It's time for the Hunger Games! Yay! :D This chapter is kind of short, and so is the next one. I promis though they will pick up length:) Now I changed the dialogue a little bit in some scenes from the original text for copyright reasons, but it's the same generally! I hope you guys enjoy! PLEASE KEEP UP THE REVIEWS! THEY MEAN A LOT! :)
Cato's POV
I wake up from yet another nightmare, at least my third one tonight. I welcome the sunshine streaming in through the windows, glad that I can finally get up and start moving. Today is the day, the day the Hunger Games begin. The clock next to my bed reads six, so we still have four hours to go. The shower helps wake me up, and I put on a pair of jeans and a grey shirt. I enter the dining room to find Clove and our mentors along with Lucy. They are not eating; we will eat on the way to the arena.
"Good morning," comments Brutus.
"So this is it?" I ask. This is when we say our goodbyes to our escort and mentors. I give Enobaria a hand shake and a quick good bye. To Lucy I give a thankful hug and a peck on the cheek. Brutus gives me a firm handshake.
"You're going to do just fine, remember to find a source of water at protect it at all costs. Weed out the weaker tributes first, and then handle the bigger ones as a pack with the other Careers. And watch out for the boy from 11 and that girl from 12 got it?" he confirms.
"Yea, thanks. For everything," I reply. Brutus turns and leaves the room, with Enobaria and Lucy right behind him. Our stylists enter the room, ready to guide us to the arena. I've spent so much time with her, yet I still do not know this annoying lady's name, and considering I am going to die, I really don't care. Clove, our stylists, and I are lifted into a hovercraft on a ladder that holds us frozen as statues. Clove and I are tagged in the arm with trackers for the Gamemakers to keep track of our whereabouts. The ride to the arena takes a few hours, which we spend in silence while playing with the breakfast that has been laid out. I don't really feel like eating.
I'm not nervous at all. I'm just horrified. I can't bear to think of what my Clove, my precious Clove, will have to go through in the next few weeks. She will kill, and then regret it. She will probably get injured, although I'll try my best to prevent it. She will have to watch me flirt with Glimmer while she does the same with Lectro. Then, after all that, she will have to live with the fact that I let her win, that I killed myself for her sake. I stare at the ceiling, trying to get a grip on my emotions. I think about our Career pack and its members. We have Clove and I, Glimmer and Marvel, Lectro, and Peeta. Really the only reason I allowed Lover Boy in the group is to help us track down Katniss. After he's served his purpose, we can give the people at home a good show with him. My thoughts are interrupted by the landing of the hovercraft. Clove and I are separated, leaving me and my pestering stylist alone in a dim room. She chatters away while I dress in the tribute uniform that has been laid out. Brown thin pants, a thin t shirt, a belt, a black reflective jacket that reaches my knees, and a pair of sturdy leather boots. I put my Game face on as my short stylist plasters me with hugs and fake tears, then enter the launch tube. I'm starting to greedily await the Games with excitement at the thought of not having to listen to any more of this bouncy woman's talk. A female voice announces to prepare for launch. I allow Confident Cato to take over, instantly putting a sneer on my face and bloodlust in my mind. As the metal plate rises into the arena though, I still deep down in my heart grieve for the pain to come for my Clove.
Clove's POV
I take in my surrounds once the countdown starts, taking this time to allow Academy Clove to take root in my mind. Allowing her to prepare me to murder and enjoy it. The Cornucopia's golden surface glares into my eyes. I see the weapons spilling from its entrance though and know that we Careers will stay here and set up camp after the bloodbath. To the right is a lake, a perfect spot to await and kill thirsty tributes. We are on an open stretch of dirt and grass, a small field. . In the distance I spot a tall grassy field. The countdown registers in my mind to be almost up.
Five. I can't wait to see the terror on the faces of my victims.
Four. It'll be fun to hunt down stray tributes tonight.
Three. The Academy never said how much fun this would be.
Two…Cato. Where is Cato? I have to find…ONE.
The gong sounds and my instincts take over. I rush to the gold horn and grab a perfect bag full of knives. Lovely. I look around for my first kill. The girl from 12 stands struggling over a bag with a curly haired boy. Without thinking, I take aim and the knife sinks into his back. Another knife aims for Katniss, but she runs and deflects it with the pack. Darn it. My attention is taken by another tribute trying to flee with a canteen of water. She doesn't even realize I've seen her until my weapon finds its home in her stomach. Someone's back bumps into mine and I turn to find Glimmer pulling a bow and quiver of arrows from a blood covered short boy. Once he falls, she turns to me.
"Hey! Having fun?" I ask her. She grins and shoots an arrow towards a girl not even six feet away. The arrow falls and hits the girl's thigh instead of anywhere fatal Glimmer might've been aiming. I run over and slice her neck, can't have her crawling away to come sneak up on us later. We continue fighting, sometimes calling to each other as if this were a normal day. The field finally clears out, leaving us Careers alone. I turn and watch as Cato snaps our last costumer for the day's neck. We look around at each other, breathing heavily and proud of our work. I run towards Cato, and then pull up short when I remember that Academy Clove doesn't love Cato. Only I do. He is busy anyway tickling Glimmer. Ugh. Lectro gives Marvel a high five, then heads towards me.
"Hey Clove. How's it going?" he asks, a blush spreading over his freckled face.
