning sad. "Oh." She starts, suddenly realizing what I have. "So, we'll be in the Games together." "Yeah…" I agree, knowing my face must be morbid. But there's no other way. I need to enter the Hunger Games this year, not anymore for fame and glory in District 2, or to be able to take care of my sister and live in peace. But now I know that I need to enter the Games to make sure that Clove makes it out alive.

Clove and the rest of the female competitors leave, as all the males finish entering the gym. I give them all a glance over, checking their heights, weights and muscles, and I know that I can take them all. Enobaria and Brutus won't give a second glance at the rest of them after seeing me. The competition starts with hand on hand combat, before they watch us separately. All the people that lose the first fight are immediately disqualified from the competition, the rest moving on to the next stage. We line up beside the mats, and I see that I'm paired up with Edro, a tall 17 year-old that I recognize from school. I look at him, and see that he has large muscles, but nothing that will ever compete with mine. As I survey him, he glances over at me, fear flashing in his eyes. I smirk, loving the feeling of being feared.

They call people up to fight one by one, and I flex my muscles as I wait, laughing inside as Edro's eyes widen. The line in front of me begins to decrease in size as I watch people being knocked out over an over again. Finally I hear them call us. "Cato and Edro". I grin, excited for this fight. I walk onto the mat, and see Edro standing in front of me, his arms outstretched, his hands in fists. His eyes dart around and his hands shake a bit, showing his fear. I crack my knuckles, only partly to psyche him out. Then he lunges, and the fight begins.

He aims for my waist, to push me over, but I'm too strong. I block his blow with my arm as I lower my other fist to his stomach. He collides with it, the impact causing him to stumble. He straightens up as I advance. I raise my fist, connecting it with his jaw. He recoils, his face taut, but his tight eyes giving away his pain. He advances, wanting to make a comeback, but I'm too fast. As he swings his arm to punch me, I kick out my leg, colliding it with his shin. His fist just skims my chin when he falls back, somehow managing to stay standing. He's really not going to give up is he? I punch him again, this time my fist connecting with his nose. There's a loud crunch as it breaks, and I pull away, feeling no pity. I need this. For Clove. Blood starts streaming down his face, but he keeps fighting, not wanting to give in. He manages to punch me in the stomach, and the blow is hard, but not nearly enough to stop someone like me. I kick him again, this time my foot colliding with his knee. It buckles and he stumbles, right as I land a blow on his jaw. He falls, blood covering his face and shirt, but I know the fight still isn't over. Before he can get up, I kick him in the ribs, hard enough to wind him. He wheezes, and I kick him again, watching the light in his eyes slowly go out.

I look over at the mentors, and the look on Brutus' face is purely incredulous. He looks me up and down, thoroughly impressed. I smile, knowing that I did well enough to stand out to them. Enobaria nods at me, signifying that I'm done; so I walk off of the mats and over to where all the other winners are standing. Stage one complete, now for stage two. I know that I can win this, I'm the best that District 2 has got, and they have to choose me to become the volunteer tribute. I just have to make sure that no one knows my intentions.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you liked it! Pleasee review and I'll love you forever XX. I'll try my best to write more soon, but I can't promise anything. I LOVE ALL OF YOU THAT READ THIS XOXO (and ps just in case people are like 'omg he died'…he passed out…just clarifying!