Cinna's Fate Re-Told

Cinna's Fate Re-Told Part 3

The lock rolled over and the heavy, metal door swung open. A peacekeeper stood in the middle of the doorway. He walked over to me, snatched up my hands, twisted them behind my back and then he put them in handcuffs. Within a second he had pulled me up and dragged me from the cell. The lights in the hallway were blinding. I squinted and looked down.

The peacekeeper was tall and very muscular. His hand gripped my arms so tight I thought they would pop. He was obviously very strong. From underneath his helmet I could see brown hair poking out. His eyes were bright blue. I tried to remember what the janitor/rebel man looked like. His hair was dark but short and his eyes were a murky swamp colour. The janitor/rebel man was also nowhere near as muscular as this peacekeeper. I had allowed a fraction of hope to enter me and slowly take over. But just as quickly as it had appeared…all hope was gone.

The peacekeeper led me to a door, when he swung the door open it lead into another dark room. It had two chairs, one at the back of the room and one in the centre.  The peacekeeper took off the handcuffs and tied my legs and arms down on the chair. Then he gagged me and walked out.

Only a few minutes later the door opened. Blood and roses plagued every corner of the room. Snow had arrived.

“Cinna, you have been locked up for three and a half weeks now. I wouldn’t have let you out at all but there is something you should see before your fate arrives.” He said.

What? My fate arrives? I thought it already had! I was locked in a cold, stone, black cell with no light or food or water except for twice a week! I was dying and there was still more to come?

I hadn’t noticed it because it was so dark, but there was a TV in the wall. Snow had switched it on. He fiddled with the remote for a little while before he came to one channel.

“Here we go,” he said under his breath. “Lacertosus, come in please.”

Lacertosus, I knew what that meant…It was latin for muscular. That was a good name choice. Lacertosus came in and he placed his fingers around my eyes. He pulled them slightly and kept them open.

On the screen there was a woman and three others behind her. They all had their heads bowed, so I couldn’t see who they were.  A man stood beside the woman, he held a gun in his hand. I noticed that the woman’s hands were handcuffed. She also looked like she may have been from District 11. She looked scruffy, dishevelled and tired. She certainly had no Captiol make up or attire.

“Look up!” The man barked at the woman. The woman looked up at the man. The camera zoomed up on her face and I realised who the woman was. Portia. I almost screamed. This is why Snow has made Lacertosus hold my eyes open and my head still. So I could watch one of my best friends die.

Suddenly four loud cracks went off all at once. A bullet travelled so quickly that I only just noticed in enter Portia’s head. A sob caught in my throat,  I had just witnesses Portia and her prep team murdered on television. I was infuriated. I struggled against Lacertosus, I bit at the gag, kicked my legs and shook my head with all my might. I didn’t want to see Portia lying dead on the scaffold. I didn’t want to see. I wanted to get away.

Lacertosus, quickly got my in a head lock. He could easily snap my neck…or I could easily snap my own neck if I kept moving. Snow walked around and kneeled in front of me.

“See Cinna, that’s what happens to those you rebel. Lucky for dear Portia and her prep team weren’t as badly punished as you will be.” Snow said, evil dripping from his every word. “Again?”

And so I sat there, Lacertosus’ arms around my neck, watching Portia die over and over again. Snow’s evil laugh echoing through the room, it was almost as loud as the gun shots that delivered Portia’s death.  

I swallowed so hard, I thought even Portia could hear me.