Born to Die (Clato Fanfic)

Chapter 15

Enobaria woke me up just before dawn. I had some how traveled from the couch to my room during the night. I knew Cato had probably carried me there. The thought made me smile. I hoped I would get to see him before the games began.

"Sephone will be here in twenty minutes. The games start at 10 but, she'll need to get you ready. So, do you have any last questions? This is the time." Enobaria said.

I knew exactly what to ask. It had been bugging me for days. "Yes," I muttered. "When it was just you and your allies left, how did you all kill each other?" The question felt stupid when I said it out loud. The answer was obvious. You kill them because this was The Hunger Games.

She smiled sadly, her sharpened teeth biting into her lip. "Well, we were attacked earlier in the games. My district partner and the girl from 4 were killed. The boy and girl from 1 both died when we were chased by mutations. Bears, I think. Then when it was just me, the boy from 4, and the boy from 7, we fought. I ended up ripping out the throat of the boy from 7," she smiled proudly. "That's why I got these teeth." A felt a chill run through my body. "Then I won," she sounded sad. Why would she be sad about winning? Winning was everything.

"You make it sound easy," I murmured.

She closed her eyes, thinking. "I shouldn't be saying this but, The Hunger Games was a nightmare. It was absolutely horrible, Clove. I still wake up with terrifying dreams, constantly. I don't mean to scare you but, it's nothing to get excited over."

I couldn't believe she was admitting this. I stared at her, shocked. If the Hunger Games were so bad, then why did everyone in our district get so happy about it? Why did they get so excited?

She pulled me into a hug before I could reply. "Good luck," she whispered.

The next thing I knew, I was being escorted to the elevator. Spart had said her goodbyes, making me promise I'd see her soon. Then Sephone had showed up, ready to take me away. Just before the doors shut, I heard Cato shouting my name. I pushed my way out of the elevator and sprinted. I had to say good bye, just in case. He picked me up, wrapping his arms around me.

"I thought I missed you," he murmured into my hair.

"Me too." I buried my face into his chest, not wanting to let go. Sephone made sure I did. She pulled me off and dragged me to the elevator. I gave Cato a nervous smile as the doors closed between us. We would be reunited soon. I would not die and neither would he. I would see him again.

We took a hovercraft to the arena. I had a tracker inserted into my arm. It didn't hurt nearly as much as it looked. Once we landed, Sephone and I, along with the other tributes and their stylists, headed to the Launch Room. Sephone gave me my arena outfit, and pulled my hair into the bubbles. I slipped on the cargo pants, and a maroon hooded jacket over a thin shirt of the same color. I slipped my feet into a pair of sturdy black boots, similar to my pair back home. Sephone wrapped a black belt around my waist. I wasn't sure what it's purpose was because it certainly wasn't holding up my pants.

"60 seconds," The room shouted at us.

I took a deep breath and stepped toward the tube.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Sephone asked, digging into her pocket.

A confused look crossed my face as she took out the item. I gave a sigh of relief as she pulled out my bracelet. I had forgotten it. She handed it over and I slipped it on my wrist, hoping Cato remembered his.

"Thank you," I said as I hugged her.

She gave a surprised chuckle. "No problem, dear."

I stepped toward the tube once more, with 30 seconds remaining. I stood in the cylinder as the glass door closed around me. Sephone gave me a little wave but, I didn't return it. The room told me I had 15 seconds left. I wondered what the arena was going to be like. I was hoping for woods but, everyone always was. My thoughts were interrupted when the cylinder began to rise. I lifted my chin and stared straight ahead as darkness surrounded me. I could feel the metal plate beneath me pushing up. Suddenly, I was in open air.