Clato: Cuts Beneath the Surface

Chapter 38

I am drowning in noise. It is so loud and colorful I lose all sense of reality. Keeping my face schooled I risk a glance at Cato. His sharp cheeks and chin remain sturdy as ever in a scowl. We are vicious and proud. They shout our names.

It is the best feeling in the world. But then it stops. The screens full with flames and the moment is gone. Katniss and Peeta, the tributes from 12 have stolen our thunder. They blaze gloriously with my anger. How dare try steel my glory! Cato makes no move but I see his fingers turn white from clenching the railing. After Snow gives his speech we role back down the track and into the background. The parade is over.

I am furious.

The elevator ride back up is dead silent. We share it with the pink tributes from 1. The boy, Marvel, looks uncomfortable. I don't like the way Glimmer looks at Cato. When she bumps into me I hiss and shove her off. The elevator doors close on their floor before I can murder her.

"What was that?" Cato yells furiously.
"We looked like fools!" I scream. "No one will remember us after 12 pulled that!"
"Did you lose us all our sponsors on purpose?"
We scream at Nef, Cordelia, and Cato's stylist Zeffer.

"But the gold was stunning!"
"You were beautiful, powerful!" they try to reassure us. Cato and I stalk away. We reach my room and I head inside. I'm not in the mood to deal with anyone right now.

"I didn't think we'd be dealing with such incompetence." I snarl and slam the door shut.

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Training begins the next day. Cato and I dress in black and red workout clothes and head down early. I glare at 12 from across the room but the girl ignores me. I want to kill her so badly. She simply can't ruin my shot at victory. I've worked too hard.

The trainer starts to speak but I ignore her. It's nothing I haven't heard before. Instead I size up the other tributes. The boy from 12 looks strong but sickly, probably an emotional washout. Thresh from 11 is menacing and I motion to Cato that we should talk to him later. He would make a much better ally than Glimmer.

There's a cripple from 10, a few nameless kids from 4, 5, and 6 who will all go easily. I feel the need to watch out for a sly ginger girl with a foxy face. Compared to some years these tributes are easy.

We break and start to work out. I go trough my usual routine with Cato, letting him do all the talking. Marvel and I are formally introduced. His handshake is soft and timid. Glimmer gives me a look of disdain. I throw some spears with Marvel, who is actually decent, while Cato and Glimmer flirt. This only make me hate her more. She is a carbon copy if Ralae and not even slightly talented.

Finally Cato says, "Clove, go show Glimmer and Marvel your speciality." He's just demonstrated with a sword and they are very impressed. As they should be.
"Sure thing."
I jog to the knives and pick up 5. They aren't my own but they'll do. Standing a good 50 meters from my target I let them whirl one after another as the targets move about. Each and every one imbeds in a bulls eye. The room goes silent. Even Glimmer has nothing to say.

A/N So sorry for the wait, it just didn't seem like many people were reading anymore. I'm still continuing so no worries. Id love to hear comments! :)