There is no such thing as a Happy Ending

Welcome to Hell

Tears were streaming down my cheeks. It was over.

TWO WEEKS EARLIER

I took my lilac purple dirty dress from my closet and threw it on. It had dirt on a few spots and some color had been washed away but it was the best I could do. It was reaping day and I am super nervous since it was my first time. "Well, you look so nice Willow" my sister says from behind me.
I turned around and say "Clove..."
She walks over to me and hugs me tight. "Nothings going to happen Willie" she whispers in my ear.
I pulled away, "but what if I get picked? Or you get picked?" I start to breathe fast, "I can't be with mom and dad by myself....I-I can't."

My breathing quickening by the second. Clove looks me dead into my boring brown eyes "I'm not going to let that happen, I promise." She strokes my hair and looked at me sadly. 

"GIRLS TIME TO GO!" Mom yells. 

I hold Cloves hand as we go to the living room of our house. "Come here Willow and let me fix your hair" my mother says.
I let go of Clove and walk over to her so she could fix it. My mother brushes through my brown, unwashed hair and pins the loose strands to the back of my hair. "There" she says and sighs. 
My father claps his hands, "time to go, let's move."

"Next" a peacekeeper says.
I walk up to him as he took some of my blood and pressed my finger into a paper. "Alright move along" he says.
I didn't realize I had stopped breathing until he said that. I walk over to the group of girls and Clove follows right after. I take her her hand and she squeezes mine tightly. My mother soon came and stood behind me and Clove while my father is with the men and boys. I look down at my feet. "Welcome to the 74th annual Hunger Games!" Effie says.

I hold Cloves hand tighter. "As always lady's first..."

Effie walks over to a big bowl of names and shoves her hand in it, twisting and twirling her fingers until she wants a paper. She picks one out and slowly walks over to the microphone. "Clove Kentwell" Effie says. 

C-clove? I look into her eyes, holding back my fear and anger and sadness. She looks back at me with scared eyes. I shake my head vigorously. Nonono clove it can't be you!, I think. Clove kisses the top of my head.

Two peacekeepers come and start to escort her and I grab her wrist. "No! Clove please don't! Please don't leave me!" I scream with tears now streaming down my hardened cheeks.
One peacekeeper rips my hand off her and pins me to the ground.
I scream. "LET GO OF HER!" Clove yells.
The peacekeeper looks back to Clove and I take this moment to kick him in the gut before backing away. The peacekeeper starts back after me and misses, I throw a  punch and miss. "STOP THIS NONSENSE!" Effie scolds.

Clove runs to me. She holds my face and says with tears in her eyes "Willow you need to go to mom, go."
I shake my head and start crying "no!"
The peace keepers grab Clove and escort her to the stand while two have to hold me back. "NO, CLOVE PLEASE" I scream through tears. 
My mother grabs me by the arm and whispers "not here Willow!" as she coughs.

I sit there on the ground, a mess as Clove walks up to the stand and Effie starts to do the boys names. This angers me, that we are all children, who have to grow up too fast. I slowly get back up on my feet in time for a boy to shout "I volunteer!"

I am not surprised by this, people volunteer all the time. What surprises me is the boy is Cato. My heart drops to my feet. Cato is Cloves best friend, she loves him but would never tell him, plus he is always extra nice and caring to me. Cato is escorted to the stand and some people cheer but some stay silent. Clove stares at him looking relived. If he is volunteering, he is doing it for Clove. When they were younger, about my age they made a promise to win the games together or not at all. I admire him for volunteering, but don't they know only one person can win?
I watch Cato walk up to Clove and shake hands. I see Clove glance at me before they are brought inside.