I was being pull out of my daily electrolysis session to have a sit down with Caesar Flickerman. Not that I have a clue what it could be about; then again, I don't care either. I've been in the stunning care of the Capitol for about a week.
I think it's been a week, it's so hard to tell; there's no sense of time since the Capitol got its hands on me. I go from being tortured to resting in my cell. From there I'm either talking with Johanna and Annie, eating, or sleeping because I have no idea when they're going to be torture me again. I think.
I'm in the presidential palace getting prepped for my time in front of the camera. I feel like I'm a tribute in the Hunger Games again, but this time if things go south it's on me. Snow can't touch Peeta, or Gale.
Just the way I want it. I think.
I miss Flavius, Venia, Octavia and Cinna. I have no idea what their fates are of the first three; although I'm pretty sure Cinna was murdered for that stunt during the interviews.
I hope Cinna didn't suffer much before he died. I think.
The prep team for President Snow is stiff, and silent. Must be how Snow wants it before he has to make a public address. My dress if fancy, and flamboyant; classic Capitol style. The make-up is cake on so thick they made my face look like a coloring book. Even with the extra make-up I'm still beautiful; albeit, I feel like a Capitol junkie dressed as I am.
I'll just have to make do. I think.
What exactly do they need me to go live on camera for all of Panem to see? It's not like the rebels don't know I'm dead. They know that Johanna, Annie and I were left behind. Or could this be a demoralization tactic? Are they trying to stop somebody from moving against them? As to stop them they are going to show me in various phases of my torture? Not that it matters. I plan to make the most of it. I'm already going to die after the Capitol has had its fun; might as well earn that death.
Technically I already have. I think.
After the prep team was finished with me, I get up and walk through a set of double doors to where Caesar was waiting for me, and two chairs were set out. In front of the chairs was a camera crew.
"Katniss Everdeen. It's so good to see you again." Caesar said, politely.
"I wish it was under different circumstances, but it's good to see you too, Caesar." I say.
I offer my hand to shake, but Caesar takes it and places a gentle kiss on the back of my hand. I'm caught off guard by the gesture. I've never had a man do that, not even Peeta, but it was a momentary shock; and my walls are back up.
"Do you need me to give you the run down on what we're going to be doing?" Caesar asked.
"Not really. I like to go in blind." I say, which was a bold faced lie, but Caesar didn't need to know that.
"Except for your time in the Hunger Games." Caesar said.
"Where's the fun in telling me beforehand what the arena for Games is going to be, or what to expect?" I ask coyly.
"Fair point. If you would take you seat." Caesar said.
I take the chair across from him, and I get lost in the place. I don't get to admire the scenery for long because Caesar is talking to me.
"Ladies and Gentle me we have a guest on tonight. Katniss Everdeen; District 12 victor. So Katniss you've been brought on tonight to help us." Caesar said.
Wait a minute? What? How? I think.
"Help you with that? What could I possibly help with?" I ask, dumbfounded.
"It seems that the districts, some of the districts at least, have begun to side with the rebels. In doing so it's caused a discord among its citizens, and it makes the jobs of the Peacekeepers harder." Caesar said.
"Why are the citizens revolting in the first place?" I ask.
"Their saying that the Capitol is hard, unfair, and mistreats them." Caesar says.
"Why are the districts saying that about the Capitol?" I ask.
"It's a ploy." Caesar says.
"Are you sure about that?" I ask.
"What do you mean?" Caesar asks.
"You want me to help you, but how am I supposed to help?" I ask.
"You were a victor. People looked up to you." Caesar said.
"True I was a victor, but this is about the districts. Have you ever been in the districts, and walked amongst its people?" I asked.
"No." Caesar said.
"I don't know about life in the districts closer to the Capitol, but once you get out towards, possibly nine, but definitely ten through twelve it's a different world out there." I say.
"What are you saying that the districts are in the right to rebel?" Caesar asked, dumbfounded.
"Why would the districts rebel if everything was as good as you say it is?" I ask.
"That's not something you'd expect to hear from a victor?" Caesar said.
"I might be a victor, but the rebels must not think that highly of me for them to leave me behind. I mean only the victor were taken, weren't they?" I ask
Caesar nodded, but he was taken back by my admission. Caesar even looked me in the eyes to see if I was bluffing. When he saw that I was deadly serious, Caesar swallowed dryly. Caesar was about to continue, but he saw that he needed to wrap it up.
