I spend the night slipping in and out of doze. In the morning, I didn't see Brutus, nor Enobaria. Morai comes to me and gives me simple apparel to wear.
"Your final dressing will be in the catacombs under the arena."
Her words barely register. Now,fear is registering in my mind. Fear of being killed. Fear of killing. Of course,I'll be a killing machine in the arena. I can't let my dignity win over.
I followed Morai into the roof. A hovercraft appeared into thin air letting down a ladder lifting me up inside.
A woman in white coat draw towards me carrying a syringe.
"Be still, Cato. This is your tracker."
A sharp pain shoots as she inserted the needle releasing the metal tracker under the skin of my forearm.
Half an hour passed before the hovercraft landed. Morai and I got back to the ladder that leads down to the underground catacombs. We set for the preparation chamber, which they call the Launch Room.
The food either didn't taste well or I was just too sick to eat.
When I'm finished, Morai asked, "Do you have any token?"
"No. You, of all people should know that."
"I'm just checking. Glimmer, District One's tribute. She was caught with a ring that pops poisoned spike."
I never thought Glimmer to be smart. But however smart she is, she can never outwitt the Capitol.
We sit until a female voice announces that it is time to prepare for launch.
"Good luck, Cato."
This, is the very first time I gave a sincere smile to Morai.
A glass cylinder lowers around me.
Fifteen seconds in darkness, pushing me out to open air.
Trees. They're the first thing I saw. I'd rather have an open field, or high rocky mountains, the ones back in 2. Not a forest. I hate when things are blocking my view. It's as if there's always someone hiding under my nose.
Then, the legendary Claudius Templesmith's voice booms.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games begin!"
We were required to stand on our metal circles before the gong releases us.
Piles of weapon on mounds. Lots of swords and spears.
3,2,1.
I ran towards the sword pulling its hilt. My first target was the girl from District 3. I striked her at head.
Most tributes fled towards the forest. Few had tried to get supplies from Cornucopia like the boy from District 5. But before he got close, a spear got through him. Marvel.
I grinned at him and started hunting down the other tributes.
The bloodbath ended. Marvel, Glimmer, Niobe and Teresias from District 4. But no sign of Clove.
"Clove!"
"I'm here." She appeared at the end of the Cornucopia. Holding five knives in her right hand. All with blood. But she wasn't alone. She was holding a boy. Blonde and well built. An inch shorter than me. He held his face up.
"Lover boy. From District 12." Clove said as if reading my thoughts.
Teresias aimed his trident on him.
"No! Don't. He's our best chance." I exclaimed before any other career strikes him.
"What are you talking about? I don't know how to use any weapon?" He said frantically.
