MADMAN'S DEMISE

7

The following Monday, right before work, I decided to pay a visit to the London Library to try and find some judicial documents that could help me prepare for the upcoming trial. No part of me could recall the details from the jurisprudence program during my education. All I could remember was judicial importance being relevant for me as a treater and nurse, matters like physical interferences, patient relations, the obligation of professional secrecy, and circumspection of medicine. Apart from that I had no profession regarding the nation's justice system. But I needed it now, due to what I was in for I had to be well-read and proficient.

Following the slow steps of a short, elderly man in small, round glasses, I passed by the numerous great shelves stacked with thousands and thousands of books. I was impressed this man knew exactly where he was heading after asking him for public judicial general acts. Probably he knew every single section for every single piece of literature here, telling by his appearance and confident, straight-forward footsteps.

Reaching the end of the spacious library, we walked the few steps of a staircase leading to a wooden door. After opening it, the man pressed the light switch inside the room and continued his straight steps through the narrow disposition of even more shelves. This room was more like an archive, stacked with binders and files and dossiers.

Finally, the tiny man stopped in front of a case, and for a swift moment, he searched up and down with his eyes before finding what he was looking for. He pulled the file out and handed it to me.

UK Legislation - UK Public General Acts

"This is the edition of 1957." Stated the man. I gave him a grateful smile, pleased about his service and accurate findings.

"Thank you so much, Sir."

After arriving at work, and after my first, rather sedate meeting with Brandon, I seated myself inside the office. I grabbed Brandon's journal from the archive and picked up the folder I'd borrowed at the library earlier. Carefully, I started examining the case file from the very beginning, wanting to refresh my memory of what was written on the hundreds of pages and documents, and read those I hadn't before.

I bit my cheek as I reached the first document of the investigation report. Nervous about stepping into the unknown. There were still details I didn't know about Brandon's offences and prior lawsuit since the case folder always felt so strenuous for me to even open. Of course, I'd read the crucial documents when I was first put in Brandon's care, but only those that were of importance for his treatment.

Perusing the yet familiar pages, I could recall every gruesome part about the five victims of Brandon's.

Victim 1 - Marion Acker, female, 42 years of age.
Cause of death - haemorrhage.
Killing weapon - Winchester 6 Bullnose knife.
Wounds: seven.
Vital organs punctured: heart, right and left lung, carotid artery.

Victim 2 - Vernon Acker, male, 10 years of age.
Cause of death - haemorrhage.
Killing weapon - Winchester 6 Bullnose knife.
Wounds: seven.
Vital organs punctured: heart, right and left lung, carotid artery.

Victim 3 - Manuel Acker, male, 8 years of age.
Cause of death - haemorrhage.
Killing weapon - Winchester 6 Bullnose knife.
Wounds: seven.
Vital organs punctured: heart, right and left lung, carotid artery.

Victim 4 - Conrad Barney, male, 5 years of age.
Cause of death - haemorrhage.
Killing weapon - Winchester 6 Bullnose knife.
Wounds: seven.
Vital organs punctured: heart, right and left lung, carotid artery.

Victim 5 - Joyce Carlton, female, 17 years of age.
Cause of death - haemorrhage.
Killing weapon - Winchester 6 Bullnose knife.
Wounds: seven.
Vital organs punctured: heart, right and left lung, carotid artery.

Suddenly it all became so truthful and realistic reading the copies stamped by the British police authorities all over again. Being so indescribably and unconditionally in love with Brandon almost made me forget he was an actual killer and not only a misunderstood, torn boy whose actions were justified due to the tragic circumstances surrounding him. He actually did those things to those people. Those children. Those innocent.

Yet there was no part of me feeling anything different. Even after reading every name, every age, I still couldn't seem to find even an ounce of disgust inside of me. I already chose him, and although his havoc past always would remain a part of him, I chose him for who he was today, not the one he was ten years ago and whatever actions he might have committed back then.

With a slightly trembling hand, I kept leafing through the pages. It was all described and noted. Brandon's every expression during the two-month trial. His uncomfortable body language and fallen posture. The obvious sign of insanity that gleamed in his eyes. Even every movement of his outrageous panic attacks was described in detail. It wrenched my gut, thinking about his experience with the justice system and knowing that he would soon be forced to get through it all over again. Hopefully this time though, it would be to his advantage where the justice would stand on his side.