Matthew's body jerked awake, he gasped, feeling a sharp pain in his head. He was still alive, but he had little time to rejoice when he realized his limbs had been chained brutality to a chair. When the pain in his head finally receded, he looked around the small room. The walls were white and there was a small table with another chain right in front of him. It took Matthew way too long to notice that there was a person in said chair.
"I was wondering when you'd wake up, I can't interrogate an unconscious body you know" a voice said. Matthew blinked, It was the same boy who had bashed his brains in. He had the sudden urge to punch this guy. The boy must have noticed his scowl because he laughed, running one hand through his silky blond hair.
Matthew hated this kid, but was also curious. "Where am I, why did you take me here?"
The boy snorted, "Mother was right about mortals, you guys are stupid" Matthew's patience was wearing thin. Mostly because this boy was just as drunk as the last time he had seen him. Matthew didn't think guards were allowed to be drunk on the job.
"Who's your Mother?" Matthew asked, because he was tired of being confused. He had already guessed that he was somewhere in The Courts, the main government systems of Mathonia.
The boy glared at him. "It's my job to interrogate you, not yours." The boy crossed his arms, probably meaning to seem defiant but was actually just cute.
"Then do it," Matthew half shouted, "Let me prove too you that I don't know anything about The Society."
The boy suddenly looked uneasy, squirming in his chair, but he didn't argue. "Ok," the boy said slowly, looking Matthew directly in the eye, "What's your name?"
"Matthew"
"Matthew, what?"
"Matthew"
The boy sighed, obviously knowing Matthew was going to pull this trick.
"This isn't funny, my father knows everything about everyone in the districts, all i have to do is ask him."
This didn't sound like much of a threat too Matthew. He squinted, "Then do it."
Before the boy could say anything, there was a pounding at the metal door that led out of the room.
"Tobias" it said, it was a female voice. But the boy, Tobias? Snapped up immediately, running and pulling opened the door behind him.
"Mother." He said, taking a quick glance towards Matthew, his expression unreadable.
Tobias's mother obviously didn't wait for explanation, she flounced in the room, her eyes resting on Matthew.
Matthew gaped at her, "You're the Queen?" He should have known better than to think of Tobias as just a guard.
The woman didn't answer, but Matthew could tell by her regal stance and twirl of skirts that he was correct. He had never seen the Queen in person, but Blair had always described her as such.
"Tobias," she said again, not once taking her gaze of of Matthew, " This is a child."
Tobias turned crimson, but he didn't look back at Matthew. He stared at his mother, stuttering, and letting the door slid shut behind the two. Matthew though, didn't like the Queen referring to him as a child.
He spoke again, his voice defiant, "I'm 17. I'll be 18 before Summer Solace."
Obviously, the queen didn't appreciate his sentiment, she blinked at him, raised her arm, and sent a blinding pain through his head. Matthew cried out, his limbs turning to jello. His whole body slumped. His head hit the table first and he saw red.
The queen seemed unfazed, staring blankly at Matthew with wide eyes.
"It's amazing what a powerful migraine can do to a mortal." She pronounced. Her gaze flicked to Tobias, who jerked back. His face was a nice shade of green. Matthew focused on that, fighting to stay conscious.
"You didn't- you shouldn't have-" It was almost comical watching the other boy trip over his words. Matthew pushed himself up as well as he could without the use of his arms. Then he laughed hysterically, coughing up blood in the process.
Tobias gaped at him. "Mother, he's bleeding." He paused, "And crazy."
The pain was making Matthews mind hazy as The Queen and her bastard son continued to stare at him. Finally, The Queen raised her hands, obviously fed up with Matthew. "You know what Tobias, I think you're right." Tobias brightened at his mother's praise, color flooded back into his cheeks. "But I think I haven't broken him enough." She closed her fists swiftly and the pain in Matthew's head that had dulled down into a low throb flared back to life, stronger and more agonizing then the last.
Matthew couldn't help it, he screamed.
****
It was dark. Everything was swaying. Matthew shook his head, trying and failing to clear his thoughts. He was standing on a battlefield, dead bodies piled at his feet. Most had normal wounds, stabs and arrows embedded in chests. But others had eyes gouged out, their arms shredded down to the bone. And blood. So much blood. Nausea rose in his stomach, he stepped back, dropping the bronze sword he was clutching onto. He scanned the bodies, his eyes resting on a familiar slim form with pale skin… he stilled. His mother.
Her flesh was already decaying, and limbs laid at awkward angles. Matthew keeled over and retched, not being able to help the swirling ache in his stomach. When he was finally finished vomiting up his guts, he wiped up the last of his filth from the corners of his mouth, righting himself. His mouth tasted like acid. Didn't he have to do something? His father would probably know what to do… Where was he? Matthew's heart was beating fast in his chest. His name was Matthew Clemetario. He lived in district 8. He was… He was…
The numb feeling came again. Again. Something wasn't fair. Something-
Everything went black.