Chapter 5
Cato’s point of view
I am capable of washing myself. I don't bother saying this aloud though because I know my prep team will dismiss it, just as they have dismissed the fact the smallest member is crying. She looks about 14, Clove's height and build, but with blond hair in ringlets tied in a scruffy bun and green eyes.
"Hey. What's wrong with you?" She looks at me, but doesn't respond.
"I spoke to you." I raise my voice slightly which makes her tremble backwards. I scowl at the rest of the team who shush her and tell her to stop blubbering.
"Get out." They stare at me, each of them stopping whatever they were doing, but they don't move.
"I said get out otherwise I'll slit your throat."
They all turn and walk away making up excuses to make it seem like it's their decision not mine. I place my hand on the small girls shoulder indicating her to stay, I can feel her shaking underneath my hand.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to cry it's just. You remind me of him." She blurts out at such speed I can barely understand what she is saying. She begins crying hysterically.
"I'm not going to hurt you. Just stop crying and tell me what's wrong."
"You're not going to hurt me?" She looks at me with a puzzled expression
"No, unless you continue crying." I smile at her and I see a small smile form on her face.
She goes on to explain that two years ago her brother Memphis was chosen for the games and she was as well. They were from District1 and her brother was a highly lethal career. He fought to keep her alive then when it was him and her left he poisoned himself to allow her to win. The game makers were furious. The capital, as punishment, decided her compulsory skill would be tribute prep. Every year she is on a prep team and has to watch the tributes go through what she did. It's worse than being an Avox.
Once she's calmed down I allow the rest of the prep team back in to wash, polish and do whatever the hell they like. The girl natters away which does calm me down. She reminds me of Clove. They have a similar personality and both enjoy throwing knives. They could defiantly be friends. I find out her name is Alaska. If Clove gets out the games I have no doubt that they could be friends.
*Meanwhile*
Clove’s point of view
"Ow. Stop. Stop!"
"Clove we have to wax you, do you want to look like a gorilla?"
"Like I care."
Okay maybe I do care. We need sponsors and the most attractive tributes do end up having an advantage. I can honestly say that this hurts more than a knife or sword. I'm used to that type of pain, but not this! They started by bathing and scrubbing me. Then, applied something to make my skin soft before they began ripping the hair out of my skin. All I'm left with is my perfectly shaped eyebrows and dark mane of hair. They apply a balm that soothes my raw skin. Apparently I will never have body hair again. The next thing I know I've been shoved into a chair and they're messing with my nails and eyelashes. They file my nails into perfect shaped and dye my eyelashes and put some gel on that lengthens them.
They then begin to work on my hair, applying a gel that fixes 'split ends' and makes it shine. Hours later I'm finally done, dressed and being taken to the underground stables. My stylist isn't practically interesting just another self -absorbed capital freak. Although I dare say, I look fantastic. I'm dressed in a long white empire gown that is dotted with golden leaves accompanied by gold gladiator sandals and a metal crown. I'm a roman goddess, strong, formidable and beautiful. My hair falls in loose curls around my face and my makeup is subtle, but my skin shimmers in gold dust reflecting light in every angle.
Then I see Cato. He's topless with a whit robs tied round his thighs and waist. He is wearing matching sandals and a slightly larger crown. His skin reflects light like mine he has two gold spears in his hands. A roman god.
"Hey" he hands me a spear.
"Hey"
Our conversation is interrupted by Valentina, Cosmo, my stylist and Lumina who is Cato's.
"Okay so before you go out we wanted to tell you about your game angles. Cato, Brutus who will be training you says be arrogant, intimidating, confident and play with some of the females hearts.
Whereas you Clove, will be trained by Enobaria. She wants you to be ruthless, funny and if possible mysterious. Keep them guessing about what you're capable of.
As usual they’re portraying us as deadly Careers.
“So show no mercy out there!”
Valentina does her little childish hand clapping again. It's really beginning to get on my nerves.
We hop onto the chariot and wait to be whisked out.
"You look beautiful" Cato whispers into my ear.
"As do you" I reply with a wink.
District1 pulls out first into the huge stadium. Seconds later our horses begin moving forward.
Cato's Point of view
We pull out into the stadium where thousands of people stand clapping, cheering, blowing kisses, waving some even cry. I squeeze Clove's hand. Her skin shimmers. She looks beautiful, but still her face is intimidating and fierce.
Suddenly the crowd gets louder and above me all the screens change. I realise it's for District12. Wait, what?! I stare again at the screens, they're on fire. Literally the girl goes wild blowing kisses and then catching flowers in her free hand. The boy holds her other hand starched high in the air. Why are they such a big deal? District12 is as low as it gets. They only have one victor who is a drunk. What do they have to be proud of? Nothing.
"Cato, don't look at them."
Clove's still facing forward glaring at the audience. I know she's right; I shouldn't give them the satisfaction. Even so I can feel the anger building inside me. I will kill their precious District12 and remind them Clove and I are the ones to beat.
We finally stop and listen to President Snow's speech. It's the same every year; it always end with "May the odds be ever in your favour. "
We leave the stadium and go back to the underground stables. As soon as we step off the carriage our prep teams and stylists flood us with compliments. Clove stands making small talk with Alaska and Cosmo. I can't understand how she is being so calm.
"District12 got a lot of attention."
Clove begins to walk away towards the elevator with the rest of the District2 team.
"Leave it Cato."
We all pile into the elevator and are transported to the second floor. Each District gets their own floor. When we step out Enobaria and Brutus stand waiting for us. How kind of them to finally show their faces.
