by Ken Barrett
Chapter 19: Judgement
“They’re coming,” Rose whispered.
“Yeah, I hear them,” Liam replied.
“What will they do to us?”
“Unpleasant things.” He slid to the edge of their bed and waited. “But maybe if we put on a good enough show our friends will be safe.”
“But were they really our friends… or our lovers?” she asked. “They betrayed us, so why should we care what happens to them?”
His sister was right, but also wrong at the same time. “We’ll never know what Denise and Keith really felt for us. Emotions are complicated, and I doubt that even they understand their own feelings. None of that matters now though, and I won’t fault them for doing what’s necessary to save themselves.”
Two tall and burly guards appeared outside their cage doorway, and one used his aluminum club to rap on the bars. The jarring clatter drew curious onlookers from the cells across the hall. “Demons, on your feet, and present your hands through the bars for manacles.”
“If we really are demons, that wouldn’t save you.” Rose stood up and strolled to the door. “We would just break the chains, then kill everyone here and escape.”
Both large men stepped backward cautiously. “So, it’s true then,” the larger of the two said, as several more guards moved behind them for backup.
“Of course not,” Liam quickly came forward to stand beside his sister. “This is all a misunderstanding. It was a rough night and neither of us slept well, so we’re a bit cranky.”
“Huh,” the guard grunted. “Gimme your hands then.”
He held out his arms. “Rose, let the nice man put bracelets on you.”
She glared at him, then grudgingly reached through the bars.
He smiled as the door to their cell was opened. “Play nice you guys. She’s in one of her moods, so try not to set her off.”
“Fuck you demon.” Another guard carrying a cattle prod slipped behind them and extended his weapon threateningly.
In a blur of motion, Rose spun around, kicked the man’s knee then took his cattle prod as he crumpled to the floor. “Don’t mess with me,” she said. “I’m having a bad day, and I’d just love to share.”
“She’s ex-military, and served with the Mountain Tribes,” Liam lied quickly.
The fallen guard stared at the sizzling electricity that was only a few centimeters from his face. “Yeah, ok.”
“Rose, give the nice man back his toy.” He was just as angry as she was; their friends and partners had abandoned them, and they were about to stand trial before a group of lunatics. Thoughts of killing the guards and escaping were tempting, but his aversion to violence held him back.
“I was just having fun with you,” Rose said while returning the weapon. “Now come on, let’s get this nonsense over with.”
Bracketed by guards, they were marched down the darkened hall, as gaunt faces stared and fearful whispers swam through the cage doorways. A crowd of people stood near the base of the ramp that would take them up to level seven, where their judges waited.
“You’re gonna die, you filthy demons.” A man with red and raw looking brands across his face and arms stepped out of the crowd. “You’re gonna burn, and I’m gonna laugh.”
Liam smiled at the scarred man as they passed. Behind him, Rose responded, “No, they won’t hurt us because we’re innocent. We’ll be just fine.”
“Oh, you’ll burn,” the man said. “Look what they did to me, and I passed their tests.”
*****
The Command Center was packed with people ready for a show. Everyone stood shoulder to shoulder in the wide-area before the judge’s tables, and the crowd overflowed into the connecting hallways. A few of the faces were familiar, but he had no names to go with them. Would Denise, Keith, and Roxi be there? Why had they betrayed them? There had to be some compelling benefit, but he felt as if he were missing some bit of information that would make sense of it all. He had loved Denise and he thought she felt the same way, so how could she divulge their hiding place, knowing that doing so could lead to their deaths?
Priests and a team of scarred acolytes held back the crowd as he and his sister were shoved forward into the open area before the judge’s tables. The throng of spectators cheered as they were led to the thick chains attached to the floor. A rising chant of the masses echoed through the open space; “Burn them. Burn them. Burn them!”
“It doesn’t look like we’ll get a fair trial,” he said.
