Hey guys, I've just spent thirty hours doing homework, and now I'm gonna write for you. I haven't left my desk for three days except for necessities, and I'm pretty gross right now, but I really wanted to get this up for you.
Also, this is my longest chapter yet. (WHOOHOO)
I don't want this story to be nearing its end, but I guess Katniss has had enough pain for awhile.
Disclaimer: Again, I don't own the Hunger Games
Katniss blurred in and out of consciousness, a feeling of overwhelming fear coming over her. She didn't know how to process the fact that she had been caught again.
She felt like she was dreaming, merely trapped in a grisly nightmare. Everything was so disconnected, and she was just watching from behind the panes of glass. She didn't feel like he was actually hitting her when he did, that he was actually touching her; the girl that she watched get abused was the Katniss from a year ago. She was the Katniss that had gotten kidnapped from a regular, Friday night party, the Katniss that had lost the will to live. She hated that he could flip her personality switch so easily.
She struggled to hold onto her new self, the better person that Peeta had helped her become, but it was so difficult. Peeta was dead, so what was the point? It made it so much harder to fight, when she knew she really had no chance. He was much more careful this time around, keeping tabs on her and Prim at all times. They were locked in a dark room, maybe a closet, until he needed them.
Katniss let her mind fill with useless things, emptiness taking over her body. The pain was overwhelming, and she tried to forget. Maybe if she stopped thinking about it, it would finally cease. Her body was pressed up against the cold walls, frozen tears trying to trickle down her cheeks.
Every time she fell back into her numb place, she tried to remember her reasons to live.
Firstly, her parents.
They'd gone through so much, and if she could spare them the pain of losing a child, then it would be worth it…
But they would move on, she was sure. They'd have to understand that she'd tried her best, and it had just been too much. Surely they would see that she'd already fought too hard, and it just wasn't worth it anymore.
And second? What had been her other reason?
Katniss moved around in the dark, feeling for the figure beside her.
Right, she thought. There was young Primrose, with her wide blue eyes and caring heart. She had an aura of goodness deep within, a kind of innocence that it seemed impossible to keep in such a situation.
She was too damn young to be living in hell.
Katniss would take whatever he threw at her, just as long as he stayed far away from Prim.
A light broke through a crack in the door, immediately blinding both of the girls. Brian peered through, his eyes falling upon Katniss's trembling form.
She'd only been here twenty-four hours, and already her body was bruised and bloody.
He scooped her up roughly, and she was just able to catch Prim's eye before he dragged her away. The young girl looked up at her in fear, and helplessness. She watched as he pulled Katniss- who she'd begun to love as a sister-away into the light, all too knowing of what her fate would be.
She would trade places with her in a second.
Brian held Katniss close, smoothing her long dark hair out of her face. Sometimes, he looked at her, and it was all too obvious how similar to his wife she was. Especially now that she was a few years older, her features had straightened out, and she'd lost that young look. She had become the woman he loved.
"Oh I missed you so much," his lips trailed down her neck, and she went rigid. "You left me Juliet...How could you?" his voice lowered into a sad whisper.
"I am not her." she spat, pulling away.
"And you never could do anything right..." he trailed on, seemingly oblivious to who exactly he was with. "I just wanted a daughter Julie."
"My name is Katniss Everdeen, I am not your wife." She swallowed, gathering her strength.
He slapped her, breaking out of his trance. What had once been a look of longing morphed into anger, and he gripped her arms possessively. "You are mine, and I will do as I please."
His fingers trailed down her arms, and she could feel his breath in her ears.
He disgusted her.
"I really do love you," he whispered huskily, reaching for the top button of her blouse. "I just want you to love me back."
Katniss peeled herself off the floor, pulling her torn shirt back into place. She hated that he had this kind of control over her again. She felt sick, dirty from his hands touching her, tainted from his gaze. It all felt so wrong. He was continuing to play with her, taking and giving as he pleased. She supposed that there wasn't a thing left in her life that he hadn't ruined.
He'd made her parents look at her in pity, had taken away four years of her life. He'd stolen her power, and left only an empty hole of vulnerability in its place.
And of course he'd taken Peeta from her…
She couldn't even bring herself to think of that fact.
Katniss started to stand up, and his voice boomed over her.
"What do you think you're doing?" he spat.
"Can I have something to eat?" she attempted to ask sweetly. "For Prim?"
