I close my eyes allowing my breathing to slow down to a gentle rhythm. Scarlett takes my hand intertwining our fingers, allowing me the time I need before I continue spilling my history. Images roll in and out of my vision, giving way to new memories. I breathe out slowly as that night that changed the course of my life forever comes to view.

Rain falls heavily outside, as a storm rages war upon the heavens. Lightning rips from seams within the sky forking its way across the inky canvas. My thirteen year old form sinks back against the wall, as thunder booms overhead causing the entire house to tremble from its power.

"How many times must we go over this before I get it through that thick skull of yours; talking to yourself is not normal," My father hisses at me, as he takes another step forward. I glance behind him towards the door calculating how many steps I would have to take to escape his wrath.

Running away only shows that you are weak Zane.

I open my mouth to respond to the voices, but the deep hatred reflected in my father's eyes stops me cold. I remain in an icy silence, as the words that spill from my father's lips that blend in a sickening melody with the voices that hiss through my mind threaten to push me to the brink of insanity. Sweet and horrific is what this is; like a mad man's lullaby. I close my eyes briefly, wishing I could disappear back into the wall behind me, but I know that is nothing but a false fantasy. This is my reality and there is no escaping from it.

"Oh, so now you have nothing to say?" My father says through his teeth, as he roughly grabs me by the collar of my shirt and shoves me up against the wall. My eyes snap open and the dark look that resides within my features is enough to send a rivet of fear coursing through my father's entire body. Never before had he paid witness to a look such as this gracing my features; never before had he actually believed he would ever have to fear me.

Feed off his fear Zane; now is the time to silence him.

"Get off of me," I growl in a voice that is not my own. In this moment is where the voices that reside within me come out to play. They have grown tired of being pushed around and they believe it is time I put those who inflicted harm upon us in their place.

My father allows this look of fear to dissolve back into his features, as he tightens his grip on me. "Don't you dare try and tell me what to do," He snarls, but this only excites the voices. They have been waiting for this moment for years now and they will draw it out for as long as they possibly can. My hands begin to move without my consent, as I place them over my father's arms. I begin to dig my nails into his flesh, until crimson stained crescent shape prints are branded into his flesh. A small yelp of pain escapes his lips, as he throws me away from him. My body lands on the floor in a crumpled heap, but this is what the voices had been anticipating.

They know what it is they are doing, even if I don't. During this moment I feel as if I am watching through a third person's point of view. I am present in this moment, but I have no say in my actions. I could not stop what it is that is about to happen, even if I wanted to. I scramble across the floor, as if I am in frenzy towards the fireplace that resides on the other side of the room. My gaze falls upon the steel rod used for poking at the fires that rage within the stone heath and I know I need to get my hands on it if I want to end the reign that is my father.

"Where do you think you're going?" My father hollers, as he grabs a hold of my feet and drags me back across the floor. I claw desperately at the floor, causing my nails to dig into the fine wooded floors, leaving streaks of scarlet in my wake.

Fight back Zane; this ends now!

The sound of the voices vibrates through my entire mind at an ear splitting level. A scream of anguish leaves my lips at the same moment a clap of thunder booms overhead outside amongst the sky. I lash out with my foot, causing it to come into contact with my father's jaw. A roar laced with anger escapes his lips, as he drops my body to the floor. As he stumbles backwards several paces I use this to my advantage. Before he can even regain his balance I am on the other side of the room with the feel of the cold metal rod dancing across my flesh.

My entire form appears almost feral, as I have succumbed to what it is the voices beckon me to become. I want to stop this madness, but no matter how hard I fight I cannot break free of their icy hold. My eyes flash dangerously, but all my father does is laugh coldly. "What are you going to do Zane? Are you going to try and murder your own father?" His voice is laced with a dark amusement as he speaks.

If only he knew that is exactly what we have intentions on doing.

The voices laugh darkly and this sound rings that insanity through my mind. How is that I have been driven to this point? How it that my mother just stands by and allows this to happen; even as my screams echo off the barren walls. She is just at fault for all of this just as my father is. She stood by and watched as her husband inflicted pain upon her only son.

