CHAPTER 11

"Annabella Hawthorne!" I was pushed on stage roughly by a peacekeeper, I rubbed my wrists that were wrapped in bruises from the cuffs, Caesar stood and pulled me into a tight hug "Please go with it, I beg you" he whispered before pulling back and addressing the audience laughing and smiling egging them to cheer louder. They cheered standing in their seats throwing flowers onto the stage, I refused to look at the crowed and just sat down facing Caesars chair. He frowned for a split second before sitting down as well plastering that annoying smile back on his face.

Caesar had red hair today, his suit was red and black and he was wearing make-up that covered his bruises that I could only see close up. I felt sorry for Caesar; it's not his fault that we are all resisting his interviews.

"Well don't you look lovely Annabella, truly divine" he grabbed my hand squeezing it a little.

"You too, I'm loving the hair this year Caesar" I smiled squeezing his hand back letting him know that I'm on board.

"I thought we could be matching" the crowed chuckled a little bit.

"Now, why don't you tell me something about what you have been doing the past few weeks" his grip on my hand tightened, he was trying to warn me not to say anything that could get me or him in trouble, but I couldn't help it, it's like I had word vomit.

"Conspiring against the Capitol, isn't that why I'm here? Or is it because I didn't die last year?" The crowed 'ooed' and Caesar's face was tense "I mean what else could I have been doing?"

"Getting pregnant apparently, we have discovered the little critter while making sure you were healthy. Were you aware that you were pregnant?" I pulled my hands from his and sat back in my chair glaring at him. I looked to the side to break eye contact with him when I saw that on the screen behind us had the sonogram picture of my baby, they must have taken it when they were checking me over. I unconsciously placed my hands on my stomach.

"Yes I knew" I ground out trying t calm myself. They had a TV where we were staying, dad would be watching this right now.

"Kaleb Mellark is the father I assume? Unless it's that boy you escaped with…" He paused to look down at some papers "Ryder? Either way are you not too young to have a child?"

"Of course Kaleb is the father, what kind of girl do you think I am? And I don't think this is any of yours or any one else's business unless your my family, which last I checked you weren't. so why don't you just ask your next question before you have another disappointing interview" I huffed and crossed my arms over my stomach so no one could get a look at it, the picture on the screen went down and Caesar composed himself again.

"What was it like to die?"

"Wonderful, lots of fun, maybe the Capitol should try it sometime"

"Are you afraid to die again?"

"No, I'm not afraid to die"

"In a way you have the upper hand over the selected tributes, you and most of your fellow fugitives have been in the games before or the rebellion so how do you think you will go in the arena"

"I don't think it matters Caesar because I won't be in there for long, I will break out or be broken out and you won't see me ever again, I can promise you that, now if you don't mind I have to go pee" I stood up walking off the stage "That happens a lot when you're pregnant" I remarked angrily ripping off my microphone. The Peacekeepers ceased me as soon as I left the stage roughly dragging me through the backstage area. I was pulled past the tributes that were going to join us in the games; some looked at me in disgust and others in awe. I was stopped in front of them held tightly.

"Whoever kills this one, winner or not, your family will be rich" The man holding me said, he had a sinister smile plastered on his face as he held me out to them, letting them all get a good look at me.

"Any of you come near me and I will skin you like a rabbit" I threatened. The Peacekeeper grabbed my hair and yanked it backwards.

"But you're so harmless, innocent little Annabella" Philliam walked over grabbing me from the Peacekeeper placing handcuffs on my wrists and leading me away from the tributes "Did I mention beautiful?"

"Get your hands off of me" I growled trying to pry myself from his grasp. We came to a door at the end of the hallway where I was shoved in and left alone, well I thought I was alone, the light in the middle of the room lit up, I was in a small cell by myself and across from me were two girls one was small with brown/hazelnut hair and green eyes, she looked so small and fragile she looked only about 14 maybe even younger and the girl next to her was older, on first sight she looked young but on a second look I could see that she was older, she also had brown hair but hers had purple streaks in it, her eyes were hazel.

"Who are you?" the older one stood up grabbing her food tray to defend herself "What do you want?"

"My name is Annabella, I'm a prisoner, just like you" The girl didn't let down her guard, protecting herself and her friend.

"Hana, this is Sophie" Sophie looked up glaring at me.

"Why are you here?" Hana lowered the tray and helped Sophie stand. They were both pretty beaten and cut; Sophie had to lean on Hana but still didn't speak.

"Why is anyone here?"

"Good point" I smiled at them, they seemed harmless but they were still weary of me "But really, what did you do?"