Brutus lives up to his name, tall and heavily built and a deep voice that sends shivers down my spine. Enobaria looks small and weak in comparison, until she shows us a smile. Two rows of dagger sharp teeth, each shaped into a point, like a shark's. She requested to have her teeth like this after she won the games by ripping a tributes throat open. She may look small, but she's known to have a fierce temper. Much like Clove's ... this could be interesting.
"Well done. You both looked great, just like Careers and future victors." Brutus begins to praise.
"Especially you Cato" from the corner of my eye I see Clove shoot a glare at Enobaria for her comment and the way she's looking me up and down.
Clove announces she's going to her room to freshen up.
Clove’s point of view
How dare she look at Cato like that. He loves me and only me. Then, there's District12 who do they think they are? Showing us up like that and trying to take our sponsors. I hate them. Why are they such a big deal anyway? They're the lowest of the lowest; no one should be paying attention to them even if they were on fire.
I slide in the shower and strip my face of makeup. The waters so relaxing, it reminds me of rain. I lather my hair in coconut shampoo and conditioner and then just sit and let the water run down my back.
Eventually I get out and I am in search of a towel. I open cupboards, compartments anything that could be used as storage. Nothing. Wait ... there is a fan. I step onto it and it dries me head to toe. That was certainly easier.
I search through the variety of clothes in my room and of the suitable clothes I find I choose the grey oversized top and black shorts once I'm changed I hear a knock.
"Come in"
Enobaria confidently strides into the room, great what does she want?
"Clove we need to discuss strategies. I've told you how I want you to act and I see you have a temper that is interesting and you won't be weak. So I thought until an hour ago."
"what?"
" You have two weaknesses. Cato and jealousy."
"Cato is part of my plan"
"No Clover he is using you as an ally, and then he will kill you. It has happened before."
"He isn't like that."
"If he wins he will be just like Finnick. A Capital toy boy."
The rage explodes from inside me and I throw myself at Enobaria, we crash to the ground, I've pinned her down, but she soon grabs my hair and throws me off her.
"I was right, you do have a temper. I could so easily tear your throat open and kill you, but I will let Cato have the pleasure of doing that himself."
She grabs my hair in her hands and carries me into the dining room, despite my kicking and screaming she refuses to release me.
"Sit down and stop making a drama."
Avoxes move past me filling tables with food and drinks for tonight's meal. I sit at the table and remain in silence.
The room is every shade of green and blue and all the furniture screams capital. I despise it.
Cato sits down next to her
"What's wrong with you?"
She remains silent.
"What the hell did I do?" he rises from the table and tips it over.
"Why are you being like this? So calm one moment and annoyed the next. I'm sick of it!"
"You two that's enough" Brutus's voice interrupts; he then calls over the avoxes to clear up and lectures us on how out tempers will affect us in the games and could help us end up dead.
We then sit and eat. Silence fills the room, it suffocates me so I rise from my chair and head to my room.
"No Clove. Stay here we're all going to watch the reapings to seek out potential allies and to find any possible weaknesses in the other tributes" Brutus's voice sends me back to my chair.
20 minutes later we're all huddled on the sofa; me and Cato have been split to opposite ends to try avoiding arguments. Enobaria takes the chance to sit next to him. I curl myself into a ball and put my head on my knees.
The reapings begin to play in District order starting with 1' they are Careers too. We learn the girls called Glimmer and the Marvel. Valentina and Lumina waffle on about Glimmers beauty until Brutus silences them. Alaska says she looks slutty; I couldn't agree with her more. I turn my head back to the screen in time to see me volunteer, then Cato. We look menacing, murderous.
The other Districts roll on by, nothing impressive except the boy from 11 who's built as big as Cato. Then, we all sit in a lingering silence and watch District12. A small girl gets called out, 12s sister I guess. Then she creams out "I volunteer"
She volunteers like she's a career! Her name’s Katniss, what a stupid name.
Cato stands up, his face full of anger.
"She volunteered?" who does she think she is?"
He throws anything he can find.
"I'm going to my room" I head away and leave Brutus and Enobaria to try calm Cato down.
I stand in my room, take a moment to lock my door. Then, I lose it. I scream my heart out, kick the door and walls, punch anything and throw everything. I let all my anger out. Enobaria screams and me and bangs on the door, but I don't listen or care. She can stay there all night if she wants. I've been holding this in all day. After about 40 minutes I collapse on my bed, exhausted.
I wake up to the sound quiet knocking. I groggily check my clock. It's 1am!
"Clove? It's Cato."
A grin forms on my face as I walk towards the door to unlock it. He takes my hand and guides me back to my bed.
"Okay what happened earlier?"
"It's nothing. I'm fine."
"Clo, tell me"
I take a deep breath then explain exactly what Enobaria said to me and then about the fight we had that resulted with me being dragged to the table by my hair.
He processes what I've said for a moment, with a puzzled look on his face, and then he kisses me. His lips trying the smirk on mine. He has certain hungriness in his kiss that makes me feel safe, it reminds me he does truly care. He puts his hand on the base of my neck pulling me closer; my hands find his hair to pull him ever closer and remove the few centimetres that remained between us. My mind is filled with the need to have his lips on mine, to feel his hands on my body. Everything in me is alive, tingling, and electric. His lips part from mine, but his arms keep me in his embrace. He leans towards my ear and whispers “I will never let anything or anyone hurt you."
Perfect. He’s falling for it.