A Volatiles Claim

Trial

             ' I guess he couldn't find them...' I think to myself as one of Ed's men tosses up a rope so that it drapes over a sturdy support beam. One end is fastened into a noose, the one that will soon be wrapped around my neck and suffocate me to death in the middle of the Bazaar for all to see.

There is a large crowd gathering around the makeshift stage that I am standing on. Many people are yelling and chanting 'justice for Steve', but there is a small group of people who know me enough to know I was innocent ganging up on Ed and demanding more time be given to Aiden as the sun still has yet to fully set. Barney is holding a throwing knife to Ed's throat and his face is red in anger, but I can see the fear hidden underneath. Veronika and Sophie are yelling something at him, making hand gestures like they are arguing with him via their hands. If I wasn't too focused on the noose inching closer to me, I would laugh at the scene of a very annoyed Ed being insulted by my short female family members.

I guess either he was fed up with all the arguing or that my time had finally arrived because he s teps back and turns to the guards behind him. "Enough of this. You two, restrain them so we can put this murderer down." And although hesitant, they comply with his command.

Barney, Sophie, and Veronika are yelling and pushing at the guards as they are pushed back into the crowd and stand their ground in front of them to prevent them from interfering with my sentencing. Ed walks up to me as the guard behind me slips the rope necklace around my neck.

"Any last words, Marcus?" His voice is calm and even, with no hint of judgment or remorse. He says it as though he is reading nonchalantly from a script.

I think for a moment. I knew I wanted to have my last words be an 'I love you' to my family... but I'm feeling pissed and petty, so I say the first thing that comes to mind at that moment. I turn to the crowd behind me, the ones that were practically frothing at the mouth, cheering for my death. With all the anger and bitterness I could muster I address them, "You all are not only fucking stupid for thinking for one second that I killed Steve, but also nothing but savages. Hell, I don't know who is more of a monster, you or the infected that roam the streets outside."

Now that silences most of them, some even looked shocked and ashamed when the words registered in their brains. Was it harsh, probably; but I refuse to leave this world pleading to not be killed for something I didn't do till my last breath only for it to fall on deaf ears. Instead, I'd rather speak my mind and call everyone out for how savage they are becoming. I mean, look at what could have happened with Aiden. If they had killed him as soon as he got here instead of helping him, he wouldn't have helped us in so many ways including giving us the water. If it weren't for him, we would have died of dehydration and most likely implode by killing each other.

Unfortunately, my words only stalled their blood-thirsty thoughts for only a moment because soon they picked back up with chanting for my death. I go to give every one of them a nasty look but the rope around my neck tightens around it My eyes practically bulge out of their sockets as the noose officially clamps down on my airway and the timer starts on how long I have left before the lack of oxygen shuts my brain down permanently. The tightness around my neck makes a sense of nausea pile at the back of my throat but I can't regurgitate the contents of my stomach for obvious reasons. Whoever bound my hands together didn't do a good job of tying the rope properly as my hands easily slip free and shoot up to the noose. So many things are happening.

The platform I was standing on suddenly disappears from under my feet leaving me dangling from the support beam above me like a sick version of a Christmas ornament. Through the adrenaline and hazy mind, I can vaguely hear either Sophie or Veronica's heartbroken scream and some part of me wishes that Barney or someone would have prevented them from attending my execution or at least escort them out now as I slowly die in front of them. I try with all my might to slip my fingers under the rope so I can have just a few more deep breaths of air but because of a thing called gravity, coupled with the weight of my body, the rope is firmly secured around my neck My brain is struggling to command my body to fight, to breathe, to survive. But it's no use.