The Things We Lost In The Games- A Clato story

10.

Clove
Today was the day. The day of the reaping. And Clove was worried, scared even. She knew she couldn't show it, so she didn't. As they were taking her blood, she glanced over to the boys section. Cato was already standing with the seventeen year old boys. He was carrying Lucy in one, Ben in the other hand. Pax stood next to him. They were all watching Vivi go to the little girls. As Clove went to the sixteen year old girls section, she felt really mad. Because as soon as Catos parents found out that Cato isn't going to the games, they went straight back to the capitol. So now, Cato was standing in the boys section, holding two four year olds and watching a ten year old. They cannot go in with him, that's the rule, but the peacekeepers always let them. Just like they let Tommy go in with her. As Clove was waiting for the reaping to start, she tought about the last few days. After she got better, she went back to training with Cato, and everything went back to normal. It was the same as before, except it wasn't. Because they were living together, talking all night about the games, about everything. Except for when they almost kissed. They didn't talk about that. And Cato still didn't know she knew about him kissing her the night she got beaten. But it was supposed to happen like this.
A few minutes later, a woman, Clove didn't know her name, started talking.
"Welcome, welcome! It's our favourite time of the year again! When one brave young woman and man go into an arena, to fight for life and death! Welcome to the reaping of the 74th annual Hunger Games! Now, let me announce, that this years mentors are Brutus and Enobaria! Give a warm round of applause for them!"
As they were all clapping, Enobaria and Brutus stood up, waving to the crowd.
As they sat down, a video started playing on the screens all over the square. It was the same as every year. War, terrible war...
The video was playing, but Clove wasn't paying attention. Because she heard Amanda, who was chosen to volunteer this year, whisper to her best friend. Clove couldn't hear what she was saying, but she heard the other girls response clearly.
"So you're seriously not volunteering?"
"No, I'm not." Amanda whispered back. Then she said one more thing.
"The one who is reaped out, will go into the games."
Clove froze. Her name was in the glass bowl more than twenty times. In the other districts, it was common to put your name in for food, but in district2, where most of the people didn't need to do it, it was rare. But she was not ready. A few weeks ago, she would be happy hearing that Amanda is backing out, but now she just wanted to stay in the district, for just one more year. After the video was played, the capitol woman walked to the microphone again.
"Let the reaping began!" She said. "And may the odds be ever in your favour!" People clapped and cheered, until the woman started talking again.
"As always, ladies first." As she walked over to the glass bowl, Cloves heart started beating faster. The woman picked out a name, and read it out loud. Clove froze when she heard whose name it was. It wasn't hers. It was Vivienne Hadleys.

As Vivi started to walk towards the stage, Clove knew what she had to do. She put down Tommy and whispered in his ear.
"Tommy, you have to listen to me. After this whole thing is over, you have to find Cato and Pax. He will bring you to me okay?" Tommy was now crying.
"Please Clove, don't volunteer!"
"I'm sorry Tommy I have to." When Clove looked up, Vivi was almost on the stage. She took a deep breath, and stepped out of the line.
"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!"

Cato
When Cato heard Vivis name, his heart skipped a beat. But it's fine. Amanda is going to volunteer, Vivi won't have to go into the arena. That can't happen. But there was silence. No one said a word. As Cato was looking at Ryle, he saw that he wasn't surprised. That's when Cato realised, that Amanda is not going to volunteer. Vivi has to go into the games, and he can't do anything about it. He can't even volunteer to be a tribute to protect her. He knew he can't leave the twins alone with Pax. He was only ten years old, and if he could manage to keep everything in line for the time of the games, it wasn't sure that Cato could send Vivi back. If they both died in the arena, he couldn't take care of the twins or himself anymore. Cato couldn't do that. So when he heard someone volunteer, he felt more relieved that he ever did. But that was only until he saw who volunteered for her sisters place. It was Clove. As she walked over to the stage, Cato knew he couldn't let her go into the arena alone. Not with Ryle. So he put down the twins and started to talk to Pax.
"Paxton, listen. After I go out there, you have to find Vivi and Tommy. Then, you guys will have to go to that peacekeeper next to the stage, and say you want to say goodbye to the tributes. Got it?" Pax nodded, and held Lucys and Bens hand. As the woman said "Now, it's the boys turn!", Cato looked at Ryle. He was concentrating, so Cato knew, that even though Amanda didn't volunteer he will try. When the woman walked to the boys bowl, everyone was dead silent. She picked out a piece, then she started reading it out loud. But she couldn't even finish the name, because Cato interrupted.
"I volunteer!" The woman looked at him, then smiled at him.
"Looks like we have another volunteer! How lovely!"
As Cato was walking to the stage, he felt Ryle looking at him. He looked like he wanted to kill him, but Cato didn't care. When he stood on the stage, the woman asked him what his name was.
"I'm Cato Hadley." He said. The woman looked at him, realising he was Vivis brother, but she didn't say a word. She just nodded to herself.
"Now go on, you two! Shake hands!" She said, looking at them. As Cato shook Cloves hand, they locked eyes. Then the woman said the sentence, Cato thought he won't have to hear until next year.
"And the tributes of the 74th Annual Hunger Games, are Clove Kentwell and Cato Hadley!"

Hi guys, thanks if you read this far, let me know if you liked the chapter❤️