The Used (A Cato love story)

                  “Happy hunger games and may the odds be ever in your favor!” Ella Mudstone called over the loud roar of district 2’s crowd. Today was the reaping a day that kids in district 2 longed for to volunteer for the hunger games and  bring pride to their district and families. “As always we will be picking a lovely lady first O.K. well lets see here,” Ella dipped her manicured hands in the bowl taking her own sweet time as she dug around. After what seemed like hours she plucked a name out and opened it excitedly “Nmet Vine Darnell!”

 My blood ran cold and i froze, no no no NO! it couldn’t be me, i looked around at all my family and friends and they just stared and did nothing. “Nmet Vine Darnell!” Ella called out again and her eyes searched the crowd hurriedly.

“Go Nmet,” my best friend Rless said emotionlessly and pushed me away from her like I had some sort of contagious disease. I just stood there staring dumbstruck at her as she called out “Nmet is over here! Right here!” I was right away attacked by peacekeepers who grabbed me under my arms and dragged me to the stage.

“Oh Nmet love there you are darling come right up here!” Ella clapped her hands and jumped up and down slightly in her impossibly high heels.The Peacekeepers pushed me forward causing me to stumble across the large wooden stage, there was a loud gasp from the crowd as i fell in to Ella’s arms causing her to fall back. “Oh, you're a clumsy one aren't you dear?” Ella giggled as she straightened herself back up, when I didn't respond she shrugged and moved back to the front of the stage. “Before we pick a boy are there and volunteers?” I crossed my fingers in hopes that maybe one of the many careers that lived her would volunteer and save me from a gruesome or painful death but the whole crowd fell silent, the only sound i could hear was the silent weeping of my mother.

“O.K. on to pick a handsome boy!” Ella exclaimed as she did a skip type run to the boys glass bowl, she repeated the same routine as she did with the girls as she pulled out a name. “Lpetra Tun Flyrose!” she called out the name of a 13 year old boy that my little sister had always had a crush on but before Lpetra could even do anything someone called out loudly.

“I volunteer as tribute!” the voice came from a  boy with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. I immediately knew why he had volunteered he was very well built and looked like he could take anyone down with his bare hands. He high-fived the boy that was sitting next to him and jogged his way to the stage.

“OH! I just love the spirit in this district!” Ella clapped while helping the boy to the microphone. “so what is your name you brave tribute from district 2?”

The boy smiled showing a row of white teeth “Cato,” was his only response but the whole crowd went crazy cheering and screaming his name.

“well Cato looks like you have won over your district already, that will surely help you with sponsors,” Ella smiled proudly and then pushed Cato back to stand by me. “Give another hand for this years tributes for district 2!” The already cheering crowd got louder as Cato and i were pulled into the building where we were going to say a final farewell to our families.

The Peacekeepers that had a hold on me lead me to a door on the left, threw me in and left closing the door behind them. i just stood there thinking about what had just happened. I was tempted to pinch myself this couldn’t be true, me in the hunger games I couldn’t kill and animal without losing sleep over it let alone a person, I was for sure domed.

“I’m here to see my best friend let me through,” a voice that i didn’t want to be hearing right now came from the other side of the big wooden door. Rless walked in just seconds later the biggest smile i had ever seen was on her face as she pulled me into a tight bear hug. “can you believe this Nmet!” she said sounding a little excited to be talking about something that could mean my death. “this is such and honor you get to be in a hunger games!” she looked off like she was in a daydream.

“If you think it is such in honor then why didn't you volunteer?” i asked letting the anger and surprise run freely through my voice.

Rless looked taken back as she stared at me, “Nmet what are you saying? how could you not want to be a tribute? you get to be famous be on T.V. and-”