Wide Open(Clato Story)-Editing

Chapter 1

I open my eyes and realize right away that I am late for my training session. It is an usual thing here in Two. We train to fight in The Hunger Games and represent our district. The Capitol, our protector, takes care of our districts and our glorious Panem: the country of peace and care. Since The Dark Days everything that has happened to us proved that the districts rebellion against the Capitol was a mistake. We now have everything we need. We have working places for everyone who is willing to work, we are protected by our Peacekeepers and we are safe after all the war. It is wall we've ever wanted. 

I get out of bed and feel the cold wood under my bare feet. I live in the main part of the towns of District 2,  gathered around a giant mine. My house is not that big nor luxurious, but it's great if you ignore the smell of iron and coal that lingers throughout our district. It is after all our main industry. Masonry...and Peacekeeper training.

As I change myself in today's training outfit, I stop to think that I forgot that my trainer, Mars, told me to come earlier today because he has something to tell me about this year's training sessions. I can't be late. I take my backpack and go to the kitchen. I'm alone, as usual.

I live with my father, my mother passed a long time ago. It was so hard to get over it. She was killed by someone when she was visiting the poorest part of our district. Her father, the old Mayor, used to get her to do these visits regularly in his name. I was ten when that happened. I miss her. My father has changed since then. Because of his important job, being the Head Peacekeeper of District Two,  he never really cared to ask much about me. But when my mom died, he transformed into what a real father should be. I kinda like that. He supports me more than he ever did all of his life.

He sadly can't stay home all the time. That is the bad part when you are a Peacekeeper. It is a hard job. He needs to serve the country and I don't have to worry that much about him. He said to act normal when he is not home, so I got my shoes on and started walking to the Training Center. It's a walk not far from home. It only takes ten minutes. It's autumn already and the leaves are falling down from the trees in rare rain of multiple shades of orange, covering the path. I can't believe I only have one year before I can finally volunteer for the Games. I see my trainer when I arrive.

'Hello! I am so sorry for being late!' I apologize.

'It is alright, Clove.' he says. I've always hated my name. My mom used to tell me that she dreamed of having a dark haired girl with evergreen eyes that remind her of cloves, her favourite spice. 'I wanted you to come just so that I can tell you that the Head Quarters decided to take the best students this year and train them in a different way, for the 74th Annual Hunger Games. And they chose me to train them.' he tells me with such a serious look on his face.

The Hunger Games are some punishment created by the Capitol after The Dark Days, because the thirteen districts rebelled. They destroyed District Thirteen and forced the rest of the districts to compete in these games as a reminder that we would not survive without them. Every year an escort from the Capitol comes to choose a girl and a boy from all of the districts. They are brought to the Capitol and forced to fight to the death in an arena, specially designed by the Game Makers. It's a pretty brutal competition and we are lucky enough that our district trains us for it even though it is considered illegal in the other poorer districts. It is considered treason to own any kind of weapon. Here, where the Capitol adores us, we are allowed to train freely. We are lucky. The tributes fighting in these games are between the ages of twelve and eighteen. And I'm going to compete against them when I will volunteer at eighteen. Now I am only seventeen and I have one more year to train. To become perfect.

'I am the one considered the best considering that you called me here?' 

'Yes, you are the best girl student. We are going to start training here today. You and Cato Hadley are going to be the 74th volunteers.'