Hidden Tragedy (A Clato fanfic)

Chapter 4

The following day, there was a buzz of anticipation as the population of District 2 started to wake. Morale was high as both the children and parents got ready for the Reaping. As the teenagers filed into the town square in front of the Justice Building there was minimal emotion shown. No weakness was to be displayed. However, there were still a bunch of boys betting on who will be reaped, with a similar group of girls gossiping and transferring rumours about the Capitol's beauty products. District 2 was well off, but compared to the Capitol, it was like District 12.

Cato was one of the earliest to arrive and was positioned towards the back of the 18 year-old section. His eyes searched for Clove in the crowd, and thanks to his height, he saw her just as she got her finger pricked. Her blood sample was taken and scanned, and she was led into the 17 year-old section towards the front. He could just about see her and as she was looking for him, their eyes met. Clove's eyes were full of anxiety and she mustered a small smile to which Cato nodded. They couldn't be caught now. Everyone hushed as Mayor Johnson came onto the stage and gave the same monotonous speech as every year, followed by the presentation of the two mentors for this year, Enobaria and Brutus. There wasn't anything evidently abnormal about these two, that is until you see Enobaria's teeth. When she was in the Games, she ripped someone's throat open in order to be the final victor and now she had had them enhanced, making them into razor sharp pegs tinted with gold.

Lastly, the District representative, Lavidia Domme went on stage. What a sight she was. Her dynamic indigo and gold ensemble included dark purple spiked tufts of hair in rows upon her head with her purple lips outlined with gold. The gold eyeliner she had used was designed to make her eyes look like slits in her round face. Her outfit consisted of a skintight corset of indigo colouring with gold embroidery. The corset was met with shorts made of a thick netting of a much lighter shade of purple in order to show off her shape. Lavidia also wore knee-high lace up indigo boots with gold platforms. Despite her almost harsh appearance, her voice was soft and clear as she welcomed everyone to the Reaping of the 74th Annual Hunger Games!