"I can't believe we're being forced to do this!" One of you says.
"I can't believe I'm being forced to listen to your incessant whining!" Says another.
"Goodness!" chimes in yet another "Please, there is no need for rudeness, try and remain civil."
"Civil?! You call what we're doing here 'civil'?"
"It's more civil than us going in to a battle royale!" Says another.
"HEY!" One of you shouts to break-up the pointless bickering. "We've got less than 10 minutes until he comes back here wanting an answer, can we focus on the task at hand?" He turns to the handful that were most recently bickering, "Now, are you ready to commit your word to who you think did it? Will you cast a vote?" There is a pause while everyone waits to see who responds and how.
Reservedly and with his head cast down. "Yeah, all right, that guy" he points to someone in the group "he probably did do it. He's been really hyper this whole time and just seems 'off', let's go with him." There's a quick murmur of voices and a few groans among the group.
"Oh, c'mon, man! I can tell that you don't believe that! You've got to be the real killer going along with this." Says someone, was it the current guy?
"No, you can't tell that, and, it's not that I don't believe it, I just don't
know
, you know? You're asking me to help send someone to their likely death, I'm just not fully comfortable."
"Well
get
comfortable!"
"I don't have to be comfortable with this! Go away!"
The group breaks into a flurry of productive discussions and back-and-forths about this and that, some people cast there votes one way, some another, votes change and people waffle and it happens so fast all in a handful of minutes and then:
One of you speaks over the rest of you who are in conversation, "Okay, this is it, everyone! Last chance and I am going up those steps and knocking on his door and telling him we've decided on this guy." He clasps the shoulder of one of the men standing in the middle of the heat of the conversation who has been arguing for his life, the man who they are seemingly about to decide on as a majority.
"Wait! Shouldn't we just give him the whole 30 minutes? He's got 5 left!" Says one of you, pleading for his exit from this room to not be so swift.
Calmly another of you says, "No, unless anyone wants to change their minds, there's no point in making the guy wait, I mean, look at him, he's practically accepted his fate as it is, making him wait would just be torture to his mind, and to ours, it's best to just get it over with. So..." He pauses and looks around at everyone, no one says anything "off we go." He gestures for the chosen man to head up the stairs and the man resolvedly goes up them.
Halfway up the stairs the condemned man turns and looks down at you all, then speaks. "You're all taking hand in a terrible mistake, and a crime. I don't know what is about to come of me, but I do not think this man's anger will be satiated by my death, for I am innocent and he will see it in my eyes before I'm gone, I'm sure. Even if you didn't think I should be the one, the guilt is on you all and may the Lord have Mercy upon your souls." He turns back and continues walking up the steps, the one who sealed his fate close behind him making sure he goes the whole way. They reach the top and the door is within an arm's reach, and the man knocks.
"Sir? We've decided."
The door quickly swings open, the owner eyes the two of them just as quickly then grabs the obviously chosen man by the arm and yanks him inside and slams the door giving only a grunt. Immediately, before the escorting man can even turn, the sound of a strike of a fist upon a face is heard. And again. And again.
Finally you all hear the owner yell: "Why did you do it? WHY?" And another strike is heard.
"I didn't, I swear!" The condemned mine cries out.
"Lies! Tell me the TRUTH!" The owner must have switched to using an instrument because no more strikes are heard, yet there is an awful and loud scream, and you can all only imagine what is being done to the man. After a moment the scream ceases and again, "Tell me!"
Obviously panting "I didn't, I swear, it wasn't me, I swear, I swear." With each word his voice becomes more faint, and then finally, a death scream and gasp.
You all stare at each other, some of you feel kind of sick.
The owner bursts out of his room. He's sweating and disheveled and his left hand holds a knife that is extremely bloody, and his hand is bloody up past his wrist. He shouts down at all of you. "He didn't do it! I could see it in his eyes, he was innocent! You all have failed. But you get to try again." With his clean right hand he pulls out his pocket watch and looks at it. "I'm going to give you all a respite. Get some food from the cellars, have some drinks on the house, take a minute to think about what you've done, and I'll be back out in a little bit, after I've cleaned myself up a bit, to tell you all to get back to it, because none of you are going anywhere until I'm satisfied. Don't even try to leave, I'll be listening, and that door is solid, the windows are barred, and there is no escape until I say so." He turns to go back into his room...