When I wake, President Snow is in my cell, looking down at me.
"What do you want?" I snap.
"I want you to know that your young friend Mr. Wall hasn't listened to a word I've said."
"What are you going to do?"
"Oh, nothing nasty. Just kill you. Then, as we bury you, perhaps they'll issue the surrender."
"They won't," I tell him angrily. "And you won't kill me either."
"I beg to differ, Miss Bracken," he laughs, clamping a hand over my mouth. I have to get away, I'm not having my death televised. So I lick the inside of his hand, and as he jerks it away punch him in the face. But a Peacekeeper grabs me at the end of the hallway, swinging his baton at my stomach.
"Still feeling feisty, huh?" The Peacekeeper laughs, handing me back to Snow.
"You know what, I don't care!" I spit in his face as he marches me along. "Not as long as Kyan's okay!"
I'm thrust into a blindingly white room, tripping on a railing and smacking my head on the wall. "Come on Maria, wave to the cameras," one of the Peacekeepers jeers.
"No!"
"At least smile, you ungrateful brat," another replies, handing Snow something.
"President Snow, you're live."
"We stand here to witness the punishment and possible execution of Maria Bracken, a traitor and piece of filth to the country of Panem. Miss Bracken incited rebellion, a war which is being waged as we speak. And we are here to prove just how useless their little warrior is. She got through the Hunger Games on pure luck, she ignored our threats as she spread the rebellion. And yet she doesn't stop. Today, I will persuade her to stop or face death."
He raises a knife, brutally cutting my back. It was calculated, smooth and brutal. A word?
"Read this, Kyan," he sneers. I don't care, my back is on fire. I scream, not breaking for air, writhing writhing desperately. But it's no use. I can't staunch the flow of blood, my hands are tied, and I'm starting to get woozy.
"Tell us what you think of the rebellion, Maria," Snow continues lightly.
"I think you're a disgusting person!" I gasp, and he shakes his head.
"Wrong answer." He raises the knife, slashing open my cheek. "Try again."
"You're evil!"
"Wrong answer!" He swipes the knife across my chin.
"Why the he'll are you doing this?" I scream.
"Wrong answer!" He slashes open the other cheek, around my nose, and my forehead. Under my eyes, even. I'm going to die, I know it. "Any last words?" He asks me. "C'mon Maria, do your little speech."
"Don't let Kyan watch," I begin. "I don't regret a thing! Please fight, for me!"
"Look at your little friend, Kyan. Look at her face bleed, look at the pretty little word on her back. Watch her disgusting little face, I've left my mark. Look at her mangled leg." Three weeks ago they broke my leg using just wooden bats. What with my imminent death, I didn't think it was important enough to mention. "Look at her, all this beauty. Shane she'll be six feet under soon." I swallow as he heads towards me. "Come on Maria, talk."
He shoves me to my feet and I lean against the wall with my eyes closed, in agony. For a moment, I just stay still and groan softly. But I must start.
"If I die before I wake, please Panem, remember, I held onto my faith." What else can I say? "Kyan, I'm going to die. But it doesn't hurt." I smile in bliss as the world goes dark. I feel my head hit the floor, hear yelling from the corridor. I feel two fingers on my neck, and fade away. All I can think is, that if I'm finally being rescued, this is an ironic way to die.