Hey guys! I know I said this chapter was going to be up by Sunday, but I've been cramming in the rest of my summer reading work before school starts so I haven't had time. I'm happy that I've gotten a few review per chapter but I want more. Can we get to three this time? Hope you like the chapter!
"I'm going to ask you one more time Ms. Everdeen." Snow says, glaring at me with cold eyes, "Who knew about the rebellion going into the arena?"
I say nothing, I just stare straight ahead at him. I've been here for hours in front of him and during that time I have not said a single word. I don't know anything but I know he won't believe that, so my best bet is just to keep quiet. The routine goes like this every day. The guards drag me into this interrogation room, strap me to a chair where Snow questions me for hours. When he is finally done, I am escorted back to my cell where I have nothing to do but wait for the next session. I know it's only a matter of time before Snow gets fed up with my silence and starts using new methods to get me to talk. He still hasn't revealed to me who else he is holding captive and, as a result, I wake screaming every night from dreams about him torturing them all.
I can see Snow getting angrier with me, "Ms. Everdeen, this is your last chance. This time there will be consequences if you do not talk."
I say nothing.
He stands and walks out of the room leaving the guards to drag me back to my cell. I am worried as to what his consequences are. I feel stuck. If I talk, I put anyone involved in this rebellion at risk but if I stay silent, Snow might torture them anyway, or me. Honestly, that's what I would prefer. If anyone is going to be hurt as a result of my actions, then it should be me. I have a feeling Snow knows I feel that way though. If he is trying to break me, the best way to go would be to hurt those I care about. I wonder if he has figured that out yet?
It's been days since my last interrogation. He must be planning something because there's no way he would give up on me yet. He still thinks I have information. All I do is pace around my cell and think. I go through the events in the arena over and over, trying to figure out who he might have but I can't do it. For all I know he could have us all.
Suddenly, the Peacekeepers come into my cell and takes me into a different room that looks strangely familiar. I realize with a sickening feeling that it's my old prep room. This was where I was after the first games when my team was preparing me for the interviews. Why am I here now though? Am I making an appearance? A new prep team comes in to try to erase the bags under my eyes and get some color into my cheeks. They also give me a loose white dress. I think they are trying to conceal the weight I've lost, but to no avail. I could still count my ribs in the mirror.
I am left in the room to wait until President Snow steps in again.
"What is this?" I ask him immediately, "What am I being interviewed for?"
"You aren't being interviewed." he replies, "You will be given a speech that you are to memorize and recite on live television."
"A speech?" I ask, "About what?"
"You will be telling the districts that they cannot win against the Capital and that a cease-fire is the only way out." he says shortly.
I chuckle a little, "But they do have a chance, don't they. That's why you're so scared of them, otherwise you wouldn't be making me do this. You know they outnumber you, you know they can do this. And I have news for you, no speech you make me recite is going to change their minds. It's too late-"
"Enough!" Snow's voice booms out, making me jump. I've rarely seen him lose hold of his cool exterior. "You will recite this speech exactly as it is written. It is now your job to change the districts mind. Any objections to this will carry severe consequences."
He sets the paper with the speech on it on the table and leaves the room.
I pick it up and glance over it. Again, it's Peeta that makes me decide to go through with the speech. I can't risk him being hurt. So until I know he is safe, I have to do as Snow says.
I am led to a backstage area where I see Caesar Flickerman onstage giving updates on what is going on in the districts. From what I hear, they are doing pretty well. Apparently my district isn't the only one they've bombed though.
"And now we have a surprise for all of you out there. Your Mockingjay is here with a special message for you." Caesar says with a solemn face. He holds out his hand to welcome me onstage. I feel sick to my stomach but I go onstage, the piece of paper Snow gave me still clutched in my fist.
"Katniss," Caesar asks, "Do you have any thought on the current rebellion sweeping through the districts?"
I nod, and start to force the words out of my dry mouth, "Yes Caesar. I think that before all of you out there in the districts go through with this rebellion, you need to think about what it will mean for all of us. The Capital outnumbers you, so many will die if we go to war. Is it really worth losing all those lives to overthrow a system that has been working diligently for 75 years? If we don't all lay down our weapons, we will drive our own race to extinction."
"So you are calling for a cease-fire?" Caesar asks me, looking slightly confused.
I nod, "I think that would be best for everyone." I say.
Caesar wraps up the program and as he does I catch Snow's eye in the audience. He nods and gives me a cold smile. Apparently I've done well. At least well enough to avoid any punishments he may have had in mind.
The next day I am called back into the interrogation room. Something is different though. There is a TV screen in there again, which scares me. He's already convinced me that most of my family and friends are dead, what else is he going to do?
