**Warning… this chapter has bits of sexual assault, but nothing too graphic**
He towers over me. His blue eyes piercing and unforgiving. "I'm glad you're here."
"You're not supposed to be here Jem. The rules say that-"
"I don't live by their rules. I live by mine."
Oh. "And what rules do you have?"
"What I want is mine, what I want to do is legal, and people I want, belong to me." Well that's just great.
I calm my face and manage to push past him a little. "That's good for you." He grabs my arm and turns me back to face him.
"Annie, I don't think you get what I'm saying." He moves in close. "I want you Annie. Therefore, you're mine." He growls into my ear. It causes a shiver to run down my spine out of fear, but he must take it as a good sign, because the next thing I know, he's attacking my neck; sucking and biting on it.
I try to push him off. "Jem, stop." He looks at me. "I'm your ally, not some girl to screw around with."
"Of course I can screw around with you Annie. You're my ally exactly. But you're going to die, just like everyone else but me. I'm going to win this thing. Therefore, I should get whatever spoils of war I want. Besides, you're a free lady, and a pretty one at that."
"How do you know I'm free?" I challenge back.
He laughs. "It doesn't matter, whatever kind of relationship you had with some loser back home, it's done now. You're never going to see each other again, therefore, you're free."
"Please stop saying therefore."
His smile is gone. "Annie, I don't think you realize just how much I want you. I've dreamt about getting you alone in the arena and having my way with you before I kill you, but I don't think I can wait that long. You're very desirable. And now with a career worthy score, you're even more so."
"I don't think I can, um, do this with you Jem."
"Why not?"
"Well… I um…" I don't want him to know I'm a virgin, that would be bad in a situation like this. But I don't want him doing anything to me either.
"Are you into chicks?" His eyes bug out. "I never would have pegged you for that!" He takes a step back. Then looks at me again with hooded eyes and smiles. "I can work with that. I can set you straight. Make you want me." I move so that the couch is now between us.
"Jem, look, I'm not into girls that way. But I'm not into you that way either."
"You have to be into something." He sneers.
"Okay, yes I'm into boys. I'm a girl looking for a boy. But I'm not looking right now."
"You don't have much time left."
"I know that. But it's not one of my priorities right now."
He begins to walk around the couch towards me. "You know what I think. I think you're a dirty little slut who acts all innocent but is really good in bed." Trust me, I'm not. "I bet you're showing Tyler what it is to be a man because he won't make it much longer." Okay, ew. "Then there's your mentor, Finnick. Famous Finnick Odair. I hear he's really good with the ladies. Knows how to make them scream. Knows how to make their vision go white hot with pleasure. How to leave their bodies wanting more now matter how much he's already given them." I can't help it; my thoughts drift to Finnick and all these things Jem is saying about him. Can he really do all those things? Heat pools in my center and my breathing gets harsher, though I try not to let it show. On the other hand, that brings up the incident about Finnick and his lady friend from earlier. I don't know if I should feel mad, threatened or horny.
"Shup up Jem." I falter.
He smiles. "So it is Finnick. He's the one you've been sneaking around with."
"No I have not been sneaking around with him! He's my friend, it's not like that."
"Then why are you getting all hot Annie?" He laughs as I turn my red face away from him. "Finnick's doing some of my work for me and he's not even here."
I slap him. "Just go."
His eyes dilate. "You're not getting away from me that easily."
But I bolt down the hall towards my room. Jem is hot on my heels, laughing. He enjoys the chase. Good to know. However I'm not exactly enjoying this situation. I make it to my room and slam the door locking it. But that doesn't stop him. He kicks his foot through the door handle, smiling evilly.
"You can't run away from me Annie. I'll always be here."
"Jem please leave."
"You got an 8 Annie. You should be able to defend yourself." He grabs my wrists and pins them behind my back, pressing his body up against mine. "So defend yourself." Then he kisses me. His lips are forceful and sloppy. Not at all what I want near me. He smells of expensive perfumes and hair gel. I think his lips may actually have a bit of gloss on them. He backs me up until my knees hit the edge of my bed. "You're not doing a very good job." He taunts. Then he pushes me back. I try to roll over and scramble off quickly, but he grabs hold of my ankle and pulls me back towards him. A squeak releasing from my mouth. This only seems to excite him more. "That's a start." I hit him over the head. "Better." He growls smiling.
"Get off me." I say sternly. To which he grinds his core into mine. He groans loudly. My mouth curls in disgust. "Jem get off now!" I try to push him, pinch him, punch him whatever I can do." But he grabs my wrists and pins them down, kissing me again. I bite his tongue hard as he forces it into my mouth.
He jumps slightly. "Ow!" I can taste his saliva and his blood in my mouth and it's absolutely nauseating. He smacks me across the face. "Careful Annie. Push me too far and I'll lose control."
"Please Jem… Please just leave." My voice shaky.
"I can't leave something unfinished." He grinds into me again groaning. My eyes feel moist. I bite the inside of my cheek to prevent them from leaking out. I can't escape this. Not without some help. His hand begins to slide up my dress on my thigh. I wiggle, trying to move away, but it doesn't work. I look away from his face when his hand comes to my underwear. I know I'm wet. As much as I don't want him on me, my body can only resist so much. "Ohhh Annie. You do want me." He smiles rubbing it harder. It hurts. A tear leaks out and makes it's presence known on my cheek. I close my eyes. He reaches up and wipes it away. "Annie. There's no need for that." He has the nerve to kiss my forehead gently like an actual lover.