She hated how weak she sounded, how vulnerable. Already he was twisting her into something broken. She knew that the younger girl had been locked up for hours, and probably needed something to eat.
He smiled mockingly at her. "Oh, little Primmy's hungry?" he teased. "Isn't she big enough to ask for herself." His expression turned serious. "I don't think she's a little girl anymore."
He pushed past her, making his way to the closet, and Katniss's heart sped up. This couldn't be good.
"Please don't." She begged. "She didn't do anything wrong."
She moved over, trying to block his way. "It's my fault, I shouldn't have asked."
"Get out of my way," he growled.
Katniss stood her ground, she'd made a promise to herself to protect Prim, and she didn't plan on breaking it. Tears of exhaustion poured down her cheeks at the thought of him getting near her.
"Don't you dare touch her." she threatened firmly when he tried to proceed.
Brian pulled open the closet door, revealing a terrified Prim, and turned back to Katniss. She tried to shield the girl's body with her own, but he just pushed her up against the wall, holding her tightly.
"You had better stay out of my way." he said harshly.
"I won't let you touch her."
Suddenly, he shoved her over into the kitchen table, sending tableware flying . She fell to the floor with a thump, shards of glass becoming imbedded in her skin.
His fingers found their way around her neck, and in his rage he just couldn't let go. His face reddened as hers turned blue, and his grip only tightened more. He couldn't believe her! After all he'd done for both of them, she was still so ungrateful.
"I try to be nice Julie, but you make it so hard. If you would just listen it wouldn't have to be this way!" he screamed.
Prim threw herself at him, trying to pry his hands from Katniss's throat. She screamed at him to stop, but he seemed too absorbed in the moment, and only gave her a light push away.
"Stay away bitch, or I'll kill you." he threatened harshly. "Your mother needs to be punished."
Katniss reached out weakly, feebly attempting to push him off her. Already black spots appeared before her eyes, and she struggled against his grip.
"I'll do whatever you want just let her go!" Prim yelled, sobbing furiously.
Brian's grip slackened, and he faltered for a moment. He couldn't kill her, not yet. He hadn't gotten what he needed.
"Don't you dare doubt that I could do it, because I could easily snap your neck," he threatened, getting up off her trembling form.
Katniss tried to breathe, wanting to bring air back into her lungs, but her heartbeat filled her chest.
Brian neared Prim, and he stroked the young girl's face, admiring her soft features. Her breath hitched in her throat and she tried not to look disgusted.
"You really are such a pretty thing," he whispered, his hands trailing down her neck. He placed a kiss on her forehead, and she forced herself not to move.
Katniss tried to gather her strength, but every movement caused a searing pain. She needed to stop this.
Suddenly, the door flew open, revealing a very pissed off Olivia. Her blonde hair was dishevelled, and she looked like she hadn't slept for days.
"Don't move." she pressed, holding out a gun.
Brian just turned towards her, a smirk on his face.
"You coming to join the party sweetheart?" he asked mockingly, obviously drunk.
Olivia just held her stance. "I have backup," she lied.
"I think you and I both know that there's no one else out there." he smiled. "If you don't want me to kill these girls just like it I killed your pretty boyfriend, then I suggest that you put the gun down." he reached for his pocket, pulling out a switchblade.
Anger boiled in her veins and she didn't hesitate. She pulled the trigger once, twice, three times, and his body fell, slumping against the now blood-splattered walls.
His face still held a smirk as she neared, firing at him more times then she could count. She couldn't bring herself to stop shooting, not even when Prim was pulling her off his body.
"He's dead Agent Banner, he's dead." She whispered, her hands on the agent's shoulders.
But Olivia hardly heard her. She would have shot him a million times if it meant she could avenge her partner's death. She sobbed, blinded by hatred, and soon enough she ran out of bullets. She hated this man who had caused them all so much pain. He'd destroyed the lives of two innocent girls, and had killed the one person that meant the world to her. He deserved every bullet hole in his body, and more.
Olivia fell back onto the glass covered floor, allowing Prim pry the gun from her hands. The young girl tossed it across the room, moving in closer to the sobbing agent.
The three of them stayed collapsed on the floor for a few minutes, crying uncontrollably, almost unable to believe that they were all alive. All the moments of pain and fear rushed over them, and then slowly melted away into the past.
Finally, they had nothing to fear