FIRE ON FIRE ( cato hadley! )

chapter fifty-two

——☆ FIRE ON FIRE
chapter fifty-two: into the fire

    
     LILIA CONWAY ADJUSTED THE large hood over her head as she followed Katniss, Cato, and Gale into the crowd of the Capitol streets. Their disguises, perfectly hiding their appearance, allowed them to blend into the refugees making their way toward President Snow's mansion.

The atmosphere was grave and quiet as people moved together, clutching their children or carrying what little belongings they could.

Cato Hadley was by her side, his hand brushing hers every so often as they stepped through the crowd. Katniss and Gale were just ahead, their eyes darting nervously around, scanning the street for danger.

"Stay close," Cato muttered under his breath to Lilia.

President Snow's mansion grew closer with every step. Lilia kept her head low, trying to avoid the glances of the Peacekeepers patrolling the area.

But then, Lilia noticed something. The Peacekeepers were checking the crowd, their eyes sweeping across the faces, moving closer and closer with each passing second. Her pulse quickened. She glanced at Katniss, who had noticed the same thing.

"They're getting closer," Katniss whispered.

"What do we do?" Lilia replied.

"Turn around," Katniss answered.

The four of them turned, only to find a second round of Peacekeepers checking through the crowd from behind them. Panic surged through their chests as they turned forward once more, heading straight toward them.

However, just before a Peacekeeper reached them, a sharp gunshot rang out, and the crowd erupted into chaos. Lilia jumpd, instinctively reaching for Cato, who grabbed her arm and pulled her into cover behind a nearby building as the sound of rebels filled the air.

"Rebels!" Lilia shouted to him.

Cato held onto her tightly as they ducked away from the main road, splitting up from Katniss and Gale. The Peacekeepers shot at the rebels, and the street turned into a warzone. Capitol civilians screamed and scattered, running in every direction as gunfire echoed through the atmosphere.

"We need to find Katniss and Gale!" Lilia shouted, panic rising in her throat.

Cato's grip on her arm tightened. "We have to stay here!"

Before she could reply, a loud hum filled the air. Lilia looked up, her eyes widening in as a Capitol hovercraft flew through the sky. Just before it entered the mansion, silver parachutes began to drop into the crowd below.

For a split second, Lilia's heart stopped. The parachutes were just like the ones from the Hunger Games, the ones that delivered gifts to the tributes.

"Cato, what are they doing?" Lilia asked, looking up at him.

"I don't know..." Cato trailed off, his blue eyes narrowing at the scene.

Then, before anyone could react, the parachutes exploded.

A deafening boom shook the streets, and a massive force slammed into her, knocking her backward. Lilia felt her hand slip from Cato's grasp as she was thrown into the air, her body slamming against the ground with a hard thud.

Seconds passed, minutes maybe.

Lilia groaned, disoriented, as her vision blurred. The sound of screaming and crying filled her ears, but all she could think about was Cato. She struggled to her feet, her body aching.

"Cato!" she called, her voice hoarse as she staggered through the smoke-filled street. She scanned the area frantically, her heart racing in panic. "Cato!"

But there was no response. She could barely see through the thick smoke, and the street was in chaos. Civilians and rebels raced past her, some injured, others worse. She pushed through the crowd, desperate to find him.

"Cato!" Lilia cried again, her voice breaking. But before she could take another step, a second wave of explosions shook the atmosphere.

The shockwave hit her hard, throwing her to the ground. Lilia's body hit the pavement, her head snapping back as everything went black.

The last thing she heard before she lost consciousness was the distant sound of Cato's name on her lips. Then, silence.