Melting Ice

Chapter 32

Clove

It looks the same. But it's not. It's still the same massive, white building I always have known, it's all I have ever known. Fight, and don't stop till you get there.
An older receptionist welcomes me, not even asking me to state my business, not even my name. Boys changing rooms on the left, girls of the right. Just how it was before. Before what? Before my life was turned upside down? Before the war? Aren't we still at war? With our old selves trying to break us apart, make us into the monster we were. Nothing is the same. Sure, they did a great job rebuilding it but there is no sense of excitement; even when I enter the training room itself. The children effortlessly through weapons no where near the targets.
"Clove!", welcomes Jake, engulfing me in a warm hug. Man, I have missed him, "Haven't you changed?", that's what the games do, "Your so lethal, I was slightly afraid of seeing you again!". I pretend that that is funny and laugh.
"I'm so happy to be back! I can't wait to get started", I say with all the happiness I can find, "Who are my lucky students?".
"Well, you get the best of the best. What would of been future careers", Jake says gesturing to a group of six slacking off in a corner. Just great. "Good luck", he adds and pats me on the shoulder before leaving me stunned alone. I adjust me posture, put on a snarl and strut over to them.
"Listen up", I say loud enough to gain there full attention,"Your not here to have a chat, your here to train". One by one, there heads turn to face me fully, then the jaws drop.
"Oh my god, it's Clove Kentwell", one girl with two French braids gasp.
"No way", another adds.
"In a line", I order, "Height order". Quickly, they all scramble to there feet and do as I say. It takes some time as two of them argue over who is tallest. And I can clearly see it's the girl with the French braids. The smallest, who looks strangely familiar, steps out of line slightly but I pretend not to notice.
"Guys!", the little one yells, "Cam is taller, deal with it". The, now second tallest, boy gives her a glare but she doesn't seen to notice. Once they are finally in line, I walk up to the tallest one, look her right in the eyes and say, "It's a bit creepy, isn't it?", I smile a little, "I didn't mean to scare you", I snort slightly. Her eyes turn from wide and frighten to gentle and soft.
"Y-yes", she stutters and I can't help but feel bad. I step back and smile at them all, observing each one of them. Each one looks scared of me, they should be.
"I'm just messing with you", I laugh, "Your here because you want to be here, enjoy it", none of them look any less scared, "Come on", I moan, "Look, I'm sorry for scaring you all. I promise you I'm a nice person". According to them, I'm satan.
Then I walk up to the tallest first and ask, "What's your name?", as nicely as possible.
"Camilla, b-but most people call me Cam", she says stuttering less this time.
"Nice to meet you Cam, I'm Clove. What do you specialise in?".
"Knives, like you".
"That's cool", I say nodding my head then moving on.
"The name is Daz", the boys says flicking his hair, "I like spears".
"Just like Cato", I say smiling to myself,"So, Daz. What inspired you to do spear throwing?".
"Cato", he mumbles but I can hear him.
"He'd like that", I assure him then move onto the next. A girl with silky brown hair but has a hood covering her face.
"Take your hood o-", I'm kind of shocked by who it is, "Hey Kayla". Since when is she in the top group? No offence to her.
"Hi Clove", she says laughing.
"You never told me you moved up?", I say crossing my arms.
"Surprise!", she laughs.
"Good one", I smile, "So, what do you specialise in?".
"Knives".
"So, so cliche", I joke pretending to faint, "Okay, next!".
One of the boys who are next does archery and climbing, the other claims he does everything.
"Even hand to hand combat?", I question thinking up ideas in my mind.
"Yep", he says popping the 'P'.
"Follow me", I say to all of them, making sure the boy, Drake is in front. We reach the mat and without much power, I push Drake to the ground. His expression is priceless, such shock and terror.
"You have one minute to escape", I whisper. This should be easy, I'm not that heavy.
"Hey!", he whines struggling underneath me. A sharp pain hits my shin from where he kicks me but it's not as bad as when...no, don't think about it. Concentrate! Drake continues to wriggle and kick until he pants, "It's been more than a minute!", which is correct.
"Don't lie about your skills", I hiss helping him up.
"How are you supposed to help us? You just thrash us about!", Drake yells.
"The final game will be the worst yet, trust me. You are now up against the Capitol, 13 and all the other districts. You need one or two or your strongest skills, then we work on your weakest", I tell him smiling.
"Fine", he mumbles.
"Not when your dead", I mumble back, that gets some giggles, "Okay, Cam and Kayla work on your hand to hand combat. I know your both good at knives so we are leaving that today", I say, "Warm up, do stretches and I will be over in a minute". Kayla gives me and quick smile and a wave before catching up with Cam who is already there. She is fast!
"Daz and Drake, I want you to warm up like the girls then go to the knife station. Jayden", the other boy,"Do that aswell. Then we can talk about your strengths". Apparently, Jayden is very strong but not very accurate, maybe spear throwing would do some help. Only one way to find out!
"Excuse me, Clove", says the smallest one, "What shall I do?". Where do I recognise her from?
"Sorry, what was your name?", I ask her bending down slightly.
"May, you trained me a few years back. I'm also Xander's sister". Woah, small world.