“In our legal system, fairness ain’t a factor,” the guard replied casually as he snapped the set of heavy chains over his wrists while another man secured his ankles.
Both he and his sister could have easily broken away, then brutally beat a path through the crowd, leaving a trail of death behind them as they made their way to the surface to escape. Normally he would have found such ideas repugnant, but at that moment, it was enticing. What had happened to him? He hated violence, didn’t he? Perhaps humanity had infected him.
“Silence!” Theon, the one-eyed priest shouted as he walked to the front of the judge’s tables. “This is a somber matter. Today we will test the accused and determine whether they are demons. It is a serious trial, and we will not have the rabble interfere.”
The crowd cooled slightly, but a faint rumble of anxious murmurs still resonated among the masses. Liam and Rose nervously waited for several minutes, then, at last, the judges entered. A panel of three priests would preside over their fate, with Oxana taking the center chair.
The priestess nodded to the side, and a moment later a group of citizens, who were probably witnesses that had already testified against them, filed into an area beside the tables; Roxi, Keith, and Denise stood within that crowd.
Liam’s chest constricted with emotion. How could their friends betray them? Sheer petulance begged him to reveal their secrets and force them to stand trial as well. But no, he could never do that. He would remain true to them regardless of what they had done. He saw Roxi’s lips move slightly and amplified his hearing to understand her.
“Do the best you can, but be ready to move on my order,” she said.
Rose nodded beside him, indicating she had heard Roxi as well. What was their friend up to? Could she have made plans for their escape?
Although the Command Center was crowded, the entire population of their shelter wasn’t there. What if those present were all that were willing to accept the new faith? While some chanted happily in anticipation of their suffering, most remained silent. Could it be that the majority were merely feigning compliance to avoid being put on trial themselves?
A darker possibility remained; that ardent belief was complete throughout their shelter. The willingness to walk through a wall of flame as a demonstration of faith was madness, but that sort of insanity had always plagued mankind.
*****
Theon, Oxana, and a priest named Aetius sat regally behind a long table, and Liam and Rose stood chained to the floor before them. The murmuring rumble of the spectators grew louder and seemed to shake the entire floor.
Liam was uneasy, unsure of what to expect but also certain that whatever occurred would be painful. Behind them, other red-robed missionaries were purposefully moving through the mass of onlookers, looking for signs of unrest or objection.
Oxana stood up and waited for the assembly to quiet. “We have come here to decide a critical matter,” she finally said. “To put it simply, today we will determine whether the two that stand chained before us are demons. If found innocent, we will welcome them among us, but if found guilty we will burn their souls to ashes.
“I have heard rumors that some question the need to eradicate the demons that dwell among us. Some say that we should just let them go, allow them to cheat death and escape into the terrible wilderness that lies on the surface. While these notions may seem kind, they would surely lead to the damnation of us all.
“Within a hidden world, demons hide in the shadows waiting to step f
orward and rule us,” the priestess continued. “This is clear, the proof of Adar’s vision lies in the old world we left behind. We have all seen the ruined cities and heard tales of strange science. It was not mankind, but demons that created the machinery which controlled every aspect of our ancestor’s lives. They made everything easy, so easy that our forebearers became addicted and lazy, and in time they became the slaves of the things that were supposed to serve them.
“Our destiny is not to be the servants of machinery, instead we will follow the Burning Path to a future of peace and contentment. Adar will lead us through the serene fire that will cleanse our souls and allow us to enter heaven. But before our God will permit that, all the demons of the old world must perish.”
Oxana’s smile had a hard edge. “Adar will soon come with his army of the Scarred Faithful, and I will make certain that demons are not waiting for him when he arrives.” Her eyes hardened as she glared at them. “Let us begin the tests.”
“Wait,” Liam said. “Can we say something in our defense?”
“No. The lies of demons are pretty things that hide evil,” the priestess stated. “You may not speak, but you will probably scream.” She grinned. “There are only two tests which you must pass. The first is the branding; if the marks remain unhealed, you may not be a demon but we must check further to be certain. The second is fire; if you do not heal, you have passed and may live among us. If you fail either of these tests, you will be taken to the vestibule to be purified.”
