Career Love: A Clato Fanfic

Chapter 3

The Peacekeepers lead us to the Justice Building where we'll share tears of sorrow with family and friends. I won't have many visitors, I'm not a very popular or friendly person. Definitely my mother and father, perhaps Honora and Leilah might even decide to shed a tear or two.

As soon as I entered the building, I could quickly tell that I loathed it. The place reeks of sadness, I don't quite enjoy that emotion.

Cato and I are taken to separate rooms. We still have not uttered a single word to one another- which suits me perfectly fine. Our mentors will surely take care of that problem though. We'll unfortunately have to cooperate for 2 to have a victor.

The room is simple. Velvet red chairs and a matching carpet. But it feels lonely. It's not exactly that type of room where you sip tea with your dollies.

My first visitor are my parents. I am not surprised, I mean the world to them, especially my mother. My father really does love me, but it's quite obvious he's always wished for a son.

"Oh, Clove, why did you volunteer?" my mother cries hysterically. She really does look crestfallen and my heart drops.

I don't know how to respond to that so I get off my chair and embrace my skinny arms around my mother's fragile body.

"I'm sorry, Mother. I'll come back, I'll win. For us," I say determinedly, looking at my father as well. He steps over and wraps himself around the both of us. We stay like that for a few moments. Then it's time for them to leave. I want to call out for them, to tell them to fight for what's right. But there is no time left.

After my teary-eyed parents leave, Leilah steps in.

She grabs my numb hands with her icy ones, her focused hazel eyes never leaving mine.

"Go to the Cornucopia, find as many knives as you can, join the Career pack and don't be foolish, do you understand, Clove?"she demands. I nod knowingly.

"Break the alliance when there's only two or three of you left. That solution's safer," she adds. There will be six Careers when the Games commence, I have just enough time to figure out my allies' secrets, weaknesses, and pleasures.

Leilah pats my mousy hair and leaves, the door making a light click noise after her feet.

My next visitor is Honora.

"Thank you, for what you did for me there," she trembles as she closes the door.

I slightly nod. But she's wrong. I didn't do it for her, I did for my family's pride. I don't say of it though.

She takes something out her side pocket and presents it to me.

"It's a good-luck bead," she explains, "Get some grass from the arena and make a string out of it. It'll help you."

She surprisingly seems very concerned for me. Honora takes my clamped hand and gently parts my strained fingers with gentle ease. She places the bead in my sweating palm. I suddenly realize it's my district token.

Maybe a part of me did volunteer for Honora Floren, just maybe.

The girl leaves and I expect to have any more visitors. I assume wrong. Cato's brother—Maxy comes in silently. I wonder what he wants from me. Besides, when the truce is broken amongst the Careers, his brother and I will be fighting to the death.

"If.. If it happens to come up with you and my Cato, and he's weak, make sure to.. To do it quickly," he murmurs, barely audible.

Maxy's words shock me. I have no idea what to say to him, but he's already gone. I'm still thinking about what Maxy said as I walk out of the dreadful room. Cato's not out yet, so I figure he's still talking. Of course, he would have tons of girls lining up at his feet I snort to myself.

After a few minutes, Cato comes out.

"About time," I sneer. He glares at me with those cold, icy, blue eyes.

We walk out of the Justice Building, keeping our distance. Not too far, not too close. Just enough to tell everyone that we are allies—nothing further.

As I expected, dozens of cameras are clicking away as soon as we are out, desperate to get a story, a snap of my face. I shove the Capitol devices away disgusted, with my hand and walk with my head down silently to the train. I sense Cato is doing the same.

I go in first, shrugging off the helping hand a Capitol servant lends. Avox. I think that's what they're called. I heard a Peacekeeper talk about them once near my home. Always wearing white suits, had their tongues cut clean off. No one knows what happens during the process of the removing of tongues. Avoxes can't tell us anyways, even if they wanted to. Punishment would be the only answer.

I step in and I see how glorious the train is. Much more fancier than the shack I live in. I sit down on one of the couches and Cato sits across from me, none of us looking each other in the eye.

"Ahh, so these are the new tributes for this year's Games."

I almost jump in surprise. I didn't notice a woman in the compartment when I came in.

"I'm Enobaria, your mentor. Half of your lives is in my hands right now. Do something wrong, let's just say, that you'll have no sponsors. No sponsors equals dying in that arena," she hisses, speaking slowly so we don't forget a single word.

"Now, come on, let's eat supper. The dessert is absolutely delicious," Enobaria says merrily, her mood changing ridiculously.