Already Dead

Chapter 2: Broken

Chapter 2: Broken

Clove's P.O.V.

I walk up on stage stiffly and Leena embraces me quickly."Oh, how wonderful. Any volunteers," Leena says quickly. I close my eyes,  hoping the Gianna will volunteer, but nobody makes a sound.

"Oh, okay. On with the gentlemen," Leena says a bit surprised. Leena quickly chooses a name and reads: "Bruce Caronapy!"

I sigh in relief that Cato's name didn't get reaped. I see Cato in the crowd, his eyes filled with sorrow, those blue eyes looking straight at me.

"I VOLUNTEER!" I hear a voice. Cato's... Leena smiles, a wicked smile.

"Well, well, well, a volunteer. No surprise," Leena says with a wide grin. "What's your name?" 

"Cato... Cato Argent," Cato says.

I feel like I'm going to collapse. Cato, I'm going into the games with Cato. There can only be one victor, and that's probably going to be him. Why did he volunteer? He was suppose to stay here. Now, one of us have to die, or both of us die. This is all so stupid and it's Cato's fault. Can't he see that both of us will have to face each other if we were the only two left. Would he kill me? I can't feel weak now, I have to give it my all. Be proud that I'm a career and I'm going in the games. I have to be   a victor and no one is going to stop me from getting the crown. I have to be strong. Stronger than Cato, stronger than all the other tributes. So, I have to put on a brave face and pretend that I wanted this. To go into the games with Cato. 

I wave at the crowd with a big smile. 

The crown goes wild. They know they have two strong tributes going into the games. And they know that one of us is going to come home. 

"Now, the tributes from District 2! Clove Sevina and Cato Argent!" Leena says practically shouting into the microphone. Leena makes us shake hand and guides us to the justice building to say good bye to some loved ones. I want to say good bye to Cato, but I'm guessing I have to stay in my room because the peacekeepers are just outside my door. I sigh and sit down, holding back the tears. I can't be a weak tribute, I have to be strong. 

My door opens with a loud thud and I see my mom, dad, and my older brother come in. They all embrace me quickly. My dad isn't so passionate. He's scared for me. He's been in the games and came out as a victor, but something changed him. His mind didn't seem to trust anyone. Maybe because his ally betrayed him. But he knows the games can do something like that to me, or that the odds may not be in my favor and I might no even come out alive. My mom cries and sits on the stool beside her and I see my dad comforting her awkwardly. My brother, Nolan, looks at me. 

"Clove, I've seen you train. You're strong. Stronger than Cato," Nolan says trying to comfort me. 

I know that Nolan doesn't feel comfortable around Cato. Nolan got reaped when he was 12, his first year. My family and I, and all of District 2 knew that he wasn't going to come out of the arena. But Cato's brother volunteered. He came back, being a guy that went crazy. He got better over the years but he forgot his entire family. He still lives in Victor's Village, but doesn't remember who Cato is. And I know that was a strong impact on Cato because he had already lost his parents.

"You know that I can't kill him," I say. 

"Clove, forget about your past with him. You can't let the past keep you from winning."

"And what if I do?"

"You won't be coming back, you'll have to... die."

"I'll come back. I'll come back as the 74th victor of The Hunger Games. And no one's going to stop me."

Nolan grins. "Be strong Clove, be strong for us."

"I will. Take care of dad," I say giving Nolan a hug.  I'm not worried about my mom, I know she'll be fine. She always favorited Nolan, and now I'm going to favorite dad, and plus he needs more help than her.

A peacekeeper comes and takes my family away and I stand there in silence, knowing that no one else is going to come, but the door opens again and I see a girl standing in front of me. Gianna. 

"What are you doing here?" I say in a strong, brave voice. 

"I-I just came to see if you were okay," she says in a low voice.

"I'm perfectly fine," I say, lying.

"I'm sorry I didn't volunteer, I just didn't.. I just couldn't."

I look into her green eyes. She disgusts me.

"I don't really care. It's your loss, this was your last year and you wasted it. Training all you life and you just gave it up. Well you know what, Gianna, I'm going to come home. With a crown on my head, tons of money, a house in Victor's Village. I'll be famous. And you'll be regretting this day," I say proudly, knowing that will leave her speechless, but it doesn't.

"At least I don't have to go in the arena and kill my best friend, Cato, right?" she says knowing that Cato and I were more than friends. "Well, good luck doing that," she continues, then leaves the room.

I sit down. Knowing that I do have to kill Cato to be the victor. Another person comes in, this time, it's Cato. I quickly stand up. 

"Clove..." Cato says looking at me. 

I quickly feel anger forming in my heart when I look at him. 

"Why did you volunteer! I could have come back home being the victor and we would still be together! You could have stayed here! You didn't have to volunteer!" I shout at the top of my lungs.

"I needed to protect you," Cato says calmly. 

"I don't need you to protect me Cato. I can take care of myself!" I say. 

Cato quickly gives me a hug. 

"I'll always protect you, no matter what," Cato whispers into my ear. 

"What are you even doing here?" I ask not letting go of the hug and calming down.

"I clearly had no more visitors so the peacekeepers let me visit you," Cato says.

I try hard to keep my tears in.

"There can only be one victor Cato," I say quietly.

Cato takes a moment to respond.

"And that's going to be you," Cato says.

Before I can reply, the peacekeepers take him away and Leena comes in, telling me it's time to go on the train to the capitol. I nod as I walk with Leena out of the justice building and into a car that will take us to the train. Cato sits next to me, but we don't talk. Leena explains to us how everything is going to go, Cato and I just nod. I look out the window and see the whole district watching us. I spot my family and see my dad looking at me, my mom burying her face in my dad's arm. Nolan, with no emotion on his face waving. I want to wave back, but I don't. 

Being in the games will change you, unless your emotionally ready. And that's what I plan to be. Ready, physically, emotionally, and mentally. I'm gonna make sure I come out of the games as a victor, but not like regular victors. Not like one's who go in perfectly fine and come out shattered. The games will not change me, I will not be broken.