The Wrong Man

He sat there1

In his cage2

Right next to3

The chamber of poison4

Savoring his last moments5

In the material world.6

Breaking bread7

For the last time8

With his defeated champion9

Of societies law.10

Moved to the end of the aisle11

In this row of death12

One last time13

They sat together14

As he recounted events15

leading him to this16

Tragic17

Poetic18

End!19

I lived by the sword20

And here at the end21

Of all things22

I've thrown23

Myself on it!24

My dearest friend25

Reveal I could not26

Even to you27

The true nature28

Of my malady.29

Your brilliant mastery30

of societies laws31

Would have caged me32

For an eternity33

In a prison34

For the mind!35

Never again36

To feel37

The rays of God38

Warming my face.39

Poked and prodded40

Shocked and drugged41

Till old age took me42

And the light43

Of life44

Shown no more45

In my eyes!46

I feel a longing47

An alluring call48

To death49

And rebirth.50

Here and now51

It ends52

And begins.53

The great cycle54

Of life55

Will not be denied!56

And now57

As the witching hour58

Approaches59

I shall meet this end60

Leaving the truth61

For you to hold.62

Beware the demon63

Alcohol.64

The mystical sword65

Of the great unknown66

That cuts both ways67

When wielded68

By the wrong hand!69

And such was mine70

My vanquished champion71

Of the law.72

Little known73

To the common man74

Are the psychic doors75

Alcohol can open76

Into the vessel77

That houses your soul!78

An open invitation79

For astral dwellers80

That fear the light81

Still drawn82

Still consumed83

By the pleasures84

Of the physical world.85

Before my thirtieth86

Birthday87

My whole life88

Had been one of89

Quiet desperation. 90

Never91

Had I felt92

The intimate touch93

Or the warmth94

Of a woman's body95

Next to mine.96

My only glimpse97

of my desires realized98

Were found in the pages99

Of a romance novel100

Old and dog-eared101

Stained102

With the tears103

That104

Only the lonely105

Could know!106

And then it happened107

A feeling of adventure108

Raced through me.109

Never before110

Had I consumed alcohol.111

Mine was a...112

Sad endless existence.113

Nothing114

But a mundane life115

Of work, sleep116

And endless tears.117

I decided to take 118

A different path home119

From work that day.120

I was drawn121

To the flashing neon122

Of a seedy little bar.123

Like a fluttering insect124

Is drawn to the flame.125

I stepped into the inferno126

And sat down.127

After the first drink128

A warm glow129

Swept through me 130

Like a brush fire131

In the wind!132

I could feel133

The loss of self134

As I faded135

Into the void.136

Even before137

My eyes opened138

I could feel the light139

Of a new day on my face140

And knew141

I was not at home.142

In my arms143

A woman of such beauty144

I could never have hoped 145

To hold!146

She147

I148

Both smelled of149

Alcohol, cigarettes and seafood.150

No151

Not seafood152

Oh...153

So that's what a woman154

Smells like!155

But I knew156

In my heart 157

I would never allow158

Myself to smoke!159

And I remembered160

As the neon buzzed161

In my ears last night162

He was buzzing in my head.163

Down164

He pushed me165

Into that place166

Where my primitive side167

Dwells.168

As I faded into the void169

I could hear his birth cry170

As he won over my body171

To his use!172

She had gone to bed with him173

And now174

Nuzzled in my arms175

She would awaken with me!176

Panic consumed me177

Frozen I lay there178

Dreading her consciousness.179

He had robbed me180

Of my virginity181

Not even present182

To enjoy the moment183

I cried!184

She stirred and awoke185

Seeing my tears186

Touched by the moment187

She kissed them from my cheek188

And mounted me.189

I dare not speak190

Lest she find me out.191

Instead192

I grabbed her hips193

Met her thrusts194

And lost my virginity195

For the second time!196

Getting up and dressed197

By his name198

She called out199

Steve200

As the door201

Closed behind me.202

Where are you going?203

And I just kept going.204

Scared, confused and elated205

I said...206

So thats your name207

My partner in crime!208

Home I went209

And called in sick.210

Doctor Jekyll211

Or Mister Hyde212

Which one was I?213

I wasn't sure.214

She had shared her bed215

With him.216

And unaware of the change217

She had shared her bed218

With me.219

So I wrestled with my thoughts.220

Who was...221

The real monster?222

For as much223

As he stole my body224

I had stolen hers!225

I was both victim226

And victimizer!227

The most exquisite story228

Of S and M...229

Ever told230

And I wanted more!231

Showered and shaven232

I dressed for the evening.233

Out the door and down the street234

Where the neon lights235

Beckoned to me.236

Seven nights of darkness237

Followed by238

Seven mornings of bliss. 239

Sloppy seconds weren't so bad240

When you were also the first!241

When the morning came242

After the eighth night243

Things were not quite the same.244

I awoke in my bed245

