A/N: Here is the next chapter. Please review, and enjoy. Speaking of reviews, thanks to the people that do review for me. I really appreciate it.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Twilight series.
chapter 5
death watch
Kathrynn POV
It is now about 25 hours before my execution. Yes, 25 hours. I have been staring at the clock, just laying here and gathering all my thoughts together. I don't want to die. I really don't.
In about an hour, I am going to be transferred to the Death watch cell, which is adjacent to the execution chamber. It is adjacent to the room where all my dreams will be pulled away from me. I will never step foot in a college. I will never do anything productive. Everyone believes the lie that I'm guilty for this terrible crime. The only one that isn't living in that false belief is that guard, Embry. Whenever he is around, I can sort of sense his presence. I feel very connected to him; I don't know how to explain it. I feel like he is a lifeline; a thread that is somehow going to keep me alive. He doesn't talk to me a lot, but he does say some things to me. Usually, when he is on shift, he just walks into my cell, gives me my food, and says the same thing he said about 6 days ago, I can never say never. When he looks at me, I see concern in his eyes, but I also see some type of, joy? I really don't know what that is about. All I know is he isn't as cold as all of the other prison guards.
As I was thinking, I heard a key in the door. Instead of a guard coming in, the prison warden came into the cell and stood next to the bed where I was. He then began to speak.
"So how are you feeling?" he interrogated.
"Okay I guess." I answered.
"Are you sure you don't want a spiritual advisor or anything?" he asked.
"I am sure," I said for probably the twentieth time in the last week.
"In less then an hour, you are going to be transferred to a death watch cell. Do you want any books or a radio or a television?" he questioned. "You are permitted to read, watch TV, or listen to radio in the death watch cell."
"Can I have a book on music?" I asked. "Just any nonfiction book about music is good."
"Yes, we will get a few music books into your death watch cell." he responded. Do you have an idea of what you want for your last meal yet?"
"Maybe a steak sandwich?" I asked. I knew I could only have a spoon and a plate to use, so I decided on something that I could just pick up and eat.
"We can do that," the warden replied.
"We only have one guard who is willing to stay and watch you while you are in the cell. We need three guards on the panel. Two out of the three executioners that will be performing the execution will be the other guards on the panel." the warden stated. I just shook my head, I could care less. The warden then continued. "The person who will be administering the injection isn't going to be on the guard, the other people on the team will be guarding your cell.
"Whatever," I sighed. I felt tears coming to my eyes.
"I will just leave you for a few minutes. Get ready to be transferred to death watch," the warden said. Then he walked out of the cell, and locked the door.
Embry POV
I had just waken up. I had gone to sleep for a few hours because in a conference with the warden of the prison Kathrynn was in, I found out that Bella, Edward and I would make up the guard panel while Kathrynn is in death watch. They didn't have any other willing guards, so the warden said that they would need two people from the execution team. He didn't pick Jasper to be the guard since he is administering the injection. I would escort Kathrynn to the "execution" chamber, and stay with her in the cell while the "drugs" were being prepared. I felt bad for Edward, he would have to hear Kathrynn's thoughts for 24 hours straight. Suddenly, Edward walked in. I had been sleeping in one of the many bedrooms in the Cullen home.
"Don't feel bad, I am going to have Bella shield Kathrynn's thoughts," Edward answered to my thoughts.
"Get out of my head," I said jokingly.
"Can't help it," he replied throwing a pillow at me.
Kathrynn POV
About 40 minutes later, I was handcuffed and escorted to a death watch cell. The cell was 12 feet by 7 feet by 8.5 feet high. It was a little bit bigger than my death row cell. In the cell, there was a bed, a toilet, and a bench that at the moment held several books. I looked at them finding that they were, in fact, nonfiction books about music. I opened one, but I couldn't pay attention. I just sat on the bed and began to let the terrible thoughts and flashbacks consume me.
As I was laying there, I felt something very strange. I didn't know if it had to do with being moved to a different cell, but I felt like there was a blanket covering my mind. I felt like some force was over my thoughts, almost as if something was keeping them encrypted or private. That was something to think about. For the next few minutes, I tried to focus on that blanket feeling over my mind instead of thinking about the horror that was soon to come.
My meditation was soon interrupted when the warden came into the prison. He had in his hands a pretty appetizing. He placed it on the bench, and I began eating. He then started talking.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Perfect, just perfect." I replied sarcastically. The warden sighed.
