Hearing Damage

Snow was falling from the sky. Summer snow from the mountains. It was being blown in flurries. Metal on metal screeched through the air. Military boots thumped against the ground. The sky was black. Night had fallen over the Capitol but 20 stories up on the flat roof of the PSO a jet roared to a start. Adric flipped the collar of his uniform up. It was different than the decorative one, strictly for combat. His hazel eyes peered out across the city lights. His nose and cheeks were bitten by the sudden cold. A few flakes rested on his lashes and hair. 10 hours left.

Seven panted at his side. He had a hold on the leather leash but it didn't seem like it was necessary. The wolf diligently stayed next to him. Its ears perked up at the sound of the jet and military. It's blue eyes gazed out at the city, just like Adric's. Pandora had received Seven only a few short weeks before but it had grown fast. Although it wasn't full grown yet it was still rather large. Large enough to do what Adric had in mind.

"Officer Pedersen!"

A loose strand of hair fell across his forehead as he turned around to see a pilot.

"We're leaving in 5 minutes."

He tightened his jaw. Without smiling he nodded, "Thank you."

Although there was no true way to be sure that the Hydra-Dam was Pandora's location, Adric could feel it in his bones. He simply knew it. There was no way of explaining that to anyone. His fingers coolly rubbed against the leash. A memory of the puddle of blood in the storage room and Pandora's beaten face in the video sobered him further. If the Hydra-Dam wasn't the right hunch then there was a good chance she would die, and it would be on his head. He sniffed loudly. The scent of snow was heavy. It was a risk he was willing to take.

He barely had to tug the leash to get Seven to follow him. Soldiers marched by nodding to him and staring wide-eyed at the wolf, but Adric didn't acknowledge them. His eyes were cold and firm. His skin was like steel.

"Adric!"

The voice stopped him in his tracks. He turned to face Mironov. The doctor looked out of place surrounded by the soldiers. In his hands was a case.

"Yes?" The wind cloaked his voice.

Mironov took the short steps to Adric and looked up at his face, "This is for you."

Adric stared at the case for a split second before grabbing it.

"It's a device I designed. It will render any gun useless within a 1000-foot radius for several minutes. Should give you some time. I'm guessing these rebels don't have the training the Capitol soldiers do."

"Simple to use?"

Mironov smiled, "Just push the red button."

Adric didn't smile, "Thanks, Viktor."

He cringed when he felt Mironov place his hand on his shoulder, "Look at me."

Immediately Adric shifted his eyes and blinked.

"You'll get her back."

"I know I will, Viktor."

"You will," he repeated.

"Just for you. Just so you can experiment on her like an animal."

"Adric—"

"Save it," He snapped, narrowing his eyes, "You make me sick."

Adric tried to walk away but Mironov grabbed his wrist.

"Let go of me, Viktor."

"What I've done—what I've had and will have to do is not how I want it to be. There are things you don't understand."

Adric stared off into the distance and let out a dark laugh, "I do though, Viktor. I understand that she trusted you and you drugged her. I don't need to know what it's for. I already know enough. You aren't fit to take care of her."

"Not now. You hear me, Adric? You have to remain calm and clear headed. Don't let your emotions get in the way. She could die if you aren't careful. I care for her. I do. There are things to come that I won't forgive myself for, but she is lost now. She needs you."

"If you don't let go of my wrist right now I will break your neck so fast no one will be able to stop me," Adric dropped his eyes to the doctor's face, "And you know I can, Viktor. You've seen me do it."

Shock disrupted the wrinkles on Mironov face but he still hesitated to back down. When he finally let go he sadly looked away.

Adric had just reached the ramp when he heard Mironov again.

"Don't be afraid! You will get her back!"

His chest tightened as he continued to walk and pursed his lips. He could feel the jet humming as soon as he stepped on. Most of the squad was already inside, buckling up for the bumpy ride. Pilots were checking operations.

"What are you doing with that thing?"

It was the squadron leader. At first Adric assumed he was talking about the case in his hands but when he looked up he realized that he was asking after the wolf.

"He's coming with us."

"No—absolutely not."

"Yes, he is."

"On whose authority?"

"Mine."

"What good will a wolf do?" The squadron leader was angry now.

"This wolf is familiar with Miss Sullivan's scent, if she's at the Hydra-Dam it will find her. Also you'll notice those nice sharp things we call teeth and claws."

The leader wrinkled his aged brow and glared at Adric for several heartbeats. Adric never looked away. Finally in agreement he scoffed and motioned towards a seat.

"Buckle up, Pedersen. Want a chew toy for the puppy?"