"Oh my god hi!", I say hugging her, "How are you?".
"Good", she says shrugging.
"What do you want to work on?", I ask her.
"Knives?", she suggests.
"Sure, you warm up with them", I say smiling a little.
I feel like sleeping for a thousand years. I'm pretty sure I wore myself out more than my students.
"Great job today", I tell them, "When are we next back here?". Students of the training academy must attend regular lessons 5 days a week like any old but then must do 3/4 ,depending on talent, sessions after school. Then on Saturday, the future careers meet up. So that would be Kayla,May, Drake, Daz, Cam and the other group who are back ups or are very good but still need work. According to May, Xander does the Sunday sessions which are for the back up careers. Also, every Sunday evening all students come for a yoga session. It may sound pathetic but it is great for inner body peace and control over anger.
"Your training us next Saturday", says Cam, "My mothers want to know if I can have a private lesson also".
"I can do that. I might as well come tomorrow so if you want to bring your mother?", I suggest.
"Thanks Clove, your awesome", she says and leaves to go to change.
"See you all next week!", I say giving them the hint to leave.
"Bye", the rest say but Kayla follows me as I collect my own knives.
"I'm so proud of you!", I exclaim hugging Kayla once we are alone.
"Geez Clove! I can't breath!", she gasps.
"Sorry", I laugh, "You want to come back to mine?".
"I can't. Mother has my dress for this evening", she moans.
"Are we going out for dinner then?".
"Yep, Cato knows all the information that I can't be bothered to tell you".
All seems quiet in the victors village. Well, it's not really that anymore. Cato and my family have occupied every house, curtesy of the Capitol. Usually, I see at least someone out side weather it be reading, writing or just enjoying the late summer sun. I left my key at home, hoping Cato would be back. Gently, I knock on the wooden door silently praying to who ever is out there that Cato will be in.
"Hey beautiful", says a voice from behind me, wrapping there arms around my waist. Cato?
"Hey, do you have a key-", then I realise it's him, "What do you want Harold?".
"You stole the key, to my heart", he purrs wrapping one arm around my lower waist.
"Go away", I say shaking him off.
"Come on babe, Cato isn't here. Who is gonna know?", he whispers pushing hair out of my face.
"Go away", I repeat, trying to sound angry.
"Just one little kiss-". Before he can finish he sentence, I swing my elbow out to catch his cheek. "Feisty, I like that", he hisses clutching his jaw on the ground from impact. I feel growing anger inside of me, burning and burning every second he is here.
"Come on Clove, loosen up", he laughs brushing himself off, "I promise you'll have a good time...". Then in up against a wall, having his kisses planted all over me. Harold whips my top up and I scream, "Cato!".
"From now on", whispers Harold slightly grinding up against me, "You'll be screaming my name". He bites his lips as if to turn me off but it does the opposite. Silently, I edge my leg up my body until it's level with his belt. Then, with all the force I have, I dig my knee into him. Harold cries out in pain, stumbling backwards.
"Bitch", he hisses swearing at me with one hand as he topples onto the ground. I feel a lump forming around my eye, from what? I don't know. My head hurts and I feel sick suddenly. Don't faint, don't faint. There is no one to catch you. I look over to Harold, he is up again and walking towards me, his eyes full of pain and hatred.
"I'm gonna teach you a lesson, you bitch", he yells scaring me like I'm a wounded child. Which I am in most peoples eyes. But to Cato, I'm a warrior. And he is my knight. Quickly, I pull myself up despite the unwell feeling. He attempts to smash my face with his fist but I caught it just in time.
"Stop Harold!", I scream but he takes no notice and repeats his move, this time hitting me.
"Don't hit her!", roars a voice. My vision tries to manipulate me into fainting but I hold against it and steady myself. It all feels like a dream, I can't...I can't do it. No! I scold myself several times. I stand there watching Cato thrash Harold about until he apologises, which he does eventually with all his bruises and cuts.
"Are you okay?", whispers a voice. Hopefully Cato; but I can't tell, I'm already gone.
When I wake, I'm in my room with Cato's face above of me.
"Hey", he smiles brushing my hair away, "You fainted".
"I'm okay now", I croak, returning the smile, "Thanks", I add.
"You hurt him pretty bad too", he laughs, "What happened?".
"He tried to rape me. He is a dick, so I hit him in the dick", I say trying to be serious, only resulting in laughing.
"That's my girl. I'm proud of you", Cato leans to kiss my forehead softly, "You still up for tonight?".
"Of course".
Light green silk really brings my eyes out; at least that's what Cato says. I guess I look okay, maybe. Cato also curled my hair for me, but refused to let me do his. Brianna let me curl her gently and apply a light coating of gloss Kayla gave her. Brianna reminds me a lot of when I was her age, total girly girl. We all walk out the door, Kayla in her mint green polka dot dress, Cato in his black and white suit and me in the silky green dress that makes me feel like a princess.
"Jay and I have an announcement", says Isabelle standing up with Jay. I take another sip of white wine before turning my full attention to Is. Cato grabs and squeezes my hand under the table again, I return.
"Isabelle and I are engaged", announces Jay wrapping his arm around her. We all clap and cheer, then it hits me. Cato and I will be cousins.