𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒕𝒖𝒔; 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒊𝒓

𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒉

Moments later, Cressida calls out for Boggs. Everyone stops and lets her walk up to the front of the group.

"This is a good spot. Through there, in the courtyard," she says.

Boggs nods his head. "Okay, let us clear it." He leads the group through the circular courtyard, the Holo aimed out in front of him. As he walks, the Holo's beeping becomes more rapid and alerting. He holds up his finger, signaling for the squad to stop. "Got a pod. Split and take cover."

Everyone quickly follows orders. Lilith gently grabs Peeta's arm and leads him over to the side opposite of Katniss. It's probably best for right now. Finnick follows his wife. Lilith crouches down and tugs Peeta down with her.

"Stay back," Boggs instructs. He grabs a small rock and quickly tosses it around the corner of the wall.

Giant machine guns suddenly protrude from the walls and begin firing. Lilith flinches at the sound and feels Peeta squeeze her arm. She covers her ears and glances over at him. He's using his other hand to block out some of the sound by pressing it harshly against his ear. Lilith looks around for Finnick and sees him chuckling. His ability to be amused in times like these is one of the reasons Lilith ever fell for him. Just looking at him laughing (although not the time nor the place) is enough to make a small smile creep its way onto her face.

When the gunfire ceases, Boggs stands and holds out the Holo. "All clear," he says. "Gale, Homes, with me. Leegs, take the wings."

Those called for follow orders and move in. The rest of the squad stays put. Peeta releases Lilith's arm and grabs ahold of his gun tightly. He begins muttering to himself and tapping the stock of the gun against his head. Lilith watches as he struggles internally. She doesn't know what to do. But, that train of thought is cut short when a loud explosion happens. Lilith jolts up and peeks around the corner. Katniss runs out from her position.

"Boggs!" The Mockingjay calls out.

"Everdeen, no!" Jackson yells. "Hold your position!"

Katniss just repeats, "Boggs!"

Lilith watches as Boggs lays on the ground, from the looks of it he's very hurt. Those who are around him begin working on his legs. That explosion must've got him. One of the Leegs got hurt in the explosion too, and she groans in pain. Her sister hears and runs over to her, but before she makes it, she steps on a trigger. Everyone can just watch as walls begin closing them into the courtyard. The squad begins running as black liquid emerges from nowhere. Lilith tugs on Peeta and gets him to move. She keeps a grasp on his arm as they run. She hears someone yell for them to get to higher ground, so that's what she plans to do. Everything was going to be fine, until Peeta snaps.

He shakes himself out of Lilith's grasp and lunges towards Katniss. Mitchell runs over and pulls Peeta off of her. This is when Lilith has lost sight of Finnick. Knowing that right now her priorities are Katniss and Peeta, she ignores the urge in her chest to look for Finnick, and runs towards Katniss and Peeta.

Lilith watches Mitchell be strung up in the air with wire. She cringes but keeps going. Gale gets to Katniss before Lilith does, so she turns for Peeta. She picks him up off the ground and pushes him ahead of her.

"Peeta, go!" Lilith yells.

Finnick comes to help and grabs onto Peeta from the side. A weight feels like it's been lifted off of her chest at the sight of Finnick. At least he's okay.

They make it inside the building just in time. They follow everyone up the stairs.

"Keep climbing to the top," Jackson orders.

The only problem with that is, the stairs have collapsed and there's no way they can get any higher than they are. Lilith hands Finnick a tranquilizer and he quickly injects it into Peeta. He instantly calms down.

"It's slowing down," Cressida says. Once the liquid reaches the top step of the platform they're on, it starts receding back down. "Gamemakers are still putting on quite a show."

Lilith catches her breath and watches the stairs become visible again, only now they're covered in black.

"451 to base. Over," Jackson says into her walkie.

Everyone begins talking over eachother. Lilith hears a mix of, "We need to move," and "The surveillance cameras caught us". Everyone agrees this is a bad spot to be, while Jackson is still trying to get in contact with the base.

"They definitely know we're here," Lilith mutters next to Finnick. She fears being ripped away by the Capitol again. She knows Snow would love to have her back in his clutches fighting for him again. She bites the inside of her cheek as Jackson gives up trying to make contact with the base.

"I can't get a signal. But I can get us back to base. Everdeen, give me the Holo," Jackson says, reaching out towards the Holo. Katniss just stares at her and holds the Holo tighter. Jackson takes note of this. "Everdeen, what did I just say? The Holo. Come on, let's go."

"Boggs gave it to me," The Mockingjay says sternly. Lilith smirks. She knew Katniss was up to something bigger.

"What are you talking about?" Jackson says dumbfounded.

"He did. He transferred security clearance to her. I saw him," one of the guys says.

Jackson stares at Katniss, her eyes narrowed slightly. "And why would he do that?"

"I'm on special orders from Coin," Katniss lies smoothly. Lilith knows it's a lie. That woman would never have special orders for Katniss.

"To do what?" Jackson presses.

"To assassinate President Snow."

Jackson scoffs. "I don't believe that for one second. As your new unit commander, I order you to transfer security clearance to me now."

"I can't do that," Katniss says.

Jackson reaches for her gun and points it at Katniss. Gale is quick to point his crossbow towards her. Lilith takes a step closer to Katniss and blocks her from Jackson's view. Lilith pulls out a small pistol that was strapped to her thigh and points it in Jackson's face. Everyone pulls out their weapons. The squad is now divided.

"Let's not lose our heads here," Gale warns.

It's clear that more support the Mockingjay.

"I'm not asking you again, Everdeen. Give me that Holo," Jackson says sternly.

"She's telling the truth," Cressida says suddenly. She steps right in front of Jackson's gun. "Plutarch wants it televised. He thinks if we could film the Mockingjay assassinating Snow, it'll make the Capitol surrender before the casualties get too high."

"While we're arguing, there are a hundred Peacekeepers on their way here," Lilith says, knowing how quickly Peacekeepers are deployed and given orders.

Katniss shoves Gale's crossbow down, and steps to the front. "Boggs promised me that when the time came, you would help me."

Jackson stares at the Mockingjay for a few seconds, not moving. Then, she lowers her gun with a breath. Everyone sighs in relief now that the tension is lifted. Well, mostly.

"Alright, soldier, Holo's yours," Jackson says reluctantly.

Katniss gives her one single nod.

Now that Lilith knows Katniss's real agenda, she's becoming glad that she came. She'd love to see Snow's head on a platter for everything he's done.