The room was white. Too white. Everywhere I looked, white, so white it hurt my eyes. White walls, white flooring, white roses upon a white table next to my white chair. White instruments I had no name for. White as snow. But I welcomed it. Because I knew that once President Snow got his hands on me, they’d be splattered red. He’d torture me, I knew. Then once he got what he wanted out of me, he’d kill me. Pandora too. It was my job to hold out for as long as I could. There were secrets I’d discovered over the years that I couldn’t afford to reveal. At least not until I’d given Raven some time.

 I waited a long time. My wrists ached, pressed uncomfortably into the chair with metal cuffs. I wondered if Valeria had sat upon the same chair. Perhaps Raven had to. I was certain I was in the same room. The Chamber, Snow had called it. I shuddered, my arms weakly pushing against their restraints. I was scared. I was scared of being broken. Of giving in. I sent silent prayers skyward, hoping God might see fit to save me. I’ve only ever tried to do good I thought everything I do, it’s for others. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

 The door opened. There he was. President Snow. A chilling thought came to mind. President Snow didn’t have five years to waste on me, the way he did with Valeria. He had days at most. He wasn’t going to waste time. He was going to dive right in.

 He wore white. Sort of a laboratory coat. His skin was papery as ever. His beard was trimmed for the occasion, and a white rose protruded from his breast pocket. The only relief from the white was a speckle of red on his lip. He smiled and removed a white handkerchief from his pocket, blotting his lips self-consciously like a Capitol woman whose lipstick had smudged. In his other hand, he held a white box with several wires snaking out from it. I tried to keep my teeth from chattering as Snow placed the box on the table.

 “This is a very… interesting device,” Snow said, attaching one of the wires to my little finger, the other to my thumb “It will send electrical currents through you…I wonder how much you can stand.”

 He flicked a switch on the box and I screamed out, currents rushing through my veins. My head felt like it might explode with pain, but it went as quickly as it came, leaving me gasping for breath.

 “You can expect more of that, Mr Rider. Unless you’re willing to give me information.”

 “So tempting,” I said, breathing heavily and trying not to vomit “But offer declined.”

 “Perhaps you’re braver than I first thought,” Snow said, clearly agitated at my response. “I thought you’d give in straight away. I’m not happy with you. I’m losing bets with the Gamemakers over this.”

 “So sorry. I’ll try and perform better next time,” I snarled.

 “So I hope, Mr Rider. So I hope. Let’s take the voltage up another level. See how brave you are then…”

***

 The torture was endless. When President Snow got tired, it didn’t mean a break for me. Gamemakers took over, accustomed to torturing the tributes in the Hunger Games. And with the Games over for another year, they had something to keep them occupied.

 Me.

 Electric shocks, hallucinatory drugs, sharp blades piercing skin. I didn’t give in. I was humiliated, made to endure pain like I could never have imagined, but through it all, I kept my mouth shut about Raven and her plans. I knew there was no way Snow would let me leave. Even if I told him, he’d keep me prisoner, a person to torture when he had no other. Either that or he’d kill me, Pandora and I both. I hoped that she was safe. She had to be. She had to be…

 Twice a day, or what I supposed was a day, I was brought a meal and water. I guess President Snow didn’t want me starving or dying from dehydration. Though it didn’t make much sense when I was sweating hard and I could barely keep the food in my stomach for more than ten minutes.

 I began to hate the colour white and the stench of my own body. I got used to the smell of vomit, blood and urine clinging to my clothes, asking to humiliate me. But Pandora remained sweet in my maddened mind. Thinking of her got me through, and reminded me that I had someone to fight for.

 But then one day, when President Snow himself came to deal with me. Something about his face let me know things had changed. He was angry, his features hardened. He undid the restraints around my wrists. I saw that they were bloody and shredded from my endless tugging on the restraints.

 “I will get answers. Today,” he whispered furiously, his breath hot on my face and stinking of blood. He pulled me to my feet, but I fell to the ground almost straight away, my legs weak. So the President dragged me out of the room, down many a hall while I let my cheek slide against the floor, beaten. What was a little more pain when I’d already been to hell and back?

 He took me to another room, a pale blue light a pleasant change to the white I was used to. Until I saw the tank. And dangling above it, legs kicking and mouth open in a silent scream, was Pandora. Her hands were tied above her head, her toes scraping the water. To one of her ankles, a weight was tied.

 “Let her go,” I choked, reaching helplessly out to her.

