This is an idea that I came up with where Clove writes letters to her family and friends before the reaping. This first one is to an OC, her little brother, who is called Henrik. I shall be writing a series of different letters to different characters/family members/friends and if you have any suggestions, by all means comment. I will definitely be writing one to Cato.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games or any of these characters.
Dear Henrik,
Hello, brother. If you are reading this, it is because you are 12 and it is coming up to your first reaping. By the time you read these words, I will be long gone and just a faded memory. Today, as I am writing this, it is the day before the reaping and tomorrow I am going to volunteer with Cato. I may be young, but I am strong. I have passed this letter onto mother to give to you before your first reaping; don't be afraid. I want you to know that although I only knew you for the little time of 4 years, but we are siblings after all. Family above all, that's what I always say. I'm volunteering for you, Henrik. I want you to grow up in Victor's Village. Obviously, if you are reading this right now, you wouldn't have grown up in Victor's Village. I want you to know that although what I have done may seem very stupid, I will always loves you and look over you.
Sometimes I worry about you. I think that you won't ever be tough like me because let's face it, as a child you were very wimpy. Are you still like that?
The reaping can be quite frightening; especially with that short film they show. Don't let them see your fear, that is a weakness and they will use it against you and our family. Remember that everyone is frightened, after all we are just children so don't feel any less superior. If Cato has survived the bloodbath we were thrown into, I have made him promise that if he wins he would look after you. If he broke his promise, you have full permission to kick his ass! Don't worry though, Henrik. This is your first year, your name will only be in once and one of the older and stronger ones will volunteer. I hope you never go into the games. I hope that you miss the enjoyment of fighting to death. I hope that you miss the chance of killing people because although I may get some fun out of it, I know you won't. You are different to anyone else in District 2 and that makes you, you. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
I need you to do something for me. I need you to make something of yourself, forget about the games for a moment and focus on your future. I didn't and apparently this letter proves it didn't work out for me. I want you to find a pretty little wife (what about Cato's little sister? She's your age) and I want you to have a family. Raise your family somewhere safe. I'll try and keep you safe as much as I can, but I'm not sure what a ghost can do… I want your only daughter (I've decided you'll have a daughter… cough, call her Clove, cough) to know all about me and all the great adventures I had. Don't neglect her like I was. Why do you think I was always so bad tempered? You and Erik got all the fuss. You were the youngest and Erik was just older than me.
Tell her a story. Tell her that if she's patient, she will get everything she could imagine. Tell her that the days are coming that she'll never forget. Tell her she'll fall in love with one of the most popular guys on the District and eventually, once he realizes how strong and tough she is and not to mention how beautiful, he will love her back. Tell her he would do anything for her, even volunteer in the games with her. Tell her that he will always be by her side to protect her.
Why does that sound so familiar?
That is what happened to me. No matter who you are, it is possible for one of the hottest guys on District to be yours. Make sure you tell her that.
Make sure you tell her that this is the story of Clove Williams and this is how it ends.
Love you always,
Clove.