I suppose it is somewhat stupid but the by-laws of a Master Crucifixion Technician states ‘the technician must on a maximum of a six hour interval check on the status his crucified subject(s) until she (they) is (are) confirmed dead and then follow with two visits separated by six hours or more after the (last) subject has been assessed as dead.. I mean if they are condemned to die on the cross as long as they are still nailed to it why should I have to interrupt a relaxing drink on the veranda to go look at them?
(
This by-law was added to the union contract with the IMF after Messaline had been declared dead but really survived and gave Tree his only court victory when she was declared alive in the thread ‘Messa’s plans go awry’ –Ulrika)
I
STAGGERED walked up the hill in the early morning. OK, it was almost noon but in Pacific, Missouri, it’s not yet six in the morning! As expected, Rosie, Victoria, and Elizabeth were still alive and still hanging nailed to their crosses. I will never cease to be amazed at the range of emotions of the crucified woman.
Elizabeth is begging to be taken from her cross, saying she never wanted anything to do with Sir Despard Wragg. I don’t doubt her- if he wasn’t paying me we probably would not give each other a polite nod passing on the street. The only ‘comfort’ I can give her is that soon enough she will have nothing to do with Sir Wragg again… That didn’t go over well…
Rosie keeps telling me she is winning over the cross. I don’t claim to understand women but she has me baffled completely. I figure she is delirious from pain and pull my Glock to finish her off. She screams “NO!!!! Don’t you dare do that!”
I am not inclined to listen to her and pull the receiver back to load a round in the chamber. I press the muzzle between her breasts and am about to pull the trigger when the woman on the center cross yells “DON’T DO IT, TREE!”
As if she can stop me…
I look around then over at the center cross and say “You talking to me??? You must be talking to me ‘cause there is no one else around.”
“Your name is Tree, isn’t it? I said don’t shoot her.”
She’s delirious. Not that you can stop me, but why don’t you want me to put her out of her misery?”
“She’s not delirious. She came to the abbey for the sole purpose to be crucified and die on, no, with her cross. You are doing her no favor shooting her.”
I look at Rosie and tears are streaming down her face. She barely squeaks “Please don’t shoot me! I beg you!”
I shake my head in disbelief and holster the gun. Victoria says “Thank you, Tree. If you want to put anyone out of her misery shoot my daughter Elizabeth.”
“I’m not ready to die, mother” Elizabeth cries.
“You are dying” Victoria says stating the obvious. “There is no reason you suffer any longer. Tree, do you know the only reason Sir Wragg had us crucified is because Elizabeth is not just my daughter but she is his also?”
“I thought you are his niece.”
“I am, but that did not stop the bastard from fucking me whenever he wanted to. That’s why I fled the abbey when I became pregnant with Elizabeth.”
“Then why did you come back?”
“He’s filthy rich and my husband couldn’t hold a job” she tells me lowering her head in shame.
“And why did Elizabeth come back?”
“I brought her with me. She didn’t know about Despard being her father until after we were condemned.”
I look over at Elizabeth and ask “do you want to end this now?”
She shakes her head and whimpers “I’m not ready to stop breathing just yet.”
I will never understand women…
Tree
…with artist contribution of the crucified women by MH…