 “A poor choice of words, Mr Rider,” Snow chuckled. He raised an eyebrow and Pandora fell into the water. I screamed out as her eyes widened and she closed her mouth, lips downturned in terror.

 “I grew tired of waiting on you, Arrian. Tell me now. Which is more important to you? This girl of yours or your secrets?”

 I bowed my head “Get her out of there. Now. I’ll tell you everything.”

 President Snow smiled and nodded, seemingly to no one. But a moment later, a diver jumped in and got Pandora out. I was shaking. Snow kicked me in the side.

 “Where is Raven Verona?” he said.

 “In hiding. At a camp. I’ll show you on a map. I swear, I will.”

 “And what has she got at the camp? Where she is staying?”

 I gulped. It was the secret I was never supposed to find out. And the one that might save District 13.

 “Everyone is there. But…they’ve got nuclear weapons. Trained on the Capitol right at this moment. Designed so that if things ever got bad…they could annihilate the Capitol. Unless you form a truce…it’s likely they’ll set them off.”

 President Snow cursed loudly and took his anger out on me with a kick to my ribs.

 “If I can’t kill them, you’ll have to do,” he growled. But as he kicked me again I laughed. Because despite him threatening me with death, I knew my friends were safe. It was a victory for us. And as I blacked out, I thanked the Gods for listening to at least one of my prayers.

***

When I awoke, I was in a cell. Pandora was there, sat on the edge of the only furniture in the room, a grubby old mattress. She was staring up and out through the slit of a window. There was no light in the room other than that allowed in by the window. I stood shakily, and Pandora turned to face me. There were tears on her cheeks, the cuts in her wrists deep from where they’d hung her by her hands. I opened my arms and she ran into them and held me for a long time. When she pulled apart, she had composed herself.

 “I failed you. I failed everyone,” I whispered.

 No Pandora said, caressing my chest tenderly you saved me. You bought Raven time. That is all she ever asked of you. She will know we’re missing and where we are. She’ll have time to get back to thirteen and prepare the nuclear weapons.

 I nodded, though I still punished myself. I knew I always would. The way Valeria probably did on her dying day. I feared our fate was similar to hers.  

 What will they do to us? She wanted to know. I hung my head.

 “I don’t know, sweetheart.”

 Pandora took my hand I don’t think there is a way out this time, my love. I believe this is the end.

 I nodded, not wanting to speak for fear of crying. I wouldn’t allow President Snow that satisfaction. Pandora’s hand slid up my chest to curl around my neck, her eyes closed. With her free hand she gestured.

 And so we must make the most of the time we have left. If we are to part from this world, I will not leave your side until we do.

 I kissed her forehead with quivering lips. She sighed against the skin of my neck, resting her cheek on my chest. Then she drew away, her eyes still on mine. I watched as she reached for the hem of her tattered dress and lifted it over her head. The dress fell to the floor and she stood, self-consciously naked, awkwardly stood with her arms wrapped around herself. But to me, I knew she was being brave. We’d never made love before, partly because I feared pushing her too far, doing something she didn’t want me to. She was broken by her past, vulnerable to every touch. She was still nervous, a frightened rabbit in the headlights. But this was something else. My breath caught in my throat. Not only was she utterly beautiful, but as she grew more accustomed to revealing herself, she began to straighten up, becoming bold and brave. She let her hands fall to her sides as she walked up to me and kissed me. I trembled as her skin touched mine.

 “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you,” I murmured against her soft lips. She looked me in the eye and held my hand, caressing my knuckles with her thumb.

 I have never been more sure in my life. And I know you will never hurt me. Whether we live a day or a year longer. You will never hurt me. No matter how she insisted, her hands shook as she lifted my jumper over my head. She still hesitated as she pressed her hand to my bare chest for the first time. I placed my hand over hers, steadying her. My other hand pressed against the small of her back as I leaned to kiss her jawline.

 “You don’t have to,” I told her once again. Her breath quivered.

 There is no more time to wait, my love. I am ready she said. A minute later, both naked, we kissed in the slither of moonlight. Pandora gently guided my hands around her body. We were the only people on earth, and Pandora was all that mattered. The cell melted away as Pandora led me to the mattress tentatively. I stroked her porcelain skin as we lay together a moment.

 “I love you,” I whispered.

 I love you too.

Two chapters left! Hope you liked this one. I tried not to make it too graphic in both the torture scene and the scene between Pandora and Arrian, so I hope it's okay. Leave me a comment if you have time, I'd love to hear your thoughts!