FIRE ON FIRE ( cato hadley! )

chapter fifty-four

——☆ FIRE ON FIRE
chapter fifty-four: reunion

     CATO HADLEY STEPPED through the doorway, his face pale, his body scattered with bruises and wrapped up bandages. But, he was alive. Lilia let out a cry of relief, her feet moving before she could even think. She ran to him, throwing herself into his arms. The boy winced from the impact, but his arms wrapped around her tightly, lifting her off the ground as if he couldn't bear to let her go.

"You're alive," Lilia choked, her voice breaking as tears of relief streamed down her face. "You're alive."

"I'm here," he whispered, his grip tightening around her waist.  "I'm here."

Lilia buried her face in his neck, clutching him like she never wanted to let go. The fear that had consumed her melted away in his embrace. He was here. He had survived.

Cato set her back down gently, wincing as he did. Lilia noticed the way his body was stiff, how his movements were slower than usual. Her eyes darted to the blood-soaked bandages wrapped around his torso.

"Cato..." she whispered, her fingers brushing against the fabric.

"I'll be fine," he replied quickly. "Don't worry about me."

Lilia shook her head, fresh tears filling her eyes. "I thought I lost you."

Cato cupped her face in his hands, tilting her chin so she looked up at him. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."

She let out a shaky laugh, kissing him.

However, before the kiss grew too deep, the boy pulled away and held Lilia's arms, looking into her eyes. "There's something I need to show you, Lilia. You're not going to believe it."

"What are you talking about?"

"Follow me."

Lilia's heart skipped a beat. She studied his face, trying to read him, but Cato was already leading her toward another door at the far end of the room. Hesitantly, the girl followed him. After a few moments, the two arrived at the door, and Cato opened it carefully, guiding her inside.

The room was dimly lit, but Lilia could make out a figure standing near the window.

Her breath caught in her throat.

It couldn't be.

The girl turned slowly, and as the light fell across her face, Lilia's eyes widened. Her legs nearly gave out beneath her as she stared at the figure in shock. Standing there, alive, was Maya Holloway. Her best friend from District 4.

"Maya..." Lilia's voice was barely a whisper. "How...how is this possible? I thought you were dead."

Maya gave her a trembling smile, her eyes filled with the same disbelief.

"I thought I was too," she said softly, stepping closer.

Lilia shook her head, her heart slamming in her chest. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Maya had been her best friend since childhood, her and Adrian. When she returned from the Capitol, Finnick had told her that her parents and Maya had been publicly executed on live television.

But, right now, Maya Holloway was here.

Alive.

"I thought they killed you," Lilia choked out. "I thought they killed you with my parents."

"They took me," Maya said quietly, her voice strained with the memory. "The Capitol soldiers...they didn't kill me. They took me prisoner. I was held somewhere in the Capitol...I don't know where exactly. But they kept me alive, Lilia."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

Lilia felt her knees buckle, and she collapsed into Maya's arms. Sobs tore through her as she clung to her friend, everything crashing down on her. Maya hugged her tightly.

"I thought..." Lilia cried, her voice breaking. "I thought I lost everyone. Everyone else is gone, Maya."

"We still have each other," Maya whispered back, her own tears falling now. "We're still here."

Lilia pulled back, her hands framing Maya's face, as if she needed to touch her to believe she was real.

"I can't believe this," Lilia whispered. "I can't believe you're alive."

Maya smiled through her tears. "Neither can I. But I'm so glad I found you."

They hugged again, tighter this time, their tears mingling together as they held onto each other, neither willing to let go. Cato stood nearby, watching silently, his arms crossed, allowing the two friends this moment of reunion.

Lilia had found a person she never thought she would see again. She had found a piece of her home again. A piece of her past that wasn't lost forever.