Forever In The Games- Book 3 ON HOLD

Chapter Three

Peeta didn't return to his cell last night. I didn't receive any sleep last night. And Johanna didn't stop screaming last night. 

Where have they taken Peeta? What are they doing to Johanna? What torture techniques are they using this time? These thoughts swirl my mind, as I cuddle myself in the corner of my damp and cold cell. Seriously, you'd think they'd at least give us a bit of heat. 

I hadn't received any type of meal since I was taken after the Games, and I only had the dirty water that dripped from above. I'd wait for there to be a decent puddle to drink from before taking advantage of it. And if I was in desperate need, I'd use it to wash the wounds I'd gain fighting the peacekeepers on the way back from God knows where. 

A light buzz sounds from outside my cell, and I hear the cogs let out a sigh, as though they've been holding a heavy force, and slides open. As I push myself up with the wall for support, a metal table on wheels is pushed into my room. Four men run and grab me, but I put up no resistance. 

Heaving my skinny body up, they smack me down on the metal table, and I grit my teeth with the pain shooting around my back. They lock my arms to either side of me, and my legs together, so I'm in a religious cross position. Only when they bring through another machine do I know what's going on.

Any association of the Mockingjay or Eagle symbol are forbidden. Snow's words replay over and over in my mind. Of course he'd send out such a frightful warning. 

"Now, if you keep still" A man pulls a mask over his mouth, and brings, what looks like, a torch closer to my collarbone "this shouldn't hurt" 

But of course I knew he  was lying. The heat of the torch just centimetres away from my skin felt like I was melting, and it's not even turned on. 

But when it does turn on, I scream louder than I've ever screamed before. My collarbone feels like it's being shattered into millions of pieces, and then each piece being individually being blown up by a burning explosion. I feel the laser trace over the outline of my eagle, but I know that's only the beginning. My throat feels dry by the time they'd finished one wing.

"Can you try not to scream?" The man asks "You're really hurting my ears" 

"You little-" But a Peacekeeper grabs hold of my greasy hair, lifts my head, and smacks it back down onto the table. I let out a small squeak, and close my eyes, tears slowly spilling down. 

The laser slowly moves around the outline, and I actually attempt not to scream. But it doesn't last long. A minute maybe? I feel liquid spill from my upper body. This clearly wasn't a professional laser, more like the fraud that's copied the original design, and created a cheaper version, one that will hurt so much more. 

"Alright!" The fraud steps back, staring down at his masterpiece. But I can't see him properly through my blurred vision. I feel numb, I can't move, the pain has made its way around my body, fighting and defeating the only strength I have left "turn her over" 

They unleash my hands and legs, and twist my body, so I'm facing the floor. They tear my shirt off, and focus on the Mockingjays on my back. They're silent for a small moment, before some scuffle out of the room to get more equipment. 

"Oh shut up!" The man behind the mask groans, as the laser pierces into my back "I really could do with some quiet from you"  

I grit my teeth, but even doing that, I still manage to ignore his wishes, and scream until my throat chokes for air. Through my screams, I hear the man continue to shout at me. But I don't care anymore. I just want it to end. I want the pain, and torture to stop. I want Peeta to be safe. I want no more death, or violence. I just want to go.