This chapter is a bit shorter than my last ones. sorry. I'll see when I can keep writing.
The three bodies were hardly recognizable, but Katniss knew them by their choice of fashion. Flavius, the only male in the room, and his orange corkscrew curls. Octavia, who dyed her skin a sickly shade of green, and Venia, with her golden facial tattoos.
On seeing Katniss, Flavius and Octavia shrank back in fear, like as If she'd attack them.
The guard tried to order her out, but Gale was somehow detaining him. Katniss crossed over to Venia, the strongest of the three prep designers, and took her icy hands.
"What happened, Venia?" Katniss asked her. "What are you doing here?"
"They took us. From the Capitol." She said horsely.
Plutarch entered the room. "What on earth is going on?"
"Who took you?" Katniss asked.
"People. The night you broke out."
"We thought it might be comforting for you to have your regular team." Said Plutarch behind her. "Cinna requested it."
"Cinna requested this?" Katniss snarled at him. "Why are they being treated like criminals?"
"I honestly don't know." Plutarch turned to the guard. "I was told they were only being confined. Why are they being punished?"
"For stealing food. We had to restrain them after an altercation over some bread." Said the guard.
"No one would tell us anything." Said Venia. "It was just one slice she took."
Octavia began to sob, muffling the sound in her dirty tunic. Katniss crawled over to her. "Octavia?" She flinched when Katniss's fingers touched her. "Octavia? It's going to be alright. I'll get you out of here okay?"
"This seems extreme." Said Plutarch.
"It's because they took a slice of bread?" Asked Gale.
"There were repeated infractions leading up to that. They were warned. Still they took more bread." Said the guard. He paused for a moment, as if puzzled by their density. "You can't take bread."
Katniss turned back to Octavia. "I'm bringing you to my mother." She faced the guard. "Unchain them."
The guard shook his head. "It's not authorized."
"Unchain them! Now!"
"I have no release orders. And you have no authority to-"
"-do it on my authority." Plutarch cut in. "We came to connect these three anyway. They're needed for Special Defense. I'll take full responsibility."
The guard left to make a call, then returned with a set of keys. The prep team had trouble walking even after the shackles were removed. Gale, Plutarch, and Katniss had to help them across the floor.
"How many times do I need to ask you? What is District Thirteen going to do?"
Silence.
"You are a fool. You're going to get yourself killed just because you won't speak." *a switch is pulled*
"Aghhhhhhh! Ung, ahhh! Aghh! *pant pant*"
"This is doing you no good. Tell us what Thirteen's plans are, and your pain will cease."
*quiet sob*
"Are you ready to speak?"
Silence.
That's what it's been for a long time now. Link refused to say a single word. Even if it's just a pointless "Stop!" Or, "release me!" He wouldn't say it. The Capitol has tried everything on the planet.
The switch was pulled again.
Link was getting electrocuted while hanging from the ceiling, his toes barely grazing the floor. He struggled helplessly against the chains cutting into his wrists. His own screams pained him even more. Sometimes he would think, whose screams are those? But then he'd remember, oh, right. They're mine.
The switch turned off.
"Don't think you can save your friends. You're just a weak, foolish kid. If you gave us what we want, we could have mercy on your friends, and give them a quick death. But because you refuse to speak, their death will be slow and painful. Each person dies, one by one."
Link kept his head lowered, and his eyes shut.
The torturer took a hold of a rod with tiny spikes all over it, and whacked Link on the back with it. Link cried out in pain. He could feel blood rush down his bare back. But he still didn't speak. The torturer growled, and left the room, leaving Link hanging.
Link opened his eyes slightly to be slivers of blue. He quickly shut them, not wanting to see his surroundings. They would be coated with his own blood, he was sure. Definitely not something he wanted to see.
He heard himself make a quiet sobbing noise. Instead of stopping, they grew louder, ever so slightly. How much longer could he bear this? He didn't know.
He hung for about an hour before two Avoxes stepped inside, one holding a key. The one holding the key unlocked him, and the other caught him just before he reached the floor. Slowly he laid him down on the ground on his stomach.
Link let out a very tiny sigh of relief. But his wrists and back-actually, more like his entire body, was incredibly sore. The fresh cuts stung.
After lying there for a bit, the Avoxes picked him up, and carried him back to his table. There, he was flipped onto his back, and his bleeding limbs were cuffed into the surface. The Avoxes left in silence. A few minutes passed.
An image suddenly made it's way into Link's head. A girl. A girl about his age. With blond hair and blue eyes.
Link could feel tears well up in his eyes at the memory. It was Zelda. Laughing. She had just played a rather good prank on Link. Link was laughing with her. Neither could stop. Zelda suddenly gave Link a playful shove, still laughing.
"You should've seen the look on your face! It was priceless!" she had said.
"Really?" Link replied. "I thought my face was always priceless."
"Oh, stop it!" Zelda giggled.
It was such a good memory. Especially of Zelda.
Zelda.
Zelda...
Link didn't bother to stop the tears from falling down his face. He missed her more than ever. He hoped that she was safe. That she wasn't facing pain, like he was. If his pain was transferred over to Zelda, Link would kill her to put her out of her misery. To keep her away from this blood. This torture. This pain.
Link had to reach her. The mere thought of seeing her was probably the only thing keeping him from dying. Willing him to keep hold of his life. He could hear her voice in his head. Link...darling...don't let go...don't die...you're going to be all right...just a little bit longer...hold on...
Hold on...
"Zelda…" Link spoke in barely a whisper. He shut his eyes as more tears came. "Zelda…"
He found himself whispering to her, as if Zelda was right there, listening.
"I love you…" he said. "I love you… please… be safe." more tears.
"Be safe…"
I hope you enjoyed! Plz plz plz plz plz R&R!
O_o