Part 1: Acid Reflex

"So you admit it? It was you who threw the acid on her?"

"Yes, yes..."

His head was down, unable to face the police interrogator. He was chained; untrusted. Only the two metal chairs and the cold metal table were in the blank white windowless room, a place where humanity goes to die. He wanted to be caught, he wanted to be free.

"Then tell us why."

His head stayed down, muttering "Never", then his spirit left the trapped room.

"You must tell us why! You know if you don't give the reason they will cut your hands off!" Still no response. "You knew her. She said so. This isn't random. Give us the reason!"

The motionless response drove the interrogator over the edge. He shook the body before him until he could see the guilty man's eyes. That's when he found out no one was home.

***

Walking out of the hospital after the final surgery, the counselor spoke to her.

"You must go to see him."

"Never!"

"You must face him in order to move forward. To run is to die."

"I will never give him the satisfaction."

She briskly moved forward.

***

In his cell, the prisoner was chained to the wall, forced to face forward. But at the first glimpse of her being ushered in he started screaming, pulling violently at the chains, bruising his wrists, squeezing shut his eyes as sweat formed on his wildly shaking forehead as the unforgiving flames raged within.

"Unleash me! I'm not going to look! Let me out! Leave me! Go Away! Don't let her know!" He started sobbing. "Don't let her know...don't let her know..."

He passed out. She drew in her breath.

"He needed me," she said to no one. "Stupid bastard never said a word. May Allah damn him."

"His tragedy is complete," remarked the counselor.

"No, you don't understand. I needed someone to need me. He just assumed I wouldn't allow it." She looked at the blank faces around her, like they were safe or something, none of whom comprehended the life and death situation before them - in her life or their own. She ran yelling to the exit.

"ALLAH, HELP ME! WHY WON'T ANYONE SPEAK????????"