Prologue:
Location: Knoxville Prison, Tennessee:
He couldn't take it anymore. Flashes of light and darkness went on and on. Flashes of memories he only longed to forget. But knew he couldn't. They were forever burned into his mind.
He firmly gripped his bed, his knuckles turning white. But he didn't bother. He had to control himself. To protect himself.
The pictures haunted him. Their faces…afraid, helpless… pleading him to release them. Fear in their eyes, but also hope. Hope that he, in spite of everything would still help them.
He remembered how he himself had been helpless. This couldn't be stopped.
And the worst of all was the look they gave him, when they realised he wasn't going to help them. When they realised they were going to die.
He remembered how the life had faded away from their eyes. It was all there.
And now it was gone.
Smells filled his nose… smells of earth, leaves and blood.
The blood… it was sticky and warm. And it was all over him. He stood up, frantically trying to get it off himself while crying uncontrollably. It marked him. It was never going to be okay.
It was his entire fault. How could he do this? Why was he doing this?
He screamed and screamed. Kept hitting him self while crying.
The prison door was opened quickly. Three officers hurried towards him to keep him from hurting himself any further.
"Mr. Thompson, get a grip of your self!" But it was no good. He wasn't listening. The fear had consumed him completely.
"He must be punished!"
In the midst of the struggle, he suddenly relaxed. The officers looked surprised, but maintained a firm grip as Thompson calmly spoke.
"I would like to make a confession".