Rose suddenly chuckled. “Ok, wait a minute. If we can’t be burnt, how will you turn us to ashes?”
Oxana smiled as she sat down behind the table. “Ah, the trickery of demons is so amusing.” She shook her head. “Rest assured young one, our new friend Roxanne has provided the method of your demise.”
Liam worried. Why had Roxi helped their enemies and then whispered hints that she had a plan for their escape? “Who are you to judge us?” he demanded. “You’re a stranger and have no authority here. Our guilt or innocence should be decided by Commander Davis, not you.”
“The Stickman, in his great glory and wisdom, bestowed that right upon me.”
“Wait a minute.” Commander Davis abruptly stepped forward. “Liam has a point. We all know he and his sister are different, but without them, none of us would have survived.”
“Have you not heard me?” Oxana asked. “The demon’s trick is to serve, and in so doing become our master.” She frowned. “Perhaps you should be thoroughly tested as well.”
“No, that’s not necessary priestess, you’re right.” The commander slipped back into the crowd.
“Well, that’s fine then,” Oxana said. “Let us begin.”
*****
“Silence!” Theon shouted. “Let not the words of others distract or cloud your minds. Kneel now, our God, and his prophet Adar of the Flames, demand a prayer before we begin.” The elderly one-eyed man gestured to several of the lesser priests. “Put those to be tried onto their knees. The first step toward their salvation is to humble themselves before us.”
Liam and Rose had both lowered themselves before the missionaries reached them, and the entire crowd genuflected behind them. No one said a word; the only sound was the scuffing of their boots on the dark stone floor.
Priestess Oxana rose from her chair, then waited until the room was entirely silent. “Hear me,” she said in a low voice that filled the Command Center. “When Adar, our beloved prophet, was lost in the unholy wilderness, the Stickman spoke to him, saying all things must burn. The universe and even our very souls were conceived in the fire of creation. The flame of heaven is within us all.
“Today I call upon our God, whose image is the Stickman, to show us the truth of those we are about to test. Let us see deep into their hearts, so that we may find if they are worthy to live among us. Only the pure can remain with what has been purified, to do otherwise is to pollute.” Oxana looked up as she raised her hands. “Oh, Stickman! Let your holy fire show us the truth of what lies within the hearts of Rose and Liam Collins. We pray that they be worthy and burn this day, so they may live in peace among us. If our God finds otherwise, their souls will be torn apart and their bodies reduced to foul ashes.”
Liam glanced at his sister and frowned; what sort of device had Roxi concocted for the priestess, and why had she done so? Their friend had installed their upgrades and knew their limitations; perhaps they were in more danger than he realized.
“Let the Stickman’s will be done!” Oxana cried, ending her prayer. “You may all rise.”
“Excuse me,” Liam said while standing up. “May I ask a question?”
“No,” the priestess said while sitting down behind the table.
“I’m just curious about what Roxanne has built for you.”
The old woman smiled wickedly. “Yes, I imagine you are, but pray you never know.” She waved her hand regally toward a lower level priestess. “Delphina, ready them for the first test.”
A woman who might have been in her mid-thirties, but was so scarred by branding that she seemed much older, pushed a cart filled with red glowing coals before them. She smiled. “This may sting a little at first, but the nerves in your skin die nice and quick, so the pain won’t last too long.”
Oxana eagerly leaned over the judge’s table. “The first test is the branding. Most women prefer to avoid facial scars and choose to take their brands of submission on their arms or backs. My dear sister, Priestess Delphia is an exception. So strong is her faith that she proudly wears them on her face. So, Rose Collins, you may have your choice.”
Delphina lifted an iron that carried the glowing shape of a twisted flame from the coals and stepped forward.
