Clove’s point of view
The sunlight seeps in through the blinds creating a golden haze that engulfs the darkness in the room as the pair lay entwined in the bed sheets and each other’s arms. The girl’s ebony hair shields her face and the boy’s body casts shadows on her shoulders. The girl slowly begins to stir…
I stretch slowly awakening from my slumber and removed the curtain of hair from my face but the light cases me to squint. After regaining my vision I find myself looking at a familiar face .His eyes remain closed, deep in slumber, his eyebrows scrunched and jaw tensed. I lay in his arms taking the shape of his all too familiar face.
"Cato and Clove get up”
Loud pounding emits from the door and echoes around the room. Can’t we rest in peace? After all we do enter the arena in two days. I bury my face into Cato’s chest in reluctance to get up but he begins to stir whilst murmuring something along the lines of “It’s too early” He removes his body from mine and places his head in the pillow leaving me to brace the cold. I decide to leave him there and go shower. The hot water drags me away from my sleepy state and replaces it with the scent of coconut body wash and new found energy. After I finish I dry myself and my hair before tying it into a ponytail and dressing myself in the training gear. Then I go for breakfast, as I leave my room an avox is making my bed. Then the sound of an enraged Enobaria fills the whole floor with a heavy sigh I follow her voice.
Cato stands across from her with a face of pure fury; without warning he turns on me and encloses my fragile neck in his hand.
“Is it true?” his voice is filled with venom.
"Is what true?”
"That I’m just part of your victory plan” His words hit me like a pile of bricks.
“No. I-I mean yes,no,well you were but I was angry and I-“
"Shut up” he releases me and heads straight out the door without a second look.
Most people would cry at a time like this but I don’t feel anything; I’m numb. That all changes when I see Enobaria’s smug face. Suddenly all I feel is pure hatred as I fling myself at her but fail to knock her down. I’m flung into the wall but don’t hesitate to stand up and throw a knife at her. It embeds itself into her arm. She yanks it out whilst growling like an animal before she pounces on me and bites my arm. All her razor sharp teeth sink deeper into my skin and my cool red blood trickles down my arm. I don’t scream in pain- she doesn’t deserve that satisfaction. Eventually she releases me and walks away, wiping the blood from her mouth.
Brutus stands in utter shock at what just took place before his eyes whilst an avox tends to my arm. At least someone has some sense. She adds some capital cream before bandaging my arm up and sending me on my way. I grab some toast and head to training, determined to put this horror behind me. Today is clearly not going to be my day.
Cato’s point of view
I release all my anger on the dummies; chopping off arms,heads,legs and rendering them unrecognisable. How could I be so stupid? This is Clove. She never forgives anyone and she hates everything. I feel a light hand on my shoulder and turn my head to find myself inches away from Glimmer’s face. Her face is filled with pity, it sickens me.
“What?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yup” I cut her off and I guess she figures out I want to be alone. I wipe my forehead which is already drenched in sweat and hear everything go silent. I turn to see Clove exiting the elevator. She’s half an hour late and has a blood stained bandage on her arm. In comparison to the crimson she is whit as a ghost. She eats her toast and walks towards the knives ignoring all the stares. It’s her throwing arm that’s injured and everyone knows it. They think she’s easy pickings now. She puts the toast in her mouth, selects 5 knives and throws them at the moving targets with her eyes closed. 2 with her non-throwing arm and 3 with her injured one. They all still hit bulls-eye. She shows no sense of pain which enrages me more.
I walk over to Glimmer.
"Hey beautiful. I’m sorry about earlier I didn’t mean to be such a grump”
“It’s okay babe”
I spend the rest of the day with her flirting casually but risking glances at Clove who’s with Marvel. She doesn’t look enraged in the slightest which is scarier than when she does. I hear the buzzer sounds and we are told to line up in district order for our 1-1 session with the sponsors. Ladies go first. Glimmer heads in first, then Marvel and then Clove.
Clove’s point of view
I stand tall and walk into the room.