"We tried to kill my own father, or as you know him; Plutarch Heavensbee. He had my mother killed because she argued against the games and when we tried to voice our hesitance against it he had us beaten, so we tried to poison him but were caught. Sophie is my best friend, my dad turned her into an avox for helping me" I smiled sadly at them "You're going to die you know… People only come in here when the Peacekeepers are getting my father to deal with them so he can look upon me with disappointment" well at least I was being warned about my soon to be torture "Sometimes they wait a few hours, sometimes a day, you never know when they're coming" I looked around the room for a weapon, there was nothing but the tin tray that Hana still held in her hands. I bend down removing the heels from my aching feet and chucked to the side of the room. I wasn't going to let them beat me without a fight.

"Can you pick a lock?"

"We can't pick the door, it doesn't have a lock on this side" Hana said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"How are you with hand cuffs?" Sophie's eyes lit up as she hobbled over to me holding out her hand. I took a bobby pin out of my hair and handed it to her holding out my hands. She went to work immediately and I looked around trying to think of a plan "Please hurry" Sophie looked up and glared at me "Sorry"

"She doesn't like pressure… What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking once these cuffs are off I'm going to take that tray and stalk the door waiting for the one Peacekeeper to come in and knock him out. I still vaguely remember the layout of this place so I think I know where about I am. I'm not going to let them beat me without putting up a fight" the cuffs clicked and fell to the floor; I rubbed my wrists and thanked Sophie.

"Take us with you" Hana demanded coming up and standing next to her friend begging me with her eyes. Sophie nodded smiling for the first time I had been in here, she ripped the tray from Hana's hands and shoved it into mine "Please take us" Hana begged.

"I'm sorry, I want to but I can't put you in danger like that" I lifted the tray and quickly hit them both on the head knocking them out cold. I dragged them to the other side of the cell, struggling, they were small girls, only skin and bone but I wasn't in the fittest state at the moment. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and grabbed my shiny shoes that shined in the dark and placed them on Sophie's feet before smashing the light. It was pitch black, even though I was in a cell I couldn't help but feel like I was in a spot light and I was being watched. A small shiver went down my spine but I moved on feeling my way towards the wall, as soon as that door opens I will be ready for them, but right now I think I can just rest my eyes a little…

"Turn the light on!" I snapped my eyes open and grabbed the tray hitting the man in front of me, he grunted and fell to the floor, I hit him once more just to make sure.

"Dale!" a women ran in dressed in white also, another Peacekeeper. She tackled me hitting me in the shoulder with a baton. I cried out and pushed her into the wall punching her in the face and then elbowing her in the temple. She didn't let up though; she punched me in the cheek. I had no choice, I grabbed her neck tightly and slammed her head against the wall, I heard a small crack and she slumped to the ground. With the little light I had I managed to find the handcuffs and handcuffed the Peacekeepers together trapping them to a pole on the window.

I grabbed the girl's gun running for my life, down the hallway twisting and turning the exact same ways I came trying to find an exit. I bet you can imagine the shock of everyone when I ended up back on stage in front of the audience and anyone with a TV in the Districts. I froze trying to adjust my eyes to the bright lights, holding my arm up. Caesar was interviewing a tall built boy, he looks from District 3 or 4, Peacekeepers were coming on stage, some escorting the boy and Caesar off safely, I was being surrounded with no way out. I wasn't going back to any cell and I definitely wasn't going to sit there and let them beat the crap out of me.

"Step back" The crowed was even being ushered backwards, away from the stage so they wouldn't be hurt by me. I growled holding out my gun and spinning around so I could see them all, I wanted to know who was making the first move.

"I will shoot you" A man stepped forwards with his hands up.

"Go on then" he prompted me. I hadn't really used a gun before, I hated them, and they were the easy way out. I have never even held a gun of this model. I squinted my eyes and pulled the trigger, there was a click sound but nothing else happened, no bang, no gasping, and no body hitting the floor, I tried pulling the trigger again but again nothing happened "Did we forget about the safety?" he said, he was so cocky I just wanted to hit him "You can't do any damage with that" he stepped closer to me reaching out to grab me quietly I threw the gun up, knowing everyone would be watching the gun. While the Peacekeepers eyes were on the gun I punched his stomach and then kneed his face when he bent over in agony. I reached up my hand catching the gun as all the Peacekeepers charged for me.

It was all happening so quickly I barely comprehended what I was even do, I was hitting people, punching them, kicking them and smashing them over the head with the gun but I wasn't going to get out of this…

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