kill for your love - the hunger games

(058) but what did that say about juniper?

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KILL FOR YOUR LOVE.

act three.

(chapter fifty-eight, but what did that say about juniper?)

the cells / the lab, 75 ADD.

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JUNIPER HALE'S EYES SNAPPED open as she sat up quickly, feeling her entire rib cage collapse in her chest. It was like she was choking on thin air and she was so sure that she was. There was a torturous pain in her side still and the Hale woman tried to inhale through her nose. She was lightheaded and could barely see around the cells. 

But the only thing on her mind was Orion Hale. She thought to his wrinkles that caressed his skin, to the grey strands that illuminated his hair, and the deep patches etched underneath his eyes. And she thought to his pained face. How he looked exhausted. Tired. Destroyed. 

Eighteen-year-old Juniper Hale was so sure her father had blamed her for everything. She was so sure of it. The man couldn't even look at her without wincing. He always blanched and nausea would rise. He had to look away from her whenever he glanced at her. And it petrified eighteen-year-old Juniper Hale. It had her terrified that he blamed her because she was so sure that he did. But she didn't hate him for it, for she blamed herself too, but he was her father. 

But Lucy had assured her he didn't. The woman stated that the man was grieving, mourning over his dead son and to give him time. To give herself time. That the aftermath of someone's Games were never easy, that it affected everyone and not just the Victor. And the older woman had told her that eventually it got better. The pain would numb, not disappear, but numb. Juniper persuaded herself to believe her, even if it was for a short period of time. 

Lucy Stevens.

Juniper could feel herself be torn apart inside. She didn't know what it was, but something was eating her apart, ripping away her soul with its bare teeth. The Hale woman feared it was the darkness. She didn't want the darkness to get her, to make her succumb to it, but she could feel its finger-like tendrils scraping towards her on the tiled floor. 

She could feel herself falling apart. 

Looking around the cells, Juniper found that it was just her, Peeta Mellark, and Annie Cresta. Johanna Mason's cage was empty and suddenly, the Hale woman's ears picked up the sound of gurgled screams echoing past the metal doors. Juniper clenched her jaw at the sound of them, clamping her eyes shut. The Capitol was tearing them all apart. Except for Annie. 

Annie. 

Juniper snapped her head to the side to see the girl sitting cross-legged. Her eyes were wide open, but not with fear or terror. They were just open and she was staring into the distance. Juniper did a quick study of her and concluded that she didn't look hurt. More skinnier than ever, but not hurt or tortured. That was a good thing. Juniper knew she would fail everything she believed in if she let the Capitol lay a finger on Annie. 

Sighing, the woman turned to look at Peeta. He was curled up in a tight ball in the corner of his cell and he looked completely destroyed. Juniper could see the outline of his bones. His brows were twisted in pain. Tears ran down his sunken cheeks. His flesh was painted in dirt. The Hale woman winced as she noticed the terrible tremors that ran through him.