Chapter 9

I stared blankly at the floor under my feet as my heart beat out of my chest.What am I going to do? This is a disaster.I certainly had not expected my dream to turn into a nightmare.

I was leaning up against the wall, and the sofa standing next to me was not inviting. In fact, the whole room was giving me uncomfortable shivers. My eyes wandered to the windows where I could make out the rows of children being dismissed to go home. They were all talking excitedly, and couldn't wait for the games to begin. I, on the other hand, could most certainly wait.My visitors would be arriving soon, to say goodbye before I was sent to the Capitol. I couldn't stop imaging the peacekeeper awkwardly opening the door to tell me that no one was visiting me. For some reason the thought was amusing. I giggled to myself madly, until someone busted open the door.

"You've got two minutes!" The stranger said as he pushed someone inside.Oh great, my first visitor.

"Clove! I'm so proud of you!" My father said as he stepped inside the room.

"Thanks," I muttered.

"It's so cool that Cato was picked too. Now you'll have a friend in the games!"

I was gonna punch him.

"Are you excited? Oh, you must be! This is a big deal!"

I kind of half shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."All I could think was please, stop talking.

"Your mother would be so proud of you!" He shouted as he hugged my small body.

My mother. He just had to say that.I was not in the mood for him. Not at all, and he made so many mistakes. My mother would not be proud, she's dead. "If you didn't stab her, she would be here." I whispered. I hoped he heard it, and his face said he did.

"Clove, how many times do I have to say I'm sorry?"

"Saying sorry for KILLING someone doesn't make it better." I stepped away from him watching the shock devor his face. I didn't care, the anger was bursting out of me.

"I was drunk."

"You always were." I said almost casually. I didn't really want to start a fight, but he was making that very difficult.

"I'm not anymore. Her death woke me up. I haven't touched a drink since."

"So, it's a good thing she died?!"

He angrily ruffled his hair, and closed his eyes. "No, I'm saying that I regret everything. It wasn't the real me. I would give up anything to have her back."

"So, you could abuse her more?" I was on fire.

"CLOVE!"

"Thirty seconds!" The peacekeeper said, popping his head in.

"Why are we talking about this now? We should have talked about this years ago. Why can't this wait?" He said sadly.

"Because I might not come home!" I yelled turning away from him.

"Don't say that!"

"Why would you care now! You've never cared about me! NEVER! You never ask me how I am, you didn't talk to me for three years, you never, once in my life said you loved me, BUT NOW YOU SUDDENLY CARE!?"

"Of course, I love you! Clove, please, I'm supposed to be saying goodbye to you, let's not fight."

" I'M NOT DONE! NO, YOU DON'T LOVE ME, YOU JUST NEED ME! ADMIT IT! YOU WON'T SURVIVE A WEEK WITHOUT ME!" My voice stabbed the air, over and over as I got louder and louder. "You know, mom said you would get better, everything would work out. She lied." I hissed.

His face was burning, as he struggled to say something back. "JUST SHUT UP!"

"Times up!" The peacekeeper said as he began to grab one of my father's arm to drag him out. He didn't protest and followed the man out the door.

"I hate you!" I yelled at the door, and a smile spread across my face as the door was yanked shut."I win."

Surprisingly, I did get a few more visitors. A few younger girls of the Academy came to see me, hoping I'd sign something of theirs. Cato's parents both came to say goodbye, and to wish me good luck, even though I knew they didn't mean it. Sure, they had liked me but, they knew Cato would win, and he was their son. Cato's mom cried a bit, probably because she knew I wasn't coming home. Cato's dad, just stood awkwardly in the corner, nodding every once in a while. So, overall, the entire farewell was just plain awkward.

The last person to say goodbye was a shocker. Tessa, my old instructor, made her way through the door and snatched me up into a big hug.

"Congratulations," she said with a smile.

"Thanks."

"Haven't seen you in a while."Tessa was my personal trainer when I first started at the Academy. She was extremely helpful but, once Cato started to train me, I dropped the lessons and we hadn't really talked since."Do you feel ready?"

I nodded "Cato," I muttered. "Cato has been training me."

Tessa nodded understandingly. "I did see you spending more time together," she said with a smirk, but it was replaced with a frown. "Oh, this must be tragic."

"What?"

"Well, you're going to be killing your boyfriend."

"Well, he's not my boyfriend, and I'm trying to work something out." I murmured under my breath.

"Let's just hope it doesn't come down to you two.""Yeah, I guess." It was getting awkward. What were you supposed to say to someone you hadn't talked to in years?"I'm a little nervous." I admitted as I rubbed my thumb against my bracelet.

"Don't worry, I was too."

"How did you win?" I felt a little guilty not knowing how she won her own games.

"Rat mutts, ripped the boy from one limb from limb." she frowned. "I don't like the mutts, you can never prepare for them."

I couldn't help but hope, that a mutt would kill Cato, before I'd have to. The disgusting images flowed into my mind, and made my head spin.Tessa must have noticed my worried expression, and quickly changed the subject. She smiled down at me.