"I'm just dandy! Yourself?" I return with a Capitol accent. He just blushes and mumbles out a sheepish answer that I ignore. "How many did we get?" I ask to everyone. I'm answered conveniently by the cannons, each shot equaling one dead tribute. A triumphant 11 shots ring out, and we all high five each other in congratulations. Then I remember someone, Peeta. The dumbo who we tricked into helping us find Katniss. I find him standing alone in the Cornucopia, sifting through the supplies and weapons. He has tied a bandage around his bloody arm and has serious bruises on his face. But now that I think about it, we've all looked better. My hair has fallen from its ponytail and I am caked in dirt and blood. My fellow Careers are covered in the same.
"What all is in there, Lover Boy?" I shout to Peeta. He looks up at us as if he just remembered that we're all here.
"Lots of handy stuff," he replies quietly. I look around and see my thoughts reflected on the other Careers' faces. We better find Katniss and then kill him quick. The sun appears to be setting in the synthetic sky. That means hunting time.
"Alright, everyone," begins Cato, "gather up some weapons, take a few practice shots, and then we'll head out for a nice relaxing hunt. Marvel, Lectro, you two stay here. Start setting up a mine system or something to protect the supplies, Lectro. You should know how being from 3 and all." Lectro and Marvel nod, then get to work on digging holes.
Cato of course grabs two heavy duty swords, slicing up the nearest crate as a warm up for our hunt. Glimmer attempts again at the bow and arrows, failing miserably but succeeding in her blonde little head. Peeta shocks me by lodging three knives in a tree trunk at least 30 feet away. I do the same, giving him an arrogant smirk. Cato gives the call to move out, and we head into the darkening trees that surround the lake.
The hoot of owls and hiss of bugs makes Glimmer whimper all through the hike, giving Cato reason to wrap his muscular arms around her. Peeta keeps his distance, taking up the back of our party. I keep my eyes glued ahead, thinking of the day's events. It's official. I am a murderer. Academy Cloves shrinks back as the realization hits me full force. I am responsible for the deaths of innocent children, the heartbreak of their families, the regret of their Districts. Tears well up in my eyes, thankfully hidden by the darkness that surrounds us. I snap out of it though when I see a faint light up ahead.
"Hey guys! Look!" I shout whisper, pointing to the flickering of a small fire.
"Looks like a poor little tribute got cold," Glimmer says with fake sympathy. We all laugh and run ahead, seeing the girl's form take shape near the fire. Cato's sword gleams reflective light from the flames as he strikes down on the girl. The metal slices her leg; Cato is apparently going to have fun with this one.
"Please! Please don't!" the girl sobs, then screams as Glimmer repeatedly stabs an arrow through her other leg. I laugh and lodge a knife in her shin, slowly dragging it up to her thigh. The others laugh hysterically at her pleas and cries for help, knowing that there is none available. Cato suddenly thrusts his sword into her abdomen, cutting of her cries with a sharp gasp. He leans down and checks her for supplies, finding none. We continue to laugh and walk a ways down, waiting for the cannon. We are about 20 feet away when we grow impatient.
"There's no cannon," I point out, getting a look from Peeta.
"I killed her myself; she's dead," Cato spats. He Glimmer get into it, she insisting the girl is alive and Cato insisting the opposite. Peeta breaks in, announcing that he'll go finish her off. He stalks off with a heavy gait. We readily whisper about him once he's out of earshot.
"Why don't we just kill him?" Glimmer asks annoyed.
"He can help us find her, making that job a lot easier. Then we kill him," I reply.
"Yea and he is actually pretty good with that knife," Cato adds, directing a look at me. Peeta returns with the sound of cannon fire behind him.
"She's dead," he announces. We congratulate him and head on into the night. After about 3 miles of walking, we call it quits and head back to the Cornucopia. Just as we step into the clearing, Lectro stops us.
"Wait guys!" he shouts with urgency. We stop dead in our tracks. "I set up the mines around the camp, so if you step on one everything goes up in smoke. I've make little circles in the dirt to let you know where to step okay?" I nod and look at the ground. Peeta, Glimmer, and Cato go ahead of me, stepping cautiously on the pattern of safe spots. Lectro goes past them and takes me hand, then gently guides me through the mine system. I gag inside, but give him a thankful kiss on the cheek. He blushes, yet again, and heads to the tent he's set up. Marvel walks out to welcome us.
"I set up our sleeping bags, and I put our weapons beside each one in case of a surprise attack. Now I also set up a watch system, Glimmer you go fir-"Marvel is cut off by Cato grabbing his shirt.
"Since I'm in charge, I set up the watch system. Got it?" he rages. Marvel stutters out an answer and is released.
"We will take watch in district pairs. Glimmer and Marvel first, then Clove and I. Lectro and Peeta, you guys can pair up I guess," Cato announces. My insides jump at the thought of a few hours alone with Cato. We say our goodnights to each other, then crawl into the tent while Glimmer and Marvel set up watch center outside. Cato takes the bag with the sword next to it, naturally. He gives me a small smile and a wink. I smile in return, then snuggle into the bag next to the knives. Lectro climbs into the bag next to me, subtly scooting closer and closer until our shoulders our touching.
"I hope you don't mind?" he stutters, making me giggle. As a reply I scoot even closer, laying my head on his chest. I hear him gasp in surprise, then relax his head on top of mine. Cato grumbles and moves his bag to the other side of me. Lectro, thankfully, is already asleep and doesn't notice. I grope for Cato's hand under the bags against the ground, finding it and grasping to it with all my might. He strokes my finger gently with his thumb, and the last thing that runs through my mind before I drift to sleep is how much I love him.