Glory And Gore--Clove's Story, Hunger Games

(1) The night before

I stared into the furnace that is by my mattress, which lays on the floor. The fire inside is warm, but not warm enough to make me feel happy. Tomorrow morning is the reaping for the Hunger Games. I'm not sure if I want to volunteer, but my trainer, Reini, suggested that I do. Mother brought be a piece of French bread with butter and a glass of milk.

I stared in amazement.

"Mom, how did you get all this?" I asked.

"I grew wheat, and your Uncle John gave us butter and a bucket of milk." She said. I looked at her.

She looked sad. The bottom of her eyes were framed by bags. She never slept before a reaping. My only sister was chosen, and was the first one killed. We are very poor, so we live in a two room shack. It's not very big, hence the fact that its only two rooms. There's a kitchen and a bathroom. Our mattresses lay on the floor in a part of the kitchen. Mine is by the furnace, but not in the way that people can't cook. The rain poored on the top of the roof. Mother looked at the ceiling. She sighed and grabbed a bowl. She walked over by the sink and set the bowl on the floor, where a leak was happening. Our house was about ten dollars, which is a lot of money here in the poorest part of District 2. She sliced some carrots, celery, and peas she got from her garden. She put them in a pot full of boiling water and waited.

I looked back into the soul of the fire, wondering what to do if I get picked. Most likely, someone will volunteer. Possibly an eighteen year old, I'm only fifteen.

My knife skills are pretty solid, I don't know why anyone would feel the need to volunteer so I could be safe. I can kill with one stroke.

I don't like being in the Academy, but I must so in case I go into the Games, I'll be prepared. I put my name in a lot for food, since we are the poorest family in the district, and we can't starve to death.

A couple minutes later, she pulled the pot off the stove. She poured it in the other bowl. She grabbed a spoon and dipped it in the soup. She took small sips from the spoon, wanting to have it for as long as possible. "You should get some sleep." She said. I obeyed, and crawled under the covers, resting my head on my pillow. I stared at the ceiling, wondering if I could fall asleep. But in that moment, I did.

*When Clove Wakes Up*

I opened my eyes to a squint. I threw back the covers and walked to the tub of clothes at the foot of my bed. I dug through the clothes, until I found my dress. It was a long, cream colored dress with a bow in the center. It was my mother's wedding dress. She was extremely thin when she married my father, since she was poor and had almost no food. It was the only dress I owned, since they don't make them in my size anymore. I pulled on the dress and slipped into the cream flats I wear every single year. I looked in the mirror. I don't think I look good.

"Darling, you look good!" Mother said. I smiled and twirled.

The loose part at the bottom spun perfectly, just like mother had said it did the night of her wedding. 

Her smile disappeared. "It's time to go." She said. I blinked a few times. My hair was wavy down my back like silk.

Mother and I walked to the crooked door and exited the house, slamming the door behind us. If you don't slam it, the wind will blow it open and we'll get rats and bugs. We walked with everyone to the square, where the reaping takes place each year. The stage had a single microphone on it. We signed in and I found my age group. I was between a girl named Emmy from school and someone I don't know.

Our district escort, Valentina Sonebria to the microphone. She smiled. She wore dark pink lipstick and blue eyeliner. Despite her choice in color on her makeup, she looked normal. No colored skin, no green hair, no tattoos. Just a normal looking girl. "Welcome, District 2! Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!" She said and smiled warmly. "Just like every year, I'm goingto show you a very special video." She trilled in her Capitol accent. She gestured to a large screen, and we watched a video on how to Hunger Games started. When the video ended, Valentina wiped away a tear. "I love that video so much, " she said, her voice thick with tears. "Now, as usual, ladies first." She walked in her stilettos to the girls reaping bowl and dug to the bottom for a name. She walked with it to the center of the stage, where the microphone was. She cleared her throat. "Sabrina Alejandra." She stated. I knew her; she was twelve. She was never in the Academy, since she though it was impossible for her to be picked. She looked scared.

Then, the words I though I'd never bring myself to say escaped my mouth.

"I volunteer!"

No one looked surprised, District 2 was the number two volunteering district, behind District 1.

I walked to the stage. Sabrina was relieved. "And what's your name?" Valentina asked, leaning the microphone towards me. "Clove Shear," I said. Valentina smiled. She walked to the boys bowl and selected a name from the top layer.

It was some really long name, because I don't remember it. He was fourteen.

"I volunteer." Said a familiar voice. I looked through the crowd for whoever said it. It was Cato Cassia. His blue eyes shone. I've seen him around the Academy, using swords to decapitate targets. He walked up to the stage.

"And what's your name?" Valentina asked. "Cato Cassia." He said. Valentina smiled. "Our representatives for District 2! Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor." She said and guided us into a building where we would day our goodbyes to our loved ones, and our hellos to our deaths.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I'm sorry this is such a short chapter! I make short chapters, I make long ones. Just depends on my case of writers block. I had extreme writers block here, so....

Sorry.

But please keep reading the story! I need reads! Thanks. Follow me, I have tons of Hunger Games fanfic. Comment, vote, fan, and follow me please!