11/12/17

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The Manipulation Games 3: Rebellion

Chapter Seven: Drip

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Eventually, another Peacekeeper came and brought me back to the cell I share with Annie. While it would've been more convenient for them to just leave me in Nero's torture cell, I wouldn't dream of suggesting it. I may be hasty, but I'm not stupid. At the very least they left Annie alone while I was gone, which comes as a relief.

Unfortunately, enough time has passed that they'll probably be coming back for me soon. I'm slightly concerned as to what else Nero has in store for me as well. The electricity wasn't pleasant, but from what he said it sounds like he has something much worse in mind. If that's the case, I would gladly take the shocks.

I try to bide my time, but there's nothing useful I can do. In my quarters in the Tribute Center, it seemed like I actually had a chance at escape. Here, there's no use in even planning. All I can do is talk to Annie or sit here and mope about the many, many ways I've been done an injustice in the past few weeks.

I'm still angry at Oleander too. The nerve! He has no right to act like he ever had Maple's best interest at heart, but here he is lying his butt off. I feel stupid for believing him there for a second. Clearly whatever he's planning involves Nero, which means Maple would automatically disapprove of it. So why does he think she would be tickled pink if he of all people brought her back to life? And still, even if Maple can be brought back like he was, would she want to be? Even if there is a better chance of things taking a turn for the better than there was when she was alive, right now the world is a worse place than the one she left. Right now, my loved ones are as happy and safe as they'll get, even if that does mean they're dead. Why would Oleander want to drag her back into this? And why doesn't he just tell me how he came back in the first place?

Nero barges through the door yet again, snapping me out of my angry daydreams and into an angry reality. He's a lot less polite about my imprisonment than Oleander was, and instead of trying to reason with me first he immediately resorts to forcing me into the handcuffs. Annie starts flipping out, and immediately goes into panic mode. Even though it will probably make things worse for her I fight back, but none of my kicking and screaming makes a difference. In the end, I still end up being dragged out of the cell and down the hallway. And to add insult to injury, my least favorite person can't even bother to be here. No, Snow just had to send one of his lackeys to do this crap instead, like a coward.

(But to be fair, Snow is, in fact, a coward. This is one of the first lessons taught to us as children, and it is a very important one at that.)

I continue to struggle as Nero walks me down the hall, even though I know I can't escape. I refuse to be an easy prisoner. I'll accept my fate, sure, but that doesn't mean I can't be a jerk and inconvenience people anymore. If I go down, I'm going down with a fight and taking the Capitol with me!

Nero unlocks the door to the same cell as the one I was in previously, and pushes me in as I sink my teeth into the bicep of his upper arm. Oddly, I don't taste blood- almost as if he doesn't have any. Which makes sense, considering someone as wicked as him can't possibly be human. Humanity sucks and our civilization is a freaking messed up place and all, but it's not messed up enough for me to fully believe it created such monsters as Nero and President Snow.

I'm shoved into the chair and cuffed into place, and as I continue to flail back and forth in the chair in hopes of escape, I can't help but smirk as I notice Nero wincing in pain.

"Not so tough after all, are you?" I sneer.

Nero glares, slapping me across the face. "I'm in a lousy mood today Mason, so you better listen or else-"

"Or else what?" I ask. "You heard me in the arena Nero. It's not like I've got anything left to lose. You took care of that, remember?"

Nero laughs. "Oh, that's what you think."

He leans down and presses down on the handcuffs, letting the sparks of electricity sizzle through my veins. I feel my muscles tightening like they did last time, but I refuse to scream. Screaming would mean giving him that satisfaction. If he kills me, I want it to be as emotionally unsatisfying as I can possibly make things for him. It will be my last laugh.

Nero notices that I'm not reacting, so he lets go. I feel myself relax the moment the electricity stops, and while I'm still sore I feel immensely better. Nero seems puzzled, but something malicious glimmering in his eyes tells me that he's already decided how to deal with this.

"Hm. I didn't realize that pain's effect would have dulled so soon for you. Perhaps I need something more painful to convince you to talk."

"The only thing that will convince me to do anything is President Snow's rotting corpse," I snap.

Nero chuckles to himself, obnoxiously, and narrows his eyes at me.

"So be it."

With that, he leaves the room. A droplet of water drips down from the sprinkler, hitting the cuff. A brief tingle of electricity shocks me, and I shudder. I can only hope that Katniss makes herself useful and comes to rescue us soon.

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Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games

Hi again! Sorry this was such a short chapter. I have an outline made that divides all the scenes up into chapters, and when I made the outline I didn't think this scene would be so short. But oh well, that's life I guess. At least I updated within a reasonable amount of time for once. Let's hope it lasts, because if it does there's a small chance that I'll get to post Finnick and Annie's wedding on Valentine's Day ;)

(Of course, I'm sure no one will be complaining if I manage to get it posted even earlier than that…)

Thank you coolerthancool99 for adding this story to your favorites and giurly99jb for following!

Quote of the day!

"There was one time my brother transformed himself into a snake because he knows how much I like snakes, and so I picked the snake up to admire it, but then he turned back and went "AAHH! It's me"! And then he stabbed me." -Thor, Thor: Ragnarok

May the odds be ever in your favor,

Spectrobes Princess