"I'm sorry folks, but that's all the time we have for tonight. Please stay tuned for the next time Miss. Everdeen is on again. Good night." Caesar said.
When the on air light went off, President Snow started talking.
"What was that?" He asked.
I watched Caesar excuse himself, and leave the room.
"What was "what"?" I asked.
"What game are you trying to play?" He asked.
"I'm not playing any games." I say. "And let's face it, seeing as how we promised not to lie to each other, I see no point in lying to the districts. I'm your prisoner, and when you get bored with me you're going kill me. So I see no point in playing with the districts." I say.
"You're playing a dangerous game." President Snow warned me.
"But there are much worse games to play." I say.
Snow shot me a look that said if you only knew, and then waved for me to be taken away. I'm in front of the mirror again, and I can see that I've lost weight. It's minimal amount, but it's enough to get my attention.
Now I wonder who could that conversation with Caesar really before. Peeta? Possibly, but for it to affect him Snow is really going to have to do a serious number on me to hurt him. It can't be the rebels, they left me behind so they could get Peeta, Finnick and Beetee out. Well it's no use thinking about it now. I think.
I'm escorted to a car, and then I'm driven back to the prison; were they pick up where they left off before being taken to speak with Caesar. Except when the go to torture me, I'm thrown into a room that they flood up to my waist. All around the room, at certain intervals, there are post on the wall for me to hold on too. I have no idea what they have in mind, so I wade over and grab on to the post. Just as I grabbing the post the water becomes electrified. My muscles tense up, and I become as stiff as a board. I can't scream, I can't make a sound, not even a strangled gasp. I'm glad I'm holding onto the post because I'm not sure if I would be able to remain standing on my own, given the muscle spasms.
I'm stuck in the room for thirty minutes, probably, before they pull me out; at every ten minute interval they electrify the water. I'm not sure was worse, the time when they tried to drown me, or just now. After I'm thrown back in my cell I crawl over to my bed, and under the sheets. I pull my legs up to my chest and wrap my arms around my legs; trying to generate as much body heat as possible. Just as I'm about to fall asleep I hear Johanna's voice.
"Katniss, are you all right?" She asked.
"That depends on your definition of alright." I say.
"What did they do to you today; better yet, where did you go? You were gone for about an hour, or so." Johanna said, with a chuckle.
"At first they had me chained to a table and electrocuting me. Before they got too far, I got whisked away to the presidential palace where I was interviewed by Caesar Flickerman. After my fifteen minutes of fame, I was brought back to the prison. I was put in a room that was fill to my waistline with water, and then electrified." I said.
"Fifteen minutes of fame? Kid after the year that you have had, you're are beyond famous." Johanna said.
I chuckle as Annie asks.
"Why did they have you talk with Caesar?" Annie asked.
"To lower morale of the rebels." Johanna said.
"Not the rebels." I say. "They are going to show me the rebels periodically, showing my deteriorating body to demoralize Peeta."
"Do you think it will work?" Annie asked.
"Probably." Johanna said.
"Peeta strength of will is high." I say.
"But how long will he last when his wife to be is being tortured by the Capitol?" Johanna asked.
"The engagement was a farce, and I wasn't pregnant. And even if I was pregnant, I'm probably certain the child would be dead." I say.
"Why?" Annie asked.
"The lightning strike." Johanna said. "That would have been enough to kill it. I'm surprised you survived."
"It would have been better if I died." I said.
"Don't talk like that." Annie said.
"We're not out of the woods yet. There's still hope." Johanna said.
"For how long? How long will it last before they break out the nastier methods, and our morale is depleted?" I ask.
"As long as Peeta continues to move, you will always have hope." Annie said.
It was at this time that I start to feel my warmth in my arms and legs again, so I stretched out to full length. I can hear Annie and Johanna talking softly to each other as I was drift off to sleep. The first thing I register when I start to come around is the extreme cold. I'm not in water because my body is mostly dry.
Mostly. I think.
I come to and I see I'm in some kind of freezer; the temperature is definitely below the thirty-two degrees, or lower because I see frost and ice on the walls. In the corner there's a blanket. The blanket will probably be frozen, but I don't have a choice. I grab the cloth, and as I thought it's frozen solid. I try to huddle up in the corner hoping I can generate enough body heat, but I know sooner or later I'm going to pass out.
