Part 2----Pre-Games
Chapter 4---Reaping
“Welcome everyone!” I heard Elektra say energetically. “Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!” We all line up, and I catch a glimpse of her. She’s dressed in a red dress that you could see on the moon. “It’s the time you’ve all been waiting for!” she giggled. My heart pumped out of my chest in anticipation. “Girls first!” Elektra said, sprightly, and glided over to the reaping bowl. Camilla was to volunteer for what ever girl was chosen. Camilla and I were going to be the two tributes this year. Clove was going to be an Avox. Elektra's hand hovered over all the slips of paper, and she grabbed one with her white gloved hand. She walked back over to the microphone, and then slowly opened the slip of paper. She cleared her throat and read the name.
“Clove Dempsey!” Elektra shouted, and Clove’s name echoed around the stadium. Didn’t see that one coming. Out of all the girls in the district, she was the one who happened to be chosen? I tried to find Clove in the crowd, but I couldn’t find her. All the girls shifted around, making way for her. I finally spotted her, in a white dress that falls around her knees. Her eyes darted around. They found mine almost immediately. She smiled at me, knowing that she’s safe, despite that she will be an Avox soon. She quickly made her way up to Elektra, who held out her hand.
“Come on up, dear,” Elektra grinned, and Clove followed her up to center stage. “Now, if anyone would like to volunteer for this lovely lady, please!” There was a silence. I looked at Camilla, who looked like she was about to cry. She made no attempt to volunteer. Clove looked frantic now, realizing that Camilla was not going to volunteer.
“Camilla,” I hissed, but she would not look at me.
“Okay!” Elektra smiled brightly, signaling that the slot to volunteer was officially over. “Now for our boy tribute!” Clove is standing to the right of the microphone, and she looked like she desperately needed it to hold onto. Elektra had returned to the microphone, cleared her throat and then read the name.
“Eli Warrick!” she said, proudly, and I didn’t know who the h*ll that is, but before I even saw the kid, I stumbled forwards, beaming with pride as I screamed,
“I volunteer!” Elektra was smiling as big as I am. I was lead on stage, and Elektra put me next to Clove.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Cato. Cato Xane,” my heart swelled up in my chest with all the excitement.
“Well, everyone, I give you the tributes for the 74th Hunger games from District 2, Clove Dempsey and Cato Xane!” Everyone was clapping, and then I saw a young boy, probably twelve, with black hair and brown eyes staring at me from the back. He mouthed something, but I chose to ignore him. Eli Warrick was thanking me for something. And I ignored him because I didn't really care. I should have be thanking him for that spot in the Hunger Games. I got to bring pride back home when I win. I thought about this, how many people I would have to kill and then, Elektra said,
“Shake hands!” I reached over to grab Clove’s and I thought of something. If I’m going to win, Clove was going to die. But surprisingly, I didn’t care about quite so much anymore.
*****
Elektra lead us into the Peacekeeper hall, and there, we were put into two separate rooms. It’s not like I would have anyone visiting me. My mom was dead, my dad was dead, I didn’t have anyone. So when the door opened, I tried to hide my shock.
“You’ll do great, kid,” Coach said, roughly.
“Thanks, Coach. Thanks for everything.” I smiled.
YOU ARE READING
Thank You, Girl on Fire {Cato's Story}
FanficEvery tribute has a story. Cato, on the outside, seems ruthless, murderous, terrible. You can't deny he's done terrible things. But it's what drives Cato, and his fellow tribute, Clove, to these extremes is what nobody knows. No one knows Cato's pas...
