Prologue Part I:
Once you feel like you're being dictated by the expectations of other people,
your plans usually backfire.
Bree Andersson
I feel cold, prickly fingers digging into my cheek, and the four blackened ovals that remain and discolor my skin still burn, even long after my blood has dried from my veins. To my right, there's a stifled scream, and I can hear them panting.
''Stop squirming or else I'll blow your brain to pieces!'' a man threatens, and the pleasure in his breath, like an animal in heat, is so incredibly clear. How is this happening? Why is this happening?
''Get off of me!'' My heart skips a beat, and I can feel the extreme pounding in my chest. That's Louis' voice... Why do they have him here? I thought it was just randoms and myself, not people that I know! Oh, my God, what the hell is going on?
It's obvious that you idiots did something wrong. Despite my hardest efforts to remain mentally strong, my thoughts continue to berate me. Things like this only happen to Victors who fuck up. You know what the consequences are, don't you?
A loud smack resonates off of the dense walls and Louis screams something incomprehensible, leaving the entire room left in nothing but an awkward state of silence.
''Permission to shoot, sir?''
''Permission granted. This one's a bit noisy. Fire!''
Blood splatters against the side of my face and right arm after a gunshot goes off. Something hard slumps to the ground, and then there's a crack and a thump. T-T-They... T-They killed him..?
''Remove their blindfolds and let them see the type of example we'll make of them if they don't cooperate, soldiers.''
That voice... I know that voice! ''President... Bengel?'' I whisper, trying to convince myself that this isn't him when I know damn well that it is.
''Correct!'' he laughs, just as the blindfold is detached from my eyes and I'm able to see again, yet my vision is currently blurry. Hesitantly, I turn my head to the right and notice Louis slumped over with a hole in his temple, and like any sane human being, I feel a gag in my throat that makes me want to vomit everything that's stored inside.
A flashback of Ceres' lifeless body appears in my mind, as both her and Louis died in the same exact position. To the left of me, Cedria's voice rings out – but with her, it's in the form of a scream.
It's like a baby is crying in a tumble dryer – garbled, muffled, intermittent – but nonetheless, distressing and intense. It's so frightening that the hairs stand straight up on the back of my neck. Up to date, it's the loudest, most piercing scream I've ever heard – a scream of hysteria and disbelief, bordering on terror.
''WHY?!'' she questions. ''WHY'D YOU KIDNAP US AND KILL LOUIS?! WHAT DID WE EVER DO TO YOU?!''
President Bengel slightly turns his head, lets a chuckle of pure amusement escape his chapped, pale lips, and approaches Cedria. ''Oh, I'm sorry, you must not remember the bombing of five Capitol skyline buildings that you pulled off!''
Just like that, Cedria goes quiet. ''Yeah. Now you understand. Well, you see, a long time ago, the Capitol had an arrangement with District Thirteen. We left you guys out of the Games and our lives for a reason, but you three wanted to team up with our newest Victor here and screw everything up! And Bree, oh, Bree! How could you be so foolish?! You know that the Capitol has eyes on you at all times, yet you still went ahead with their ideas. Thought you could lead a team and stray them away from negative circumstances? It's sad, disappointing, and shameful, really.''
I didn't wanna do it... Honestly, truly, I didn't. When the idea came up, I was completely against it, but they hit me with the thought of what they expected from a Victor like myself. I didn't know what that meant, but they told me that people were relying on me. In a way, I understand why this is happening, and it's all my fault.
If I took a stand and just put my foot down like I used to, we wouldn't be in this mess right now. There'd be another way, another solution, another probability of actions.
''We... You don't understand— your people, you—''
''A few thousand Capitolites died because of you four,'' he pauses, looking back at Louis' corpse, ''...or should I say, you three?''
''You're despicable!''
''That doesn't change the fact that you killed our citizens!''
