^Catarina LaMae^D13 {FIN}

I can still remember his voice. An inferno of authority.

"Ms. LaMae?"

"Yes?"

"Of room number 181?"

"Thats me."

"Come with us."

The door was so tempting, hanging just meters away, wiling to take me deep into the bowels of the district and stop whatever was about to happen from happening. But the two men quickly stepped in front of it, as nonchalant as they could be, but intent was clear. They walked me to the elevator, careful to appear as relaxed as possible. I suppose their faces were slack, but I could feel their muscles flexed in anxiety. They expect me to run. Why would I run?

The office was platinum, the metallic shine almost blinding. I noticed that this windowless room felt more like a tomb than a living space, and even though most of District 13 has no windows, the lack of them there was suffocating. Three sets of eyes follow my move, blue, brown, and grey. 

Sitting on the cool chair sends shivers up my spine, and I tried not to shake in front of the glare of accusation. Blue spoke first,

"Ms. LaMae, do you know why are you here?"

"N- No sir."

I want to vomit, because my mother would be slapping me across the head if I had ever called a man "sir" in her presence.

"Ms. LaMae, do you have any knowledge of any illegal activities occurring in District 13?"

"Well... well... I saw a boy take two slices of bread once... and my friend once took another girls notebook for the paper... and-"

"Stop. Stop."

My heart pounded, a caged animal just like myself. I wanted to scream at them, demand they tell me what they are looking for. I would help them with anything they needed, because I've never done anything wrong. I've never seen any crime, nor heard any sin. 

Grey picks up the line of questioning.

"Ms. LaMae, look at me... Have you ever seen any illegal substance in your home?"

"Illeg-- wha-- no, sir. You must have me confused for someone else."

This was a mistake. It was all a mistake. Nothing. I had done nothing. My family was innocent, we did nothing. We trade snow, give people packets of the outside world, let them experience winter in a winterless world. All my life I've known this to be a fact, a simple fact of life. There was nothing wrong with it, so why, why, why were they questioning me? Brown picks up the line of questioning.

"Ms. LaMae, have you ever heard your mother planning to distribute drugs throughout the district?"

"My mother? What are-- no! What? NO! No. I'm sorry sir but you have to be mistaken! My mother--"

"Ms. LaMae, we have reason to believe that your mother is involved in the drug trade. Now it is your duty to report any illegal conduct to the police, and failure to do so will result in punishment. I will ask you one last time. Is your mother, Vivian LaMae, involved in the illegal trade of cocaine throughout this district?"

Heartbeats stop, and for once I can feel the ice run in my veins. It an experience unlike any other, and not the enjoyable one. My mind slows, freezing over with the reality of my situation. This was not a joke, not a mistake, not a dream. This was reality. I would not allow them to turn me against my mother, not the woman who raised me, who taught my father respect. Not her.

"Sir. I do not have any idea what you are talking about. My mother has done nothing wrong. That being said... I will keep a look out for anything suspicious, I promise you sir."

They exchange glances, a silent conversation in a silent room. In unison they turn back to me. Brown speaks again, his crisp voice cutting the silence like a chainsaw through butter.

"Very well Ms. LaMae. I just want you to be aware that in the past year there has been a 200% increase in drug use in District 13 and dozens have overdosed from cocaine use. Please report anything you know."

I stand, heartbeat resuming and pulse quickening. I wipe sweat off of my slick hands as I reached for the silver knob of freedom. As I exit this hell, Brown calls out, causing me to turn back and look at his burning eyes.

"Catarina, we know you'll do whats best."

and the door slams shut.