Chapter 3

I stood still, unable to believe it. I meant to say thanks, thank you, or anything but my lips couldn't form the words. The crowds of students slowly went their own ways leaving me frozen. Did that really happen? Did I really do it?

"Well don't just stand there, go grab a uniform!" Ryker shouted pointing to a narrow closet. I jumped at the sudden outburst and hurried over to the door.

This is real. This is actually happening.

I grabbed the smallest size and quickly threw off my old clothes and slipped into the tight fabric of the Academy uniform. The pants were black and it felt as if I wasn't wearing any at all. The shirt was the same color, and was made of a stretchy material allowing me to move my arms freely. I was in their uniform, my uniform. A smile stretched across my face, determined to stay put. I slipped on my old boots and was thankful for the familiar feeling of my own shoes. I wasn't used to the expensive fabrics. I made sure the knife I always kept in the bottom of my boot was still there, and then walked out and into training. I pretended not to notice the eyes watching me as I headed over to the knives. Thankfully, after a few throws people went back to their stations.

It was amazing. The rush of excitement flowed through my veins as each knife hit. Each thud sent a smile to my face. I was really in the Academy. I could say goodbye to my old life and my dreams could finally be put back into place. I was completely absorbed into the throwing, that I didn't even notice a small group of kids come over to throw.

"Ehem," coughed a small blonde girl standing beside me. I gave her a puzzled look, but then realized I was hogging all the knives. I needed to get used to this "sharing" thing.

"Oh sorry," I mumbled as I pushed the cart of weapons toward her. She rolled her eyes and grabbed a few knives. A couple of her friends reached over to grab some too. There were three other boys behind her and I could tell they were the usual rich and snobby.

Why did they always have to travel in groups?

I watched as she attempted a toss, but the knife bounced off the target and clattered to the ground. I bit my lip to keep from laughing and turned back to my dummy. I picked up a knife and with hardly any effort, hit the heart.

"You think you're just so great, don't you?" the blonde said turning toward me. I nodded my head and stupidly reached for another knife, hoping they'd go away. I was great and this girl wasn't going to convince me otherwise.

Why were they here anyways? I was here first.

"I heard you don't even have to pay!" said a large boy from behind her. I ignored them and tossed another knife, letting it miss the center by an inch.

"You think you're the best one here, don't you? Well sorry, but we've been here way longer than you have," snapped the girl as she stepped closer to me. I was about two inches shorter, and probably two years younger as well.

"I'm best at knives. I hit the target every time and I've actually been training for 3 years. Just not here." I said, smirking. I reached for another weapon as she slapped my hand causing the knife to clatter to the floor. "Ow," I mumbled as I rubbed my hand. The boys snickered and formed a circle around me. None of the instructors seemed to care that I was probably going to be killed.

"Not so tough are you, Clove?" she said with a chuckle. "Want to see why we actually deserve to be here?" she asked pointing behind her. "Because you're parents have money?" I challenged.

One of the boys stepped closer to me with a huge, white, spoiled rotten smile. He had short blonde hair and eyes you could just melt into. He was pretty. Could boys be pretty? I quickly reminded myself he could probably rip out my throat.

"I challenge you to a sword fight," he said with a smirk. His friends around us laughed.

"Ha, well I'm really only with knives," I said, trying to sound casual.

"Then maybe a fistfight?"

"I said, I'm only good with knives!"

"Then why did Ryker let you in?!" shouted the large boy behind me. His outburst caused most of the students to glance in our direction. An awkward silence filled the air.

"Remus! Get back to the combat station, immediately." Tessa called from the other side of the gym. He muttered some curses an eleven year old probably shouldn't know, and stomped away. "Cato, Lena and Victor, you too," They all grumbled and rolled their eyes.

Cato leaned in close to me . "You got lucky this time," he whispered and trotted away. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and turned back to my weapons.

I had a hard time concentrating and was constantly afraid someone was watching me or peering over my shoulder. I reminded myself why I was here, and not to let the others bother me. I was going to have to get used to their company. I would be here everyday until I was reaped or volunteered at age eighteen. Hopefully, I wouldn't have to wait that long.