"I have to take care of some business. If you need anything, just tell the guards. You are allowed to request a radio or television if you want and one of the guards will get it for you." He then walked out of the room.
I ate the last meal quickly, and then laid back on the bed. I still felt the blanket-like thing over my mind, so I continued focusing on the sensation. It wasn't a sensation I have ever felt before, it was sort of, supernatural I would say. It was supernatural just like my feeling of connection toward that guard, Embry. Now that I think about it, that did feel pretty supernatural.
After about an hour, I heard one of the guards coming toward my cell. As the guard came, I somehow felt the blanket thing get tighter over my mind. It was such an awkward sensation. I heard the guard open the door. I was hoping it was Embry, but it wasn't, it was a girl. Her skin was very white; she almost looked sick.
"How are you feeling?" she asked. I was too caught up in the awkward sensation in my mind that I didn't even think before answering.
"Well, I am really upset that I am going to die, but there is some weird sensation in my mind that I am focusing on that somehow is helping me not have negative thoughts. It started when I was transferred into this cell. It feels like my mind is being kept secret; it is very cool–" I realized I was talking nonsense. "Sorry about the nonsense talk,"
"Its okay." she replied. She then locked the door and walked away.
Bella POV
I couldn't believe what Kathrynn had just said. Did she know that I was a mind shield or something? Why did she answer the way she did when I asked her how she was feeling. Edward must have been thinking the same thing, because he spoke to me in a decibel only vampires and werewolves could hear.
"What do you think Kathrynn's response to your question was about?" he asked.
"I don't know. If you want, I can take the shield off her mind so you can hear her thoughts. She is probably still thinking about the sensation she says she had," I responded.
"Perfect idea," he said, and I pulled my shield back.
Kathrynn POV
A few seconds after the guard left, I felt the blanket come off my mind. The blanket was so helpful and comforting, and now it was gone. I guess telling the guard about it wasn't the best idea. Now, I would have to deal with the negative thoughts of dying with nothing else to focus on instead.
Edward POV
I couldn't believe what I had heard in Kathrynn's thoughts. Somehow, she noticed Bella's shield over her, and was able to focus on it for comfort. I asked Bella to put the shield back over her, and explained the situation. Then, we decided we would keep the shield on her during the lethal injection procedure.
Kathrynn POV
As suddenly as I began having the terrible thoughts and flashbacks again, I felt the blanket thing back on my mind. I sort of wished I knew where it was coming from, but it really didn't matter that much. I mentally thanked god in my mind for giving it back to me, and then fell asleep in pure focus on the blanket.
Bella POV
I wonder how Kathrynn is able to feel the presence of the shield on her mind. It is very interesting. I wonder if she will feel things like that when she is one of us.
After about twenty hours of just walking and sending the occational mental "I love you" to Edward, I heard the warden's footsteps. Within about 10 minutes, he was in the death watch section.
"I am going to explain the execution procedure to Kathrynn now. I need Edward and Bella to start getting the drugs ready, and Embry, you will be staying with Kathrynn and you will escort her to the execution chamber when this goes off," he said while sticking a tiny headset in Embry's ear. Once that was said, Edward and I went with the warden to prepare the drugs. Embry of course stayed behind to stay with Kathrynn. Edward and I decided that I wouldn't keep my shield on Kathrynn's mind while I was gone; Embry would be fine substitution for it.
Embry POV
I was glad I was able to stay with Kathrynn in her cell. I first had to wait for the warden to explain the procedure of the execution to Kathrynn, but after that, I had the assignment of "guarding" Kathrynn. I felt really bad for Kathrynn, the warden told Kathrynn that the injection wouldn't hurt, but her injection would sure hurt really badly. I was very glad though that Kathrynn was really going to live. She wasn't going to die like she expected.
Kathrynn POV
After the warden explained the execution procedure, Embry came into my cell. Apparently, he was going to escort me to the execution chamber when it was time. Embry and I didn't really talk, we just stayed in silence. I noticed that the blanket thing wasn't on my mind anymore, but I really didn't care. Embry was comforting enough. I didn't need the blanket. I fell asleep again this time focusing on my connection to Embry.
Embry POV
After a few minutes, Kathrynn fell asleep. As she slept, I just daydreamed. Before I knew it, I heard the earphone beeping in my ear. I then woke Kathrynn up to escort her to the execution chamber.
A/N: That is the end of the chapter. Sorry about the semi-cliffhanger, lol. I hope you liked it. Please review. I accept anonymous reviewers, so you don't need an account to review.