"You can do this. You're so talented Clove."I couldn't help a small smile from escaping my lips."May the odds be ever in your favor!" she said with her best Capitol accent as the peacekeepers came to tell her the time was up.

"Oh, and over here! These are the bedroom compartments!" Spart led us through the train excitedly as we raced to the Capitol. I didn't get what she was so excited about. Did she think we hadn't ever been on a train before? We weren't from the really poor districts where luxury was rare. Whatever, she was stupid. The train could go up to 250 miles per hour, and since district 2 was only over 300 miles from the Capitol, it wouldn't take long at all. There really wasn't a point in having bedrooms with complete wardrobes if no one even used them.

"Now, I'll take you to see your mentors in the dining cart!" she chimmed. Finally, we were actually accomplishing something.

"Who are they?" Cato asked from behind me. It was the first time I heard him talk since we boarded.

"I think it's Enobaria, and um who won two years ago?"

"Julius Euphrates." Cato responded.

"Oh! That's right! Well, I believe it's him."

"That makes sense." Cato said thoughtfully. Since, there were so many victors from district 2, we had a large pool of mentors to pick from, but usually it was just the most recent winners.

Spart led us to large cart, and I was actually quite impressed. Tables lined the trains walls, set with trays of colorful drinks, exotic foods, and mouth watering sweets. Mahogany wood tables filled the center of the room, with beautiful white rose center pieces. And at the middle of it all sat Enobaria and Julius. They gave slight smiles, and waved us over. Spart giggled behind us, and quickly disappeared behind the desserts.We awkwardly sat across from them, well it was mostly just me who was feeling awkward. Cato smiled and shook both their hands.

"I'm Cato Hadley," he said proudly. Enobaria smiled at him, and I noticed how sharp her teeth were. They were probably designed to rip out throats. I swallowed, and looked down at my hands.

"And you are?" Enobaria asked. I guess it would be important to tell her my name. She would be my mentor after all. I wished I could have Julius instead.

"Clove Sevina." I said flatly.

"Wonderful."

We then began to talk about arena strategy, which was exactly what we talked about at the Academy thousands of times. I tuned out and just watched the landscape go by. The Capitol was beginning to come into view. Tall buildings poked out through the tree tops, and the hazy pollution hung in the air.

"Clove, what do you think?"

I jumped realizing I was being addressed. "What?"

"What do you think the wisest move would be at the blood bath?" Cato asked.

I didn't look at him but instead spoke right into the bread basket. "Um, well I would grab everything I could and then kill anyone who got in my way."

"Good, but I would personally kill everyone in sight first, and then get the stuff." He said shrugging.

I clenched my jaw, but decided that arguing with him was a waste of time.I noticed Enobaria and Julius began to get up, and push in their chairs.

"Well, we'll be arriving at the Capitol any minute now, why don't you two discuss some plans?" Julius said and left the cart with Enobaria right behind him. Just what I needed, to be alone with Cato.I heard the door click behind them, and then the silence that followed. I kept my eyes glued on my lap as Cato awkwardly tapped his fingers against the table.

"Look! The Capitol!" He shouted, getting up from the table.I didn't look up.He began waving excitedly out the train window, as the Capitol citizens came into view.

"How can you be so happy?" My words came out like a growl.

He lowered his waving hand and his smiled dropped as well. "This, it's my dream." he said pointing out the window. "Why wouldn't I be happy?"

I immediately bolted out of my chair. "Because I'm here!" I shouted. "Only one of us is going home! This wasn't supposed to happen!"

He didn't even flinch. "I've got it figured out." There was no emotion in his voice, as he turned back to the window.

"Oh, really!"

"Two plans."

"Oh, thank god for you!" I yelled sarcastically.

He ignored me. "My first idea was, that hopefully one of us will die before we have to kill each other. "

"That's not an idea, it's just what could happen." I said bitterly.

"And, if it is us left," he turned to look me right in the eyes. "I'll just kill myself."

"No!" I shouted. "If I win, and you die, I'll have nothing! I have no other friends! No one I love!" Tears clouded my eyes, and my hands were shaking. "Do you understand what you mean to me! Do you know what you did!?"

He grabbed my shoulders and knelt down until his eyes were level with mine. "And if you died, you think I'd be fine?"

"You have other people who care about you!"

"I don't care! I only care about what happens to you! I won't let anyone touch you in that arena."

"I don't need you to protect me!" I screamed.

"I won't be protecting you! He shouted just as loud.

"Then why did you volunteer?!"

"You think I would give up my dream!"

"Well, you knew when you volunteered, that one of us would die!" The tears were streaming down my face now.

"Yeah, I also knew when I volunteered that I would be the one dying. I just wanted to have my dream, and this way I can. I'll die but,"

"And what if we both die?" I whispered interrupting him.

"Then at least," He wiped at his glossy eyes. "We'll be together."

He reached to hug me and I let him. I buried my face in his chest, as tears rolled down my cheeks. "You're my best friend, I don't want to lose you." I said.

He was running his fingers through my dark hair, and I was suddenly disgusted with myself for spending hours curling it. He didn't seem to care. "I'll be here." his voice was barely audible. "I love you."