“Wait!” Liam shouted. “Don’t hurt my sister, test me first.”
“Ah, a brother’s love, how very sweet,” Oxana said. “This will be permitted.”
“No, Liam!” Rose protested, but Delphina had already turned toward him.
He grunted as the glowing iron touched his cheek. The pain was a sharp white-hot agony that emptied his mind and tightened every part of his body. Even after the glowing metal was removed, the mark it left felt as if it was burning deeper inside him. It took everything he had to not lose focus, and force his autonomic healing process to slow. He slumped forward onto his knees, then finally opened his eyes to gaze at the young priestess. “That will leave a mark that won’t heal, so now you don’t need to test my sister.”
“We have no proof that you two are related,” Oxana said. “Delphina, proceed with the sister.”
“No!” He struggled to stand, but Delphina had already applied the brand and he heard Rose scream.
Her cheek was still smoking when she regained her feet. “I’m ok Big Brother. That sure hurt though.”
“More brands?” Delphina smiled eagerly.
“Oh yes, many more,” Oxana replied. “Let’s try one to another part of the body this time.”
The young priestess stood before his sister and smirked. “I don’t like pretty girls. Your face is already ruined though, but perhaps a bit of decoration to your belly or your breasts?”
Rose’s chains jangled as she stepped back as far as she could. “No, not that.”
“Vanity when standing before God is a sin.” Their torturer returned to her cart of burning coals.
“Delphina, remember we are conducting a trial, so burn her in a place where we can see it plainly,” Oxana ordered.
The young woman grumbled incoherently as she heated another iron. “Yes priestess,” she finally said.
“Give Rose a break at least,” Liam said. “I’ll take the next brand.”
“As you wish,” Delphina said, then removed a glowing iron from the coals that carried the shape of a large ‘X’, and hurried toward him. “This is really gonna hurt.” She tore the front of his shirt open then pressed the brand to a spot on his chest just below his collar bone.
He heard his skin sizzle as she continued to press the iron dee
per. The pain was far beyond anything he had ever experienced; his vision narrowed and he slumped forward then finally collapsed onto the floor. A strange white fog crept around the edges of his vision, but he desperately held on to the last few threads of consciousness.
Rose’s scream brought him back to full awareness. He struggled to his feet and tried to go to her but the chains held him back. “Rose!”
His sister looked at him and sadly shook her head. “Oh! Dear Brother, your face and chest have completely healed.”
*****
“Demons!” Delphina shrieked. “Oh, Priestess Oxana, I heard your words of warning but prayed it wasn’t true.”
“So, you didn’t believe your own doctrine but hurt us anyway. What you did was just for fun,” Rose stated. “I wonder, what does that make you Delphina? Just who is the real demon here? My brother and I hate violence, but you embrace torture, so which of us is evil?”
“Quiet demon,” Oxana demanded.
“My sister and I just heal fast,” Liam stated. “That’s all it is; just a gift we were born with.”
“And where were you born demon?” Priestess Oxana asked. “Adar has spoken of your kind, saying that you come from a time long before mankind. That you are the product of an earlier forgotten age and have lurked in the shadows waiting for us for thousands of years.”
Liam chuckled. “That’s nonsense. My sister and I were born in Fort Collins.”
“But that city was overrun and destroyed nearly a hundred years ago,” she responded. “Just how old are you Demon?”
“I’m 22 and my sister is 20.” What was the point of continuing to lie? “But we’ve been those ages for a long time.”
“I see,” Oxana said calmly. “You admit to being demons then.”
“No,” Rose insisted. “We’re not evil. My brother and I have never hurt anyone, not deliberately at least. Can you say the same?”
“Fire will cleanse the earth,” Oxana uttered. “The Stickman said it, and it came true. The old world is gone. The time when machines ruled the lives of humanity is over. Your kind enslaved us, but now we throw off our chains.” The older woman seemed weary as she stood up. “Take them to the vestibule, and burn them to ashes.”