Chapter Two – The Glass Prison


"Okay" Light said. "I'll write a few more names."

At that moment Light returned to his table to write at least ten more criminal names. It was a struggle but he had to do it to get it off his shoulder. He must have been going crazy, why would that Death Note talk to him in the first place?

"This decision", Light thought, "why did I even make it? Isn't a life a life anyway? But I can make a perfect world, it is not impossible."

After Light finished writing the names he sat back down in bed to think about it for a while. "I made this decision to make a better world but why does it feel like I am ignoring what I told myself" Light thought. "It is just a supernatural notebook, no harm can come to me from it, but is it really worth all my time and effort to work for a goal that is seemingly impossible. I don't think I can use this notebook responsibly but somebody has to change the world."

It took Light a few minutes to settle into bed. He knew that if he wanted to get the attention of criminals, the body count would have to rise by tomorrow. He wanted to make a better world but in some ways he felt like he couldn't. He still regretted his actions of that night. He still felt his actions were immoral.

While Light was sleeping he remembered the day he discovered that Death Note and set his goal out. He remembered his thoughts after being traumatized for killing two criminals.

I killed two men. Those were human lives, it won't be overlooked! Besides, who am I to pass judgment on others? ...No. No, wait. Maybe I'm wrong. This is exactly what I've been thinking about lately. This world is rotting, and those who are making it rot deserve to die! Someone has to do it, so why not me? Even if it means sacrificing my own mind and soul it's worth it. Because the world.. can't go on like this. I wonder. what if someone else had picked up this notebook? Is there anyone out there other than me who'd be willing to eliminate the vermin from the world? If I don't do it, then who will? That's just it there's no one. But I can do it, in fact I'm the only one who can, I'll do it, using the death note I'll change the world.

"Am I the only one who can do this?" Light said quietly. "Maybe I should just give that notebook to somebody else to commit these deeds. I am a murderer but I never wanted to be a murderer. Maybe I should auction this off to somebody just as smart as me. If I'm not doing this I can live a normal life again. Not be this type of person. Am I even justice for what I am doing? I am doing this without anybody's permission. This isn't even what my father taught me about justice. The world needs to be changed. It is rotten, but maybe I'm not worthy of changing it. I don't think I can handle using this notebook. Maybe I was right before and it was wrong for me to even choose this direction."

That night Light continued to think about his actions and his sudden urge to continue writing in the notebook past the time he wanted to stop using it. After a while Light was finally able to relax and go to sleep.


Day Two


It was easier to wake up this morning compared to the last. Over a hundred criminals were dead as of yesterday. Light hoped he could increase the number to two hundred but he still wasn't really feeling it. He went to the desk and started writing.

"I never really got sick of crime until recently", Light thought, "For a longtime I thought jail was enough but now these incidents that I have caused are really becoming widespread news. I only chose to kill them using a heart attack because I didn't have the time to write the cause of death. I was too focused on getting the name of the following criminal."

"This is day two of us reporting these strange deaths of criminals" the news lady said. "We have some interviews from the general public about these deaths."

"As long as the opinion is positive", Light thought, "then there is no reason for me to quit."

"So how do you feel about these recent deaths" a news man asked interviewing somebody around Light's age.

"I don't know what is causing these criminals to die" the young man said. "But I feel that it is really helping our society. If criminals are afraid to die and if they know that death awaits them if they commit a crime, then they would be too afraid to commit that crime in the first place. I think that in order to make a crime free world we need to give the criminals the warning that if you do this, you get this punishment."

"All right" the news man said. "Thanks for your time."

These news stories seemed to relieve Light of all the stress and anxiety he was feeling for killing these criminals. "Nobody is saying this is wrong" Light thought. "So am I right, because I am really hating myself for this. I feel like I should be the one punished not all these criminals. But I am now questioning what is real justice: retribution or rehabilitation."

Light was aware enough today to come downstairs before his mother told him to. There Sayu immediately noticed Light's depressed face.

"What's wrong Light?" Sayu asked. "Wouldn't a little rest help deal with the tons of school work you have to do?"

"No", Light said, "it isn't that."

"Then what is it? Sayu said. "I'm worried about you, you haven't been yourself since yesterday."

"Should I tell her? Light thought "She seems to trust me the most and even if she is devastated, Sayu might be the one who would understand the most even if I do wound up punished. But if I reveal the existence of the Death Note than my family might be in danger as well. My father would be fired. We would have FBI and CIA investigating this family for months, maybe even years. I am already in big trouble for this, so maybe I should just give this Death Note away."

"I don't want to talk about it" Light said to Sayu.

"Why?" Sayu asked.

Light was struggling to find an answer. He was stuck between saying "You wouldn't believe it if I told you" or "Because I can understand it more than you", Light in desperation chose the later.

"It is because I can understand it more than you" Light yelled.

"Brother" Sayu said. "That was mean."

"I knew it" Light thought. "I should have just confessed everything right then and there. But this might end me with a Life In Prison sentence. Even if the truth came out, I would have chosen the Death Penalty instead. Better to die than live with these terrible thoughts in my head."

"I'm sorry" Light said apologetically "I didn't know what came over me at that time." Light then settled in to have breakfast but these thoughts of the past few days were going about in his mind in rapid succession. He just wanted it to stop.


School was not much better. If there was any day he didn't want to hear about the deaths he caused it was today. All throughout the school day Light was thinking one thought, "Just give that notebook to somebody else. Somebody I trust."

