Song Suggestion: Walls Could Talk by Halsey.

Mare: 5 Days Before the Wedding.

"You think I enjoy seeing you like this?" he murmurs. "You think I want to keep you a prisoner?" Something hitches in his breath. "It's the only way you'll stay with me."

I remember every conversation I've ever had with Maven. I remember him telling me this the day before he married Iris. Now it all makes sense. I knew it was his obsession that made him agree to work with me, but I never understood why. Maven had told me, even before I escaped that he hated seeing me waste away. But his obsession demanded it anyway. Having me there, dying, was better than not at all.

But now when we're together, he's completely different. He's kinder and gentler. And he's beginning to remind me of the boy I once knew. But I shake my head. Nothing he does or says can ever make up for what he's done.

What I'm doing now is distracting him. Maven doesn't think clearly when it comes to me.

At least, that's what I tell myself.

But right now I need to get back to business and focus my attention on my current task.

The gun isn't loaded with real bullets. But that doesn't mean that I don't take this seriously.

When he points the weapon in my face, he'll expect me to dodge or knock it away. So I do neither. Instead, I grab his wrist, with his gun still in hand, and pull him forward.

He becomes unbalanced but doesn't fall. I use this time to slide behind him. Regaining his composure, he swings his arm out, fist targeting my face. But I block him with my arm and knee him in the gut.

The other guy charges me from behind but I swiftly kick him in the stomach as well.

While both are winded, I turn my attention back the man in front of me. A punch to the nose and another near his eye is enough to do the job. He falls with a grunt and closes his eyes as he slips into unconsciousness.

The man behind me is not so easily outdone. I dodge his first two punches. But his third jabs into my injured shoulder. I grimace, giving him enough time to catch me in the jaw. The blow knocks me to the ground.

I don't use my lightning, it would defeat the whole purpose if I did.

He raises his arm to finish me off, but last second I raise my foot, promptly landing a kick to his groin.

He goes down to his knees, holding himself. Two punches and he's done.

A few days ago I asked Davidson if I could up my sparring. He obliged and gave me some people who were willing.

A few minutes later the two are able to stand on their own two feet. The healers make sure none of their injuries are life-threatening, and the men are sent on their way.

I go over to my bottle of water and take a sip.

"You certainly have improved. But I had to ask you personally. Why?"

"Hello to you too, Julian," I say. I take another sip before turning around to see my old teacher standing there in his now usual attire of shorts and a collared shirt. "It's been awhile."

"It certainly has. Tell me, Mare, what have you been up to these days."

"Always to the point. I missed you, Julian."

"And I, you. And I'm sure we can avoid such situations if you tried. I'm sure you can't be that busy. Which brings me back to you avoiding the question."

Julian is too smart, an internal voice tells me. He just wants answers. Give him anything, but the right one.

"Training. I would've thought that was obvious."

"Training for what?"

Pull back on the sass. Everyone knows that's your natural deflector. No one can know what we're preparing for.

Maven knows, I retort.

That's because he's helping. Just sell it.

I sigh like I'm giving in. "Burning off steam I guess."

Julian buys it. He nods in understanding.

"Have you spoken to Cal?"

"Not recently." I take another sip of my water, briefly wishing for something stronger. Then I begin making my way from the sparring circle like I'm trying to escape the conversation. "Besides, I'm sure he's been busy with the upcoming wedding and all." I make my voice sound like I'm hurt, but I'm trying to hide it. When in truth I feel nothing.

"Have you even tried to work it out?"

I know he doesn't mean the alliance. He's not foolish enough for that.

"I don't see the point. The fact is we're just too different. I'm just surprised it took us this long to figure it out."

I look to the ground and put on a pained expression. And by the way Julian's features soften, it works.

"I'm worried about you Mare."

Careful, the voice says. We already have Farley suspicious. We can't add another.

"I'm fine, Julian."

"From what I've seen, your not. Something's happened. And I can't see what it is. But it's like… you've just given up. And the girl I knew isn't there anymore."

"That's because she isn't," I say before I can stop myself.

Julian looks concerned, but I pick up my pace and leave him behind.

That was too close, the voice says again. You have to be more careful, especially with the wedding so close.

Shut up, you're so iterating. Where'd you come from anyway?

You've been living two separate lives for far too long. It's time you have someone to help you sort it all out.

ANALYSIS

I know it's short, but this chapter is key. Maven narrated the majority of chapter 19 and all of 20 so it's time to return to Mare's POV.

We exploited what Maven is thinking, now is time to dive into Mare's mind again.

Let's start with this voice. I didn't want it to be too much like Maven's imagination conjuring up Elara, but similar. What I'm trying to do is break Mare down as far as possible. I want her to hit rock bottom. But after she does it'll finally give her room to grow as a character.

One thing I love more than anything else is character development. And that's something I want to do with everyone. We'll see most of the developing with our main characters, like Mare, Cal, and Maven, in this Fanfic. But in the sequel we'll explore and experiment with characters like Gisa, Farley, Alex, even Clara! As well as a few others.

So if you're thinking, "What the hell is this? What are they doing? I'm so confused!"

The answer will almost always be character development.

So yeah, that's it for today.

And I don't say this enough. But when you favorite or even just follow my story, even when there are over a hundred for this fandom alone, it just warms my heart. And I appreciate every review-good, bad or critical. Honestly, just clicking on this story makes my day.

I love you guys.