Covered in the scarlet essence246

Of what had so freely flowed247

Only hours ago...248

From his and my249

First conquest.250

It was Friday morning251

And work was not an issue252

I had been fired!253

Fetal position254

I laid in the tub255

With the shower beating down256

On my shaking body. 257

The scarlet essence258

Slowly faded from my skin.259

After a long restless sleep260

Huddled on my couch261

Knees on my chest262

Arms locking them in place263

I sat there264

Withdrawn265

Watching the horror of last night266

Played out on the television screen.267

A serial killer copy cat268

Was on the loose.269

Steve Stunning270

The Romeo Slasher271

Who had been executed272

At midnight273

Eight days ago274

Obviously had an admirer.275

She had been ripped276

From valley to sternum277

With her heart cut out278

And the number one279

Painted in blood280

On the wall above her bed.281

The neurotic, pathetic, excuse282

Of a wasted life that I was...283

I took my meds and went to sleep. 284

Only to wake up285

To the same scene all over again!286

Bleeding was my heart287

And torn was my soul288

For the things289

I had not290

And yet had done!291

Job gone292

My life over 293

Psychosis setting in294

Overwhelmed295

And over medicated296

I hid in my home297

Dreading the night298

And the morning299

That would surely follow.300

Each day I counted,301

The crimson numbers302

On the walls303

Of the victims304

As they played out305

On the evening news.306

The seventh night307

Had finally arrived.308

A sigh of relief309

That it soon310

Would be over!311

I climbed into my bed312

And got in between313

My last set of sheets314

Not stained315

With the victims blood!316

A voice in my head317

That I could not silence318

Spoke to me in lyrical tones.319

My dear320

Sweet dear 321

Brother in arms.322

Into the void323

You will not be sent324

For the use of your body325

It's time to pay the rent.326

For you will be my witness327

On this very night328

To my crowning jewel329

Of horror, fear and fright! 330

So come with me my brother331

And together we'll set free332

The last tormented soul333

That gave herself to me!334

I screamed and pleaded335

And begged him not to go336

But out the door he went337

Dragging me in tow!338

he picked up his blade of death339

From the bushes by my door340

I'm sorry my dear brother341

But it has to kill once more!342

Just one more block343

Inside her house we'll creep344

It's late enough now345

She'll surely be asleep...346

The door creaked open347

Into her dimly lit bedroom.348

We stand there349

Both of us.350

And just in that moment351

When he made his move352

I felt the bonds353

Denying me control354

Of my body355

Loosen!356

I stopped his attack357

In mid swing.358

our knife wielding hand.359

Frozen360

As if stuck in time. 361

Looming over the body362

Of this red headed beauty.363

Gaining control364

Of my vocal chords365

I screamed366

Run!367

Half naked368

She leapt from the bed369

And swept past us370

As we fought for control371

Of the shell that housed us.372

I should not373

Have underestimated374

Her strength.375

She had more guts376

Than I thought any woman377

Could possess.378

She didn't run out the door.379

Instead380

She opened the hall closet381

Picked up the gun382

Of her dead husband383

And returned to her room.384

A shot rang out385

And then he ran out...386

Of my wounded body.387

Leaving me there388

Writhing in agony389

From the pain of being gut shot!390

A slow painful death391

That would insure392

I lived long enough393

To pay for his crimes!394

Sirens in the distance395

Closer they came396

Growing louder and louder397

The shrill sound of the sirens398

And her blood curdling screams399

Rang in my ears400

And still echo in my head401

Even now!402

Hand cuffed and bleeding403

They raced me to the hospital404

They wanted me alive405

An example had to be made.406

A strong message407

For all the want to be408

Copy Cat Killers409

Of the world!410

That's where you came in411

My defeated champion,412

Of societies law!413

And so...414

Here we sit415

You and I416

And my last request417

This bottle of liquor.418

Only five more minutes419

And they'll be420

Strapping me into421

A dead mans throne422

Inside...423

That air tight chamber!424

There's one person missing425

From this last hurrah426

But if I know him...427

And I do!428

By the time I turn429

This bottle down430

Emptied!431

He'll be knocking 432

At the doorway to my mind.433

And there in the chamber434

As they strap me down435

I'll let him in436

But he wont get out!437

And when the pellets drop438

Into the bucket of acid439

Below my throne440

I'll be free! 441

And he'll be locked away442

In a decaying prison443

Six feet under444

For an eternity!445

Curtain drawn446

Witness's present447

The Warden nodded448

And the pellets dropped!449

As I watched the man450

I had come to call friend451

Slowly die452

For the first time453

Since we met...454

Three years ago 455

He was smiling! 456