--» 𝔡𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔩𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰 «--

Chapter Eighteen

After hours of preparation, I'm dressed and ready for the night. Before my costume is fully complete, all I have is a black leather suit, high-rise black leather boots, and fiery cape. Portia and Cinna have planned to light Katniss and me on fire, which I was hesitant about at first but finally agreed to. It's not real fire, of course, just a holographic one, but I can't help but feel like something will go wrong in the process. They've never tested or even made something like such, so even if we don't die, we'll be making history in one way or another.

Portia leads me outside of the building, and Peacekeepers drive me to the Capitol building. I see Katniss and want to run over to her, to hug her after being apart from her for so long, but wait impatiently by Portia's side as she's greeted by hundreds of people. We eventually make our way over to her, and she seems relieved at my presence, which is an expression I've never seen from Katniss before. Relief at the sight of me. Like the relief I feel when she's safe and by my side.

"What do you think?" Katniss whispers into my ear as we're mounting the chariot. "About the fire?"

"I'll rip off your cape if you'll rip off mine," I say through gritted teeth, nervous.

"Deal," she says with exhaustion. "I know we promised Haymitch we'd do exactly what they said, but I don't think he considered this angle," she says to me.

"Where is Haymitch, anyway? Isn't he supposed to be protecting us from this sort of thing?" I say, craning my neck as I look for him.

"With all that alcohol in him, it's probably not advisable to have him around an open flame," she says. Suddenly, we're both laughing. This moment, her here beside me, laughing, makes me want a future with her even more. Still laughing, so as not to create suspicion, I stare at her beautiful face, which is perfect in every way possible.

Claudius Templesmith's voice booming through the City Circle brings me back into reality. I can't tell what he says, but the opening anthem begins shortly after his announcement. The tribute chariots roll out one by one, and before I know it, we're up.

"Here we go then," Cinna says nervously, igniting the fabricated flame of the torch in his hand. He slowly lights our capes on fire and lets out a sigh of relief when it doesn't scorch us. He walks away after reassuring us that we won't burn to bits. The horses connected to our chariot begin to trot out onto the long path leading to the Capitol building when Cinna yells something at Katniss and me. He keeps yelling but eventually gives up and motions to what he wants us to do.

"What's he saying?" Katniss asks. I'm speechless as I look over at her, her outfit on fire. God, Cinna, why did you light her on fire? I lecture him in my head.

"I think he said for us to hold hands," I reply. I intertwine her fingers with mine and feel the safest I've felt in my entire life.

That's when it hits me: I can't leave this girl behind.