"Jem. Please." I manage to say without crying. My throat is sticky and my head is spinning, not knowing what to do; whether or not it should reject these bodily actions or encourage them. "I'll scream."
Jem pauses for a moment taking that in. "There's no one on your floor to hear you." He grinds into me once again and takes a moment to rub me through my underwear once again, quite roughly. I flinch in pain slightly before responding. I wish he would stop, please just stop. This is so embarrassing and humiliating.
"The floors aren't sound proof." I think. But he seems to buy this; he moves off of me slightly and looks up at the ceiling. I can see the gears turning in his head as he considers this possibility. "I'll tell someone. You can't exactly tell me that you'll kill me if I do, because you may kill me anyway in the arena. Really, nothing is stopping me from naming you as the one giving me pre-game bruises. Which now that I think about it, is really against the rules isn't it?" I manage to smirk at him.
He looks a little flustered. "And if no one believes you?"
"Finnick will." He seems angered when I say his name. He actually grips my wrists tighter and forces his lips back to mine. Finnick wouldn't be like this. He would be furious if he found us in this position.
Jem's hand that has been groping me down there suddenly hikes my dress up, exposing myself to him as much as my underwear will allow. "He won't get his chance with you. I'll take you all for myself in the arena. No one will be around to stop me then." Then he smiles quite darkly and says. "We'll make a show out of it."
"Like Hell you will." A gruff voice says. Next thing I know Jem is being yanked backwards off the bed, and more importantly off me.
Jem lands on the ground with a loud "Ooff!" I'm scrambling to fix my dress over my violated private areas while Jem is being picked up by his collar by the man who yanked him off me. The same man who hasn't left my head since this morning. Finnick.
He has Jem by the throat pinned against the wall. I bring my knees up to my chest once my dress is in place. I don't look either of them directly in the face. Jem's face is starting to turn purple and his feet are kicking. I didn't realize just how tall Finnick was until this; until Finnick is holding an 18 year old by his throat who still isn't as tall as him with his feet off the ground. When did he get that tall?
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't have your sorry ass executed for breaking the rules." Finnick growls at Jem, who's eyes are starting to bug out of his head, fear rising, like Finnick may actually kill him, and he knows it.
Jem makes a choking sound, like he tries to answer, but all that comes out is gurgling.
"Finnick…" My voice comes out in an extremely soft tone. His head whips over to me, taking in my new defensive position pointed towards both of them. The look on his face is murderous, but his eyes soften when his eyes take me in. I didn't realize it before, but tears had been running down my cheeks; I quickly wipe them away.
Finnick sighs and his grip on Jem loosens. Now he just hauls Jem, struggling to catch his breath, out of my room by his collar, closing my door behind them. It is fairly sound proof once the door is closed, apart from the slight crack where the handle should be; Jem's foot impression left it's mark. But I don't want to be here on this bed. I can't help but think Jem is going to come right back through.
I run to my adjoining bathroom and dive into the shower. Huddling in a small ball in the corner. The tile floor the most interesting thing in the world. The water is scalding hot. I know my skin will be red after this but right now, I don't want to feel anything.
Now that Jem is out of my sight, I feel like collapsing into nothing. I tried to be brave in front of Jem and show him that I won't back down that easily, but now that he's gone, I can feel myself breaking. My vision is completely white. The only thing I hear is the water hitting me, then hitting the ground. My mind keeps replaying the recent events in my head over and over and over. Jem on top of me. Jem kissing me. Jem feeling me. Jem hurting me. Jem promising to do the same or worse in the arena.
It isn't until I feel hands prying my own fingers from digging into my arms that I realize I'm not alone. My nails have actually left impressions in my arms, some bloody. I didn't even notice… How is that possible? You'd think I would have felt that. But the hands that now hold mine, rub their thumbs across the top of my hands in a soothing motion. A body presses up against mine and holds me close, actually they pick me up and hold me in between their legs, wrapping their arms around me. I already know who those arms belong to. They taught me how to swim years ago.
The only thing he says is my name. "Annie." Softly, but like a prayer. He doesn't ask me if I'm okay. He doesn't ask if there's anything he can do to make it better. Because he knows the answers to both. No, I'm not okay. And he's already doing the only thing that could ever make me feel better, just by holding me.
My body eventually relaxes into his grasp. I don't know how long we've been here, but I don't want to be anywhere else. I know it's much later than it was. I know everyone is probably back on the floor. I don't know where Jem is. I faintly hear the sound of a door opening, a nearby door. I flinch instinctively. Finnick pauses, taking in my new tenseness, I hear his voice, but not what he says. Then the door closes and whoever was there is gone. I relax once more.
His body heat is warm, much more desirable than the scalding water. I find myself burrowing into him as much as I can. I feel his arms around me, loving and tender. One of his hands rubs my back in small circles, and he begins to hum. It's a gentle rhythm; one that I can't quite place, but sounds familiar all the same. His body begins to rock slightly and he rests his head on top of mine. My eyes begin to close, relaxing even more. The sound of his humming and the rocking is making me tired. Perhaps it's best if I were unconscious at this moment.
I slowly drift out, Finnick's hum stuck in my head. Just before I'm out completely, I feel Finnick pick me up bridal style, kiss my forehead and walk out of the shower.
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