Arthur's feet were tapping on the ground, waiting alongside a few other people, including some journalists, all waiting for the same thing.
But none were as restless as the police officier, barely thirty and yet, his blonde head had many grey hair, this hadn't been the case five years ago, before he had to deal with the man that was being brought inside of the room.
Four tall guards flanked the giant of man, two holding each of his arms as if their lives depended on it, a dozen others surrounding them, holding shotgun and looking just as tense.
Arthur understood why they were so afraid, even if he hadn't done anything since he was captured, simply being close to this silent monster was dreadful.
Than Wilkerson, most commonly refered as The Slasher Of Olive Grove, even when thightly chained and guarded better than some country leaders, his presence made everyone hush.
His shoulder length black hair covered his face as he stared straight ahead.
Uncaring, he didn't resist at the sight of the gallows, the two meter and ten centimeters man moved forward at the same pace.
The wooden steps creaked under his one hundred and fifty kilograms combined with that of all the guards.
Arthur fearing that at any seconds, Than would break out of his chains and kill again but it never happened, a bag was put of his head and the rope was secured around his neck, the fall he would endure was supposed to break his neck, the police officier stood on the edge of his seat, trying to perceive the sound of a bone breaking.
The execution method wasn't to Arthur's liking, something like the electric chair or lethal injection would have put him more at ease, but this was still how it went here, despite his best efforts, he wasn't able to convince them.
After what felt like an eternity, the hatch opened, letting the murderer fall, his body suddenly stopped and the terrible sound of death was clear for all to see, Than's body was unnaturally still to Arthur, completely unmoving as soon as the rope straightened.
The rest of the people present, family members of victims and press alike, weren't suspicious like he was, he was the only one present to have seen him in action after all.
"Let me see the body!" he urged.
"Listen mister Hagger, don't bring your nonsense here, there is no way he lived, it was confirmed multiple times already, his heart stopped beating and he hasn't been breathing for a whole hour now, he is dead, he won't come back from this" responded a high ranking guardian of the prison.
"Do you have any idea what you are talking about?! This is Than Wilkerson we are talking about, do you know how many times he 'should' have died? Just let me confirm it, it won't cost anything!" the guard sighed but gave in, anything to make Arthur finally let go.
As they both walked, the guard still attempted to reason with him.
"I understand that it must have been something to be present during his killing spree but I assure, despite what they may make it seem to be, he is just a man, he is like us, he can't cheat death"
"You know nothing" simply responded the policeman as they both arrived near the morgue, unlocking a few heavy doors on the way there.
The morgue was poorly lit and small in size, the body bag in which Than had been put sticking out like a sore thumb, being so oversized and the fact that only one corpse was currently being stored here, the death penalty wasn't handed lightly after all, even serial killers and mass murderer didn't always get it.
Compared to the rest of the prison, which was up to date and perfectly secure, the morgue only had a single lightbulb and seemed to have never received any care.
Two of the walls were covered with those metal coffins, Arthur and neither the guard knew what it was called, all were closed and empty, Arthur was about to go inside and open that body bag but the guard stopped him.
"Hold on a second, where is the coroner? Stay here for a moment" he said, going inside by himself, he looked around for a few moments before walking toward the only place the coroner could be, as there was a small room used as storage for various tools.
"Excuse me but- Oh fuck me!" the guard yelled, Arthur had no actual clue what was going on but his paranoia had an idea.
The guard's feet barely touched the ground as Than held him by the neck, having picked him up like it was nothing.
"Than!" Arthur yelled out to him but it was useless, the big man only acknoledged his presence without a care, either not recognising Arthur or not giving a shit.
His only response was grabbing the lightbulb and crushing it, drowning the morgue in pitch blackness.
"I freaking knew it!" Arthur wasn't stupid enough to try and go after Than, he had a gun but he knew he wouldn't accomplish anything with it, instead, he ran back to the metal door he had passed before and banged against it, not having the keys as it was the guard that had opened the way and protocol wanted every door to be locked if it wasn't in use.
Arthur managed to get the attention of a guard, he held himself from saying that Than had somehow survived having his neck broken and dying, instead claiming that an armed intruder had killed the guard.
Like this, they won't go in carelessly and maintain some distance, but it was no surprise that The Slasher was already gone, having used the keys he had taken from the guard's dead body to make his escape through another way.
Leaving two bodies in his wake, that of the coroner, who he had stuffed in the body bag after strangling him and the guard, who had been hanged from the ceiling by pulling the wire of the light and tying it around his neck.
Than hadn't taken his gun however, only his nightstick, Than didn't use guns after all.
Like this, after being pronounced dead, he vanished like a ghost, his hulking figure going completely unseen as he left the high security prison.
Arthur had an idea of where he was headed however.