Johanna's POV
It has felt like so long since Katniss and the others left. I have felt so useless being cooped up here in thirteen. It was just a couple days ago that they finally allowed me to get out of my bed again. I guess I should be thankful for that small victory. But it's a far cry from being out with Katniss taking Snow down. I should be out there. Snow has ruined my life just as much as he has ruined katniss', if not more.
I'm wandering the halls aimlessly. Searching for something, anything useful that I can do, when I pass by one of the many screens mounted on the walls that show the propos. As if on cue, the screen comes to life with the presidential seal.
Well, I've got nothing better to do…I think to myself as I cross my arms and lean up against the wall as Snow's face comes on the screen.
Snow…The man who ruined my life, and made me horrified of one of the most essential things to life, Water. I still feel like a crazed cat around it, but the doctors have finally been able to convince me that it's not going to kill me to at least drink it. Up until a few days ago, they had to put the water inside me intravenously, while I was asleep. Because even though I may have even wanted water in my mouth, I wanted to live even more. I was convinced that even putting water inside of me would cause the shocks to start up again. I would have died if it weren't for those doctors that fought with me to put me under just so they could put some life sustaining sustenance inside me.
"As the war wages on, let the rebels know that we now have their ultimate symbol, their mockingjay in our hands."
That snaps me from my thoughts, and back to reality. I try to process what my ears have just heard, when the camera pans from Snow, to a familiar figure shackled to a post.
"Katniss…" I say barely above a whisper.
I cannot believe my eyes. I refuse to believe what I am seeing. She looks horrible. They have stripped her of all clothing. You can clearly see all of the bruising and marks she has on her body.
By now, everyone passing me in the halls have now stopped, and there is a crowd growing around the screen as people gasp and try and see what's going on. Snow's voice is heard again.
"Let this be a message to the rebels. Your precious mockingjay is nothing more than a regular helpless teenage girl as you can clearly see. And starting now, she will pay for each and every one of the crimes that she has done, and that she has aided in."
With that, he steps out of the screen's view, and nothing could have prepared the now large crowd of people for what happened next.
Some people gasp, others shriek, as a whip comes down across her back, spurting blood on even the first blow.
But I remain silent and still as she screams in pain. Normally, I would rip the screen right off the wall, and stomp it to pieces, but by now, I am used to seeing blood and hearing screams. But that doesn't mean I'm calm and collected on the inside. If anything, I am a complete train wreck on the inside, but I can control myself on the outside from the time that I myself spent in the Capitol.
The fifth lash comes down, and they rip it out of her flesh after the sharp objects get stuck. This repeats multiple times.
By the time the tenth lash falls, she is being supported only by the shackles securing her wrists, her body has given out. She convulses as the strikes continue just as unrelentingly as when they had begun. By the twenty fifth blow, only a small groan is heard. By the thirtieth…nothing. Just the sick sound of the whip colliding with the mangled meat that's left of her backside. I know she's probably only unconscious, but I hope she is dead, Because that would be better for her. I know from my own experience there, and if it was hard for me, then it's going to be horrible for her, they just proved that…all because she's the mockingjay, the face of this revolution.
Finally, after thirty five lashes, they stop. They unshackle her from the post, and drag her away, leaving a blood red trail before the broadcast ends.
In a way, my time spent in the Capitol is a huge disadvantage on myself, because I know better than anyone else, what she is going through there.
But, in a way, it is also an advantage. Because I am able to control myself, and right now, that is exactly what the people here need; someone who can stay in control. As the broadcast ends, chaos envelopes everyone here. There are people screaming at, and cursing the screen. Others are simply staring at the screen in a daze, not comprehending what they just witnessed. Still, others are sobbing and weeping, refusing to be comforted, as if they just saw the last hope that they had in the world shrivel up.
As for myself, I do the one thing that seems most appropriate at this time. I touch the three middle fingers of my left hand to my lips, and hold it out toward the screen in the all familiar hand gesture, as I whistle the four notes everyone has come to know so well.
Ok, short chapter, I know…but I already have half of the next chapter written out, I just need to type it out and get it finished, so hopefully it won't be too long before I update again. Hope this chapter was ok.
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Oh ya, and I almost forgot…..BAH HUMBUG TO YOU ALL! xDD