After a light lunch, provided by the Academy, I decided that if I wanted to be the best, I was going to have to expand my skills. I considered archery, but I was never really fond of the weapon and Victor was already over there. I didn't want to bump into Cato and his friends, which limited my choices. I settled on darts, thinking it was similar to knives, and thankfully I caught on fast. Just as I let go of my last dart, I heard someone calling my name. Ryker. I instantly panicked and feared I would be thrown out for not being good enough, which Cato's friends implied, but no, much worse.

"Clove, I was thinking, you need to expand your skills if you wish to stay here." I nodded even though I was just practicing with the darts.

Was he blind? Hadn't he seen me?

"Should I go tie some knots? I asked, knowing that's not what he meant.

He laughed and shook his head, "No, I was talking about hand to hand combat."

My stomach sank, but I kept a straight face. He meant I would be fighting another student. I was sure of it. Almost everyone here was double my size and I was not looking forward to being squashed like a bug.

"Who...who will I be fighting?" I asked in a small voice. Ryker smiled a wide horrifying grin, that could not mean anything good. What was I expecting? He hated me. I had shown up in his school and demanded he let me in, and I wasn't even paying.

"Cato Hadley! Get up here boy!" I was't planning on dying before the Hunger Games, but I guess not everything goes according to plan.

He walked up with a dashing grin that forced my stomach into a backflip. He was probaly the most imtimidating tweleve year old I ever met. It wasn't fair. Ryker couldn't do this. He was pretty much handing me off to a murderer. Cato was two years older than me, and probably twice as strong. I was fast though. Maybe that would be enough. My fear took over and disagreed. I carefully stepped up onto the mat, and shifted my weight back and forth on the balls of my feet. I glanced around the room, trying to find a way out of this.

"Ready...Set!" I clenched my fists together and tried to steady my trembling legs. Cato warmed up a few punches and smiled that awful smile.

"Fight!" the entire school erupted in applause, cheering for Cato.

He didn't waste time, as soon as we started he was right in front of my face. "Scared?" he asked with a chilling smirk.

I shook my head, "I would be, if I were you." I cringed as the words left my lips. He threw his head back in an exaggerated laugh that wasn't exactly necessary.

"Maybe I'll go easy on you." My heartbeat quickened with hope. "Or not," he teased and punched me right in the throat. I gasped and tumbled to the floor in pain.

Jerk.

I hauled myself up, and faced him again. I whipped my leg out and kicked him in the side, well tried. He caught my leg and twisted, sending me crashing toward the ground. My face smacked against the mat, stinging my cheek. The students cheered, thirsty for blood.

"Aren't you going to try?" he asked with a smile. I quickly jumped up and my body burned with anger. He tried another punch, but I avoided this one. I clenched my fists and swung out at his jaw, but he dodged it smoothly. I could hear the crowd clapping and hollering.

"Come on, Cato! Knock her out!"

I pushed my dark bangs out of my eyes and wiped my sweaty palms on my pants.

"Oh come on Clo-," and without a warning, I dove at his midsection, hitting him with enough force to knock him to the ground. I clumsily pinned him to the mat as he thrashed around madly. I stupidly reached into my boot and pulled out my small knife. I heard gasps, and shouting all around us, but no one stopped me.

"Are, Are you insane?!" Cato cried attempting to push me off. I ignored his cries and brought the knife down to the side of his neck. Carefully, I carved a small C into his soft skin. He screamed loud, I thought I would go deaf.

I'm not even going that deep.

The knife carved the letter L neatly, as blood ran down his neck and covered my fingers. How beautiful blood was, when it wasn't your own. I quickly finished the last letters as he let out another blood curdling scream.

"She's gonna kill him!" called a girl in the front.

I was not.

Cato seemed to get a hold of himself again, and shoved me off with so much force I hit my head hard on the ground. He smiled wickedly as blood ran down his neck, soaking his uniform. I smiled back and waved from the ground below him with the knife still in my hand. My head throbbed and I couldn't sit up. Cato kicked me hard in the side, sending a wave of pain through my entire body. I did have to admit. My name looked pretty good on his neck. He pinned my body to the ground and punched me hard in the nose. The room spun, and black dots danced across my vision. I managed one last punch to his jaw, and it was enough to knock him off me. I winced as my hand pounded in pain from the hit. I wiped the blood off my face, and tried to sit up, but was interrupted by a boot slamming into my face. The room was replaced by a blinding darkness.