Story by Lindsay for Suzanne Collins Part 1 of 3 (4 Chapters)

Dear Miss Collins,

The next 3 posts are a story that my 14 year old daughter, Lindsay, wrote about Cato.  She knows it needs work and that the transitions could be better and fleshed out more.  She also can't decide on a title for the book.  Do you have a suggestion?  I, and everyone who's read it, thinks it is quite good and we are very proud.

She is honoured that you have said you would read it.  She also LOVES the "Underland Chronicles".  She read those books first.

Thank you again
Tiffany

Part 1 of 3

Chapter 1  "Don't leave me"

"Morning cupcake" Cato's voice rings in my ear. "morning warrior" I say as I open my eyes, he is sitting at the foot of my bed holding my reaping dress folded on his lap. "I will be downstairs honey" he whispers as he hands me the dress and kisses me on my cheek. I get dressed quickly and braid my hair into a bun on the top of my head. I brush on some light pink blush and some lipgloss then I skip downstairs. My parents are cooking breakfast and Cato is sitting at the table. "You look beautiful" he says to me, he stands up and lifts me off my feet into a hug. I squeal and he lets me down. My parents smile at each other, "breakfast is ready" my mother calls out. We sit at the table and eat quickly. After we are dismissed we walk around district two holding hands. "Are you really going to do it?" I ask him. "I have to, I have to bring pride to our district" he replies. "but what if you don't make it out?"  I ask "what if some tribute from… twelve or something surprises you?" I continue. He laughs "that won't happen" he says "but what if--" "No, shadow I will win for you" he says "I love you" he continues "when I come back I want you to be my wife" he gets down on one knee with a ring, it's beautiful, gold with rubies and obsidian gems. "Yes, I love you so much Cato" I say crying a little "now I really don't want you to volunteer" I cry out as he hugs me tight "alright" he whispers "I won't" OUr lips find each other as he slips the ring on my finger. 

Chapter 2 "You're not alone"

We head to the reaping, my arms start to tremble, Cato looks over and notices, he grabs my hand. "Everything is going to be ok boo boo bear" he whispers gently. As always his dazzling eyes startle me. My hands find his face and absentmindedly my thumb traces his lips as I whisper back "as long as I have you." We sign in at the justice building and before we part ways to our separate sides is lips find mine. We separate slowly as we whisper in sync "I love you" I let out a giggle and look down he cups my chin and brings my eyes to meet his once more "see you soon" he whispers we finally part our eyes lingering on each other as we do so. The reaping begins, the film seems to go on forever so I tune it out. I think about what life will be like once I marry Cato. "Shadow Karrington" my name blasts over the speakers, all the images of the wedding vanish. I have been reaped. "NOOO" my cousin Clove crys out "I volunteer" she says firmly and steps out of the crowd. "Go Shadow" she says and walks forward I attempt to grab her arm but the peacekeepers are already upon her and bringing her up to the stage. How could today get any worse? "Whats your name dear?" our escort asks her. "Clove" she says firmly. "Now for the boys" the escort calls out, I hold my breath "Jaxyn Hawkes" the name rings out through the square "I volunteer as tribute" I look to the boy that spoke. I had recognized the lice but didn't want to believe it. 

It was Cato.

Chapter 3 "Final Farewells"

I burst into the room and run into cat's arms, "you promised" I cry he hugs me and holds me close. "I know" I pauses "I wasn't going to let Clove go in alone" he comforts me. "But only one comes out Cato, either way I lose one of you" I cry burying my in his arm "I love you so much Cato" I murmur "I love you too Shadow" he replies, our lips find each other for a while and then I am dragged out of the room "times up" the peacekeepers say to me "I love you" I scream the door slams shut just in time for me to hear "I love you more" escape from Cato's lips, I calm down a little bit "I love you most" I whisper knowing he can't hear me anymore. Next I am taken into Cloves room, I hug her "you didn't have to volunteer for me" I tell her "Yes I did Shadow" she murmurs "Well, thanks" I cry into her shoulder "I will make sure he gets out for you" she tells me "I promise." "But I don't want to lose you either" I cry. "I know, but you deserve Cato" she sees the ring on my engagement finger "Oh no Shadow, I'm so sorry" she hugs me tighter, I cry harder. The doors burst open "Goodbye Clove" I yell "Goodbye Shadow" she waves as the doors slam in my face. I collapse on the floor at the peacekeepers feet. My life is over.

Chapter 4 "Torn"

I sit at home watching the live stream of the train ride to the capitol my eyes stays on the District two car the whole time, it's about 4:00 am but I stay in the same position my eyes staring blankly at the car not bothering to move. I fiddle with my ring, I can't move. My soul is torn…

Permanently.

Story by Lindsay for Suzanne Collins Part 3 of 3 (4 Chapters)

Part 3 of 3

Chapter 1 "A new beginning"

I don't know what to do with myself anymore. I can't live with myself. I should have stopped him, I should have made him promise not to volunteer. Maybe it would have been better if we didn't live in two. I sit curled up in a ball on the couch in front of the TV. I watched his interview over and over again. "Do you have a special girl back home?" Ceaser's question burned in my mind "Yes." The response was simple then he paused "My fiancee" I shudder at the words "WEll then lets make sure you get home to her" Ceaser reassures him "yes, I am prepared, vicious I'm ready to go" his voice sounds. Or not, I can't help but think. "Honey you need to get up sooner or later" my mom tells me. I get up and shake myself off. I hesitantly switch the TV off. I will never love again, but I need to find a new beginning soon. 

