One by One
Drabble-ish thing about how Johanna's stubbornness wasn't always for the best. Enjoy!
The first time he asked, she just said "No." One simple, clean-cut word. Blunt. No frilly adjectives or sermons attached. To her, it had seemed so clear. President Snow had no right to sell her body, and so she had the right to say no.
But it wasn't always that simple.
The first death - her father - had been just as clean. A bottle of pills and a cold body on the floor - no blood, no gore. It was ruled as a suicide, but Johanna knew better.
But she was stubborn, and Snow knew that better than anyone. He delighted it. Relished it - her Games may be over, but the fun wasn't quite done.
So he asked her again.
This time, he got more. A slap in the face and spit on his favorite suit coupled her second refusal.
Her words were just as icy, but with more reasoning.
"I will never sell my body just for your gain! Do you think I'm an idiot? Go ask one of your Capitol whores to do your dirty work."
Truthfully, he was slightly infuriated.
So he moved onto the next relative.
This time, her mother. A bit more gory than the last one. I nice little beating from his hired thugs. And, of course, he had told them they were allowed to have a little fun.
They found Leena Mason on the street corner, naked and alone, so bruised and bloodied that she was barely recognizable. Flies and rats were already feasting upon her swollen remains.
But Johanna Mason still didn't budge. He saw just to what extent the next day, when he summoned her for the third time to his office. The final time.
"You've been strong, Johanna," he respectfully noted. "But you'll soon see the mistake in that."
Johanna trembled on the spot, but still met his eyes with terrible indifference. "Bite me," she whispered, the words spat out at him as if they were pure poison.
He gently raised an eyebrow as she stomped out of the room.
The last murder was reserved the littlest one. Aleca Mason, barely seven years old. Killed in an alleyway by rabid dogs. Mauled to death, they had said. Almost nothing left on her bones.
Such a shame.
But Snow still smiled. He liked breaking people, and Johanna Mason was no exception.
:)