Peacekeepers: The 49th Annual Hunger Games

Whiplash

Mason

They broke down the doors. All I could hear from my spot in the bed was Evangeline screaming from the kitchen. I shot up, still shirtless but wearing pajama pants that hung low on my hips, and rushed down the stairs to her. Peacekeepers- four of them, all grabbing her by the arms and one of them grabbing her hair. Evangeline cried out in terror.

"Let her go!" I shouted, rushing over and prying their arms off her. Evangeline fell into my arms, which I wrapped tightly around her and held her protectively. I scowled at the other Peacekeepers.
"Don't you dare touch her."

"You have no authority on this case, Officer." An older, kinder peacekeeper from when we were younger said. "President Snow's orders."
Evangeline closed her eyes and sighed.

"I'm not letting anyone hurt her..." I glared.

"They won't," he sighed. "You will."

My knees nearly gave out from under me, my throat tightened and my stomach felt like it was going to fall out any minute now. Evangeline didn't say anything, but stared at the wall behind me, her eyes glazing over slightly in shock.

"No." I said firmly, holding Evangeline tighter. "I'm never going to hurt her."

"You have no choice. You're Head Peacekeeper. You'll lose your authority if you don't."

"May I ask what charges she's acted on?" I asked, adding as much authority as I could into my voice.

"She released a Capitol Ordered Hideaway from imprisonment." Eva closed her eyes and cursed under her breath.

"President Snow's orders. You've gotta be the one to whip her."

My breath caught in my throat as they forced the whip into my hands and tugged Eva out of my arms and tied her hands behind her back. They dragged her all the way to the square, but Eva wasn't going to fight it.

She trusted me. She knew I wasn't going to hurt her. She knew that I'd rather die than hurt her. But would I choose Eva over the authority of the District?

They shackled her into the whipping post and turned to me.

"I won't." I repeated.

"Mason. It's fine!" Eva called calmly. I stiffened and stared at her for a minute. "Just get it over with!"

I didn't stop myself from raising the whip and snapping it down on her back. She cried out in pain, but bit down on the collar of her shirt to avoid crying more. I did it again. And again. And again. Until the skin on her back was a raw lump of flesh that looked more like hamburger meat, I continued beating her. I hated every fiber of myself, but Eva made no sound after that first whimper. I knew she didn't want me to feel worse. How could she just be okay with this?! I was by far the worst boyfriend in all of history.

Okay, maybe not the worst boyfriend in history. One of the previous Games had a boyfriend and girlfriend reaped and when it was down to the two of them, he jumped on her and squeezed her throat until she suffocated. The last thing she said to him before he attacked her was 'I'm not going to kill you.'

Shortly after he won the Games, he killed himself. I suppose the crown and jewels and money wasn't worth the guilt of killing the woman he loved.

I finally dropped the whip, my hands trembling as I looked at her almost limp body. Her breathing is shallow as I collapse beside her, looking at her face. "Evangeline?! Eva, oh gosh, please look at me..." Her eyes were closed, but fluttering as if she was just dreaming. Oh God, what if that was the reason she didn't make any sound? I put her unconscious.