Fire is Raging On (A Hunger Games Fanfic) [#Wattys 2016]

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Vada's POV

"Are you sure this is going to work, Vada?" Cynthia asks nervously.

She's pacing about the cell. The stupid gray walls on cement blocks have all we've really seen more nine months. I wouldn't count the horrible "activities" room and the cafeteria with the hardly edible food as seeing anything.

The only good thing is that the over the past nine months the guards have eased up some. When we first arrived here, they were practically on top of us the entire time. They kept us in separate rooms for six months, not letting Cynthia and I see each other at all.

They treated us like we were actual criminals, like we weren't attempting to do a service to this great country. Or should I say once great country? This country has gone down the shit hole ever since Katniss and Peeta made everyone in the whole damn country see their fucked up way of thinking. This nation used to be perfect. The Games were completely justified. Everybody just loves those two, thinks they're perfect little angels, could never do anything wrong.

After a while the guards started easing up starting letting Cynthia and I go to the "activities" room separately. A month later they started letting us eat meals together. Then came letting us go to the "activities" room together. At the six month mark, they let us move into the same room.

"Vada?" Cynthia asks, pacing faster.

Could she be any more annoying? "Stop your obsessive pacing!" I snap. "Of course I'm sure this going to work. It's one of my plans. They always work."

"Your last one didn't work out too well. Look where it got us," she mumbles.

"What did you say?" I growl.

"Nothing," she says, cowering back from me.

"Stop worrying about the plan so damn much. If you're so worried you can just stay here."

"No, I want to go with you," she whimpers.

I roll my eyes at her pathetic dependence. I knew she would come with me. She wouldn't last one day in here without me. She barely made it through the first six months. Did she depend on Cato like this? Maybe that's why he was so happy to be in the Games. He knew he would be able to get away from her for at least a little while. He wouldn't have to deal with how pathetic she is. She was probably latched onto her brother like a baby latches on to its mother. Cato probably welcomed the possibility he could die. When he knew he was going to die he was probably rejoicing on the inside. He knew he would get away from Cynthia for good that way.

As far as I know her own parents abandoned her. They may have told her that they were just going away for a while to grieve Cato's death in their own way, but I know the truth. They couldn't stand how much she depended on them so much. They left to get away. She really thinks they're just grieving. It's been years since Cato's death and they still haven't come back. She is such a naive little girl. I only need her because she is rather useful. Imagine if I need a human shield she'll come right in handy.

"Do we have all the stuff?" Cynthia asks, in a quiet voice.

"Right here," I say my hand on my mattress. Everything is underneath. Files, a pocket knife I snuck in, extra prison clothes. The only thing not underneath the mattress we need is the pillows. The guards wouldn't think anything of the pillows so they've been sitting out in the open. "Be ready. Nightfall is quickly approaching."

~FIRO~

"We clear?" I ask, Cynthia who is standing by the door.

"The guard just turned the corner," she whispers.