I push and shove and kick and try to get free.
"Johanna!" Finnick exclaims, only a second before stronger and bigger hands grab him. They tape my mouth shut with duct tape and handcuff me like I'm being arrested. But I did nothing wrong!
I can't see well as they shove me into a car with blacked out windows. I know Finnick's being pushed in as well, because I can hear him trying to fight them off.
My thoughts are muddled by my panic when the hands grabbed at me. It reminded me of the Games, like someone was grabbing me, attempting to kill me. At that moment, that could even be true, because I'm in the Capitol. And the Capitol is messed up.
I didn't do anything wrong, I think to myself, and I manage to pull one of my hands out off the cuffs. I reach over using only my sense of touch and a bit of eyesight to find Finnick. I touch his hand and he closes it, though his are still tightly chained into the handcuffs.
No, again, nothing romantic. But this isn't what we were planning on doing. We were ambushed, and we don't know whats going on. So, yes, that is why I'm doing this. I regain my eyesight fully soon and just as I can see everything crystal clear, the guard-people pull me out and drag me somewhere I don't know. We are already inside the building, having been in some sort of huge garage.
Finnick shouts and, with only his one foot, brings down a guard, but another quickly replaces him. I shake my head at him to indicate it's no use.
They push us into a room and I slam against the wall. There's a guard standing in the corner, of course.
"Johanna Mason," He says, looking me up and down. Then he turns to Finnick. "Ah, Finnick Odair. Please, have a seat." You may think it was kind, if he didn't have such a cold tone. I glance at him, his black hair and suit. Sunglasses and earpiece. The perfect guard look.
"Thank you, Maurice," Another man says, and swivels his chair around so he can look at us. He dismisses Maurice and I just stare.
Finnick's eyes widen. "President Snow?" He blurts out. "Why are we here?"
"Ah, Finnick. How are you?" He says, a hint of sarcasm, and a lot of sneakiness. "Please, do not ask any questions. I have something to show you." He turns towards a large screen in the corner. With his back facing us, Finnick and I take the second to exchange a glance: A fearful, nervous, and angry one.
Snow clicks a button on the screen and Finnick and I show up. The date in the corner is today's date! And Finnick and I are on the Fourth floor of the training center!
"You record us?" I shout.
"Johanna, can you please explain to me what you mean by we'll do it when you say it here...hmm?" He asks, leaning towards me. "Are you, perhaps, planinng on taking down the Capitol with the other Victors. Possibly a few outsiders?"
I look him straight in the eye. "No. It's Finnick and I. We made our own group to try and take down the Capitol this morning. On our way to swimming today minutes after the video was taken, we changed our minds, saying how the Capitol is so kind to us and we were being silly."
Snow places his fingers lightly on his desk. "Finnick, how are the Peacekeepers "horrible people who'd never try to protect you?" They are there to keep your district in line. Did you know that? I'm sure you did. And judging by the fact I haven't had to kill anymore of your family, they are doing a fine job, aren't they?"
Finnick takes a deep breathe but holds his ground. Finnick and I, we know each other. And one thing I know right now is that neither of us will ever swallow our pride and spit out what he wants us to say.
"Keeping the District in line for 74 years? What a feat," He says sarcastically. "My district isn't planning on being rebellious. So chill."
"Yes, as well as mine. We are being very good!" I exclaim, and force myself to smile like a priss.
"Yes. The rest of your districts. You two have a lot of guts."
"So do you," I spit out. I can feel Finnick's eyes on me, but I don't dare turn to look at him. Instead, I challenge President Snow with my eyes. The look he's giving me reminds me of the look Hensa gave me before she almost killed me.
Out of force of habit, my hand jams into my pocket and I grip the knife tightly. A pocket knife. I flip it open and hold the edge tight to my skin. By the feeling, I know that my hand is covered in my thick, red blood. I'd know how blood feels more than most people. Especially the Capitol freaks, who cry when they stub their toe.
President Snow looks at me like I'm crazy now. "Johanna, I've heard you signed up for rehab. Is this rumor true?"
"Yes," I say flatly, and the subject drops.
"Have fun tonight," He says to each of us, and hands us a packet of at least six pages.
"What are these?" I ask, flipping through them. All of the pages are filled with men and their names.
"Oh, why, that's your list of visitors for this week, until the Hunger Games are over."
There are over a hundred men on this list. "How am I supposed to get all these guys to fit in?" I manage to choke out.
"Two at a time. Many in a night. You're very bright, Johanna. You'll figure out a way."
Finnick looks up. His packet is very large. His eyes are full of bewilderment, of some type of hate I've only seen once before.
I pull my knife out without thinking and launch myself at the President of our country. I wipe my blood off my thumb and wipe it on his fancy white shirt. As I'm getting ready to kill him myself, he shouts a command and five guards burst through the door immediatly.
They pull me off, and I shove the knife back in my pocket before they can take it.
"Get them out of here," Snow snarls.
And as the guards pull me and Finnick out of the room and click the door shut, I sigh, and my head is pounding, and I turn around and I look at the room one more time.
I'll be back here. By myself. I'll get him all by myself.