They lead me into the office of a peacekeeper, and they leave and close the door behind them. By the look of his uniform, I can tell that this peacekeeper is probably of a higher rank than others. By the look of how clean his uniform is, I can tell that he arrived fairly recently.
"Please, sit down." His voice is unsettlingly calm, and it is clear that he has all the leverage over me in this situation.
I sit down and try not to look at him. What glimpses I do get are enough to conform my that this man is assured of his leverage. He continues.
"I am sure you know why you were arrested."
An image of Jack's cold dead skin and of his lifeless eyes flashes through my mind. Dehydration is all that keeps from breaking into tears.
"Yes."
The Peacekeeper continues.
"Normally, punishment for this would be severe. But today is your lucky day."
This catches my suspicion. I didn't commit treason, so they can not just make me an Avox. Right?
They are the Capitol. They spent seventy four years doing whatever the hellfire they want.
But I'm not important. I'm just a common murderer.
But-
No. Don't think about it. Just breathe in, and breath out. Breath in, and breath out.
If the Peacekeeper can hear my obvious hyperventilating, he makes no mention of it in what he says next.
"What I am offering you is an opportunity of a lifetime. Not only will you get to live, but you also get to see the world, earn money and have a comfortable living. I am offering you a chance to be a peacekeeper."
Wait? What?!
Why would they offer me a job as a Peacekeeper? I do not want to be a peacekeeper!
But I want to live.
I ask cautiously, "What if I say no?"
The Peacekeeper answered in his usual calm voice.
"I've seen a lot of people executed for killing someone. Some were full grown men, some were old, some were just boys who were younger than you. Do you know,what they all had in common? Well they all died in the end, but thats not the only thing; they all said that it wasn't their fault."
"I'm under no delusion of innocence."
"But if you are a Peacekeeper, you can live a full life. If you are stubborn, if you make a foolish decision, than you'll be dead just like the others."
From watching the Hunger Games, I know what a dead person looks like. I do not want to be dead yet. I want to live.
But I don't want to be a Peacekeeper.
"Can I have some time to think about it?"
"Of course, that's reasonable. Just wait in here; I'll be back in five hours."
Five hours. Depending on my choice, it could be the last five hours I have.