''SO?!'' she challenges. ''YOU'VE KILLED OVER FIVE-THOUSAND INNOCENT TEENAGERS!''
''Not all of them were innocent.''
''AND THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR YOUR CAPITOLITES!'' she retorts. ''HOW CAN YOU BE SUCH A HYPOCRITE?! YOU MOTHERFUCKERS ENJOY KILLING KIDS EACH AND EVERY SINGLE YEAR, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU, IT'S A PROBLEM?''
''That was an act of terrorism!'' he contradicts. ''This will go down in history as one of the worst events in Panem's history! District Thirteen has no right to be involved in the business of this country. You are outsiders, but since you want to speak for your entire District, you'll all pay the price. End her.''
''NO! YOU CAN KILL ME BUT MY SOUL WILL NEVER REST! THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE ELSE OUT THERE WHO'S PLANNING SOMETHING BIGGER AND BETTER! YOU'LL GET IT ONE DAY; EVERYONE IN THE CAPITOL WI—''
Before it's able to even reach my ears, she dies...
Bang!
The gunshot cracks into the air as loud as thunder, but without the raw power of a storm. It breaks the air with a noise that heralds death and destruction. There's a cruel violence in this disgusting dungeon prison – and there's no escaping because it's windowless, soundproof, and secretive.
''And you, my little friend...''
''No, please,'' I beg, not even letting President Bengel finish the sentence he started. ''Leave Araus alone, he didn't do anything! He's just a kid!''
''How'd you know that I was referring to him?''
''Because he's been the least active in this shit!'' I cry. ''He's only fourteen, let him be! The kid can't do any damage! He's a bubbly, foolish boy who deserves a future, so just... lay off, will you?!''
''What? You believe that I'm going to just let him live? Someone else has to die and receive punishment, Ms. Andersson.''
''Then let it be me! Kill me instead!''
For a moment, he seems to actually think about this request earnestly, but then he responds with, ''Nah! End him, boys. Kids like this who see things that they shouldn't end up coming back ten times worse than before. No hard feelings, son, but you understand, don't you?''
''...Bree? Please... Help me.'' Araus croaks out, staring me straight in the eyes. His pupils are shaking rapidly, and he's determined not to cry, but no matter how hard he tries, the tears still well up and descend to his cheeks.
There's nothing worse than watching someone you've grown close to die right in front of you, and you know you can't do a damn thing to save them. Just like Kaster, I've failed Araus and Cedria and Louis, too.
The bullet hole in his forehead looks nothing like you'd expect from the extensive killings that you witness in Panem. Instead of a neat, reddened hole, it's oozing with dark, congealing blood and a putrid smell that's enough to initiate a gag reflex. I try to raise my hands up to my mouth – but the action is to no avail because they're restrained – and spy the brain matter on the fashionably off-white ground below.
If not for that mark on him and his ice cold, bluish skin, you'd think even he was sleeping.
I should be feeling fear after seeing three of my friends die right in front of me, but I don't. All I can sense right now is hatred – for Bengel, and for myself. This is all my fault! Although, before anything bad happens to me, I want my revenge.
...Revenge... It's such a strong word, but I want the man in front of me – the man who killed my friends, the man who single-handedly murdered hundreds of harmless people, the man who dropped bombs on a District Six community a few months ago – and all of his assistants dead. And I want them all to feel a severe amount of pain before I slit their throats.
But after that, then what? Is there even an after that? Will I survive this? I don't know, and I don't care what's next, but proceeding subsequently, I plan on doing something drastic, and – if everything works out and falls into my lap – then that's when I'll finish.
''You, though, my dearest Victor, you'll stay alive for as long as I want you to,'' he whispers in my ear.
I look down and bite, feeling an odd coldness on my tongue. Staying silent, I wait and sit still with a few bandages wrapped around my wrists and ankles, listening intently to what he has to say.
