One lash, the prisoners lined up for their last gathering. A trembling sensation can be felt from every corner of the dungeon. I gave my final word of wisdom; the jeers and insults didn’t matter anymore.
“Oh my brothers and sisters, do not fret! For we stand before the gates of Heaven! Glory to the Father, the Queen, to the Seraphs! Glory to the Father, the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!” I cried out in a final act of benevolence.
“Oh for sanity’s sake!” sighed one of the guards. “Enough with you!” A crack of anger sprang into his voice as he readies his whip.
“May all transgressions sublime into order...” I whispered in a split second.
“At ease men!” ordered the captain as is in response to my prayer.
“lets not stall any longer with meaningless gestures and punishments. The crowd is hastily growing impatient. Open the gates!”.
Two men rushed to open the large wooden portcullis and the sharp needles of sunlight pierce our eyes. Another crack of the whip and we were shoved out into the ring with two spearmen behind us to ensure a full house. At first, there was nothing but the blazing noon sun hanging over our heads. But slowly, the scenery takes hold as the glare wears off. The roaring cheers and cries of thousands of spectators slowly grow louder and louder until the stinging wave of realization takes its place before the abstract world of the summer heat.
The exits were sealed shut in a flash. The party behind me wailed out to the Lord, begging salvation. Their wryly laments and mourns emulates the wryly cheers of citizenre.
“Jesu juva! Jesu juva! Jesu juva! Jesu juva!” goes the cries of the faithful.
The Emperor takes his stance before his subjects. Looking so posh and so well ordained yet so lost to the glory that was once under the rule of Augustus. For in the end, its not about how much gold a king has, nor is it how spoiled the citizens of the capital are, but the wellbeing of the common people given by the king and the true and free loyalty to the king by the lowest class. He does not know what he does.
“Sólveret leones!” commanded the Emperor. And so five starving lions were released from the gate opposite to us. There was no doubt in everyone’s mind that we were to be maimed. But something odd happened on that moment. I would stare into the eyes of the head lion. Time seem to slow down to a grueling pace. The lion said absolutely nothing, but it had a face of a thousand words and a thousand wisdoms. Only a few of the seemingly infinite, almost divine, teachings were given to me. I can sense that this was how it was meant to be, but I shall be reborn as the one true king. A king grander the Emperor of Rome!
Adonia was in a completely different state at this point. A world full of fear, anger, sadness, hopelessness, confusion and above all else, unbridled emotions. She would go on ad infinitum about her inevitable demise. But i cut her short by prostrating to the lions. The whole building shook at the immense laughter that took place. Scraps of food and litter were thrown at us as they scorn at us with chanting “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Ludaeorum!” with spite on their tongue. All is dust to me. I simply keep my back to the sky and my head to the ground.
The lions gave a powerful roar as the pounced at us with their full might and hunger. All is black now.
