kill for your love - the hunger games

(056) the evilness of darkness

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KILL FOR YOUR LOVE.

act three.

(chapter fifty-six, the evilness of darkness)

the cells / the lab, 75 ADD.

(tw: mentions & attempts of suicide)

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IT WAS LIKE PRESIDENT Snow was in the cell. The poisonous stench of his white roses wafted around. His venomous eyes seemed to be watching her through the security camera. It was like he was in the cell, standing and waiting. But what was he waiting for?

Juniper Hale didn't know as she jolted up suddenly. There was a pain that caressed every part of her being. Her ribs were roaring with agony as new, splotchy bruises were painted on her skin. Her limbs were trembling as slight tremors ran through. Blood was dried up in her hair and was splattered on some parts of her skin. Juniper was sure some of her teeth were cracked. But other than the physical injuries that were present, Juniper could feel her head pounding with one name. Cashmere Nicholo.

She had dreamt of Cashmere Nicholo. She had dreamt of the last time she was with a customer. Why had she dreamt of Cashmere Nicholo? Juniper felt responsible for her death, she knew that already, so why had she dreamt of her? The Hale woman groaned slightly as she laid on the tiles. Every emotion, every memory that involved Cashmere Nicholo came flashing past and Juniper remembered a saying she had told herself. 

They were two sides of a coin. Together, but never facing each other. They couldn't face each other. How the two women were in undesirable conditions, which brought them together. How if Juniper didn't have strong, brick walls protecting her heart, Cashmere Nicholo would have meant the world to her. 

And the Hale woman could feel those walls tumbling ever so slightly. She could feel her defences being ripped down strategically, the chest in her heart spilling open. And she didn't know why. She didn't want them to, but they were. And now, even the mention or thought of Cashmere Nicholo, the girl that was dead, threatened to prick tears into Juniper's eyes. There wasn't going to be another Cashmere Nicholo. But she didn't want another version of Cashmere Nicholo. Juniper just wanted her. 

But she was dead. 

The Hale woman, gritting her teeth at the extreme flashes of pain that ran through her, sat up and leaned against the wall of her cell. She looked around to see Annie Cresta curled up in a ball, muttering something to herself. The girl from Four looked petrified as her eyes were wide, hands covered over her ears. She looked skinnier than she did before. Juniper thought Johanna said food was coming back.

Shaking her head, the Hale woman looked over to the cell next to her to find it empty. Johanna was gone. It had to be morning then. Juniper clenched her jaw as she could hear faint gurgles coming past the metal door. But then, looking over at Peeta, she found him to be pacing up and down his cell. His head was in his hands and his legs trembled. Even he looked skinnier and the Hale woman was sure there were more vicious bruises on his dirty, yellow skin. What had happened? 

The Hale woman closed her eyes momentarily to gather her thoughts when suddenly, she heard a timid yet rough voice speak out, "Juniper..." 

Looking to her right, Juniper saw Peeta staring at her. His eyes were filled with terror and sorrow. Something had happened, the Hale woman was sure of it. But what? Had the rebels finally done something? Was the Capitol failing at whatever they were attempting?