Annabelle

He sat on his bunk in the dark and dusty cell. The man was alone. He was alone because... Well because hardly anyone went to prison.

I shouldn't be in here, he thought. That was the only though that has passed through his head for the last ten years. Only moments more of I'm sorry, I shouldn't be in here, and Forgive me's were to come. His cell clicked unlocked.

"Owens! Wake up. You're getting a roommate. You can sob over the last hours of your poor, pathetic life with him." This guard, whoever he was, hated Owens win no reason. He was always rude to him.

Owens sighed. "I'm on death row. I'm not aloud a roo-"

"Look. We're out of room. While you've laid in your bed feeling sorry for yourself, this place filled up. Roger Kuul, meet Christofer Owens. The guard turned towards Owens and nodded. A final sign of respect. A goodbye. Kuul turned towards Owens.

"Hungry?" He asked and withdrew two Hershey bars from his jumpsuit.

"Where did you get those?!" Any guilty pleasure was to be worked off here. You want candy? Work. You want makeup? Work. I've hardly seen the sun though.

When you're on the list for death like me, you can't even try to help out. If a court of law has found you guilty, even when you know you're innocent, you're nothing but scum even to the scum. Owens took the candy bar and started to eat. It was almost dinner, but what the heck. What can they do? I'm dying anyways.

Kuul yawned. "Long ride from my place. How long ya been here?" He has a slight accent from some foreign country. Scandinavia, perhaps?

"Uh, ten years. It's my last day."

"Aye. A free man? Congratulations!" Owens scoffed.

"Death by state isn't free." Kuul smiles rather creepily at that.

"Death?"

"They're killing me today. And they call me the murderer."

"It was ordered. Not like we're doing it for fun." Ramon, Owens favorite guard, appeared at the cell door. "How ya doin' kid?"

Owens shrugged. "I already feel dead."

Ramon shrugged and sighed. "I feel for ya kid. I'm sorry this has to happen. Last meal's on me." Owen chucked at that. He had almost forgotten he still knew how to laugh.

"Let's see. I want a feast. I want seafood fondue, a steak medium rare, Dr. Pepper. A slice of cake and ice cream to go with it. For her."

Ram one smiled softly. "It'll be here with pin the hour." He walked away whistling some show tune.

Kuul walked yo to Owens. "You're gonna share. Right?"even though Owen was the one in prison, Kuul terrified him. He was tall, covered in tattoos with an evil glint to his eye. Something big got this dude in here. And it wasn't his first time in trouble. He seemed to know how things ran. Kuul let out a booming laugh. "Only kidding. Let's pass the time. What got you in here? I'll share my secrets if you share yours."

"I was in the right place at the wrong time."

"Isn't it supposed to be wrong pl-"

"Yeah, yeah. But that's just it. If I... If we has been earlier it later.." Ten years later and he still cried over her.

"Clearly something happened. What is it? Not supposed to be here or something?"

Owens sighed. "Ten years ago, almost to the day, I lost the most important person."Owens relaxed a bit as if he were transported into his thoughts. Reliving his favorite memories. "Her name was Annabelle. I was 23. She was 20. We'd been together since middle school. I had known her since she moved there in the 4th grade. I used to always give her my juice box and cookies. I was such a stud. Anyways, I was pretty much in love with her since I saw her. I remember telling my dad I found the princess. She was perfection.

Annabelle Montgomery. Every girl wanted to be her. Every guy wanted to be with her. I was the lucky one. She was so talented. She was a writer, ballet dancer, singer, played every instrument. She could make anyone happy. She was the nicest. I took her on our first date at a local park. I brought this cheesy picnic because my mom was talking my dad how she wished he would have done that at some point. That became our spot. We were always there. Like regulars at a restaurant. She graduated a year after I had. We never fought. We were the perfect couple.

I was going to ask her to marry me. Right there at the park. I had picked out everything. I told her to dress nice, that I'd be there at 7. I showed up and she looked perfect as always. She blushed so red when I told her. The ring box hidden in my jacket felt like it weighed a ton. What if's filled me mind. What if she said no? What if she wasn't ready? I chocked down my nervousness and kept going. I told her to close her eyes a block away from the park. She did. We pulled up. I had things set up. Some flowers at a table. Super cheesy stuff. My mom helped me out like always. She wanted to hire a photographer to capture it. I told her it would be burned in my mind. I should have said yes.

I helped her get out. I walked her to the table. Got down on one knee and told her to open her eyes. They went wide. I was smiling as big as ever. She fell backwards. I thought she passed out. I was shaking. Only then did I realize red was flowing from her chest. I fumbled for my phone. I would up dropping it right as 911 dispatch picked up. A sharp pain has shot through my ribcage. The gunman stood feet away from me. I saw the blood dripping from me, glanced over and saw Annabelle's unmoving body. Something snapped within me. I caught the guy. We were wrestling. I somehow got the gun. I pulled the trigger on him.

The next think I know I woke up in the hospital, handcuffed to the bed. My ribs were so sore. I asked for Anna. They told me she died on the site. Then they told me I was going to prison for murder. It went around it was a failed murder suicide.

I didn't kill her. I would never. Ever hurt her. To this day I have no idea who that man was. I don't know why. I don't know if he's paying for it. So honestly, dying today will be a relief. It will all stop. All this guilt. Everything." Owens erupted in sobs.

"There, there boy." Kuul said. "I honestly believe you. I know a clean man when I see one."

"You do?"

"Of course."

"And why is that. Why is it that you, a criminal, believes me?"

"Well. For obvious reasons."

"That's not obvious."

The glimmer of evil in Kuul's eye was shining brighter than ever. "I did it. I killed her. I got myself caught And now I'm here to finish what I started."