I guess this is the new method. See how long I last before I pass out. These people are devious. I think.
I must have been in the freezer maybe half an hour before I woke up to the extreme cold. I remember one time I was out hunting, before I met Gale, and I fell asleep. The sun was up when I fell asleep, but by the time I woke up it was well after dark. I remember it was during the winter, so it was pretty darn cold. I remember my joints were stiff and unwilling to bend. I can feel as shiver go down my spine; a few seconds later another one. After a few minutes I feel my body being rack by constant shivers. All of a sudden I hear a voice over the loud speaker.
"Hello Miss. Everdeen." President Snow said.
That moron. I think.
"It seems that our usual methods of torture are no long effecting you as much as they had when we first tried them. So I thought we would try some new methods on you." President Snow said.
I'm so cold my teeth are chattering. If I wasn't freezing that badly I would have a witty retort, but right now I'm trying to concentrate on staying warm.
Concentrating on staying warm is about as useful as listening to music. I think.
I feel like that last morning in the arena after I kill Cato. Stiff, sore and brittle. I must have been in that room for an hour, maybe, before I passed out. I must have stayed in that room a little bit longer because when I came to my joints were still stiff. I could barely move my arms and legs, so I stayed curled up on the bed and listened to my heart beating. A week must have passed because I look at the marks on the wall I have etched into them, and I have seven marked into the wall. Honestly I have no idea how long the three of us have been held here, but more than a week has definitely passed; probably two.
Two days had passed when my body had thawed enough for to move and not feel stiff. They bring meals three times a day, but they're small portions. Just enough to suppress the hunger, but not enough to make you feel full. When they put me in another torture session, I can see myself in the reflective surface.
My clothes were hanging off my body. I had lost significant amount weight, and my bones were starting to become more visible. I think.
The walls and ceiling were reflective surfaces, but the floor was normal concrete surface.
It's about to get really hot. I think.
And just as the thought had passed from my mind, the air became warm and a thin layer of sweat broke out across my forehead. I tried to look for a corner, but the room was round.
Great! I thought.
"Hello Miss. Everdeen." President Snow said, in a jovial voice.
"What do you want?" I ask, through gritted teeth. "No let me guess: another new technique?"
"Such hostilities. That last method was effective, but I thought we should try something else." President Snow said.
"If it wouldn't be too much to ask, could I have some sun tan lotion and a jug of water?" I ask.
"Why sun tan lotion?" President Snow asked, perplexed.
"I need to work on my tan. It's been fading the last two weeks I've been in here." I say, with a smirk.
"Take it up ten more degrees." President Snow said.
"Could you at least attach me to a spit roast, and have somebody turn me over every fifteen minutes?" I ask, with another smirk.
"Take it up another fifteen degrees." President Snow said.
At this point in time the temperature got to the same level the Gamemakers had towards the end of my first Games. I curl into a ball to protect my face, but my neck, back, arms and legs were going to have to suffer the brunt of the damage.
They're just going to patch me up at the end of the session, but I need to lessen the damage as much as possible. I think.
"We'll see how long you last now." President Snow said.
All I could do was lift my right hand up and give a thumbs up, and settle in for the long haul. I feel a burning sensation in my left shoulder, and a scurry away from the wall. I can fell the skin has been burn, but it wasn't bad.
Not like my calf in the first Games. I think.
After an hour I'm dripping sweat, but then little by little I feel my body begin to stop sweating.
Crap! I think.
I look up from my ball and I can see that the plates are solid red. I don't have much time left before I pass out. I hope it doesn't last long. After twenty minutes my skin begins to dry out, and I feel like an old piece of leather. Then another twenty minutes I begin to feel sleepy. And then another twenty minutes pass out and I lose consciousness. I regain consciousness as the room begins to cool down; the change in temperature was drastic, but just as the door to the chamber opens I pass out again. I wake again in the med center and I can see a lot of tubes coming out of my body.
Did I say see? I meant felt. I think.
When I eyes open, all I can see is black. I tilt my head to either said looking for a mirror, and I let out a strangled gasp. My back and arms are burnt red. I can horrible burns all over my body my body. At the sight of my damaged body I pass out.