The whole jet erupted in laughter. The ramp closed. He felt the jet take off as soon as he fastened his seatbelt. With a blast they flew into the sky. He checked the bullets in his gun and cleared his throat. Seven howled.

The Hydra-Dam was vast. Its spine stretched across 10 miles of lake and land. At night red and green interchanging lights blinked. It looked like a cement and steel fortress and in the wrong hands it could have been. Even from several miles away the roaring sound of tamed water and currents echoed. It wasn't hard to fly and land nearby unnoticed, not in the dark. They landed in the harbor of trees. With the moon as their guide the squad and Adric moved out. There were roughly 10 of them. Some were very young—even younger than Adric—others were worn and tempered. Out of habit Adric found himself watching the other soldiers, but the farther into the forest they got the harder it became. The canopy of trees was quickly cloaking the moonlight. In the stillness of the night the only one that seemed to be in their element was Seven. He sniffed the ground and whined from time to time, Adric took this as a good sign. Closer and closer they walked. Louder the sound of rushing water became. All walkies had been turned off. The squad had spread out. They were covering a mile of terrain. With one final step Adric swallowed the dryness in his mouth and pushed back the branches. His eyes focused. His feet stopped. They had reached the edge.

A few short clicks away stood the squadron leader, in his hands was the device Mironov had given Adric.

He could hear the sound of his own breath. Smell the grass and water. A quiet breeze picked up some of the water and sprayed it into the meadow. Adric felt it kiss his face before he pulled Seven back and lowered his hand to his furry head to calm his whining. In front of him was the monstrous construction. There had to be at least 100 entrances. Even looking at the blueprints Adric knew this wasn't going to be the easiest mission. Searching and, if necessary, fighting in the Hydra-Dam was like trying to solve a puzzle.

The squadron leader was the first person to enter the clearing.

Adric followed his actions.

The grass in the clearing was high. Crickets chirped in response to the stealthy line of soldiers that crept through the field. The point of entry was coming into view as Adric approached the halfway point. Soon the grass turned into gravel. He heard it crunch under his boots.

Seven sniffed the ground and growled. As Adric dropped his eyes the squadron leader reached his side.

"What is it?" he asked.

Adric squinted. His eyes danced around the ground, all the way to the door.

"He smells something. The ground—" he looked at the leader, "It's been disturbed."

"Could be workers."

Slowly Adric pulled out his gun, "Let's not take any chances. You first, sir."

The leader smiled and let out a whistle that could have been mistaken for a bird's. Immediately the rest of the team started to scatter. Only 5 other soldiers stayed with them, the rest disappeared to their planned positions.

"Don't mind if I do."

The door gave way with a rusty creak. Blue lights illuminated a narrow corridor. Adric's eyes lifted to the ceiling.

"Those pipes, they were the ones in the video."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded and smiled, "Never been more sure. Time to follow the bread crumbs."

Their footsteps were close to silent save for the few shallow puddles they dashed through. Adric kept an eye on the pipes. Chambers and corridors were past. Sometimes he doubted if they were going the wrong way but he didn't share his suspicions with the others. He stayed the course. Not a sound had echoed since they had entered the dam. A squirming in his gut nauseated him. He could be completely wrong. Maybe his eyes had played tricks on him, maybe Pandora wasn't even in District 1…but then it happened.

At first it was just a clanking, it blended in with the other noises of the dam. Everyone stopped. Adric pressed his back against the wall, feeling dampness creep into the fibers of his uniform. Soon the clanking loudened, soon it richened. He parted his lips. It wasn't a clanking. It was voices.

He shot the leader a look before continuing forward. Something else was happening. The dim blue lights were being washed away by something else. A warm source of light, it grew as they took one final turn. Before them was a long corridor, a metal staircase and doors. Only the last door was opened. Inside golden light glowed.

The leader nudged Adric and nodded to the stairs. He furrowed his brow in confusion. Why would they go up if the room was already on their level? The leader seemed to silently understand his expression. He grabbed a small panel from one of the accompanying soldiers and revealed the blueprints. The room in question had several points of entry, including ones from above. From the sketches it looked like there weren't only stairs into the room but ramps. Being higher would give them the advantage. Adric pursed his lips and nimbly stepped onto the staircase. Seven followed. He had been worried in the jet about how loud the wolf would be once inside the dam but Seven was even quieter than him. It was like he knew why they were here.

The voices stayed constant. That was how Adric knew the rebels hadn't caught onto them. Slices of light spilled onto the ground and walls as he approached the upper entries. He stayed with the leader as the other 3 soldiers slipped through a chamber. They were surrounding them, blocking off exits.