Cuffing my cheeks with his hand, he adds, ''You'll tell me everything that I want to know, whether you like it or not. But when I release you, I better not hear of anyone knowing about this little... meeting, okay? If I do, I promise that your family will be dead in the matter of minutes, and District Six will become the new Thirteen.''
Letting go of my face, President Bengel paces around the room with his hands behind his back, purposefully clanging his boots on the tiled floor. Crankily, he asks, ''Now, how did all of this start?''
Thoughts run through my mind as I remain silent yet alert. ''TELL ME!'' he repeats sternly.
''Well—'' I start, coming to an agreement with myself. ''—it's a long story. Got time, asshole?''
''All the time in the world.''
Great. I'll tell you what you want to hear, not what you need to hear. Two can play at this game, and if my life's on the line, so be it.
''Fine. I'll tell you everything, but before I spill, I want you to know something.''
''What would that be?''
''For you, Government may be a good, but for people like me, it's an evil; it's only the thoughtfulness and vices of men like you that necessarily make it this way. When all people are good and wise, it'll decay. And trust me, people will be good and wise. One day your little reign will end and the sky will be blue again. You're gonna get what you deserve, and I'll assure of that.''
A/N: Ayee! Welcome to my fourth SYOT! Took me a good minute to actually get here, but a lil' bit of stuff made me wanna get back to ff like I once was so into it and I'm happy with this decision. SYOTs are tiring but fun to write, so here we are. Also, this is a sequel to Secrets Inside. I know there'll be new faces who didn't read it, and even if you did read it, this prologue is probably confusing, too, because I didn't update the final chapter, which I need to actually work on. Starting a new story is always fun, you guys get it, don't you? Hopefully. Everything will be cleared up sooner or later.
Just a few rules to start off this story, 'kay? Everything will be listed on my profile, including the tribute form, so after this go check that out if you're interested in submitting - which I hope you will be. Anyway, first off, send me whatever type of tribute you want. Honestly, I'm down for anything. You've got a killer, a broke boy, a prostitute, LGBT, homophobe, racist, whatever, I don't care. I'll write anything. And I know this is sorta contradicting, but I wanna see new and unique things. Every SYOT story has that one bitch, the overly cocky guy, you know, basic shit like that, and I'd love to see something more expanded upon that, you feel? Secondly, I never have warnings in my stories. I may talk about things that happen in the A/N, but never give a head's up because I don't like spoiling things. If it bothers you while you're reading, feel free to skip over or whatever. Lastly, for strengths and weaknesses, please just use adjectives. None of that ''Good at climbing and fast swimmer'' stuff, please. Oh, and the final thing - have fun. Seriously, don't take the rules too seriously. Be you, be creative, do whatever your heart desires, because it's your tribute and I'll love all of them.
If you read that, thanks. I don't really like enforcing rules and shit like that because I feel as though I sound like a prick, and I'm more of a go with the flow type of guy and accept anything, so I hope I didn't sound old or strict or whatever. Honestly, I'm goofy af and will be chill with whatever you guys have planned. This was just an intro chapter, so not too much is gonna be said from me. Gotta act normal and not get too comfortable with y'all yet, 'cuz I don't know what your expectations are, so I'll do my best, if that means anything? I'm excited to get this thing started, and trust me, this story will be something else. I plan on straying away from the regular things you guys would see and do something I don't think anyone's attempted yet, so hey! Also, a few questions, if you guys wouldn't mind?
How'd you like to prologue?
Good or bad? Be deadass honest with me, cuz I wanna please both the readers and myself.
Planning on submitting?
So yeah! That's all for now. If you have any questions, shoot me a PM or whatever and I'll answer. The rest of the rules and the deadline will be on my profile. It's currently Spring Break so ya know ya boy is ready to get shit popping once again, so eheeeeeee! Hope you guys have a wonderful day/night/evening/noon/morning, whatever the hell it is wherever the hell you are. Once again, can't wait to see what tributes I get sent, and have fun! See y'all later!