Love Hurts but Heals

Chapter 22

Carl's POV

Deanna's feet echo through the concrete hallway. I see many pictures of old deputies, sheriffs and many other police men and women who used to work here. I return to reality and follow her into her office. I see dozens of pictures of her family on the walls, her husband and her two grown boys.

"Now, kid, you were a sheriff before you went all crazy, right?" she asks.

I walk around and scan the photos hanging from her walls. "And what exactly makes you define me as crazy?"

"That didn't answer my question."

"Well," I turn towards her with a mischievous grin, "to be on the fair side, you didn't answer my question either."

"Fine. You wanna be this way? How about we play a little game, shall we? I ask a question, you ask a question. Neither one of us can ask nor answer until the other has done so as well. Got it?"

"Fair play. My father was a sheriff, so the genes were passed down to me. What made you curious?"

"Your urgency to help us out when you're supposed to be miserable in this place. Is there something we're doing wrong, Mr. Grimes?"

"No, Officer Deanna. You certainly know how to suck the life out of people."

I stop and stare at a picture of her and her family while they were on vacation. They were at the beach; her two boys were burying their father while Deanna sat and smiled. They looked as if they had never been happier.

"Something wrong, Grimes?"

She frightens me back to reality.

"Oh," I stutter. "N-no. I'm just... just curious. That's all."

"Oh? Whatever for? Why would you care about my personal life?"

I pause.

"Rules of the game, Grimes," she carries on. "Keep up."

"I don't know. Maybe it's nice not having to worry about what's wrong with the reality around you. Maybe I just wanted to see a spark of happiness, considering the fact I haven't seen it in awhile."

She stops. Her mouth returns to a dry, straight line.

"Why did you want me in here anyway? To interrogate me? If so, nice job. You know absolutely nothing about me nor my way of life. So do us both a favor and get me the hell out of here."

Her tone hardens. "I don't appreciate your vocabulary, Grimes. You better watch it."

"Rules of the game, Deanna."

She exhales briefly. "I brought you in here to see what was inside your head. Knowing that you used to protect the city, I don't believe you would've killed your child's mother and one of your friends-"

"Peeta Mellark was never my friend. He was never going to be my friend. And if I could've places with Jordyn, I would..." my voice trails off.

Tears try to swell into my eyes, but I blink them away and brush my hair over a little to where it somewhat covers my eyes.

"How about you tend to your business, and I'll tend to mine. Don't worry about me and let me out of this damn office before I bust the door down myself."

She nods. After she locked me back in my cell, Harley calls her back outside. I take my shoes off and slide them under my bed and lay on the top bunk. I remember, when I locked Jordyn up, I assigned her to the top bunk while Finnick slept below her. I knew it was a bad decision from the start, but did it stop me? No. I didn't care. I left her there with him and I didn't care.

The tears begin to come back.

I turn and face the wall and skim my finger over the lines in the brick where each brick was plastered to the other.

These cement walls that hold me in this small space do not scare me. The open space that my own mind fills terrifies me, and there's no escape, no matter how far I run.

* * *

Ashton's POV

"Okay," I begin. "Talk to me, Fin."

"Why don't you and a few of your friends compete? You and your friends will have a great shot to win in this, plus it'll be a great chance to teach these punks a lesson. You already have a great advantage; you know how the arena is set up and how the Mutts work. You've got this, man. Just compete and that'll convince your other well-trained buddies to come as well."

"And what makes you so sure that they will follow me? I haven't talked to them in years, Fin."

"We have our ways, Ash. You know this."

"And what's in it for you?"

"I will get the chance to have Carl Grimes blood on my hands. And eventually, I'll make the scientific descovery of a lifetime. The reporters can only wait so long."

"And if Carl finds out about this before the games?"

"There's no chance. We got his ass locked up until we need him. That won't be a problem."

"In that case, let the Games begin."