Tribute: Knife Thrower

Chapter 1

"I volunteer!" I peep out.

I don't know what I was doing when the 12 year old from my district was called and I volunteered. I just felt something in my heart that I had never felt before, compassion.

I couldn't turn back now even when another girl volunteered, I would be a disgrace to my family.

Both my parents were victors and they expected my brother to volunteer after he completed his training when he was 15, but he didn't. Nor did he do so when he was 16, 17, or last year when he was 18. Now he couldn't become a victor and was a disgrace to my family for not even trying.

The other girl and I raced to the stage. She tackles me, I pull her hair, she punches me, I bite her. This goes on for quite some time until I pin her down to the ground and say more confidently this time.

"I volunteer as Tribute!"

"It appears that we have our girl tribute." says Vickie Starbone, the Tribute advisor for District 2, "What is your name, young lady?"

"Clove, Clove Kentwell."

I walk up onto the stage and take my place. My heart is racing and I look out at a sea of eyes staring at me, I spot my mother in the audience and she looks proud. I know a lot of kids want their parents to be proud of them, but I was entering the Hunger Games goodness sake! I wanted her to show any hint of sadness that I might be killed, but she didn't. I guess that is what happens when you are the daughter of two Victors in District 2.

" Now for the boys!" says Vickie.

I wait as she shuffled the slips of paper around wondering to myself who in this crappy town I would have to kill.

I don't even remember the name of the boy that was called all I remember is what happened after.

"I volunteer!" shouted a boy, and as soon as I heard the voice I knew who it was. Cato Hadeley.

Out of all the boys in the audience he was the only one I would second guess myself before killing, and here we were about to enter the Hunger Games together.

I have been bullied in my training school since the day I started, and Cato was the only one who was ever nice to me. We were friends. No, we were best friends, but I guess that is just a less pathetic way of saying he was my only friend. And he may be a complete idiot, but I didn't want to kill him.

I look down and bite my lip as he makes his way to the stage. I have never been a crybaby and I am not going to be one now when all of Panem is watching me.

"Meet your District 2 Tributes of the 74th Hunger Games, Cato and Clove!" Vickie yells to the crowd.

There is clapping and cheering and I am rushed through the square and into my house to say goodbye to my family.

"We are so proud of you honey!" says my father " Go out there and make us proud."

They hug me and my mother kisses my cheek and then on the way out shouts, "Don't be a disgrace like you're brother!"

That is the last I hear from them and as I am rushed onto the train I realize they didn't even say, I love you.