She never cared either Zane; no one ever truly cares. We are the only ones who will always be by your side. We will never turn our back to you; we are the only ones you will ever be able to depend on.

These words that they whispered to me had a great impression upon my still young mind. This is where I knew I was destined to walk this world alone; this is where I realized I could never rely on anyone, including myself.

I stood my ground even as my father began to stride towards me, with a cruel smile tugging at his lips. The look reflected in the surface of his eyes screamed at me to even try and inflict harm upon him. I could easily tell that he believed I wouldn't actually follow through with my words; if only he knew just how wrong he was. I closed my eyes tightly, as I lashed my arm out. I heard the sound of the metal point tearing its way through the soft flesh of my father's throat. I could hear the sound of him choking on his blood, but I didn't want to pay witness to it.

Open your eyes and see what it is you have done.

They forced my eyes open and my gaze feel upon the crimson stained form of my father, who struggled to even stand. I backed up against the wall, as he crumpled to the floor. My heart hammered wildly against my chest, yet I felt no remorse for what it is I had done. In that moment where the first blood to fall by my hands fell; I felt nothing.

This is what he deserved Zane; don't try to convince yourself otherwise. He did nothing, but hurt you. This is what will happen to anyone who tries to inflict pain upon us. We won't let anything such as this happen to you again.

I remained frozen, as my sister walked into the room after the abrupt silence that filled the entire house. Her screams echoed off the hallowed walls at the sight before her. I just looked at Isadora with wide lifeless eyes and this is when it was apparent just how far gone I really was. I was one that the Capitol would want locked away, as it was not safe to have one such as myself freely roaming the streets. I never wanted any of this, but I was never given the choice to decide. Choices are something that are made daily, but that is a luxury that I would never receive. My choices were always made for me by them, as they believed they knew what was best for me, but I know that was not always the case.

"Isadora they made me do it I swear!" I screamed at my sister, as I glanced down at my crimson stained hands. My father's blood was written across my flesh and the voices whispered to me that it would soon become a part of me.

I didn't try to stop her, as she fled from the house only to return with Peacekeepers moments later. They roughly took a hold of my form, as I was told where it was they were taking me. I struggled against their hold, but I knew it was all useless. They were going to lock me away; to be unseen by prying eyes. I would rot away in a cell, never to be seen again.

"They are going to help you Zane," Isadora tried to convince me, as I was dragged kicking and screaming from the hell that had been my home for so many years. People peered out of their windows into the damp streets to pay witness to the boy with the ice blue eyes finally being locked away. Nobody disagreed with what was going to happen to me, as in their eyes this is what I rightfully deserved. I however did not believe I deserved to take this punishment. My father went out of his way to cause me harm, yet he got away with it.

I looked at the faces that were pressed against the windows, as everyone wanted to get a look. They were all vultures in my eyes; feeding off of my anguish and my pain. I bowed my head and allowed the Peacekeepers to take me to that one place where they believed they could fix me; the mental institute. Everyone knew the rumours that swirled about that place and I knew I would not emerge in one piece, but then again I was never whole to begin with.

Scarlett's soft whimpers are the only thing that causes my memories to fall away from me. I open my eyes and this is when I realize I have been holding onto her hand in a bone crushing grasp. I quickly release her hand, as I stand up. "I'm sorry," I murmur, as I walk over towards the window. She watches me closely, as I press my forehead against the cool glass. All of that is only the beginning of the horrors that would soon follow. What I saw in that institute is something no one should ever have to be exposed to. I bite my lip softly almost not wanting to continue with my story.

I close my eyes, as I feel Scarlett walk up behind me and wrap her arms around my waist. "You don't have to tell me anything more," She whispers softly, as she rests her head against my shoulder. I want to tell her more, but I don't want to relive those moments.

Even if you don't allow yourself to think about our time in that institute does not mean they didn't happen.

I was branded a monster for what it is I have done. Those words are carved into my skin because they forced me to. They didn't want me to forget what it is they have forced me into becoming. They are the real reason, as to why I volunteered in the first place. There is more to it than that, but no one would be able to understand. I volunteered by their choice, but I never held onto the intentions of winning. There in that arena is where the monster of District 4 will be laid to rest.

Don't think silencing us will be that easy.