Adric was just close enough to catch a glimpse inside the room when he felt Seven pull on the leash and growled. He had to drag the wolf back and steady him. Whatever was inside Seven wanted to get to. It had to be Pandora.

"What was that?"

His eyes widened to the leader who was already opening the case.

"What was what?"

"I heard something—"

"It's a dam, Adler. There are all kinds of noises!"

Suddenly a moan of pain echoed through the chamber. This sent Seven squirming. Adric kept a hold on the wolf but his body went rigid. There was no doubt anymore. That was Pandora's cry of pain. He pressed his torso against the wall and peered in. The door was made of bars making it easy to see inside. The scene he saw horrified him, but more than that it fueled his anger. They had Pandora chained and suspended from the ground. She was barely touching the floor with her toes. Her face and body was beaten and bloody. After a moment of allowed horror he counted the number of rebels. 8. One of them wore glasses. He quickly identified that one as Nyx Starson.

"Not yet, Pedersen," the squadron leader whispered to him.

Nyx approached Pandora and smiled.

"8 hours—still no sign of rescue. Looks like you're just as expendable as the rest."

Pandora vocal chords struggled to make any sound, after a few rasps she gave up.

"Adler, unchain her."

She gasped as the chains around her body were loosened. It felt strange to have her feet on the ground, and stranger when she realized she couldn't find her footing. Her knees buckled instantly. She dropped to the floor like a fly. Her body looked like a bloody pile of bones.

"I wanted to give you one final gift before you meet your fate, Miss Sullivan. Something to remember us revolutionaries by."

In his hands was a metal pole but something was attached to the end. He held it inside the flames of several candles and continued to speak. Her cheek was pressed against the cold floor. She was trying to push herself up but she could barely feel her hands.

"Turn her over."

She screamed as one of the rebels flipped her over like it was nothing. Her back collided with the ground.

"Pin her arm to the ground."

"Left or right?"

Nyx was staring at the glowing metal, "Let's make it the right."

"No—" she faintly managed, but her fight was easily overpowered. Her fingers spread as the rebel extended her arm and pressed it to the ground, palm up. When Nyx pulled the pole away from the flames she realized what it was. It was a brander. Instantly she started flailing on the ground but the rebel had his knee on her chest and his hand pinning her arm down.

Above Adric glanced to the squadron leader.

"We have to do something—"

Numbers were blinking on the device's screen. It was charging, preparing.

"Not yet," he repeated.

"They're hurting her," he whispered, finding it hard to keep his voice low.

"Breathe, Pedersen, we have to be smart. If we get out of order than we won't have the upper hand." He tapped the device and nodded, "One more minute."

Pandora's huffs quickly turned into screams as she fought against the rebel holding her down. For the first time since she had been captured she looked at his face. She had only really seen Nyx, the rest were blurs. Whether it was the fear or adrenaline she suddenly felt her vision clear. She could see the rebel's features. He looked like a normal kid, he was young and yet there was darkness and malice in his eyes.

"Please—you're hurting me!"

Nyx smiled as he loomed over her. He swung the brander over her face and laughed as she closed her eyes. She could hear the metal whistling, feel the heat hovering over her face.

"Tell me, Miss Sullivan. Are you afraid?"

She struggled to open her eyes. The brander was still swinging in front of her face when she finally did, still glowing. Her breaths shook as she twitched her eyes around for a moment and trembled.

"I think she's trying to speak—" the rebel holding her down said.

"Oh?" Nyx smiled, placing his boot on her stomach, "Speak then."

She grimaced as the rage surged through her. The sudden words came out like an animalistic growl laced with spite. "When I get out of here I'm going to kill you with my bare hands!"

He laughed in amusement, as did his rebel friend.

"We'll see about that."

Abruptly the brander stopped swinging and his smile grew. She felt the metal burn her skin before it even touched her. He pressed it so hard against her tender flesh that she thought it was going straight to her bone. Her legs kicked in a rush of pain. A blood-curdling scream writhed from her lungs into the damp air.

Seven whimpered against Adric's chest.

"10 seconds," the leader whispered, "9."

Adric pulled Seven closer and narrowed his eyes. He was trying to steady his heartbeat. He had to keep his rationality. His hands reached for the gun only to put it on the ground. A gun wasn't going to be of much use now. If Mironov was right the device would disarm all guns.

"Shh—" Adric whispered to Seven, "Steady breaths."

Suddenly he could feel the weight of the blade around his belt. Felt the muscles in his back and hands. He was glad all the guns were going to be rendered useless. The rebels didn't know what pain was and he would be obliged to show them how much your body could hurt with his own two hands.

"5 seconds."

He imagined all the other soldiers preparing as he was.

"4 seconds."

