𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒕𝒖𝒔; 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒊𝒓

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑮𝒂𝒎𝒆

Finnick and Lilith touchdown in the Capitol by morning. They are told where Katniss is and they request to join her squad. Finnick is given the trident that Beetee designed for him, and Lilith is given a pair of blades that Beetee had also designed for her. Lilith secures the holster onto her back as Finnick twirls his trident around. Lilith watches her husband in amusement.

"Having fun?" She remarks with a smirk.

"Oh, I'm just getting started," He grins. He holds the trident with one hand and secures the other around his wife's waist.

As they make their way to the tent where Katniss is, Lilith gets an awful feeling in her chest. Finnick notices this, and stops them.

"What's wrong?" He asks, his voice full of concern.

Lilith shakes her head. "Nothing. I just- I have a bad feeling being back here."

Finnick brushes some hair out of her face and looks at her warmly. "It'll be alright. Before you know it, we'll be on a beach in Four."

Lilith smiles and they keep walking.

Katniss sees them before they see her. "Finnick? Lilith?" She calls out as she walks towards them. "Are you guys with us?"

"Looks like it," Finnick says with a grin.

"That was a short honeymoon," She says, pulling Finnick into a hug.

"Yeah," Finnick chuckles.

Katniss then moves to Lilith, pulling her into an embrace.

"I guess we'll just have to have one in the Capitol," Lilith half jokes as Katniss hugs her. That earns a chuckle from the Mockingjay.

"After we take it, of course," Finnick adds.

"Gather round," An intimidating man says as he walks into the tent. "I'm Colonel Boggs. Squad 451, you're my unit. Lieutenant Jackson is my second in command."

Lilith already likes Boggs. Jackson, however, seems to have an attitude. That's probably just from the War, though. After all, Lilith has had an attitude after what she's been through.

"Each one of you is elite in some form of combat," Boggs continues. "But we are a non-combat unit. So, we'll be following days behind the front line troops."

A part of Lilith is grateful they won't be on the front lines. Being in the back just means Finnick is safer.

"You're to be the on-screen faces of the invasion," A blonde, who Lilith knows to be Cressida, explains. "The Star Squad. It's been decided that you're most effective when seen by the masses."

"So we're not gonna fight?" Gale Hawthorne says, bitterness lacing his tone.

Lilith looks at him with disgust. Fighting isn't always all it's cracked out to be.

"You'll do what you're ordered to do, Soldier. It's not your job to ask questions," Boggs snaps instantly.

Lilith has to refrain from laughing at the look on Gale's face. Katniss has told Lilith about Gale when they were in Thirteen. In Lilith's opinion, Katniss should just pretend he doesn't exist. Katniss didn't like it when Lilith had told her that.

"Yes, sir," Gale says quietly.

"Our instructions are to shoot propaganda footage on the battle-scarred streets of the Capitol. You were handpicked to intimidate their forces," Boggs explains their mission.

"And inspire surrenders," Cressida adds.

"Even though we're 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," Boggs says. 

So, don't get comfortable, is what he's trying to tell them. Lilith is seeing uncanny signs of the Hunger Games just from this explanation. Having to watch your back, looking out for dangers, and being filmed while doing so. So this is what that awful feeling in her chest was for.

"You're considered high value targets for the Capitol," Boggs says. Lilith scoffs quietly to herself. Snow would love to have her back in his clutches. "In the event of a capture, you'll be given a nightlock pill: a poison that acts immediately. Lieutenant Jackson, do the honors." Boggs hands a black box to Jackson, who then begins handing out nightlock pills.

As Lilith gets handed her pill, she holds it in the palm of her hand for a second. She looks over at Finnick as he gets his. She really hopes neither of them have to use it.

"I've already briefed you on the pods," Boggs continues. "I remind you, they are on every block. Our unit has been given a Holo. It's 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's no guarantee that our database is complete. There could be new pods that we're not aware of."

Of course everyone's lives are being put on the line again. That's the dramatic flare of the Capitol.

"Because we don't want the Gamemakers to know we have this intel, it has a self-destruct on it. You flip this switch," Boggs points to a switch on the Holo. "say 'nightlock' three times, and it blows itself and anything within a ten-foot radius."

Lilith looks around, her eyes landing on Katniss. She knows they're feeling the exact same thing right now. Fear. Deja-vu. Lilith knows that Katniss wants more than just shooting propaganda, she can see it in her eyes.

"Stay within our unit. Even with the Holo, it is likely that new pods have been set. Whatever they contain, they are meant to kill you," Boggs reminds the group harshly.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Finnick starts after a moment, leaving in towards Katniss.

"Welcome to the 76th Hunger Games," Lilith finishes.

It's crazy that it's come to this. Lilith has fought so hard since her first games. She's fought so hard to get to where she is, and she is not about to let anything take what she's earned. Lilith moves closer to her husband, almost afraid that if she's not near he'll just disappear. Finnick instinctively snakes an arm around Lilith's waist.

Finnick places a finger under Lilith's chin, tilting her head up to look at him. "It'll be okay," He says. He plants a kiss on her forehead.

Lilith nods and puts a small, reassuring smile on her face. She wants to believe him. She really does. But she can't help the feeling that this could all go wrong.