The Siege

Twenty-five times the whip tore into her back. Blood trickled down her lip and into her mouth from where she'd bitten into it. Her back crackled with pain to the point where the world around her spun and dimmed, but she never screamed again after the first time nor did she cry. "You have borne witness to God's punishment of evildoers. Know you now what awaits you if you continue on the dark path," the reverend said.

"Please don't do this!" Helena wailed. "I'll do whatever you want. Just don't hurt me."

"I am sorry, my child. It is for your own good I must do this," Reverend Crane said.

"Let me take them for her," Samantha croaked. "I'm the one who led her astray. Her sins are mine."

"A noble idea, but I'm afraid the judgment cannot be changed. She must accept the sentence the Lord demands." With that, Reverend Crane yanked the whip back and then brought it down hard across Helena's back. Her scream echoed throughout Eternity, causing Pryde's dogs to howl in response. At last tears came to Samantha's eyes.

"Stop it, please! Leave me alone!" Helena shouted. When Reverend Crane stopped after five lashes Samantha thought he might be finished. Instead, he waited for Pryde to gag Helena and then continued carrying out the sentence. Samantha managed to turn her head enough to look into Helena's eyes and see the terror in them as the whip stung her again and again. Tears flowed openly down Helena's face, bringing a wave of grief crashing down upon Samantha for having caused this.