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Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games

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The Manipulation Games 3: Rebellion

Chapter Nine: No One Left

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Days pass. Maybe weeks. Maybe even months. It's hard tell how long when each moment drags on longer than the last. I've started losing my grip on my sanity, as though I even had some to begin with. Every day my torment continues to worsen, as do Peeta's screams. Oh, the screams! They fill the air and drown out my prayers and all that messed up crap. I don't want to admit it, but I'm scared.

I don't think we'll make it out of here alive.

Peeta screams, banging his head against the cell wall. I can't hear Enobaria crying anymore, the sound muffled by Peeta. Then again, maybe she's dead. Or a traitor. Who knows what the Captiol has done to her? Annie stays huddled up in her corner, trembling and thankfully untouched. She remains invisible to all, living up to her title as Panem's forgotten victor, but for how much longer? As for myself, I'm close to the point of breaking. Electrocution hasn't been Nero's only instrument of torture, merely his favorite. I've been stabbed and burned, even waterboarded. Everything hurts. I'm soaked in my own blood and my muscles are so numb I can barely move. I just want to go home.

In spite of Peeta's screams, there's still one noise I can hear. Out of all the others, it stands out the most. It's the sound of boots thumping against the tile flooring, in a familiar rhythm of footsteps. It's an evil sound- one that fills me with dread. I feel like throwing up the moment I hear it, and it sends my body into a shudder. My muscles protest this movement and I brace myself, knowing I will be forced to move yet again. I can't do this. I just can't. The door swings open and Nero storms in. I close my eyes and hope that somehow he isn't here for me. And I'm right- he isn't.

He's here for Annie.

My heart stops beating. My lungs refuse to breathe. Annie flips out, screeching and flailing around as he grabs her by the shoulders. I feel my entire body go cold as he runs his filthy hand through her chocolate brown curls. This isn't right- it shouldn't be happening. It wasn't supposed to happen!

"My what a pretty little thing you are," Nero taunts, twirling a lock around his finger. "Just like that poor other girl. Oh what was her name… Deidra, I believe?"

The name of Ava's mother sounds like poison in his mouth. My heart starts beating again, so fast it may leap from my chest.

"No, stop! Please, take me instead!"

Nero is almost as shocked as I am at the words that come from my mouth. But while I can only bring myself to remain frozen in place, Nero's lips curl up in a dreadful sneer as he begins to laugh. He throws Annie onto the floor, and a loud snap echoes off the walls as she hits the ground. She stops moving.

"Well, well, well… it looks as though the great Johanna Mason has finally broken."

My eyes stay glued to Annie, desperately searching for any sign of life, and my heart skips a beat as Nero kicks her into the corner. She doesn't even whimper in protest. The weight of what just happened hits me like a ton of bricks. Nero's right- I've broken. The facade I've played for years has come crumbling to the ground in a single sentence. Memories of the Jabberjay attack in the arena play through my mind like a sick, twisted movie. I thought there wasn't anyone left I loved. I thought I was safe.

I was wrong.

The truth slaps me in the face harder than Nero could ever hope to. There are still people I love. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shut the world out. I pushed people away for years, but they still weaseled their way into my heart. My mind races through the names of those I tried to protect, and with each name I only feel weaker. I love them. I thought I didn't, but I love them.

My eyes well up with tears as Nero drags me away, but none of it registers. What will happen now? Will Nero stop at Annie? Or will he track down every last person he so much as suspects to use as a bargaining chip against me? I feel sick. Once again, my selfish feelings have put people in danger. But as I walk mindlessly through the halls, I find that it isn't the people who are still alive that I feel the most guilty about. It's the ones that have already died, whether because of me or not.

Because some of them died without knowing how much I actually cared.

I force myself not to actually cry as Nero straps me to the chair. He's gleaming with happiness, as though he just made it to his 19th birthday without ever being Reaped. He taps my wrists, and I'm quite literally shocked out of my thoughts. Nero chuckles, leaning in until our faces are inches apart.

"This is your last chance, Mason. Tell us what you know, or else you may not be the only one to suffer the consequences."

It's not like before. I can't answer him immediately. The stakes are too high. I don't want anyone else to die because of something I did. But at the same time, I know that if Annie and I are saved it could cost the rebellion everything we've worked for. It shouldn't be my choice to make for Annie, but in my heart I know what her choice would be. So once again, I look Nero in the eyes and prepare to meet my fate.

"You should know by now that I will never bow. You could rip me apart limb by limb. You could kill everyone I've ever cared about. You could even make me go back in the arena. But no matter what you do, I will never let you win. If I have to die for the rebellion, so be it."

Nero smirks. "Are you sure? As I'm sure you know, it will hurt much worse this time."

I spit in his face.

Nero laughs sadistically. "Very well then. I always look forward to hearing your screams."

He walks out of the room, and all there's left to do is wait. I grip the arms of the chair and brace myself, but there's no way to fully prepare myself for what happens next. Instead of merely sprinkling, waves of water begin to gush from the ceiling. I panic, screaming before the first drop hits me. The electricity sizzling against my wrists is stronger this time, and with every second that passes I find myself drifting farther out of consciousness. I've nearly passed out when I hear a familiar, feminine scream. Annie? No, no, it's not Annie. It doesn't sound like Annie. I know it's not Enobaria. Why would it be Enobaria? But who else is here?

"Dad, no! Daddy, please stop. Someone help me! Please, help-"

That voice. I know that voice.

No. No, it can't be. It can't be…

"Ava!"

….

Hi again! How's that for a cliffhanger?

I have what may be just a few too many New Years Resolutions, but one of them is to write more. So… we'll see I guess. Also, I Want To Live by Skillet just started playing, so that's kind of tragic.

Anyways, quote of the day!

"After that I asked your dad if he's going to need counseling. He said maybe a little." -a family friend

(You probably don't want context for that one… o.0)

May the odds be ever in your favor,

Spectrobes Princess