"I have something to discuss with you," Harper watches me carefully through chocolate brown eyes; eyeing my every move. I don't like the way she watches me, as if I am unpredictable. I breathe out slowly know that is exactly what I am. I cannot even formulate my next move half of the time.
"Then start talking," I say sharply as the elevator begins to move. I am curious to know what it is Hunter's District partner could want with me; the mentally unsound tribute of District 4.
She sees the power you posses Zane. They all saw what you are capable of back in the training hall. They all saw that glimmer of madness gleaming in the reflection of your eyes. They want to use that to their advantage; they want power on their side.
Power what a peculiar thing it really is once you let your mind wrap around the idea of it. It is something we all crave even if we deny it. I crave power, but for a different reason. I crave the power to silence the voices that continuously whisper through the depths of my mind. I wonder if that amount of power is even out there and if it is how can I get it into my clutches.
"After the little scene downstairs the rest of the careers and I excluding Hunter started talking," She presses her lips together into a thin line as if she is trying to choose her next words carefully. "I personally have been strung up on the first words you ever spoke to us about how Hunter as our leader would only drive us into the ground and in reality you proved that today. He is too rash with his decisions and would most likely get us all killed by the end of the first day," She glances over at me trying to see if I understand what she is getting at.
"And what does this have to do with me?" I ask her not sure if I want to hear the answer or not.
"We saw the raw power you seem to posses and we want you to be the leader of the career pact," She says simply as the elevator comes to a halt. I remain silent as I allow her words to sink in. They don't make much sense to me; how could they want me as the leader? They have seen my metal breakdowns; they have seen how little control I have yet they want me as they leader. I shake my head lightly as the elevator doors open.
The pair from District 12 stands there frozen to the ground as they realize who is behind the elevator doors. The boy tries to appear brave as he takes a step forward.
"What do you think you're doing?" Harper snaps at him.
"I'm getting into the elevator what does it look like I'm doing?" He stands tall with his District partner at his side. It is tributes like this who will be the first to go; the ones who cross the careers even if it is only a simple confrontation such as this never last very long.
I cross my arms over my chest and lean against the wall as I gaze at the District 12 pair danger clearly playing across my features. "Do you really think that is the wisest move you should be making?" I say to the boy coolly.
I observe as he bites his lip softly and before he can respond the girl takes a hold of his arm pulling him back a step. "Maybe we should just take the next elevator," She whispers softly to him.
"You should listen to your girlfriend there District 12 as she seems to be the smart one out of the pair of you," Harper comments a small smirk tugging at her lips.
"Although neither of you seem to posses much intelligence as you are both still standing here," I say and at these words a small laugh escapes Harper's mouth. The District 12 tributes just stare at us loathing reflected in their eyes as the elevator doors shut once more casting us back into silence.
"Pathetic are those lot; they really believe they stand a chance against those of us who are trained," Harper says as she rolls her eyes.
"They will get what's coming to them once we are thrown into the arena," I glance upwards at the ceiling already craving to see the sky once again. I long to be casted beneath the crystal blue canvas with seemingly no end.
"And this would be why we want you as the leader. I realize there is something a little off about you, but I can tell you have the capacity to destroy lives."
"I'm already in an alliance," I state; I refuse to leave Scarlet behind.
"You mean your District partner? We figured you two would come as a package deal, but I promise you if she slows us down even the slightest bit," Harper allows the threat to hang in the air around us as the elevator climbs down to the District 1 floor.
"If any of you are to even lay a finger on her I will end you in the most horrific way imaginable," I say casually as if I was talking about the weather instead of uttering threats.
"Like I said as long as she doesn't slow us down we won't have that problem."
"And what about Hunter?" I ask her.
"I'll tell him he's out of the alliance as I highly doubt he will want to be allies with you and then we kill him during the bloodbath as he still is a threat to us." How easily the plans for the backstabbing of her District partner spill from her lips. How quickly the tables have turned for Hunter who once stood as the leader of the strongest alliance in these Games as now his allies plot against him using me to help plan his downfall.
"Besides Scarlett being a part of this alliance I have one other condition that has to be agreed upon if I am to join," I say to her as my own mind begins working out its own plans; its own plans to get myself and Scarlett to the top.
"And that would be?"
"I am the one who gets to end Hunter's life," I say firmly not giving her much say in the matter.
"You can have his life," The elevator opens and she steps out turning to face me one last time. "We are all meeting on the roof tomorrow morning to discuss our new strategy; you and Scarlett are both to be there," With that the elevator doors close leaving me alone. I press the button for the District 4 floor needing to speak with Scarlett.
