100 Theme Challenge #2

2. Light

S

Chains were making him stumble forward as he was dragged through the long halls, the guards having no care for his well-being. He was following the best he could, but being heavily restrained and hungry would weaken the strongest man. He was brought to a dark room with a high ceiling, where two men were waiting. They were dressed in long white dresses, with masks hiding their face. One of them approached, but stayed wary not to stay too close.

"Timothy Smith, you've been accused of the torture and murder of twelve women. Your sentence is death by light. May your soul, if such a monster as you still has one, succeed to reach Heaven."

On his sign, one of the guards pulled a lever beside the door, and they all left. Leaving him alone with his chains. Attempting to escape was futile, especially when a ray of light was already spreading on the floor before him. His instincts made him crawl back until he was pressed against one of the walls.

Did it matter now, that he hadn't been the one who had killed these women? The real monster was still out there, and nobody would try to find it because they'd found someone to blame it all on. Timothy would have wept if he could, but only dry sobs escaped his parched throat. He watched with sorrowful eyes the light calmly invade the room, and only when he almost had no more time did he look up through the hole. The sky was more blue that he remembered, the noon sun shining bright and high.

He first felt the warmth of the light against his skin, almost hugging him, and for a short moment, he felt at peace, calm. Maybe it wouldn't hurt after all.

Then his skin began to blister, seemingly melting under the sun, before it burst into flames. His naked body had nowhere to hide, his mind overwhelmed by the pain; he yelled, rolling on himself. He felt everything combust from inside, his tongue melted against his pallet. His eyes popped. His entire body melted, leaving only goop on the dirty floor.

At last, he was no more. Only through light his soul would be redeemed.

(What is the 100TC?)