A/N: Hey guys, here's the next chapter. Just an FYI, Peeta's hijacking will be a bit different than in the book and some of the plot may be too. Hope y'all are enjoying this as much as I am!
What will it take to break me? I wonder about it for the next three days. What else can they do to me? Two Games, the burning of my district, the bloody violent death of Cinna. Cinna! I think I long for him, the way I could confide in him.
Of how like no one else, he had my trust and always knew the right thing to say. Would they ever kill Peeta in the same way? I try to dismiss the thought and keep to the schedule we're ordered to maintain. We have small breaks for socialization, of which Buttercup has become very popular.
He plays what I call Crazy Cat, where Buttercup tries to catch the light beamed by a flashlight. During the third night, I realize how it so closely resembles my situation with Peeta. As long as Buttercup feels he has a chance of catching it, he chases the light with a fierce aggression much like when I was pulled out of the arena.
The thing that aggravates him the most, though, is when I leave the light on but out of his reach. Snow is trying to do the same to me, by showing Peeta on TV. I can see him in full view, but can't reach him. I realize what Snow is trying to do. He doesn't want rebel information from him; he wants to torture me as well.
Not physically, but emotionally I'm tortured too. With every day of Peeta getting worse, I do as well. This is what will break me. I feel myself slipping further and further into it, into having it take over me. I feel the pain of it all hit my chest, my muscles tighten. I get up and whisper over to Finnick.
It's clear he knows this is Snow's plan already. He tells that when we first met, he didn't believe I really loved Peeta until his heart stopped. He tells me not to fall apart now, that it will take ten times as long to put myself back together. I tell him quietly that I'm pregnant for real, that it wasn't just an act.
He nods, saying he knew something was up. The more we can distract ourselves, the better he says so we spend the night tying knots. The next morning, we're allowed to leave the bunker but we're called to make a propo right away.
Gale eyes Finnick, like he thinks there's something going on between us but I don't care. We reach the old justice building, where white blood-scented roses are scattered. The smell makes me shake and break out in a sweat. Cressida has me try to film a few lines, but I can't do it.
I'm really, truly broken now. I can't stop sobbing. Haymitch appears and I reach out for his embrace. I want his comfort because of course he loves Peeta too. I tell him I can't do this anymore, that all I can is what they'll do to him because of me. I go hysterical and there's a needle jabbing me, taking the world away.
I awaken a day later in bed, where Haymitch sits next to me in a chair. I think of Peeta again and start trembling when he tells me they're going to get him out. He tells me they didn't before because it's very costly and the team was volunteer only. I ask twice who volunteered until he tells me I know who else. Gale!
What if I lose both of them? I think back to my first Games, when I told Peeta he could kill me and go home and live with it. What if I have to live with it now? I can't. I feel the need to do something, I want to go with them but Haymitch tells me I can't. Instead, it's decided we should make propos.
I tell of how I came to know Peeta and how he gave me the bread. Of how Snow once told me of how the Capitol's fragile and I know it's true. Finnick tells of how Snow used to sell him to lovers. I think back to how he told me once that he wanted secrets from his lovers.
When he's finished, we try desperately not to think of what might be happening. We tie knows until our fingers bleed. Haymitch find us and says we're wanted at the hospital. I take Finnick's hand and lead him there. I see Gale and Johanna as they're wheeled in.
A young woman who I quickly realize is Annie calls to Finnick and they both run towards each other, unaware of any of the rest of the world. They cling tightly to each other. I make my way to Peeta, smiling bright. He jumps off a bed and holds me in his arms for a moment.
His hand reaches up toward my belly and I think he goes to rub it, but then his hand turns into a fist. He punches it, then grips my throat with his fingers. I stand for a second in shock, disbelief. I try to call out for help and wiggle my way out, but in a moment I realize it's useless. I hit the ground with a hard smack, then my eyes close and everything goes black.
