My slumber was cut when the sun shone in my eyes. I was shocked to find a girl in white at the foot of my bed.
"What the hell?!"
Her face fell down. She didn't speak. She couldn't speak, I realized. Avox.
"Get out. I'll shower first."
She nodded. I wonder if she's used of harsh commands.
I let the water run through my body. The conversation last night was tense.
"Cato, how 'bout you?" Brutus asked. I was busy meddling with my food.
"I-" Clove just said she want a separate training from me. She's doing her best to avoid me and I have no idea why.
"I want to train with her. I mean, if, if we're going to be allies, we need to trust each other. Right?" I looked at Clove and surprised that she was glaring at me.
"I. Can't. Trust. You." She said with full distaste.
"What are you talking about? We've known each other for four years!" We were friends. We loved each other. Or at least I do.
"I thought you only knew each other in school?" Enobaria cut in.
"Yeah we-"
"No. We we're training partners for four years! We train together. I know her weakness and strength. She knows mine." I looked from Brutus to Enobaria. If training is the only way I can talk to her, I'll grab the chance. We need to fix this. Before anything happens.
"No! He's lying. He just want to know my strengths and weaknesses in training. He's making up a story."
"Clove, what the-"
"Isn't that true Cato? You want to win this game right? You want to continue your filthy family's legacy right?"
She's angry now. I'm mad. I don't even have an idea where she get those things.
"Clove, you're-"
"Shut up! I want separate training. If you're not going to agree then I won't train."
She stood up and left everyone at the dining table with jaws dropping.
"Ohhh. She has attitude. Excuse me." Benvolia and the stylists stood leaving us three.
"Cato, I think-"
I didn't let Enobaria finish.
"Yeah. I understand. Excuse me."
I walk out of the room and saw everyone at the table.
"Enobaria and I decided that both of you will have one of us as your mentor. You have your choice."
Both of us were silent. Brutus coughed.
"Clove, girls first I guess."
"Enobaria." She replied, heads down.
"Cato, are you fine with me?"
"Yeah."
"Well, that settles all. We are not on physical training but tactics and strategies. We will give advice and talk to you separately. But when it is about allies, you will be together."
I nod.
"After the training with tributes today, I want you both to observe, classify, and make good choices of allies."
After the breakfast, we were sent down at the base of training center building.
Twenty-four of us. And only one comes out.
"Where should we go?" I asked her.
"There." She said coldly pointing to the tense circle of tributes. It's not ten but already half of us are here. We waited until the last pair of tributes, 12's, arrived. As soon as they joined, our trainer, Atala begins explaining the training schedule. We are free to go in any area and stations. We are forbidden to do any combative activities with other tributes.
My eyes seem to scan each of us. I am taller than most of the boys, except from the dark-skinned one. 11, I think. He is pretty much my size. The tributes were, almost all were not properly fed. Their hollow eyes tells it all. The wealthier districts, 1,2, and 4's tributes have the advantage of a better built of body. I wear the most brutal, arrogant face I have. They better be afraid and clear my path.
When Atala, released us, I headed straight to the spears section.
Clove was in the knives section.
"Hey!" I turned around, a girl, seventeen maybe, taller than Clove, but with the same body built. She have the aura of being bubbly. And pretty.
"You're a two right?"
"Yeah."
"Glimmer. And that's Marvel." She said pointing to a brunette boy, tall but weighs at least fifty pounds lighter than me.
"I'm not going to beat around the bush. We want to be allies with you."
You. Means me only. She didn't even ask Clove. I looked up at her and saw her glaring at us. When our eyes locked she turned away and threw more knives at the dummy.
"I have a partner. Over there."
"Oh come on. Partners never last." She's flirting. I can tell. I gave her a charming smile.
"Well, we are a package deal. If you want me as an ally, she also becomes your ally."
She wore a disappointed look and said "Fine. Hey! You! At the knives section! Come here."
Clove ran towards us. "What?"
"We were discussing about being allies with you two." She smiled half-heartedly.
"I'm not interested." Clove said turning her back and ran back to the knives section.
"Hey!" I called out. She flinched when I hold her arm and made her face me.
"Clove, we need allies. We can't go in the arena with only the two of us."
"Who said I'm going with you?" Here she goes again. I'm getting frustrated having no idea of what she's playing.
"Oh yeah. Then what are you planning? Going out there alone sticking knives at everyone you see? Including me?" I know this will happen but I want to see if she also have the slightest idea of the trouble she entered.
She shrugged. "If I have to."
"Clove, what the hell is your problem? We need allies and this time I'm not letting you do your suicide plan."
For a brief moment we were both silent, intensely staring at each other. I have to fight te urge of kissing her and taking all the pressure away, going back to the top of the hill.
"Fine."
We get back to Glimmer and Marvel to tell that we are agreeing in being allies witth them. Since then, the four of us were inseparable, especially me and Glimmer. I'm hoping Clove would be jealous and start speaking up on me.
We got to the spears section. I picked the longest spear and positioned fifteen yards away from it. I want to intimidate everyone in the field. Especially the girl on fire. That's what they're calling her. I get a feeling she's a big threat. She better stay out of my way.
I struck the dummy straight through the heart.
The first day day was done. And I'm not looking forward the next days.
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