8/4/14

Hi again! I'm going on a little trip on Wednesday, so I'm trying to update both of my fics before then. I could probably use the iPad to update in the hotel, but we'll be getting there kinda late so I doubt I'll have time.

Thank you Annabeth- TheTributeThatLived for the review (it was only depressing because it was a "moving away" party, but other than that it wasn't too depressing), Afsanabegum19 for the review (I wish that all of Suzanne Collins's characters were real :( well, except for President Snow of course), ArtemisCarolineSnow for the review (here it is! :) ), AEP19 for following, and PrettyLittleMixer for following.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games or anything else I may mention

…..

Chapter 25: Truthful Lies

"What do you want, jerk?" I growl as we enter the room.

"Maple! How nice to see you! How long has it been?" Nero asks with a smirk on his face.

"Not long enough," Maple scoffs as she rolls her eyes. "Johanna's right, you're a jerk! Honestly, what the h*** is wrong with you! Do you think killing people is fun? You sick little…"

"Okay Maple, that's enough," I sigh, elbowing her in the side. This shuts her up, if only for a little while. "Why are we here?"

"Snow just wanted me to say that you'll regret your choice. Oh, and one more thing? Never trust a Peacekeeper. Did you know the name Deidra means sorrow? She'll be sorry now, that's for sure," Nero smirks.

"You're lying!" Maple snaps.

"What could you possibly do?" I scoff.

Nero's ice blue eyes narrow at us. "If I'm lying, so is Snow. If I'm not, well… I'd check the top floor."

Maple and I exchange a look of amusement. "Nah, I think we'll go back to the room. C'mon Hanna, we're leaving."

Nero picks up a small black box and whispers something into it. I look at him in confusion, but he only smirks again.

"Hanna?"

I nod my head and glare at Nero before following Maple out. "What a loser," I scoff.

"You can say that again," Maple snickers. "Why were we even worried in the first place? He's just an idiot with a gun."

"Where's Roland?" I ask. We look around, but he's nowhere to be seen.

"Not a clue. Maybe he went down the hall?" Maple asks. We walk back to the room leisurely, trying not to make too many jokes about Nero's IQ. Who knows, he could hear us and make more empty threats!

"We're back," I announce, opening the door of the room. "Guess what? Nero just wanted to- Roland? What are you doing here?"

"I figured you girls would have it under control. What did my brother do this time?" Roland asks curiously.

"Well, um… hey, where's Deidra?" Maple asks, her eyes scanning the room rapidly.

"Momma go with big people," Ava says.

"What?" I ask.

"Big people?" Maple asks, bending down to Ava's eye level. Ava nods and Maple looks up. "Does she mean Peacekeepers?"

"Yeah, a couple of 'em I've never seen before came and got her. Why?" Roland asks.

A look of horror crosses Maple's face. My heart starts racing. "What!"

"What did they say?" Maple blurts out, trembling in fear. I don't blame her, I feel myself trembling as well.

"Just that Nero wanted to apologize. Good to see him finally growing up," Roland says.

Maple grabs my wrist and runs towards the stairs. I try to keep up, but she's a lot faster at running than I am. We climb step after step, my parents and Ivy- probably Roland too- running behind us, yelling at us to slow down.

"Maple, maybe he really did just want to apologize," I gasp as we stop to catch our breath.

"Do you really think Nero's the type to apologize?" Maple cries. She's so frightened that she's actually crying. I've only seen Maple cry once before, and that's when her parents died.

"You have a point," I pant.

"What's going on here?" Blight asks as he catches up to us.

"Nero's gonna kill my aunt," Maple wails.

"How do you know?" Ivy asks.

"He said so himself. Well, he might as well have," I say shakily.

"They're in the dome?" Blight asks. Maple nods her head as tears continue to fall down her cheeks. Blight gives both of us a concerned look before adding, "I'll go. You girls need to stay here, okay?"

"No, we go with you," I say.

"You're staying here where it's safe," Ivy says, determination filling her voice. Well, that's that. There's no way we're going now, so we nod our heads as Blight and Ivy race up the steps.

"What's wrong?" Mom asks as she and Roland catch up to us.

"Something Nero said," I say shakily. Mom gives Maple an understanding glance before handing Ava over to me. She walks over to Maple and starts trying to calm her down, but to no avail.

"Go home?" Ava asks.

"Not yet Ave," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Maple sad?" Ava asks.

"Yeah, Maple's sad," I sigh, holding onto Ava tightly. I doubt Snow would stop at Deidra and Rowan for today's executions. At least the others can defend themselves to some extent, but Ava? No, she'd be helpless.

"Why?" Ava asks. I try to ignore her question, but she keeps pushing it. I'm somewhat relieved when my father and aunt make their reappearance, but it vanishes when I realize that Deidra isn't with them.

"She… she wasn't up there," Ivy pants.

"There was a note though," Blight gasps. I snatch it from his hands and read it reluctantly. My eyes widen in horror when my brain comprehends the words scribbled on the paper.

"What is it?" Roland asks. I don't answer. I set down Ava (don't worry, it's not like I dropped her or anything!) and fly down the stairs. Maple may be faster than me, but when I'm this scared I'm faster than a Career.

I don't take time to catch my breath when I reach the very bottom of the stairs. I just run into the basement, shoving past Peacekeepers.

"You can't go back there missy," Nero laughs as I try to open a door.

"Watch me," I growl, shoving him out of the way. He falls to the ground and looks at me in shock. I may look like a wimp, but I'm pretty flipping strong in case he hasn't noticed. "Give me the key!"

"It's unlocked," he says, trembling as he speaks. I glare at him and shove the door open. But I wish I hadn't.

Laying in the center of the room is a bloody and battered body, unrecognizable to anyone who didn't know her. Flaxen hair, fairly tall, and one of the most loving people I've ever met. Deidra.

Tears spill out of my eyes. This is all my fault, just like Lewis. I collapse to the ground in tears as I hear footsteps entering the room. Gasps fill my ears, Maple's crying increases, and worst of all- Ava's scream of terror. I bury my face in my arms and cry more than I ever thought possible. Sure, Lewis, Zale, Lumi, and all the other deaths I were responsible for were necessary if I wanted to survive. This one wasn't.

Blight scoops me up as if I'm no older than Ava and carries me out. "It's not your fault Johanna," he whispers.

"Yes it is," I whimper. I look up long enough to see the message smeared on the wall in Deidra's blood.

You asked for it Miss Mason. It'll only get worse from here.

With much love, President Snow.

I see Snow's snake-like eyes glistening in the darkness, and I can't help it. I pass out. My only hope is that there'll be a calm before the next storm, no matter how unlikely that is.

…..

Gotta love Snow's creepy obsession with blood, right? :/

Quote of the day!

"Journalists, like butchers, ballerinas, and people who clean up after horses, are bound to make mistakes." –A Series of Unfortunate Evens: The Vile Village, the narrator

May the odds be ever in your favor,

Spectrobes Princess