Seven. Five. Three. And One Who Would Not Give In.

by Ethan Rain, 17, US

They escorted him in, a guard on each side. He walked into the room and instantly noticed the smell. It was dark, musty, and had the distinct hint of death hanging in the air. The lights were dim, and cast shadows on the faces of those who were to witness the death of the innocent man.

They sat to his right. The men and women who had decided his fate. Not out of a longing for justice, but out of blind rage, hate, and racism did they decide that he was to die. Their long, dark, grim faces added to the death in the atmosphere. Some of them had evil smirks, as if about to live out some dreamed-about revenge. They just sat there in their "dress-up" clothes holding their hats and purses And then he wondered, as he was dying would any of them show any type of emotion other than blind hate and joy?

The thought quickly left his mind as the two guards shoved him forward. He noticed the chair for the first time. It matched the room perfectly. Dark, grim, and had the impression of death. It was mainly made of wood. There were metal shackles for each foot, each hand, around the waist, and neck. There was a bowl shaped hat that would soon fit snug on his head. Wires were everywhere. Many of them with clips that were to connect to him. He followed one large cable that went from the chair, through a very thick door, and to a large machine. He saw another guard in the room standing next to a large handle, and briefly thinks of how this guard feels about being the one to end his life. He quickly forgets when he is slammed into the chair. Slam! Slam! Slam! The sound of metal clapping together sliced through the quiet suddenly. Locking noises followed and before he could do anything, he was completely locked into the chair. Hands, feet, waist, neck, and head are bound by cold, unforgiving metal. The guards quickly attached the clips to each index finger, each ear, and slammed the metal hat onto his head. He shivered from a sudden chill.

He looked forward at the people and noticed that the grins had vanished. Those evil grins seemed to just learn the intensity and realism of what was about to happen. Still there was no remorse anywhere to be seen. It was more like fear that their God may punish them for their decision after their deaths. The selfishness was obvious beyond normality.

"Any last words," the guard cruelly asked. The man's eyes lifted to see the guard and the cruelty was instantly stricken away. The guard, for the first time, looked into this wrongfully accused man's eyes and felt shame. The deep, brown, pools of innocence shown like the lights of a tiny ship being tossed dangerously in the Sea of Fate. The guard then realized that he had never really looked into this man's eyes before. Yes, he had seen this man before, but he had never really looked at the sorrow and pain before him now. Or he never dared to.

Either way, the flood of emotions now thundering through him made his earlier question seem wrong. As if he had insulted this man's obvious innocence. But it was not his place to decide anyone's innocence or guilt. That job had already been feigned. So he asked the question again. This time with a hint of shame and respect. "Sir, do you have any last words or requests?"

He closed his eyes, lowered his head, and answered in a deep, soft voice that echoed through everyone's heart and soul. "As I sit here, chained and bound by metal like an animal, I wonder not why, but how. How is it that you can sit here and watch an innocent man die? I'm not going to say that I didn't murder that man, because everyone in this room already knows this. And I have given up on survival. I just want you to know that through all of your hatred, rage, selfishness, and blind stubbornness, I forgive you. I don't really understand it. But as I stand hear, at the edge of this cliff, returning your hatred seems meaningless. I do feel sorry for you though. Your wrongful decisions have caused an innocent man to lose his life. And while I will be somewhere else, you will have to live with your decision every minute, of every hour, through day and night, for the rest of your lives. I can think of nothing worse than the punishment you have condemned yourselves to."

There was a dead silence in the room. He looked up and saw many looks of fear and sorrow. A woman in the front row stood up half way. She hesitated as a single tear ran down her pale face. She was desperately fighting the emotions back, but could not. Slowly, she walked down the center aisle holding her head up, trying to retain some sort of dignity. Six others got up and left. Four men and two women. All were trying to stop their emotions from bursting out. There were now only five left. They were scattered among the empty chairs. They looked as desperate as the others did, yet stayed. The two guards on either side of him were shocked and dismayed. They had no idea what to do. They had orders to execute a man they firmly believed was innocent. The emotions flowing through the room confused all.

"Do it," said a frustrated man in the second row, "do it now!" One of the guards woke out of his confused state and signaled to the guard in the room to pull the lever. Instantly, a flash of memories flooded the innocent man's mind. His entire life went by backwards. He saw the court room, the judge, and jury of people. The guard's hand moved towards the lever. He saw the night the police car drove up just as he had gotten to the man who was brutally stabbed. He saw his house and his wife tending the garden. His adult years were rewound in his head. It all went faster now. The guard grabbed onto the lever. He saw his teen years fly through his memory. He saw his childhood home and his earliest memories went by. His pulse was racing, the adrenaline from the knowledge of what was about to happen pumped through all in the room.

The guard screamed a deathly cry of emotion in his mind, and quickly pulled down on the lever. The other two guards stepped back. The five witnesses that were left shut their eyes tight. In a matter of seconds, the flame that burned bright just seconds before was snuffed out. It had begun as twelve witnesses, and three guards who had no remorse or care for this man. It now ended with those involved having a part die with him. Seven had crumbled and left in shame. Five, who were too stubborn, stayed to close their eyes as he died. Three that were too afraid to speak out. And one who would not give in.