Chapter 2 "The Victory Tour"

"Please welcome the victors of the 74th annual hunger games" I brace myself "Katniss and Peeta" They step out onstage, there are two shrines set up, one for Cato and one for Clove. "Will the families of the deceased please step forward and stand at your relatives shrine." Effies voice booms out, I step forward. Our family goes its separate ways and I move forward slowly and stand in between both shrines. "Which one is your family dear?" Effie asks me, I guess I look lost. "They are both my family" I say a tear forming at my cheek. "How?" she asks. "My cousin" I choke out the words "and my" I pause "fiancee" I choke out hardly audible. "Oh ok dear" she says simply. Katniss and Peeta give a speech and then we watch a recap of their win.I choke all over again and turn away from the screen. I can't watch this anymore. Soon Katniss and Peeta leave and the "show" is done. I stay by the shrines. First I visit Cloves "I miss youz' I say sadly I slowly open the coffin and see her lifeless form "I love you" I whisper and shut the lid. I move to Cato's shrine. I cry my eyes out "I love you" I say, "I love you more" I hear his voice in my head "I love you most" I slowly open the coffin his body was torn apart by mutts, so there was no body in the coffin. Instead his engagement ring sat on the satin lining. My heart breaks, I pick it up and slip it in my pocket. The lid slams shut and I sink down next t the coffin crying. I just can't do it. 

Chapter 3 "an understanding"

"I'm sorry" I hear the words and look up to the voice that spoke. It belonged to Katniss. "I am truly very sorry" She says again "You look like you would have been an amazing couple" she says "Thanks" I manage to choke out. "I know you probably hate me" she starts "No" I say "You did it for love and family" I say "I understand" I choke wiping my tears. She nods and pats my shoulder "Goodbye--" she pauses "Shadow" I finish for her "Goodbye Shadow" "Goodbye Katniss" I say and look down. 

We have an understanding.

Chapter 4 "Nobody There"

"Good morning cupcake" I hear his voice and smile "morning warrior" I whisper.                              My eyes flutter open. But there is

                                        Nobody There.

                                           *BOOM*

   I hear the canon  in my head and my heart breaks all over again, I will                                                NEVER be the same.

                                          -The End-

Story by Lindsay's for Suzanne Collins Part 2 of 3 (4 Chapters)

Part 2 of 3

Chapter 1 "A new hope"

I sit watching waiting for five a clock, so the scores are live. "What time is it?" I ask my mother "4:59" I tense up, one minute left. "Welcome Panem to the scores" I hear Ceaser's voice on the TV and sit bolt upright my eyes glued to the screen. I sit restlessly through district one. "From district 2, Clove, with a score of nine" I hear his voice as it pauses "and from district two, Cato, with a score of" he pauses again "Ten" I flip out and start jumping on the couch, tuning out the TV. I have a new hope. Then I hear it "with a score of eleven" I turn to the screen just in time to see the face of the girl from twelve fading off the screen, i collapse on the couch, my suspicions were confirmed, an outline district…

an eleven.

Chapter 2 "The games begin"

"from now on two tributes can be crowned if both originate from the same district" Ceaser's voice erupts on the speakers, my focus turns to the screen, it shows Cato and Clove hugging and laughing like total idiots "Wooohooo" Cato screams, he pulls off his ring and hoists it in the air "Shadow we're coming home!" he yells I start laughing, Cato and Clove could both come home. I might get to marry Cato after all, my life isn't over, its not. "I love you Shadow" Cato yells into the cameras "I love you more" I ill to the screen, "I love you most" Cato finishes, he knows me to well. 

Chapter 3 "Gone with the girl"

I watch in dismay as Clove traces Katniss's face with her knife, talking on and on, I didn't want to see my cousin become a murderer, but I couldn't control her. Her voice became louder talking about the young girl that dyed. Rue. She'd attract attention soon, I saw the boy from eleven running up and I screamed. He picked up Clove and demanded to know about Rue, if she killed her, why she said her name. She screamed Cato's name and the boy slammed her into the tree, her body collapsed on the ground. *BOOM* "NOOOOOO" I cry out my mother and father come rushing in. "She's gone" I cry my parents comfort me as I cry, she is gone.

Chapter 4 "The last breath"

My hands tremble as I watch the fight with anticipation, Cato's sword spears Thresh's heart and he falls, now all he needs to do is kill Katniss and Peeta and then he can come home to me and we can live a happy life *BOOM* Thresh's canon. Then I hear the mutts, howling mutated dogs, Cato runs and climbs the cornucopia waiting for the mutts to chase Katniss and Peeta to him they arrive and the rest flys by, then it happens. Katniss shoots Cato's hand and he falls to the mutts below him, they start ripping at his flesh and I start balling my eyes out, I scream, he screams, he's being tortueed. Katniss takes pity on him and shoots him.

As he takes his final breath… part of my soul dies with him.

                                     *BOOM*

-end of part 2-