“Clove Sevina, District 2”
I place a dummy in the middle of the room and study the targets, head, temple,chest,arms,legs,back of the neck. I take a knife per target and lay them around the room in different places. I then take my place at the far side and press a button; the dummy begins to move and spin. I take a deep breath then run to the first knife and throw. I make my way round all the other knives cartwheeling, flipping and rolling at high speed until I’m back at the start and all the knives are gone. I press the button again and the dummy freezes. I twirl it round slowly revealing the knife in every bulls-eye. None missed even by an inch. I grin proudly and leave.
Cato’s point of view
My name is called.
I stride into the room showing confidence.
Cato Hedley, District 2”
To start I use axes to dismantle the dummies then spears which I throw from a range of distances each hit the bulls-eye. Then I use my weapon of choice, swords. Then I continue with some hand to hand combat which I win in less than a minute and to finish I throw some weights around. I leave the room feeling extremely proud.
That night we sit and eat, I stay silent whilst everyone else talks aimlessly. Even Clove is being sociable. She’s showing Alaska her arm which has rows of scars from Enobaria’s teeth lining it. The chatter is eventually silenced by Brutus who wants to discuss our session.
“Cato what did you do?”
I go into detail about all the skills I showed with a beaming smile.
“Good and Clove?”
Clove describes her session and renders everyone silent. She’s out shown me and she knows it.
“Brilliant Clove, Let’s go see your score.”
Wait. What about mine? Clearly I don’t matter anymore as Clove is now the favourite. Once again we all gather on the sofas and chairs and watch.
Ceaser Flickerman introduces the tribute with a picture to accompany it, reveals the score and then moves on. Glimmer and Marvel do okay but don’t get a 10. Me and Clove do. Hah yeah we got the same score.
"Why didn’t we get higher scores”
Brutus is about to reply but is cut off by Clove.
“Well I showed only two skills but at an extraordinary level whereas you showed multiple skills but at a career level. If we’d combined the two we’d be pushing 11’s maybe even 12’s.”
"Very right Clove.” She earns nods of approval from the room for her comment. She’s ridiculously smart when she makes an effort.
I’m still staring at her when she gets up and storms away. I see girl on fire with an 11 next to her and I automatically feel Clove’s rage. I run my hands through my hair and tug at it as an uncomfortable silence suffocates the room. How did someone from an outline district get such a high score? The tension is strangling me and I have to leave.
Clove’s point of view
I wake the next morning to find Valentina across from me. I have a huge headache and I’m still furious; I don’t want to deal with her today. Her once blonde curly hair is now dyed lilac to match her shoes and she wears a simple white dress.
“Morning Clove”
She’s clearly making an effort not to irritate me. I should probably do the same.
“Morning”
“I’ve been left to prepare you for the interview instead of Enobaria as we’d like you to have some manners instead of more injuries for tonight”
I can’t help but smirk.
“Now come on we need to show Girl on fire and Cato you can’t be messed with”
Maybe I miss judged her.
After hours of agonising pain in skyscraper heels and being bombarded with smiling tips and charisma tips me and Valentina are done. Now I’m left to suffer at the hands of my prep team. They enter the room and automatically start fussing over the scars on my arm. Brilliant. One washes my hair whilst the others wash, exfoliate and lather me in creams and gels of all sorts. Then they move onto my nails which are painted a shiny black. Alaska is then left to do my hair and make-up as they think she’s safer than the rest of them. She puts my hair into a messy yet elegant side ponytail then adds black eye shadow to give my eyes a smoky effect. And finishes with winger eyeliner. She hugs me before leaving me with my stylist. I’m like a present in pass-the-parcel. He undoes a zipped up bag to reveal a one shoulder black dress that’s covered in feathers and a pair of black wedges to match. I dress myself and then I’m left to look at myself in the mirror. I look fierce. Like the queen of death.
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Clove's outfit can be found in the link. I hope you enjoyed the chapter please vote, comment and follow me x http://iswearthatiwonteverleave.tumblr.com/image/66808512403