Why?

"Why? Why? Why?" Cassian wanted to scream those words over and over, but his throat was too raw, too torn from the endless screaming. Every attempt to open his mouth only brought blood to the surface, choking him with its metallic taste. His body trembled, the pain searing through every nerve, but the question still burned in his mind.

What had he done so wrong to deserve this? What was so terrible in his past that led to this unending torment? Was this punishment for killing that hooded figure who had attacked him? He had killed in self-defense, yes—he had acted out of instinct to survive—but now, in this agonizing moment, doubt crept in. Was this overkill? Had he really deserved all this? He had been defending himself, doing what anyone would do in his place, and yet, the torment continued. Wasn't this punishment too much?

The question lingered in Cassian's mind: Why?