A Nightmare on M Street
Written for the "And Then…" Challenge, which was to write a story based on the beginning line of a famous novel.
Rating: Strong FR-15/T for disturbing subject matter
Genre: Supernatural/Horror (duh)
Not a crossover, but somewhat inspired by the movie from which the title was drawn.
Characters: Tim and the rest of the MCRT, including Ducky, Abby, and Palmer; various OCs. Set before the end of Season 9
Disclaimer: Recognizable characters are not mine. Special thanks to DinaLori for the beta.
Summary: An event from Tim's past comes back to haunt him. Literally.
Like the brief doomed flare of exploding suns that registers dimly on blind men's eyes,
the beginning of the horror passed almost unnoticed.
~ The Exorcist: William Peter Blatty
Prologue
The execution of a Death Row inmate was carried out on March 13, 2012 at the Florida State Prison, seemingly without any of the problems that potentially accompany such an event.
One week prior, the inmate received a clean bill of health and was officially placed on Death Watch, the irony of which escaped almost no one involved in the proceedings, but went generally unnoticed by the public at large. The days leading to the execution garnered the expected amount of media attention. Both proponents and opponents of the Death Penalty gave their normal speeches to members of the press as they staged demonstrations outside the facility in Starke, although the opponents were fewer in number than they had been for previous executions. Meanwhile, in the comfort of well-lit broadcast news studios, pundits discussed the ramifications of the continued use of such a punishment as families of the victims provided their own views. Their statements were accompanied both by anger that the final step had taken nearly twenty-three years from the time the man was first arrested, and relief that the nightmare was finally over.
The preparation of the prisoner for his impending death was also routine, although the traditional last meal was refused. The fact was dutifully recorded for those who found interest in such morbid details, and while some speculation was made, no one proposed any hidden meaning behind the abstinence.
The chemicals required for the procedure were carefully prepared by members of the execution team: mixed, drawn into eight syringes, and placed in their appropriate slots, ready for when they would be introduced into the intravenous lines in the prisoner's arms. The placement of those lines was carried out quickly and efficiently, and the saline solution soon flowed into the prisoner's veins as the heart monitor was placed and the final countdown began.
The phones were tested to make sure they were working properly in the unlikely chance that the governor would call to stop the execution. As expected, that call was never made.
The twelve official and four alternate witnesses—mostly the victims' families—along with twelve designated members of the press, a member of the medical staff, a security officer, the public affairs representative, and a designated staff member were led into the observation chamber. After they were seated, the room was secured before the window was uncovered to give full view of the execution chamber and the prisoner strapped to the gurney inside the small room. The PA system was turned on, allowing the prisoner to give his final words, but he remained silent.
The warden turned off the PA and gave the signal for the execution to begin. The first dose of sodium pentothal was administered, rendering the prisoner unconscious. Alternating with saline, pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride were administered, paralyzing the prisoner and finally, as indicated by the flatline on the monitor, stopping his heart. The attending physician confirmed and noted the time of death, which was then relayed to the governor over the phone, and then to the witnesses over the PA with an official statement.
"The sentence of the State of Florida vs. Gregory Wayne Talbot has been carried out at 9:13 PM."
Out of sight of the witnesses, mortuary attendants transferred the body to a body bag on another gurney and then transported the body to Alachua County for autopsy. While the witnesses may have been sickened or relieved by what they had seen, the attendants were rather nonplussed. They had seen death plenty of times before, and whether it was state sponsored or not, in the end everyone was treated the same. It was all part of their routine.
If they had paid a little more attention, they may have noticed the cruel, twisted smile adorning the dead prisoner's face.