"I thought we watch another video today to try to jog your memory." Snow says cheerfully once I am again strapped into my chair.
The screen lights up and I see Peacekeepers dragging someone into a room that I've never seen before. Then everything starts to come into focus as I see the gallows in the center of the room. They are about to execute someone. The guards throw the man onto the floor and that's when I see who it is.
Cinna.
"No!" I yell, "You can't do this. None of this is his fault!"
"We won't have to if you just answer the questions." Snow says calmly.
Tears are streaming down my face now, "I don't know anything. I promise. Please don't do this." I say quietly.
"Very well." Snow says as he turns his attention back to the screen.
I can barely watch through the thick tears but I do. And as I watch, my stylist and friend is executed.
"We have more Miss Everdeen." Snow says.
"Why are you doing this. Why don't you just torture me. He didn't cause any of this, my district didn't cause any of this. I did. Punish me." I say.
"We will get there eventually, but for now I think these videos are serving their purpose." he says.
A couple of days later I am led back into a room with President Snow.
"I think that the time has come for more drastic measures. Clearly you aren't willing to talk anytime soon so I think it's time to tell you a little but about what has been going on."
I don't say anything. Maybe he is going to tell me who he is holding captive.
"The rebels are in District 13, which still exists underground. These rebels include some of you so-called friends. Finnick Odair for example was one of the people behind what happened in the arena. So was your mentor."
I shake my head, "Haymitch would have told me. He couldn't have been a part of this."
"Open you eyes Miss Everdeen. You put your trust in people that weren't trustworthy. They left you in the arena even though you were the one to blow it up."
"They didn't do that on purpose." I say quickly.
"Really?" Snow asks, "Then why are Beetee and Finnick safe in 13 while you are here?"
"They were rescued?" I ask in disbelief. I was so close to Beetee when the arena blew up, how could they have rescued him but didn't have time for me?
"You aren't as important to this rebellion as you thought Miss Everdeen. Not only did they leave you, they moved on to rescue someone else."
"Who?" I ask carefully.
"Peeta Mellark." Snow says.
I let out a sigh of relief but then I start to grow suspicious. On the one hand I am thankful that Peeta is safe and not in the hands of the Capital. On the other hand, District 13 seemed to rescue only those who knew something about the rebellion. Was Peeta included in that group?
Snow seems to sense my uneasiness about all of this and begins talking again, "Once again Miss Everdeen, you have put your trust in the wrong person. Not only is Peeta safe, he is now helping the rebels in District 13 shoot propaganda spots to egg on rebellion. It seems he knew about this rebellion a lot longer than you thought." he pauses for a minute and when I remain silent he says, "Now with that thought in mind, I want you to watch something.
He directs my attention to the TV screens and footage starts playing from the first games. I look at Snow in confusion but he just tells me to watch so I turn back to the screen. As I do, I feel a guard injecting something into my arm.
Suddenly I am on edge. I am startled by everything that happens on the screen and I feel a suspicion growing inside me that I can't shake. We get to a point in the first night when Peeta goes back to kill the girl from District 8. I thought I remembered from watching it the first time that he did it quickly but watching it now, he seems to take more joy in doing it then i had originally thought. He draws it out longer and takes greater pleasure when his blade finally sinks into her chest. I shake my head trying to clear it but I can't. Suddenly the footage is cut off.
The suspicion doesn't fade though. Instead, it only grows stronger. I feel a little bit dizzy as I try to comprehend what i just watched, "What did you do to me?" I asked Snow.
"Nothing. We just helped you see him for what he really is." Snow says with a smile.
My head is spinning. I bend over and vomit all over the floor but the dizziness still won't fade. The guards lead me shakily back to my cell where I collapse onto my cot.
Was that footage real? Did Peeta really do that to that little girl. I shake my head. No, it must have been the stuff they injected into me. Peeta wouldn't do that. But no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise, my brain is replaying the footage over and over in my head. And every time it just gets worse, Peeta gets more violent. I can't make it stop.
What is happening to me?
Alright so that's it for this chapter. I'm sure you can gather what Snow is starting to do to her. I always figured that it would start more slow and he would gradually build it up to make her thought worse and worse. this is just the beginning. I'm sorry I haven't updated in a few weeks but I really appreciate the reviews. We got 2 the first chapter and 3 the second. Can we go for 4 this time?
Here are review responses from last time:
Tacolover3000: Thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time to read and review all my stories. Glad you are enjoying it :)
Guest: Thanks! Hope you like the update!
spectrum700: Thank you! I love longer reviews and yours actually inspired to me to sit down and write this chapter because for a few weeks I was just too busy to do it. So glad you are enjoying the story and I hope you like this chapter just as much!