The whole day all I could think about was the reaping that would be coming the next day. I was more nervous for Elissa than Elissa was nervous for herself.
I headed down the street and to the Hob. I thought I'd buy some candy for Becky. I headed over to the candy counter and searched through the candy. I felt something move at my side and I looked over but saw nothing. I shrugged and started searching through the candy again. I saw some mints and started to pick them up when a hand suddenly shoved down on my arm. I looked up and straight into the eyes of a peacekeeper. But not just any peacekeeper; the one who had whipped me.
"Excuse me," he said. "You better pay for those."
"Uh, I am," I said. "I just picked them up."
"Oh really?" the peacekeeper said. "Well, I don't seem to see any money anywhere on you."
"It's in my pocket," I said, glaring at him. I shoved my hand into my pocket and searched for the money that I had put in there only. Except I didn't feel anything. I took my hand out of my pocket and searched the other pocket. Both were empty. I then frantically searched through my bag, but knew it wouldn't be there. I remembered putting it in my pocket. I looked up at the peacekeeper with a confused look on my face.
"I swear, I had money..." I said.
"Doesn't look like that to me," the peacekeeper said.
"Well, even though I know I had money, I didn't even steal it. I just picked it up," I said.
The peacekeeper let go of my hand.
"I'll keep an eye on you," he said, backing away.
"Go on; you won't find anything wrong," I said.
I turned back to put the candy away.
"Wait a minute," he said, trotting back over to me. "What's that sticking out of your bag?"
I looked over at my bag and saw something sticking out of it. The peacekeeper opened up my bag and took out the thing that had been sticking out of it; a bag of candy.
"I take it you paid for these too?" the peacekeeper said.
"What the heck?!" I exclaimed. "I didn't put those there! This is the first time I've been here all day!"
"Doesn't look like that to me," the peacekeeper said, grabbing my hand. "You know the penalty for stealing is death, right?"
"I didn't steal anything!" I exclaimed, yanking my arm from his grip. I started to run away, my heart pumping.
"Come back here!" the peacekeeper shouted behind me. I heard footsteps behind me and I ran even faster. Peacekeepers suddenly dashed around the corner and in front of me and I skidded to a halt. They grabbed me and hauled me away. A single tear slid down my cheek. I didn't want to die. Not this way.