Poisoned Soil

Chapter 1

'Love, sever all and make anew'

"These are the words you left on the bodies of fifteen young women and nine children Mr. Callaghan. Would you care to tell me the meaning behind it? These atrocities have left the town tormented, with voices calling in unanimity, for your punishment to be no less than death by hanging."

"The mind of a child is as precious as a forest Ms. Celi. The trees may only thrive with water and light and robust earth. But, think when we burn and cut -- poison the very dirt it needs to grow in. What would become of this forest Ms. Celi?"

"Your analogies only take you a step further to the gallows and tightens the noose Mr. Callaghan. I've waited ten years to deduce your disposition."

"Sour earth, wilted leaves and decaying bark, Aah – the redolence of the carrion, absorbed in my mind?" as he tilted his head to the right and rubbed his sturdy jaw against the collar of his shirt. "For years I have been tormented by the sordid words of my mother, presented as care, as a necessity to my growth. Later, her frail wrinkled lips defended her actions with these words' 'T' was a necessary evil my son, my mother and hers before taught me that breaking was needed in order to build.'

"It is thanks to her breaking that you sit with fifteen and nine bodies. I never meant to hurt those women and children. They were all so pretty, so lovely - never good enough though, something always missing. The need to fix and make new left me raging, inflamed anger. Mamma said it is perfection she needs. My wrongs were unforgivable, my mistakes were never forgotten. She'd always hang them over my head, close within her reach - to condemn me, blackmail me and send me on a guilt trip.