"Austin, tell them! Tell them I didn't mean to do it! Austin, please! I love you!" Adam screamed as loud as he could, trying to fight the guards back that tried to drag him to the police mobile. 

But Austin only stood frozen in place, as if he didn't hear anything. He didn't even look at Adam. He was more focused on the burning mass that was once his home. 

Finally, Adam broke free and ran towards his husband. "AUSTIN!" he screamed, reaching his arms out as far as he could. He almost got ahold of Austin's hand when two cops successfully dragged him on the ground. 

Chris, Adam's brother, draped a towel around Austin's shoulder, wrapping an arm around him. "You okay?" He asked the skinnier man. Austin only nodded and leaned his head on Chris's chest. Chris spoke again. "You did the right thing, Austin." He says, rubbing his arm softly. 

Austin met Adam at the bar, a typical millennial love story. Everything turned out pretty fine. They dated for about five years before they decided to tie the knot. Adam proposed over a bonfire, in front of their friends. 

Everything was going very well. But Austin noticed things. Adam loved bonfires and grilling, but a little bit too much. More often than not, he would get home from work to find the grill set up, or a huge bonfire in the backyard. 

When he asked his husband to "tone it down", Adam started lighting the fireplace on a scorching summer night. He would sit still and listen to the crackling of the wood as it burned. He also kept a lighter on the nightstand. Adam loved playing with it, staring at the flame, illuminating his bright blue eyes. 

Austin spoke none of the issues to anyone. However, before leaving for work, he would check the gas line for leaks, hide the lighters and matches inside a safe, and lock the kitchen just for good measure. He prayed that Adam is not what he thinks he is. 

Fires became very rampant in their town. Everything from small shops to big companies, except for schools and churches. An arsonist is at large. Still, Austin kept silent. It's got to be a coincidence. Adam will never do that. 

After some time, The Smiths, a small family of three moved to the now high-risk neighborhood in search of a new beginning. They were kind. They were full of hope. Just two weeks after moving in, all of those dreams were gone. Austin woke up one day, looking outside of the window, he saw a horrific sight. 

The family's house had been burned to the ground. None of them survived. That was when Austin knew he had to do something. He asked Chris for help. 

At first, he would often visit his brother in law just to have someone to talk to, someone to help him forget for a while. But as they became closer, little by little he spilled his doubts to Chris. The older only had one firm advice: Let Adam stay alone in the house and let him do his thing. Austin was pretty confident. But the results were very surprising. What he found out? He married a pyromaniac. 

Adam knew that this time would come. But he can't help it. He loved the way that the blue, red, green and orange flames danced around his eyes. He loved the heat. He loved to see thick clouds of gray. He loved the sound of crisp wood burning with the fire. It gives him a sense of immense pleasure that nothing else could give him. Not even sex with his amazing husband Austin. 

Austin and Chris followed him to the police station where he was detained for the night. "Austin? Baby!" He grasped his husband's hand through the steel bars. Austin pulled his hand away quickly. "Did you do it?" He asked. "I didn't mean to. It just sort of went out of control. Please believe me." Austin sighed as tears filled his eyes. 

"Adam..." He sobbed. "I love you, Austin." Adam said. He knew that he's in deep trouble. Austin is his last glimmer of hope. Austin loves him, he promised. Adam reached out yet again to hold Austin's hand carefully as he patiently waited for his answer. "I-I don't know." Was all he said before walking away. 

"Adam Henry Rupp, you pleaded guilty multiple counts of aggravated arson and triple homicide. The circumstances of the crime, all as described in the agreed narrative, disclose that this was a savage, and frenzied attack. I will have regard to your lack of previous convictions, your previous good character, your expressions of remorse and your early plea of guilty thus avoiding the necessity of a trial. Otherwise, there is little mitigation which can be offered. I will deal with charge number one first. For that, I will sentence you to seventy-eight years in prison, six years for each property. Now for the triple homicide, the death of Ross Walter Smith, twenty-six, Angela Smith, twenty-four and Alanise Smith, three, residents of Minneapolis, Minnesota, I will sentence you to life in prison with the possibility of parole after ten years of good behavior. Thereafter it will be for the Parole Board and the Parole Board alone to consider whether you still present a risk to the public, or, whether you can be released on a life license with appropriate conditions. If you are still considered a serious risk, after the punishment part has expired, you will not be released. I am also required to consider a discount in this case because of your plea thus avoiding a trial. The plea was tendered at a discharged preliminary hearing after the Indictment had been served. I am prepared to discount the punishment part by a period of 3 years. The court also orders clinical therapy for pyromania. Those periods will run concurrently and will date from February 17, 2017, when you were first remanded in custody." 

The court session ended abruptly. 

* Yann Trinaydor *

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** A very special THANK-YOU to ObsessedwithChance  for the amazing book cover! - Sandra (ObsessedwithTivi)

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