This is the final chapter. Go to Atonement for chapterwise listing.
Kabir had to device a plan to lure Anne into committing a crime. She had been very careful in removing all evidence from the crime scene. He had to do something extremely drastic to draw her out. He needed evidence and he knew Anne’s house had all the evidence he needed. The final day of the Go Vegan rally was tomorrow. Anne was scheduled to give a lecture on the same. He needed Nischayy’s help. Kabir had found out that Nischayy used to be a pharmacist for animals and he would come in handy to silence those rottweilers.
It was the last day of the Go Vegan rally and Nischayy knew Anne was scheduled to appear so it was the perfect opportunity to get into her house. Kabir got in with Nischayy’s help and bagged all evidence he could find. He found the video camera, the hood, and a photo wall too. He also found something peculiar. There was a suicide note! Anne was going to kill herself on national television at the end of the Go Vegan rally.
The schedule of the Go Vegan rally was straight forward. They had to march for a few blocks around the Central Park and come back and meet in the park itself. There was a small stage created in the middle of park and Anne was to speak to the crowd from there. The stage also had a screen attached to it so that people afar could see the discussion. The speech was scheduled at night time so that the screen becomes visible.
Anne’s speech was about to start. She made her way to the podium gracefully. Anne began, “Here at Nifty Technologies, we believe everyone is an equal whether a human or an animal. We fight for animal rights every year and all of you joining here with us for the cause brings affirmation that our mission of ending Animal cruelty and not treating them as just a food source are on the verge of becoming a success. I thank you all for coming here and joining hands with us in this humane cause and I would like to draw your attention to some of the work done by our company in welfare of animals.”
The screen flashed into life and a video started playing. A hooded man was instructing a tied up man to say some horrible words. It was the video of the first murder. There was pin drop silence in the crowd as the video progressed. She was the punisher in the video and she knew it. She was proud of what she had done and it was time she inspired others to do the same.
After all three of the videos finished, she got up to the podium and said, “How many of you think what the hooded figure did was correct and this is what should be done with anyone who is cruel to animals or humans alike?”
To her surprise 80% of the crowd raised their hands. She had followers. She continued, “My supporters and fellow animal lovers. I have a sickness. I can’t let animal haters and people who are cruel to animals just for fun go unpunished. There is a part of me that wants to punish these demons and purge them from their miserable existence while doing so. One day I was walking past a butcher shop in the evening. I saw this butcher and his family forcing young poultry to eat parts of other poultry. It sickened me to the core. Something came out of me that day. Maybe I have been that all along. I couldn’t stand by and watch so I took matters in my own hands. I made sure they never do this to any other animal or human.
The next day I saw a spoiled brat throwing hot pebbles at stray dogs who were just minding their own business. I tried to control my emotions but I couldn’t let this slide either. I made sure he had a taste of his medicine. Then I found two boys hurting another animal right in front of my house and I couldn’t stand that too. But that night I realised that I was no good than the demons I tried to purge. Today in front of everyone here I am confessing to the hooded figure murders and I am giving myself the punishment I rightfully deserve.”
The End
A noose dropped from above the podium and she put her head in it quickly before anyone could stop her. The floor beneath her was pulled back and she fell tightening the noose. She was choking and it was getting very difficult to breath. She was gasping for air when Detective Kabir walked in. With his academy training he took out his revolver and aimed straight at the noose. Anne fell down as soon as the bullet hit the noose and started breathing heavily. Everyone dispersed at the sound of the gunshot and detective Kabir closed another murder case with distinction, carrying the murderer back to his car for incarnation.
