The Hunger Games - Surviving The Storm - book 3

Chapter 14

I sat in a cell for several weeks, maybe even a month wondering when they were going to kill me. My bed was now my best friend since I was really pregnant now. I could no longer see my feet over my large belly and my food intake sky rocketed. Sadly though I couldn't divulge as much as I wanted, three meals a day was all I got.

I laid on my bed rubbing my massive stomach thinking about what happened to Jackson. Was he still alive or had they executed him. It had been atleast 2 months since I'd seen him he could be dead.

Then came the inevitable. Just like every day after I had my meal my bladder was ready to burst. I slowly rose to my feet and moved over to the toilet to relieve myself. After I was done I went and laid back down.

This low scale movement was working strongly on my body and it was getting to the point where just getting out of bed was impossible. I was now a little under 34 weeks at the least. My due date was right around the corner. 5 more weeks to go.

I closed my eyes to get a bit of rest. Naps were the only thing that kept the days shorter than they normally were. While I was sleeping the world didn't exist. Then it hit me. Maybe I wasn't being executed because I was pregnant. The only thing that kept me alive was the innocent child that dwelled inside me.

A loud knock on the door brought about my attention. I opened my eyes and looked up towards the window in the middle of the door. Before I could move to my feet it opened and there stood Cinna.

I rose to my feet quickly and winced as a small pain rolled through me. I took a breath and felt his arms embrace me.

"Why are you here?" I asked him as I wrapped my arms around him.

"I'm here to dress you for your death." he said simply. "Those were the orders spoken to me. I'm sorry CalliRose." he whispered to me.

I shook my head in disbelief. There is no way in hell they can kill my baby. My baby is innocent she had nothing to do with it. Atleast let him or her live.

"Now?" I asked.

He nodded his head and placed his hand on the small of my back before escorting me to the underground floor. We walked down a path of labyrinths before I was led into a room off the right.

I sat in a chair and was beautified before slipped into a long elegant black dress. In the Capitol the executions were done in public. Everyone was dressed in black except for the President and his family. They were dressed in red. On the city sqaure the criminal or criminals being executed would be led to a stage where they were chained and given medicine to paralyze their bodies yet allow them to feel everything but just intensified to the enth degree.

From there the criminal would be held there until they died. The time inbetween was for the Capitol people who would come by and pay to whip the criminal himself. The executions were somewhat like a happy event for the Citizens. Several people would bet on how long the criminal would survive and what time they thought he or she would die.

Today my body and maybe even Finnicks would be hanging there for who knows how long before death became of us. I just hoped it went by fast.

After I was appropriately dressed for the execution Cinna and I moved to the launch room that was directly below the city square.

"Please tell my parents I am sorry I disappointed them." I whispered as I moved to the tube.

Cinna wiped a few tears from his eyes and brought me into his arms. "I'm so sorry." He whispered to me before he stepped back.

The tube fell around me and I was being lifted upwards and then I was on the stage. I looked around and saw the crowd before me. They had a severely shocked expression on their faces but they weren't looking at me but to something near me. I turned slowly and saw him chained down with several tubes in his body. He was dressed in red. President Finnick.

On his other side was my husband and he looked perfectly healthy. I smiled at him and he smiled back. He mouthed 'I love you' to me and I felt my body warm.

I turned my attention back to the crowd, there in the very front was Finnick's wife Annie. I felt so bad for her. She had no children and now she would be widowed.

Then Willard joined us on the stage with a woman who carried a air of importance. They gave a speech about criminal acts and their consequences and then gave the stats on the different districts of criminal behavoir and then the amazing low stats for the Capitol.

"I am sure you are all just as surprised as I am to see the President on the chopping block. But just like every citizen in the Capitol he will be accountable for his crimes." Willard spoke. "He is guilty of many things but the one that is most despicable is the murder of Tierney our Champion from last years Hunger Games."

The entire crowd began barking and booing in disapproval of his crime.

"Today let this be a day no one citizen may forget. No matter who you are if you done wrong you will answer for it." Willard finished.

The woman that accompanied him moved forward to take the floor. Her name was Lillith. "Sadly this brings the end to his Presidency. This means we are in need of a new President." She nodded towards Jackson and beckoned him forward. Jackson crossed the stage. "Welcome the next in line for Presidency, Jackson Ripper."

The woman moved to grab a large box which normally held the slips for the Quarter Quells and held it out for Jackson. He carefully reached into the box and felt around. I heard him mention about there only being one slip before he pulled it out. I watched as Jackson carefully opened the slip of paper and began reading.

There will come a time when Power becomes the enemy. For several long years we have watched those that give us things we need to survive slaughter each other as a lesson of their betrayal. Our power being too great needs to be taught as well. Today will be the start of a brand new beginning in which we hope that from our sacrafices we can ask the outlying Districts for forgiveness. Today begins the reaping for Protocol 001, the reaping of the Capitol.

I slowly brought my hand to my mouth as I listened to his words. The reaping of the Capitol that meant what? Another Hunger Games.

This year all the outlying Districts will be celebrating for they shall not be reaped. 24 souls from the District will be chosen. Twelve males twelve females. You will feel the pain that every family felt as they watched their children and champions were being reaped. This year those chosen will feel the pain and agony as you kill your friends, neighbors and acquaintances and possibly children. For no wrong deed goes unpunished.

Jackson finished the note and then looked up. I looked at him and then over to the crowd who was silent. Over the next few minutes a computer was brought out onto the stage. Jackson his way over to my side and took my hand.

He explained that the computer held every citizens name in the capitol and would choose at random the 12 boys and 12 girls for the games.

I looked up at the large screen that overlooked the square and saw that it showed a long list of names. The list was for the females, the age grouping was 12 and up. That meant that any one citizen could be chosen whether it be a 70 year old woman or a 12 year old girl.

I watched as the names began jumbling and before the list finished with 12 names. Two of the females chosen were mother and daughter. The mother was 37 and her daughter was barely 12. Another two had been best friends and were well into their late 40's. Then there came two sisters one was 19 and the other was 13. That was just the first 6 on the list.

When it came time for the males I watched as a father to one of the girls was called up. Three alumni students from the Capitol school. 4 more males were between their 30's and 40's. 2 were into their teen years and the final two were almost in their 60's.

Each person that was on the list was brought to the stage. The rules were just as they were. One survivor. After the ceremony was finished they were taken away into the Justice building. From there they would be taken to the remake center.

Slowly the city square emptied before we were left to our own. I couldn't believe this was happening. The Capitol was for once not safe as their citizens were being reaped. That certainly wasn't fair that they had to answer for Finnicks wrong doings.

I turned and looked at him. He just glanced at me.

"Are you happy? Is this what you wanted?"

Suddenly I heard the sound of water hitting the ground at my feet and even felt moisture hitting my ankles. Slowly I looked down and saw it. My water had broke, I was going into labour. I was having my baby. I looked back up at Finnick and knew he knew this too.

"You will not have my child Finnick and I will survive. Unfortunately for you I can't say the same."