Part 6
“Attempted murder of two Roman Soldiers” I replied quietly, thinking of the situation that has happened couple hours ago. “Its unfair” I continued, “I was just trying to protect my friend, they were trying to hurt her” I said almost through tears in my eyes.
“That’s to bad,” he replied, “Romans have no mercy on those who attack their own”
“What is going to happen to us?” I asked,
“Tomorrow is the day when the Pilate sits on the judgment seat and gives verdicts, if you lucky he might let you go” Daniel tried to give me hope.
As my eyes began to adapt in the dark, I notice that Daniel who was sitting right next to me was a young man as well, his hands was chained above his head. I can see that he has been flogged. He to was naked only wearing a loincloth.
I can't lie down, the chains are too short, but I suppose it doesn't matter. The thoughts of what will be happening in a few hours are enough to assure I won't be getting any sleep tonight.
“How long have you been here?” I asked Daniel.
“Only a week” he replied, “usually the prison serves as a holding place for those awaiting judgment, tomorrow we will know our destiny”.
Its cold, and I am naked, except for a loose loin cloth. Having my hands chained above me begins to hurt. The shackles themselves are not that bad, but not being able to lower my arms is making the blood run out of my arms and cramps are setting in. I stand, just to lower my arms and let the blood flow down, instead of up. This helps a lot, and after a bit, I sit back down and begin to doze.
“Wake up you scum” I heard a loud voice.
Two soldiers picked me and unchained my hands. Before I was able to realize what they were doing, I was being dragged through the prison corridors. They pulled me into a big room, what look like a torture chamber. I was pushed to the ground.
“Do you remember me hero?” one of the soldiers asked.
I recognize him, it was the soldier that tried to attack me and Sofia, he was still drunk.
“We will show you some Roman hospitality. I want to see you now hero” the soldier continued.
They tied me to a pole that was in the middle of the room with my hands above my head. I was barely touching the ground. WHIPPPPP came cracking down by back, it was like someone has cut my skin. It was really painful, my whole body jumped. Then there was another hit and another, I screamed in pain, how can anyone bear this.
After around ten lashes they cut me down and I fall down on the ground in pain. One of the soldiers came up to me and said, “Tell us where that girl is at and you will be free immediately”
“I can’t do that” I replied
Then there was a punch in my face that threw me to the ground.
“If you don’t, you will be hanging on the cross tomorrow with nails going through yours hands and feet.” The soldier yield at my face. “I’m sure your girlfriend will enjoy watching your naked body dancing on the cross in agony for the last time.”
How can I do that, I don’t want to die, but I can’t tell them where Sofia is at, I know what they are cable of, I hope she is safe.
“Take him back” was an order, “can’t wait to nail you the cross”
They drag me back to the cell and chained my hands up again.
The whipping I received earlier in the evening left welts, which still sting. The whipping was short, they left the worst for tomorrow. As I begin to drift, almost dozing from exhaustion, I hear the clinking of chains, two other prisoners are still here.
Hours passed until the early morning sun lit the cell with early shadows. Once again the iron bolt was slid and six soldiers strode in and grabbed me and the other two man, they unchained us and got us on our feet. Then they dragged us out and down the narrow passage to the outside yard. We passed a row of heavy lumber which, judging by the numerous nail holes, were the beams used for crucifixion. This was a chilling sight as one of the soldiers goaded that we will be fixed to them.
As I was walking my heart was beating harder and harder, the two soldiers next to me was making sure I walked faster. We walked into the yard and I saw Pilate sitting on a judgment seat. There were many soldiers standing on the sides.
Carlos was the first one to stand before the Pilate.
“So you are the famous Spaniard that we have been looking for, we finally caught you and you are not escaping this time” Pilate began.
“You are condemned to crucifixion” Pilate gave orders without giving Carlos an opportunity to response.
I can see behind the soldiers there is a crowd of people that came to witness the court proceedings. I remember Sofia inviting me to come with her last night, I did not think that I will be on this side.
Next was Daniel, the soldiers brought him to Pilate and pushed him on his knees.
“So, you are that Christian that been spreading the news of the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
Daniel was just looking down without saying anything.
“Where is his accusers?” Pilate asked.
Two priests came forward and began telling Pilate how Daniel is the false prophet and a follower of Jesus.
“Crucify him, crucify him” we heard the crows began to chant.
“I am tiered of all your religious debates, I crucified your Lord, so be it, I’ll crucify you too” Pilate continued “Scourge him and he must be crucified.”
“Who is next?” Pilate asked
The soldiers push me towards the Pilate and threw me on my knees.
“What is this young man here for?” Pilate asked
“He was trying to attack two of our soldiers last night” Centurion replied.
“Hmmmm, Brave little hero over here” Pilate continued
“Are you a zealot?” Pilate asked
“No” I replied quietly “I was just trying to protect my friend from the attacks of two drunk man, please have mercy, I am innocent” I continued.
“Haha, well guess what? I decide who is innocent or not. I will make a lesson out of you to all other young Jews who think they can fight the Roman rule” Pilate said in anger.
“You are condemned to be CRUCIFIED” Pilate proclaimed.
Pilate turn around and walked inside the palace. I could not believe my ears. My whole world went crushing down. I couldn’t believe it. I was hoping I was dreaming but I was not.
Pilate gave order for immediate crucifixion.
The two soldiers pushed me to the side where Carlos and Daniel were sitting. Then I notice a poll in the middle of the yard, I saw another soldier walk in with a whip in his hands.
“Give me the Spaniard first” Centurion ordered
They picked up Carlos and led him to the pole. As he faced the whipping post, they chained his hands to the post high above his heads. He was ready to be whip. His body was stretched, and he was barely touching the ground. He stood trembling in terror awaiting the first blow of whip to land across his back. At first the impact felt as if his back had been struck with something heavy as the impacts of the whip threw him forward into the post. Carlos screamed in agony as the soldier kept whipping him. His body began to turn red from all the scourging.
I sat there in fear watching how they scourged him, the thought of me being scourged crossed my mind. It is the strangest feeling to look at him and realize I will soon be whipped in the same way. I felt the sweat on my body. Finally, the flogging was over, they cut him down and he fell on the ground with no strength, two soldiers dragged him back to the wall.
“Bring me the youngster next” Centurion gave order.
The picked me up and led me to the pole, I can feel the breeze on my naked body. The two soldiers put my hands into chains. The chains from my wrist shackles are looped over a high hook and pulled taught, so that I stand straight against the post, facing it. I know what’s coming. I am almost on tip toe as it is. I stand... waiting. My body is completely stretched.
The talking subsides... and suddenly, without warning, the first lash of the flogger strikes my back sending a searing pain completely around my body. My head jerks back in reaction and I gasp.
To be continued…
View attachment 640959View attachment 640960