Dark. Darkness. That's all there was. Nothing more. She was darkness. She was nothing. She was air. Air couldn't feel hunger or pain. Air couldn't remember the days before the darkness. Air never felt longing or fear. What remained of Effie Trinket, former escort to District 12, was huddled in a corner of the pitch-black cell. She was no longer Effie Trinket. No matter what they called her, that wasn't her anymore.
They hadn't come for a long time now. Had it been a day? A week? There was no way of knowing. All she knew is they had stopped trying to electrocute answers out of her. The last time they had left her alone this long they had stopped beating her. Now it was only a question of what the next form of torture was that they would put her through.
She tried to shrug the scrap of fabric she used as a sort of wrap higher on her shoulder, but to no avail. She couldn't adjust it with her hands as she was chained by her wrists to the freezing cement wall. Then, with a thud and the buzzing of electricity racing through the overhead lamps that made her cringe, the lights were thrown on. From the darkness the cell was brought into a blinding white light. As her eyes adjusted some distant part of Effie's mind noted the grimy, starving state of her own body.
Lights. This could mean one of two things. Either someone had finally taken pity on the starved creature in cell 4592, or more likely, Effie was about to find out what exactly her captures had in store for her next. The heavy metal door was pushed open by one of the guards. Then in they marched. Always the same. They all dressed as peacekeepers. White suits and dark-visored helmets.
First was the tall, square-chested man.
"Ah, Miss Trinket," he had a deep, hash voice and carried a clipboard. "We have a treat in store for you today." She could almost hear the smug smile on his voice.
Next came two more peacekeepers dragging between them the first human face Effie had seen since they had beat her in front of Peeta her first day there. It was a little girl, probably no older than twelve. She, like Effie, appeared starved and dirty. Her mouth was gagged and her green eyes were wide in fear.
"I know you have some experience working with children Miss Trinket," the interrogator went on. Effie eyed him in defiance as she always did on the occasions he visited her cell. She never spoke a word. Only screams… only screams… pleas for mercy in the beginning… but no more…
"Right." He tapped his clipboard with a pen. "Let's see if guilt weighs heavy on your heart Miss Trinket." She blinked in confusion, trying to make sense of his words in her jumbled mind. One of the peacekeepers undid the gag on the girls mouth. She sputtered and tried to pull free of their viselike grip.
"Let's get started." Effie eyed the small girl in confusion. Her brain working slowly, trying to work out what was happening. "What were you told of the rebels plans against the capitol?" Effie continued to stare at the girl who was frantically looking from one person to another, tears streaming from her eyes.
"Did you hear me Miss Trinket?" His leather glove made harsh contact with her chin, forcing her to look up at her faceless interrogator. They wouldn't get anything out of her. She didn't know anything anyway. Even if she did, she was past caring. They could do what they wanted to her. They had already.
He shoved her away again and jerked his head at his fellows. One of them reached for his belt and unsheathed a knife. The girl struggled and screamed. Before Effie could register what was happening there was a flash a silver and a spurt of blood. The girl screamed hysterically as her index finger dropped to the floor of the cell with a dull thump.
"No!" The cry came out in a strangled croak. Effie struggled against her restraints. The interrogator gave a soft chuckle.
"Found your voice have you? Let's try again then." The girl continued to scream and plead. "Oh do shut up." One of the peacekeepers gave her a swift kick, turning her cries to mere snivels. "Miss Trinket, what were you told of the rebels plans against the capitol?"
"Nothing!" Effie choked. "Please, don't. You can't-" before she could utter another word there was another swing of the blade. More bloodcurdling screams.
"Please!" The girl screamed in her shrill child's voice. "Make it stop! Please!" Effie began to curl into herself. Her eyes were clamped shut but the screams went on and on.
"Oh no you don't." The interrogator snapped in the direction of the door and another peacekeeper entered, stepping carefully around the two fingers and the blood pooling on the floor from the poor girl's hand. This one approached Effie and forced her head up, making her look at the helpless girl before her.
That was how it went on. Eight questions later there were ten fingers surrounding Effie's feet on the floor. The screams couldn't be stopped. They split through Effie's head and plunged into her heart.
"What did Haymitch Abernathy tell you of the rebel's plans?" The interrogator barked over the girl's screams. He had given up trying to quiet her.
"Nothing!" Effie sobbed. "Please! I don't know-" A hand.
"What did Haymitch Abernathy-"
"HE DIDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING! HE- NO!" Two hands.
"What did Haymitch-"
"NOTHING!" The interrogator looked to his accomplices.
"I think we're done here for today." The man with the knife nodded. With a final swing the knife was plunged into the girl's stomach.
"NO!" Effie screamed and struggled against her wrist restraints. The peacekeeper holding her had released his grip and began towards the door. The two men holding the girl upright by her shoulders gave her a shove. She splashed into the huge red puddle of blood, splattering Effie's legs in the hot scarlet liquid.
"Until next time Miss Trinket," called the interrogator over the girl's sobs, offering a mock salute in her direction before slamming the door behind him. With that Effie was plunged into darkness once more, enveloped in the girls screams. There was the slight sound of splashing as the girl tried to right herself.
"MONSTER!" Effie screamed to the darkness, thrashing against her chains. "MONSTER! MONSTER!"
"Effie!"
"Monster," her cries weakened. One arm was free, she lashed out against the darkness, trying to feel her ways towards the helpless girl. "Monster! Monst-"
"EFFIE!" With a final shake her eyes flew open. Her hand made contact with Haymitch's nose. "Shit!"
Effie fell back against the pillows as Haymitch let go of her shoulders, his hand flying to his nose.
"I- I- Haymitch- I'm sorry, I-"
"It's alright sweetheart. He turned back to her. I'm fine. We're both fine." Effie sat up in bed trembling, a heart wrenching sob escaping her lips.
"Hey," Haymitch gingerly wrapped his arms around her. She wound her arms around him and clutched desperately onto his nightshirt. This was real. This was now. "It's alright princess. You're safe." He pressed a tender kiss to her hairline. Effie shook her head against his chest. Yes. She was safe. The girl…
"It's okay. They can't hurt you now. It was just a dream." Effie sobbed against his chest.
"It wasn't just a dream Haymitch. It wasn't." Haymitch nodded tiredly.
"Do you want to talk-"
"No." He couldn't know. No one should know. No one should ever know.