1 of 10

Write now Article Tools

IN THE MATTER OF REAH

While death penalty opponents outside the federal prison chant "Death penalty is murder !", Reah's scheduled execution process begins. Convicted of a murder she always denied, Reah is to be put to death at midnight, by lethal injection.
"I won't eat the last meal, I won't take a last shower, and I don't want to see a chaplain. I'm innocent, I never killed anybody. You are about to murder an innocent woman !", Reah yelled for hours in her death watch cell, until she lost her voice.

Ella, a mid-aged African-American guard, approaches her hesitantly.
"Why do you say you didn't kill him ?"
"I didn't kill that man. He was murdered by someone else. I will never know who killed him, but I didn't even know the victim. Someone has faked to be me - it was a set-up." Reah's damaged voice cords make it hard to understand her.
"How did your fingerprints get there ?"
"I don't know."
"You got enemies ?"
"Don't we all have ?"
"You have someone particular in mind ?"
Reah combs her curly brown her with her fingers.
"I was an activist and ran a web site to expose politicians' skeletons."
"Ahhh... I see.... so you got targeted by a politician ?"
"That's what I suspect. So, when that drug trafficker Len got murdered, and the murderer couldn't be found, they matched me up with the case, to get rid of me. Maybe they themselves killed Len, then wanted to get two 'flies' with one clap and pointed at me. You follow me ?"
"Couldn't you prove that you didn't do it ?"
"At the time of his murder, I was in my bed, asleep, by myself. How do you prove it if there is no witness ?"
"And how did your fingerprints get there ?"
"That's the biggest mystery of all."
"Do you know of anyone who has your fingerprints ?"
"When I applied for employment, my fingerprints were taken by some authorities. Security clearance... had applied for a position at college. Nowadays, such records can be accessed practically by anyone."
The door opens, execution team member Ron walks in with his IV package.
"God wake me up from this nightmare, I beg you ! Enough !" screams Reah broken-voiced and jumps off her chair. Two guards rush in to restrain her.
"Restrain her. I need to insert the needles," he orders the guards, who follow suit without hesitation. Quickly, Reah is overwhelmed by them and the IV needles are placed into her arms within minutes.
"You're ready 'mam." Ron removes his white plastic-gloves and leaves at once.
"I'm already dead. What difference does the rest of this make ?", Reah mumbles to the guards

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Short stories: The execution?
We want to hear your view. Write now!