Just give that notebook to somebody else, somebody I trust. Just give that notebook to somebody else, somebody I trust, Just give that notebook to somebody else, somebody I trust, Just give that notebook to somebody else, somebody I trust, Just give that notebook to somebody else, somebody I trust, Just give that notebook to somebody else, somebody I trust

"Is there somebody I can give that notebook to that I can trust?" Light thought. "There was somebody on the television yesterday named Teru Mikami. He looks like a young idealist who could use the notebook for good. In fact he is a lawyer who knows justice better than I ever could. But he is just one of many lawyers. I could give the Death Note to any lawyer and it could be fine. In fact I think I could find many people who are just as smart as me and want a better world, but if I do, then how can I give them this notebook?"

When school ended, Light decided to sit down on a bench on his way back and then he started crying.

"Is there any good that can come out of my life if I did this?" Light thought. "Is there any good that can come out of my family's life if I do this? I mean one slip up and I am dead, not just me but my family as well. Do I even have any reason to do this in the first place other than an urge to make a better world? Maybe the world isn't as bad as I think it is and I am just overreacting. But I am still attracted to that notebook and I don't know why. The notebook can't be cursed and if it is cursed does that mean I am cursed as well? No no… I am over thinking this. I know that I am myself. This notebook doesn't define me."


At home before Light returned to his room he asked his mother a question.

"Sachiko" Light said.

"Light" Sachiko said "What is it?"

"If you had the power to make a better world", Light said, "would you do it?"

"Of course I would" Sachiko said. "Who doesn't want a better world?"

"But what if that power came at a price?" Light said back.

"Then" Sachiko said "I don't know. You should be more specific with this question. I know for the past year you have been sick and tired of hearing all these murder stories on television but crime is just part of life. It will never go away. Didn't you promise your father that you would grow up to be just like him?"

"Yes" Light said. "Yes I did and I know I am on my way to following in his footsteps."

"That's the spirit Light" Sachiko said. "Now go make your father proud."

"I will" Light said.

Light want back up to his room. "So I guess that didn't help" Light thought. "Am I willing to sacrifice anything, even my sanity, if it means making a better world because I don't want to lose my soul."

"So you're willing to give up mind and soul for a stupid goal" said a voice that sounded just like his.

Light turned around to see a figure in his room. It looked just like him. He wore the same high school uniform he always wore.

"Who are you?" Light said.

"Light" the figure said. "I am your true self and I am dying. Can you please help me?"

"Dying" Light said. "Dying from what?"

"From that notebook" the figure said. "If you keep using it you will never be the same again."

"Never be the same?" Light asked.

"That notebook you're using is like a drug" the figure said. "Once you are on you can't get off and if effects your sanity as well. I see a bleak future for you Light. I think you'll be the death of me and that death will be pathetic, despicable and you will be nothing like how you previously were."

"The notebook can't be addicting" Light said. "I think you are overreacting."

"You'll see one day" the figure said. "If you are going to use the notebook, use it cautiously. If you don't you might go insane."

"Cautiously" Light thought. "How can I be anymore cautious about using the notebook than I am now. This is stupid. A notebook can't make people go insane. Insanity is developed over a long period of time. I don't think I'll go insane."

"You can continue your goal" the figure said. "Just don't become the monster that is growing inside you. Don't be a man in name only. Light, please don't become a threat to life itself. I would never forgive you if you went in the direction I think you are going."

The figure then disappeared from Light's vision. Light was unaware that he was starting to go insane. "I have all the power in the world" Light said. "Is there any reason not to use it?" Then several thoughts of killing came into his head.

Do it, kill them. Kill them all. They are rotten and despicable. Do it, kill them. Kill them all. They are rotten and despicable. Do it, kill them. Kill them all. They are rotten and despicable. Do it, kill them. Kill them all. They are rotten and despicable. Do it, kill them. Kill them all. They are rotten and despicable. Do it, kill them. Kill them all. They are rotten and despicable. Do it, kill them. Kill them all. They are rotten and despicable. Do it, kill them. Kill them all. They are rotten and despicable.

"Stop saying that" Light thought. "I will not become that monster. This power can be used for good and I can prove it."

At that moment Light started writing down the names of many criminals. Several over the course of an hour. There was some weird feeling. Writing these names relieved him of these thoughts. What was causing these thoughts he didn't know. Was it himself or the notebook. After Light finished writing these names, he could finally rest.

"See" Light thought. "Now these thoughts are out of my head. The Death Note is just a supernatural notebook: nothing more, nothing less. I can control myself. There is nothing wrong with using this notebook as long as you just kill those who are truly guilty. I will never kill an innocent person in my life."

The kill count was in the two hundreds by the end of the day. Dinner was over and Light got a small bag of potato chips as a snack before he went to bed.

Before he went to bed he had several thoughts in his head. "I will give this notebook to somebody else" Light thought. "But first I have to prove that it is perfectly fine to use this notebook. No insanity, no voices. I will not stop until I can prove this. I am only killing the worst criminals I can find, nothing more. I can still make a better world. Power at a price. I don't think the Death Note is giving me a price. Is the price my sanity because I don't think notebooks could do this. I am fine. There is nothing wrong with me and there is nothing wrong with my mind."

Light finally went to bed, unaware that what he was doing would effect him in the long run.

"The Death Note is just a notebook that kills people" Light thought. "Nothing more. There is nothing cursed about it."

Light finally went to sleep. He no longer felt anxious about what he was doing.