Romance with the Hangman

The moment she entered the room, everyone fell silent. All eyes were fixed on her. Everyone grimaced and snickered. They all left the room immediately, leaving her in the room all alone again. She walked into another room, and once again the same thing happened. She has been noticing a small black figure out of the corner of her eye each time the crowd left, and this time she turned to look at it.'

She was seized with dread that riveted through her with the terrible realization that the black figure was a dark version of herself.  The memory of a past life swam through her consciousness as she saw herself on a hangman's platform standing in front of a jeering crowd.

"What crime have I committed?" she questioned the hangman. 

He answered briskly, "Aye, they all ask as if they cannot believe their deeds have brought them here."

The room righted itself suddenly as she clutched the evening bag she carried closer to her body. Inside the bag was the diamond necklace she had stolen on impulse when the jeweler's attention was diverted for an instant.  She had never done anything like that before, but the desire to steal the necklace was overpowering, and it was so easily done, as if someone else's hand cleverly and deftly did the stealing.

Confused and shaken, she made her way out the door and saw that the black figure was following.