GabriellaSivilla
Governor
It is dawn. First sunrays enlighten my face, and I feel the first warmth of the morning on my skin. How long have I been on the cross? I couldn't know, I have lost the sense of passing time, it seems to me like ages. The pain in my wrists is awful, engulfs my arms and my upper body, and each time I try to push on the nails in my feet to relieve it, lightning bolts of pure agony climb up my long beautiful legs.
I see people approaching the crosses. There are many, but I cannot distinguish who they are through the pain veil on my eyes. The walk around the crosses, look up at the men and women attached on them, comment on their status, somebody even speaks to them. All of the sudden, I see a sponge close to my mouth. They are offering me to drink. I strain my neck and suck greedily, letting the fresh water pour down my throat. When I am done and murmur a soft "thanks" downward.
Minutes pass. Or maybe hours, I do not know. They have removed the cornu. When? I do not know. Then a hear voice, clear and loud, from somewhere below me: "you are going to die. Somebody very soon, somebody later. We will be watching here. Watching your death writhes and, of course, enjoying them!" They laugh down there.
I gather all the air I can in my lungs: "please! please!" They approach me: "I do not want to die slowly. Break my legs." I pause, letting the words sink in, and collecting new air to speak: "I want to give my last show. Break my legs and enjoy the show."
For a moment nothing happens. Then, there is some turmoil, somebody barks an order, and somebody else immediately goes and comes back with a big wooden club. He steps forward my cross. He is burly, that's all I can see. He weights the club in his hands, evaluating the amount of strength he has to use, waiting for the order.
Then the order arrives: "GO!" He swings a full circle with the club and hits my right shin, smashing it. The noise of broken bones is loud and sickening: "CRACKK!" I howl in pain, like a wounded animal, my voice raising loud: "AAAAAAHHHH!!!" But he doesn't stop. He rapidly changes position and delivers his next blow: "THUMB CRRAACKK AAAAHHHAAAAAA!!!"
I slump down, hanging from the nails in my wrists, my legs useless to support me now. There is not much blood, but they can clearly see my shins are not straight anymore. The pain in my arms and legs explodes, reaching levels not reached before. Then, as I slump down, I immediately realize how my end will be. I cannot exhale. The air in my lungs does not get out anymore. I cannot exhale, my ribcage is expanded as I hang from my wrists like that, and I do not have any strength or possibility to push me up.
I stay there, just stopping breathing. Two minutes, and I feel the pressure in my lungs raising rapidly. It is just like they would be tightening a lace around my neck. I feel my heart pounding. I gurgle. A dark veil falls on my eyes. I writhe on the cross trying, in desperation, to pull on my wrists. I cry, but no sound gets out my throat. And my lungs seem to explode. My heart beats resound in my ears like deep drum beats. Then everything burst out. I hang there, my neck on the right side, my head resting on my collar bone, mouth and eyes open. I'm dead. They clap.
I see people approaching the crosses. There are many, but I cannot distinguish who they are through the pain veil on my eyes. The walk around the crosses, look up at the men and women attached on them, comment on their status, somebody even speaks to them. All of the sudden, I see a sponge close to my mouth. They are offering me to drink. I strain my neck and suck greedily, letting the fresh water pour down my throat. When I am done and murmur a soft "thanks" downward.
Minutes pass. Or maybe hours, I do not know. They have removed the cornu. When? I do not know. Then a hear voice, clear and loud, from somewhere below me: "you are going to die. Somebody very soon, somebody later. We will be watching here. Watching your death writhes and, of course, enjoying them!" They laugh down there.
I gather all the air I can in my lungs: "please! please!" They approach me: "I do not want to die slowly. Break my legs." I pause, letting the words sink in, and collecting new air to speak: "I want to give my last show. Break my legs and enjoy the show."
For a moment nothing happens. Then, there is some turmoil, somebody barks an order, and somebody else immediately goes and comes back with a big wooden club. He steps forward my cross. He is burly, that's all I can see. He weights the club in his hands, evaluating the amount of strength he has to use, waiting for the order.
Then the order arrives: "GO!" He swings a full circle with the club and hits my right shin, smashing it. The noise of broken bones is loud and sickening: "CRACKK!" I howl in pain, like a wounded animal, my voice raising loud: "AAAAAAHHHH!!!" But he doesn't stop. He rapidly changes position and delivers his next blow: "THUMB CRRAACKK AAAAHHHAAAAAA!!!"
I slump down, hanging from the nails in my wrists, my legs useless to support me now. There is not much blood, but they can clearly see my shins are not straight anymore. The pain in my arms and legs explodes, reaching levels not reached before. Then, as I slump down, I immediately realize how my end will be. I cannot exhale. The air in my lungs does not get out anymore. I cannot exhale, my ribcage is expanded as I hang from my wrists like that, and I do not have any strength or possibility to push me up.
I stay there, just stopping breathing. Two minutes, and I feel the pressure in my lungs raising rapidly. It is just like they would be tightening a lace around my neck. I feel my heart pounding. I gurgle. A dark veil falls on my eyes. I writhe on the cross trying, in desperation, to pull on my wrists. I cry, but no sound gets out my throat. And my lungs seem to explode. My heart beats resound in my ears like deep drum beats. Then everything burst out. I hang there, my neck on the right side, my head resting on my collar bone, mouth and eyes open. I'm dead. They clap.