Slowly he let go of Seven and pulled the door open. It creaked but the noise didn't register with the rebels who were too busy torturing Pandora.

"3 seconds."

"Stay…" he whispered to the wolf. The wolf obeyed.

"2 seconds."

Pandora let out a shrieked and threw her head back just as they let her go. She pulled her arm close to her and panted as hot tears streamed down her face. Her eyes rolled around. The pain was coursing through her body, it burned and scorched all the way to her brain—but then something strange happened. It was stranger that she noticed than that it happened. All the flames in the room suddenly went still. The air was motionless.

A prickle at the back of her neck told her something was up.

From the darkness a howl suddenly sang.

A gasp of air filled her lungs. Seven.

The rebels suddenly scattered. Pandora clutched her hand and tried to get up only to fall back down.

Soldiers were streaming into the room.

"Use your guns!" Nyx shouted.

A few tried to fire but the guns were jammed. The device had worked.

Adric jumped from a set of stairs with Seven growling to his side. The rebels may have been surprised but they organized fast.

"Adric!" Pandora wailed, she was trying to crawl to him but Nyx grabbed her legs and dragged her back.

The wall of rebels between him and Pandora muffled her scream but he still heard her. He widened his eyes and tried to run through them but they weren't giving up without a fight. Even Seven was having problems getting to Pandora.

Nyx grabbed a handful of her hair and started pulling her screaming body away from the fight. She saw the gleam of his knife as he unsheathed it. She was helpless as he dropped her to the floor and placed his hand around her throat. He lifted her body up like it was nothing. Her feet dangled in midair.

"No!" Adric roared as he left-hooked one rebel and slashed his throat with one swift motion. He couldn't keep his eyes off her. "Get away from her!"

But Nyx barely heard him, even if he did he wouldn't have listened. He lifted the knife into the air and pressed the flat surface against Pandora's face.

"Time's up," he hatefully whispered.

She tried to kick him but she couldn't move her legs. He tightened his grip around her throat and lowered the knife to her stomach. Her hands thrashed at his face and arm but he didn't stop. She started screaming in fear like a child. She knew what was going to happen before it did. The point easily sliced through her shirt, further into her skin. Searing pain hollowed out her stomach as the knife slid into her and a breathless gasp widened her lips. Her body twitched against the pain.

"No!" Adric's scream sounded like shattered glass.

As much as it hurt to feel the blade ripe through skin, muscle, and tissue it hurt even more when he pulled it out of her. Her hand clutched the wound as she landed on her feet and stumbled around for a few seconds. In mere seconds her fingers and palms were coated in thick oozing blood. She pulled them away and stared for a second of disbelief.

"Adric…" she whispered. Her eyes widened like a little girl's as she stumbled in place and looked up to him. They locked eyes. Blood dripped as she dropped.

Adric only froze for a heartbeat before rage took over. He yelled in anger and shoved one of the rebels away like a ragdoll. Nyx was making a run for it, but he wasn't moving fast enough. Adric caught up to him before he even managed to reach the door. Nyx was older but Adric was stronger. He grabbed the rebel by the collar of his shirt and tossed him against the wall, kicking him swiftly and punching him repeatedly as more yells bellowed from him. In that instant all he saw was red, all he heard was white noise. He was beating him to a pulp. His arm wrapped around Nyx's neck. He was going to snap his neck. He was going to feel all the bones break.

"Pedersen, stop!"

He bared his teeth and turned to the side. The squadron leader was walking towards him carefully.

"Get away!" he roared.

"Adric, we need him! He needs to stay alive!"

"Like hell."

"Pedersen, that's an order straight from your father! Stand down!"

His mouth was filling with acid. He wanted so badly to kill the man right there but his brain was clearing. Orders. He had to listen to orders. With flared nostrils he let go of Nyx and staggered back. His hands cupped the sides of his head as he saw some of the soldiers rush to Nyx's limp body and bind him.

"You'll be okay…" he heard someone say behind him.

His eyes shifted to the side. His body turned. One of the soldiers was leaning over Pandora's body. Seven was lying nearby whimpering.

He stumbled towards her and knelt down. When the soldier tried to pick her up Adric shove him away and narrowed his eyes, "Don't touch her."

All the blood was draining out of her face. She looked mangled and swollen. As he moved closer to Pandora her eyes opened slowly.

"Finnick?" she rasped deliriously.

"It's going to be alright," he replied, "You'll be alright."

But she was bleeding out and she was bleeding out fast. They had an hour tops before she would be gone.

He ripped a piece of his uniform off and pressed it against the knife wound. When he picked her up she winced. Her limbs wilted like flower petals. Pandora Sullivan was dying in his arms.