[ WP ] In the future , death row criminals can opt to be sent back in time to stop themselves from committing the crime .

I knew they'd come for me. It would be the same deal they offered countless others. I'd already thought out my answer, but I still wanted to hear their pitch. After all, they were going through the trouble to come and visit. Might as well give them the satisfaction. 
 From the rhythmic clack of the boot heels, there were three of them. The salesman and his guards. A real set of cock'n' balls, one to screw you and two to back him up. The steps stop in front of my cell, the lock clacks open and the bullshit trio waltzes on in. 
 `` Richard Ferris? Inmate 81387?'' I slowly raise my eyes and head to see the smug-looking son of a bitch standing there with a clipboard in his hands. 
 `` Yeah.'' 
 `` Convicted of murdering Robert and Susan McDonaugh, sentenced to death?'' 
 `` Yeah, I know what I did. Get on with it?'' I roll my wrist, hoping to get him going. 
 `` So, you know what I'm here for?'' He actually looked shocked, like it was some sort of surprise. I'd heard other guys like him give the same deal to half the inmates on The Row. 
 `` Of course, I do. But I want to hear you say it. You sound like you've been practicing this a bit. Far be it for me to steal your moment on stage.'' I gave him my best shit-eating grin, like I'd just spit on his shoes. One of his escorts stepped forward, looking to bust my chops. The leader put a hand across his chest to keep him back. 
 `` Now Richard...'' 
 `` Call me Dick.'' 
 `` Okay, Dick. How long have you been in here?'' I hummed and hawed, thought on it. 
 `` 12 years. Turns out none of you are ballsy enough to put me down.'' The salesman cocks an eyebrow, settles and continues. 
 `` 12 years without walking as a free man... That's a long time, Dick.'' He starts pacing around my cell, really getting into his character. `` What would you give to live out there again?'' He motions to my window, `` What would you do to make those 12 years go away and give yourself a future?'' 
 `` I'd say you're out of your mind and you're wasting what's left of my life.'' He scoffed and chuckled to himself. 
 `` You're not making this easy on me, Dick. I'm willing to give you a deal.'' 
 `` I do n't hear any dealings, just a lot of talk about my time. Get on with it if you've got something to say or fuck off.'' He sighs and this is what he'd been leading up to. 
 `` What if I could offer you a chance to take those moments back? Be able to save those lives and take back those 12 years of your life? We can send you back, you know. The McDonaughs do n't have to die. You do n't have to be here,'' he motioned to the confines of my cell. `` You can live again. What do you say?'' 
 I looked him in the eye, slowly shook my head and simply said `` No.'' 
 He was taken aback. `` Dick, this is n't a smart move. You can erase your crimes. You can escape all this. A second chance.'' 
 `` Boy, I said no. What part of that did n't you get?'' 
 `` Dick, think about it. Do you not feel remorseful for your crimes?'' 
 `` Do I? I've had 12 years to think about it in here, plus the time in the court room and the time before I was caught to be remorseful and it has n't done a *damned* thing. Rob McDonaugh was a liar, cheat and all-around shit person. He deserved to die. Sue just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I did it. It happened. But let me ask you this, boy, have we had this talk before?'' 
 `` No, why would we?'' 
 `` You think about it. Would we even be able to have this conversation if I did n't end up in here anyway for their murders? How do I get out if we're sitting here talking? You and I know that I do n't make it out of there. Either I go back and end up dead, go back and end up in here anywhere, or who knows? Maybe you just offer me the deal here where **everyone else can hear you** and then just shoot me as we get out in the yard. Sorry, shit-stain. I've made my call. Judge's verdict stands.'' The pseudo-aggressive guard's jaw drops, my grin widens. It was the happiest I'd felt in years. The salesman stepped forward and pointed the paper in his hand at me. 
 `` Mister Ferris, I'm only offering this one last time. Take it.'' 
 `` Answer's no, boy,'' I reclined on my mattress, `` Now, get out.'' The guards shook their heads at each other and started to leave the room. The salesman sneered and threw the paper on my chest. 
 `` Alright then. Richard Ferris, your death sentence will be conducted in two weeks time. Congratulations.'' He turned on his heel and fled. The door slamming and locking shut behind him. 
 
 I felt sorry for the rest of them. They'd all taken it without thinking about it. Crimes of passion, accidents, feelings of guilt overpowering their sense of reason. My head was still on my shoulders, put on straight. Fate's fate. I'm here because I'm meant to be. As I lay back on my bed and counted my last moments, I relived that small triumph over and over until the next time they came for me. For that one last walk.
