FIRE ON FIRE ( cato hadley! )

chapter seventeen

——☆ FIRE ON FIRE
chapter seventeen: rule change

     THE SURFACE OF THE LAKE shimmered under the sunlight as Clove, Cato, and Lilia made their way over, taking a seat at the shoreline. As they conversed with one another, planning strategies to take out the other tributes, they were interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice.

Suddenly, Claudius Templesmith's voice boomed across the arena from the loudspeaker, filling the arena with his cheerful voice, "Attention, tributes! We have a slight...rule change to announce. From now on, there can be two victors if both come from the same district!"

Lilia furrowed her eyebrows, and when she looked at the others, she could tell that they were equally as confused.

Noticing this, Claudius Templesmith repeated his announcement, "That means, if both the girl and the boy tribute from the same district make it to the end, both of them will be crowned as victors!"

The realization crashed down on Lilia hard, and her heart immediately sank at the news. Knowing that Adrian could have been with her, that they might have had a chance to leave together...it almost made her forget how to breathe. She stared at the sky, her thoughts racing.

"Lilia?"

At the sound of her name, the girl glanced at Clove and Cato, who were looking back at her with shocked expressions. Instantly, her mind raced, and for the first time, Lilia felt a wave of fear.

Could they be planning to kill her now?

The thought of Clove and Cato — who now have the potential to return home to District 2 — turning on her in an instant was terrifying. She felt a surge of panic rush through her. Without a word, Lilia stood up, her movements quick and panicked as she grabbed her backpack and raced toward the trees.

"Lilia! Wait!" Cato called after her.

The blonde boy stood up immediately, his gaze locking on her as she ran. Without hesitation, Cato sprinted after her, but the trees quickly swallowed Lilia in its depths, making it difficult to keep track of her. Nonetheless, he pushed through the trees, desperately trying to catch up.

"Lilia, please!" Cato shouted into the darkness.

Despite his best efforts, Lilia was too far ahead.

As she stumbled through the forest, her thoughts spun wildly. The pain in her chest felt as real as the wounds covering her body. She wanted to cry, to let out the raw, aching scream, but she couldn't afford to show weakness. Not here, not now. Crying would make her look vulnerable. She couldn't risk it, not with sponsors being her only hope for survival.

Finding a small clearing near the river, Lilia quickly set up camp. The river's gentle current was comforting, and it yet again reminded her of her home in District 4.

After taking a seat, she carefully unpacked her backpack, her hands trembling slightly as she examined her supplies. Inside, she found a bottle of water, a few packages of food, and a sleeping bag.

The food was minimal, but it would sustain her for a while. It was good that she had a water bottle, for she had an endless amount of refills from the river. And the sleeping bag, that would keep her warm.

Sitting by the river's edge, Lilia tried to eat a small portion of the dried food. She took a long drink from her bottle, trying to quench the dryness in her throat.

As she unrolled her sleeping bag and prepared for the night, her mind drifted back to Cato. The kiss they had shared felt like a distant memory now, overpowered by the fear that he and Clove now see her as the enemy.

Had there truly been something real between them?

Pulling the sleeping bag around her tightly, Lilia tried her best to ignore the cold. As the night wore on, she remained alert, her eyes darting around the darkness for any signs of danger. That was, until exhaustion overcame her, and she drifted into a deep sleep.

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For the next two days, Lilia was on her own in the silent forest. Her supplies grew lesser and lesser as she fought to stay fed and warm. Each night was a battle against the cold, and she chattered and shivered under the cover of her sleeping bag.

That evening, as she huddled near the river, her teeth chattering despite her efforts to stay warm, another announcement came. The voice of Claudius Templesmith boomed through the arena, bringing more news.

"Attention, tributes," Templesmith's voice boomed. "There will be a feast at the Cornucopia tomorrow. Each of you need something. There, you will find what you most desperately need."

Lilia's heart raced.

The feast could be her chance to get the blanket she desperately needed. Maybe even hot soup.

She'd have to go, despite the risks. Maybe she'd run into Clove or Thresh, or even the two from twelve, but she didn't have an option. She needed to survive, and this feast was an opportunity she couldn't ignore.