◦ the crucible

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the crucible

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𝘁𝗮𝗴𝘀: #TRC

𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁: 827

🅦🅐🅡🅝🅘🅝🅖

gore, I tried to narrow it down to minimum though. Regardless, proceed with caution.

That image is all I can think about. The same memory that led to this situation. She is standing there, in front of me, tears running down her red cheeks. If I hadn’t seen distress before, it’s embodiment stands right before me just now. My heart aches for her, I know she is still mourning, I understand her pain. I felt it too... I feel it. She stopped screaming a few minutes ago, now sitting on the floor, her back leaning against the grey wall of my living room, she is sobbing uncontrollably and I don’t know what to do, how to help. No, that’s not true. I know that I can do nothing to help, no one can.

The memory keeps haunting me. Or rather it’s bits, that’s all I . I don’t know how I got there, I don’t know what happened next. All I is a brief part, and yet that piece of my memory has been haunting me ever since. And will haunt me till the day I take my final breath.

•••

I opened my eyes, it was a cold, unfamiliar room. I don’t think I’ve ever been in it before. I didn’t have much time to study it though as I looked around me and gasped at the view before me.

There were three bodies lying on the ground... no, four. Four bodies. The scene before me was horrific. The amount of blood... oh god. The redness of those initially white tiles. I will never forget the sight from that day. My breathing heavy, I wanted to scream for help so desperately, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t force a word out of my mouth.

And when I thought it can’t get worse, I recognised one of them. An adult male, around thirties, his features familiar. For a while I even struggled to place them, or maybe it was just my subconsciousness that desperately didn’t want to accept the truth. Finally it clicked. My friend’s brother. My heart stopped for a second, chills down my spine, I felt as if my world was crushing. She would be devastated. I ran towards him and kneeled next to the still body. I turned him around, hoping it’s not too late. Please let me save him. Please. If there ever was a God, he ignored my pleads, stone-cold decision made without a blink. As I turned the man on his back it was crystal clear that his body was completely lifeless. I checked for pulse regardless, only to confirm the worst scenario.

I stumbled backwards, unable to do anything besides sitting on the ground next to this horror. My hands covered in crimson fluid. I raised them, grabbing my head in both of them.

Let me wake up. Tell me it’s a nightmare. Oh god, please tell me it’s just a nightmare.

•••

Several more minutes ed before she managed to control her sobs. Finally able to say something again.

“Why?” She didn’t raise her head despite talking, never intended to look into my eyes again. At this point I don’t know what feels worse, seeing my friend in such distress or this question.

“Why, what?” I managed to force the words through my lips. They felt wrong.

“Why did you do this? Just tell me why?!” Her whisper transitioned into screams within seconds. She stood up approached me quickly, her hands in fists, hitting my chest. Desperate for answers. She has exhausted herself by crying and so her physical effort doesn’t truly hurt at all, but the meaning behind it brings pain far worse than I could’ve ever imagined.

“I didn’t do it.” I keep repeating. I didn’t. I didn’t. I didn’t do it. Suddenly she backed away. She turns around and starts sobbing again. God I would do anything to help her...

I hear knocking to the door, did she bring someone along?

I didn’t have time to answer that question as the door opened suddenly and police officers followed, their guns ready to fire. Everything happened so quickly, somewhere in between my sixth and seventh “I didn’t do it” I felt cold metal closing tightly on my wrists.

I think I can hear words “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court.” somewhere in the background. Their painful grip on my arm, they try to force me out of the apartment. But I can’t go, I can’t leave her. All I focus on is her cries, her sobs, she deserves better than that. But I can’t stand the fact that she won’t even look me in the eyes. How can she believe that, how can she think that I would be capable of such a heartless act.

Well, I didn’t want it to end that way but I don’t have much options left. I’m screaming, I’m begging. It wasn’t me! Please just- please just listen to me! I didn’t do it!

Or did I?

I hope I did it right for the challenge lol. I wanted to showcase a trial here in a different way. It’s not exactly a trial, as we see the main character is only now being arrested but in the eyes of others (e.g. the friend) they are already sentenced. Posting 36 minutes before the due date because I’m an idiot and didn’t know it’s 31st March already wohoo

crucible - a situation of severe trial

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