I waited till my family was asleep. Then I packed my bag. I heard the door open, causing me to jump.
"You coming or what?" I heard Kat whisper. I looked at her like what the hell. all she replied was... "Johanna." I rolled my eyes but left the room with her.
"So she told you."
"Enough." We made our way down to the hanger. Seeing a attendant we walked out and into the row of missiles. Once he was gone, we continued. Two attendants walked away from the ramp door and as it was going up the two of us jumped on and walked to find a place to wait. We sat between two large crates of medical supplies. For the whole journey we didn't speak but we took turns on sleeping.
"Lily. We're here." I woke up just as we landed. Looking back, the ramp was lowering down. Waiting a few minutes we stood up and carefully made our way out. Katniss remained behind me as we walked out amongst the sea of rebels fighting for the cause. I thought not that many would notice, it seems I was naive in thinking that. I was the face of it all, the person that spoke to them and rallied them. How silly of me to think that they would not notice. Some began to whisper and it didn't take long for a crowd to gather. I stopped looking at all of them as Kat stood next to me.
"There's no going back now is there?"
"Nope." She replied . They all kissed their fingers and raised them in salute.
"Hey, I thought you were in the hospital?" Gale put his arm around me and Kat.
"I was, I got restless." I answered settling my breath.
"Come on." He guided us through and soon Commander Paylor joined us.
"Lily, Katniss. It's good to have you with us." Gale removed his arm from around me only for Paylor, to replace it.
"It's good to be here Commander." We replied
--------
I stood in a crowd of mass proportion. Commander Paylor stood up on the stage that one Peeta and I was addressing everyone.
"I'm Commander Paylor of District 8. I'm a soldier like all of you, so here is what I know. For the first time in our life times we're standing together with 13 districts. From what I see here, we've already made history." I clapped with everyone else, standing with Kat and Gale.
"But history doesn't stop to celebrate. And we're all facing an enemy that will not change and never surrender. President Snow has pulled back peacekeepers to fortify the centre of the city. He's evacuating residents from the outa blocks. These civilians will be confused and desperate. You are under orders not to target them. We're deploying medical brigades to help anyone in need." I turned my head to the medics in all white, not far from the three of us.
"We'll show the Capitol people who we are. To slow our advance, President Snow is building a minefield of traps and lethal devices called pods. The sadistic invention of Game makers meant to make sport of our deaths. If our armies make it past peacekeepers and other defences, we'll converge on the centre of the city at Snow's mansion, where we won't just unlock their gates, but unshackle all of Panem. Everyone around me clapped and cheered as she continued
"If we die, let it be for a cause and not a spectacle. If we succeed, let it be for all of Panem and let it be forever. Yes, you've already made history. But the future, our future begins tomorrow at dawn, when we march together into the Capitol."
-
I stuffed as much food and supplies I could for the journey ahead.
"Squad 451?" I looked up to Gale who came into my tent and sat across from me. "Looks like you got all your meals covered ."
"Tryin' to be prepared." I told him
"Don't lie to me, I'm your brother."
"Really, because I can't tell, you change back and forth so fast I get whiplash. " I counter back
"I'm trying to protect what I have left."
"Well careful not to fall of the edge you might not come back from."
"We've been hunting together all our lives. I know when you're going off on your own. Are you going to leave Kat and I behind too?" he wondered and i stopped what I was doing and looked to him properly.
"As your fellow soldier, I suggest you stay with your unit. But I couldn't stop you if you wanted to come....you're annoying like that."
"Hawthorne, Mellark. Come meet your new unit." I stood up and left the tent.
"I'm Lieutenant Jackson, and I want to introduce you to your squad. This is second Lieutenant Mitchell best sharpshooter in Panem. These are the Leeg sisters. First Combat Division, this is Corporal Holmes and you've already know Corporal Everdeen" I smiled at Holmes who I had already met. But in the background I saw a familiar face.
"Finn? Are you with us?" I asked walking over to him
"Looks like it."
"That was a short Honeymoon." We hugged
"Yeah, well, I guess were gonna have to have one in the Capitol. After we take it." I smiled keeping my arm around his waist and he with me.
"Gather round." We looked to Boggs. Wait why the hell was Cressida, Masalla, Castor and Pollux here?
"Squad 451, you're my unit. Lieutenant Jackson is my second in command. Each one of you is elite in some form of combat. But we are a non combat unit." What?! Oh this had Coin written all over it. "So we'll be following days behind the front line troops."
"You're to be the on screen faces of the invasion. The star squad. It's been decided that you're most effective when you're seen by the masses." Cressida continued
"So we're not going to fight?" Kat questioned
"You'll do whatever you're ordered to do Soldier. It's not your job to ask questions." I looked at my best friend and we shared a look of annoyance.
"Yes, Sir." She reluctantly replied
"Our instructions are to shoot propaganda footage on the battle scarred streets of The Capitol. You are handpicked to intimidate forces..." Boggs told us
"and inspire surrenders" Cressida added
"Even though we'll be working on abandoned streets miles behind the front lines. I guarantee you, wherever they put us, it will not be safe. This is a war zone. It is likely that we'll encounter both active pods and peacekeepers. You're considered high value targets to the Capitol. In the event of capture you will each be given a nighlock pill. A poison that acts immediately. Lieutenant Jackson. If you will." She came round each handing us a pill.
"I've already briefed you on the pods. I remind you they're on every block. Our unit has been given a hollow. A database that contains a detailed map of The Capitol and a list of every known pod. These pods can trigger anything from Bombs to traps, to mutts. We cannot move without this device. There is no guarantee that our database is complete there may be new pods we're not aware of. Because we don't want the Gamemakers to know we have this information it has a self destruct. You flip the switch and say nighlock 3 times, and it blows itself up and anything within a 10 foot radius.
Stay within our unit. Even with the hollow it is likely new pods have been set. Whatever they contain they are meant to kill you." He finished
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the 76th hunger games." Finn muttered into my ear. I look up at him then back at everyone else. Not long after that speech, we left the base and walked for blocks upon blocks.
"I've never seen it so empty." Cressida muttered as I walked with Kat
"Keep your eyes open." Boggs stated holding the beeping holo in his hand. Five minutes later the holo warned us of a pod. We were stopped.
"We got a pod. Let's take cover." We jogged to behind a statue.
"Shoot through those two buildings." Boggs told me pointing to where it was. I nodded and knelt on the steps.
"Pollux, right here." Cressida told her team "Castor" She framed the 'shot' I watch him move in front of me.
"When you're ready Lily." I took one of my black arrows out and drew it back aiming.
"Hold it. Pollux tighter." I gritted my teeth un-drawing. "Okay." This was silly them being her was silly. I pulled back the arrow and took a deep breath before letting go. It flew through the two building setting the pod of fire off. A car exploded and I ducked slightly seeing it roll into view. The fire stopped and smoke was left.
"All clear."