THE SIREN'S SONG 𓇼 F. ODAIR

15.5 | THE FRIENDSHIP

Dear Carolina,

I hope you don't mind me writing to you.

My grandfather mentioned your birthday was last week. If I had known, I would have sent you something—something as grand as you could dream, though I suspect you deserve far more. Then again, I doubt a gift from me would have made much sense.

I should explain why I'm writing. You've only seen me once, but from the moment I saw you at your reaping, I haven't been able to look away. Watching you in the parade, the interview, the Games—I was captivated.

I'm not naïve. I know much of what we saw was for the Capitol. But I wonder about the moments in between. The ones that belonged only to you. I want to know the real Carolina Seymour, the Siren of District 4—not just the one they wanted us to see.

There's no obligation to write back. But if you're even a little curious about me the way I am about you, I'd like to think this won't be the last letter between us.

Cyrus Snow

"Well, isn't he a charmer?"

"Mom!"

Carolina jumped away from her mother and quickly hid the letter from Cyrus behind her back, but it was too late. Based on the knowing look her mother was sending her, she had already read the entire thing. It didn't even matter that Carolina had specifically gone to the backyard of her childhood home to avoid exactly that.

"What?" her mother asked, sending her a teasing look. Carolina's entire body must have gone red. "No one writes letters these days. It's refreshing."

"Well, this letter was specifically for me," Carolina huffed. "It's personal."

"Clearly," her mother said, turning to go back inside the house. Just as she was about to open the door, she turned back to her daughter. "But Carol..."

"Yeah?"

"He seems like a sweet boy," she said. "Don't let this one go. He could do you some good."

Carolina sighed, waving her mother off. She had never gone to her mother for dating advice before, and based on that conversation, she never will. Carolina had never really been a dater, either.

Sure, there would be boys that caught her eye, but none of them stuck. Every time she gained the courage to confess her feelings for them, or even flirt with them directly for that matter, something would stop them from going any further, whether it be them getting an injury that prevented them from going to school for the rest of the year or them just blatantly ignoring her existence all of a sudden.

Carolina thought she was cursed then. And now, she still does.

Why does the first boy to ever show any interest in me have to be a Snow? She thought.

And could she tell her mother about Cyrus? About how Snow was forcing her into a relationship with him? Could she tell her dad or Charlie? Pearl?

I want you to think about your family, sitting outside at this very moment. Who is protecting them? Snow had said.

No. She couldn't tell anyone. She couldn't risk them getting hurt or punished or worse.

Carolina would have to carry this burden alone.

Suddenly, Carolina heard a splash from the water. Her head turned to the ocean, where she found a very familiar person swimming. The same person who just might be the only other person in District 4 to understand what she was going through.

Carolina immediately turned around and ran back inside her house. She ran across her living room, dining room, and kitchen, ignoring her parent's questions as she shoved on her wellies. She was seconds away from leaving when her father stepped in her path.