How interesting things seem to have become in these wicked games we play. More people on our side we have gained; more people who will be closer to us easier for us to strike down when they are unguarded. Plotting out those three others deaths who have welcomed you into their alliance against their better judgement will surely regret this seemingly wise decision. They know something is off about you, but if only they knew what was truly wrong.
"Stop saying us," I growl at myself under my breath.
And why would we do that? Whether you like it or not Zane we are a part of you; we always have been and we always will be. Don't bother continuing to fantasize about the day that we vanish lost among the howls of the wind as a day like that will never be brought to light.
I curse quietly at myself as the elevator doors slide open revealing the elegant floor that homes the District 4 tributes. Although the Capitol would never admit it the floors meant for the careers are better furnished then those floors that belong to the lower Districts. They would never fathom the idea of making their favoritism for the career Districts so belatedly obvious.
I walk across the carpeted floor and stand just outside Scarlett's bedroom door. I raise my hand to knock against the dark wood of the door, but stop myself; I stand there as if frozen in time for the briefest of moments as a single thought ripples across my mind. What if she doesn't want to see me?
Zane you need to go back to your old ways of not caring. Don't you remember how much simpler life was when you detached yourself from the world; drifting in and out of the day as if you were a lost soul.
As simple as it seemed I still felt nothing but numbness that went hand in hand with the loneliness that stretched its way through my entire being. Before they can stop me I knock lightly on Scarlett's door. I wait for what seems like hours, but in reality are only a few minutes. I am about to leave thinking she is not there when the door opens. There she stands the image of perfection in my eyes watching me with slightly fearful eyes.
"Scarlett, I never had intentions to hurt you," I can't stop the words before they are spilling from my lips.
"The look in your eyes," She trails off as she wraps her arms around herself.
Before I can think of the consequences I reach out gently placing my hand beneath her chin lifting up her head so she is looking into my eyes. "I would never hurt you," I say firmly wanting her to know that my words are true.
She watches me closely slightly confused by my actions as never before have I personally reached out to graze my fingertips against her flesh. Lost in the moment I am; her scent washing over me intoxicating my very being.
You're starting to become weak once more Zane.
The voices continue to slither their way through my wind whispering harsh words, but they are silenced immediately the moment Scarlett's lips are on mine. I am caught off guard, but the very thought of pulling away doesn't even cross my mind. Our lips move in perfect unison as I brush my hands lightly down her sides leaving Goosebumps in their wake placing them on her waist. We walk backwards and I close the door behind us with my foot. With her arms loosely wrapped around my neck we fall backwards onto the bed my figure dwarfing her smaller form.
The taste of her lips against mine if something I have never experienced before; a sweet poison is what this is. She parts her lips slightly giving me access as I slide my tongue into her mouth intertwining our tongues in a French kiss. What brought us to this point? Perhaps it is our last final desperate attempt to feel human connection before we are lost to the world forever more. My heart hammers wildly against my chest as the beautiful girl beneath me moans softly into our kiss we seem to be afraid to break apart from. For the first time in my life the voices seem at a loss for words and have slithered away to the corner of my mind that they belong in.
I pull back slightly tugging lightly on her bottom lip as my hand slides up her shirt exploring the unknown. Never have I been this close to another person; never did the thought that I would be brought to this point ever cross my mind. I kiss lightly along her jaw line then down her neck; brushing my lips delicately along her satin smooth skin. She arches her back in response seeming lost in the sensation of pleasure.
"Zane," She moans my name quietly which sends a shiver down my spine. My breathing escalates as she places her hands on my stomach bringing them up sliding my shirt up in the process. Her hands roam my body exploring my flesh as I continue to move my lips along her collarbone with sweet delicate kisses. She rolls us over so she is position on top of me and at this movement a breathy moan escapes my lips. She sits up straight straddling me as she pulls off her shirt allowing me to gaze upon her body.
"Beautiful," I murmur quietly causing a blush to creep across her cheeks. She reaches down removing my shirt and kisses down my chest lightly causing me to arch my back towards her. She kisses her way back up to my lips brushing hers against mine with a dainty movement. She pulls back looking into my eyes; her blue orbs bearing into me seeing everything. She reaches up and traces her fingertips lightly across the scar that runs the length of my face. I recoil back at this sensation sending the seemingly perfect moment crashing down around us.
She pulls her hand back sharply as she looks down now refusing to meet my gaze, "You know I heard the stories about you, but I want to know what really happened."
I close my eyes reliving my life through the images that flicker across my closed eyelids. I reopen them looking up at her wanting to tell her my story that has gone by for many years untold.
So in the next chapter I will finally be revealing what happened to Zane in his past as bits and pieces have been told, but now it is going to become clearly known ^^ I warn you now it's not exactly what you would call a happy child hood ;D