Chapter X

One He Couldn't Make Friends With

The moonlight shrines through the open window, creating streaks of light across my face. I lay outstretched in the corner of my room, the wall to my bag. My arms lay sprawled across the floor, a loaded pistol grasped in my right hand. I contemplate the moon that shines down upon me, it is beautiful. A perfect night. Slowly but surely, I raise the gun to my ear; my eyes water, however no tears roll down my cheeks. In the end, I only hope it was worth it. A breath escapes my lips, and I pull the trigger.

- Three Hours Earlier -

I have done many things in my life. I am without doubt that not all of my actions have been seen as worthy, and only the lord will be able to judge me in my final moments on this planet. Whether right or wrong, I have always fought for the greater good of this town. My past is the past, though my hands are not clean of the bloodshed that has befallen. I too, have stained my soul with the grief of murder; and I am prepared to face judgement for it. Whether or not those people who have fallen at the other end of my trigger were justly killed, I will never know. But for now, I can only assume they were.

Four people I have slain now, all suspicious and reeked of apparent guilt recognized by the citizens, I was simply the one to take the matter into my own hands. In secrecy of course, I know I would only be believed to be a murderer if the truth came out, and perhaps that is what I am; a murderer. A murderer of justice however, I seek only to free this town of the madness that has corroded this once blissful land. Even if it means getting my own hands dirty, justice must be served.

Earlier this morning I discovered a letter had been slipped under my doorframe of my front door, upon opening it I read aloud;

"Mr. Bishop,

I was hoping you would come over for some tea this evening around dusk; I ended up with an abundant amount of extra vegetables after harvest, to many to sell fast enough! I decided to make a stew, and would enjoy the company! See you tonight, your friend, John Proctor.

Obviously, this letter was suspicious beyond belief. Proctor lived across town from me, and we hardly have spoken in the last month ever since the incident. Ever since then, he has been quiet and avoided me like the plague. He hates me for what happened, I know he does. Small attempts to make me look suspicious, accusing me of acts I did or did not commit, trying to make the town see me as a serial killer. He wants revenge, but he revenge isn't justice. That is the difference between me and him, I fight for justice. Knowing full well that this was no simple invitation to dinner as long-time friends would have, would I dare attend? I wouldn't miss it.

Dusk approached and I with an empty stomach I retrieved my spring coat from the closet and set off to dinner. The sun was just setting as I walked down the street, turning the sky into a bright orange than faded into a dark purple of clouds as it reached the opposing side of the horizon. Upon reaching town square, the halfway point between Proctor's home and my own, I approached a younger girl, Alice Young, standing by watching the sunset.

"You know it's going to get awfully dark quite soon, miss. It's rather dangerous to be out at night; perhaps you should head home for the evening?" I spoke in a friendly tone, who knows what killers come out in the night.

"I am aware, thank you for your concern Mr. Bishop; I was just on my way home when I stopped to witness this beautiful sunset." She said sort of coldly, but returning the friendly gesture. I stood and watched her for a moment as she stared off at the sunset, a moment passed of silence.

"Alright then, do stay safe madam." And with that I continued on my journey. My stomach grumbled due to the prolonged supper time.

The door creaked a little as I knocked on it. Moments later I was greeted to the old familiar face of John Proctor, the local farmer.

"Greetings, Edward! Come in, come in" He greeted and invited me in. taking off my coat, I was shown to a seat by the dinner table. His house was quite nice; resembling everybody else's with that slight touch of personality. Bowls filled with stew were served across the table, the smell was enriching and my gut had been craving a meal since breakfast. The smell of the spices, the carrots and beef all brewed together was intoxicating.

"Please, enjoy." Proctor said while taking a seat across from me, retrieving a spoon and beginning to enjoy his home cooked meal.

I filled my stomach with two servings of the stew, which was delicious, but had kept a watchful eye on Proctor throughout the meal. We ate in silence, without speaking a word. After finishing, I laid down my spoon on the wooden table beside my empty bowl and crossed my arms on the table, looking directly at the man across from me.

"So, John, may I ask what I am here for? I know well enough you would never invite me over just for dinner. What's the catch?"

"You killed my brother, Edward. I know you did it."

"He was a murderer, the whole town knew it. Everyone else was just too scared to do anything about it."

"You lie! He never would have done anything like that, I knew my brother better than anyone!"

"You are blind to what is in front of you, I brought him to justice! He worked with the mafia; he deserved what was coming to him!" I stood from my chair, at this point we were shouting at each other; creating quite the ruckus.

"That is for the town to decide, not you, Bishop. Turn yourself in, give up the hero act. This act of 'Vigilante of Justice' is nothing but a fraud!"

"I have taken the lives of more murderers than any other in this town, I am the only one who can save this town if no others are prepared to act!"

"Then I shall turn you in, and you shall hang on the stand the same as any murderer should. Even if it means I must be hung first to make the town see the truth, I will help the mafia frame you if need me, I will have my revenge."

I reached into my side pocket, retrieving a silver gun that shimmered in the candlelight that lit up the room.

"You know I can't let that happen, Proctor."

"And you must know I have planned ahead with your violent ways in mind. My home is filled with countless describing how if I am to die tonight, you must surely be the killer."

"So I kill you and retriever the notes, I cannot allow someone with devious intentions to live and threaten the town." I feel quite confident in myself, I knew this would be a trap but never did I think it would be one so easy to escape.

"You will never find them all before sunrise. On top of that, I have poisoned the meal we have both just enjoyed. We both have a mere few days to live, however. If you do not turn yourself in or get caught, you will face judgement from the lord himself; this I promise you."

"You fool! You would poison yourself just to kill me? How easily you throw away your life!" I grab my stomach with my left hand as my right holds the gun pointing directly at Proctor, if his words are true then the poison is already inside of me. But where would he have gotten the poison?

"Not exactly, I grow herbs as well in my farm. One of which is a cure for the poison when brewed just right, I have disposed of all the remaining herb except for one small leaf. It is yours, if you turn yourself in and face the town's judgement as you should have long ago. If not, you die within the day and I reveal you for what you are. Option number three, you kill me and are discovered as a murderer by sunrise."

The blood begins to rush to my head; I don't know how I am to get out of this! I should have killed this man back when I did in his brother, loose ends will be the death of me. However, he was innocent at the time, but now devilish thoughts have consumed him!

"You are a murderer, Bishop."

"I fight for justice; I am not the scum who kill for power and control!"

"A murderer is a murderer, and you shall face judgement!"

Without thinking, even stopping to consider the options, my finger subconsciously pulled the trigger. A loud, yet familiar, exploding noise rang out and the man across the table from me bent over to the ground, blood gushing from his chest. What now? I searched the body for the antidote, he was smart enough not keep it on him. Another victim on my list, was he justly killed? I cannot tell anymore. Surely he was, was he not? I only kill for justice! These thoughts comfort me. Snooping around the house I realize he was right, there are hundreds of notes hidden in every corner of the house, I will never find them all. I have been bested, I realize this now. I am doomed to die soon, with all the blood of my victims on my hand. Slowly, taking one last look at my final victim sprawled across the floor; I exit the house and begin the walk home, cold wind biting at my skin.