The revelation that Senator Antonius was the Masked Rebel had taken the majority of the populace by surprise. All except for those who knew or suspected the secret.
Macky was brooding under a pier, still grieved with his own actions. At the sound of approaching footsteps he jumped.
"Easy Macky, it's just me. I tried three safe-houses before I thought to look for you here."
They hugged.
"I let Antonius down just when he most needed me."
"Macky, don't worry we'll figure out something."
"How can I not worry?!" Macky argued, "Portia let me tell you this story, maybe it'll help you understand…"
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away to their council, and they said, "If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God." And they all said, "Are you the Son of God, then?" And he said to them, "You say that I am." And they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips."
Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, "You brought this man to me and said that he was misleading the people. Now, I have examined him here in your presence, and I have not found him guilty of any of the crimes you accuse him of. Nor did Herod find him guilty, for he sent him back to us. There is nothing this man has done to deserve death. So I will have him whipped and let him go."
The whole crowd cried out, "Kill him! Set Barabbas free for us!" (Barabbas had been put in prison for a riot that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)
Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, so he appealed to the crowd again. But they shouted back, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
Pilate said to them the third time, "But what crime has he committed? I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! I will have him whipped and set him free."
But they kept on shouting at the top of their voices that Jesus should be crucified, and finally their shouting succeeded. So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for. He set free the man they wanted, the one who had been put in prison for riot and murder, and he handed Jesus over for them to do as they wished.
Above them was the sound of marching feet, Macky shushed Portia. Not long after they were in the basement of a nearby safehouse.
"We'll be safe here for a while." Macky said, lighting a lantern.
"You never finished your story," Portia said, taking a seat upon a barrel.
Since Jesus Christ was condemned to be crucified, He was handed over to the soldiers. Again, they beat, insulted, and mocked Him. After they had made fun of Him, they took off the purple robe and dressed Him in His own clothing. The condemned person had to carry his own cross to the place of crucifixion; thus, the soldiers laid the cross on the shoulders of the Savior and led Him to the place intended for crucifixion. The place was a hill, which was called Golgotha or the place of the skull. Golgotha was situated west of Jerusalem not far from the city gate called the Judgment Gate.
A great multitude of people followed Him. The road was hilly. Exhausted by beating and lashing, worn out by spiritual suffering, Jesus Christ could hardly walk and several times fell from the weight of the cross. When they went out of the city gate where the road began to go uphill, Jesus Christ was unable to continue carrying the cross.
The soldiers came upon a man who was compassionately watching Christ. It was Simon, a Cyrenian, returning from work in the country. The soldiers seized him and compelled him to carry the cross of Christ.
Crucifixion was the most disgraceful, agonizing, and cruel form of death penalty. In those times, such a death penalty was imposed only on the most hardened criminals: thieves, murderers, instigators of rebellion, and felons. The torture of a crucified man is impossible to describe. Besides unbearable pain in every part of the body, the crucified underwent the ordeal of terrible thirst and spiritual suffering until dead. Death was so slow that many suffered on the cross for several days. Even the executioners, habitually brutal people, could not keep their composure while looking at the suffering of a crucified man. They prepared a beverage by which they tried to quench his unbearable thirst; or by adding various substances, they tried to temporarily dull consciousness and alleviate the suffering. By Jewish law, a crucified man was considered cursed. The chiefs of the Jews wanted to disgrace Jesus Christ forever by condemning Him to such a death.
When they brought Jesus Christ to Golgotha, the soldiers offered Him sour wine to drink, mingled with bitter substances to lessen the suffering. The Lord, when He tasted it, did not wish to drink it. He did not want to lessen the suffering. This suffering, He took upon Himself voluntarily for the sins of all people; thus, he wanted to bear it consciously to the end.
When all was ready, the soldiers crucified Jesus Christ. It was about midday, by Jewish reckoning — the sixth hour of the day. When they crucified Him, He prayed for His tormentors, saying, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
They crucified two robbers with Jesus Christ: one on His right and one on His left. According to the order of Pilate, a title plate was attached to the cross over the head of Jesus Christ indicating His guilt. On it, there was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews;' and many read it. Therefore, the sign did not please the enemies of Christ. Thus, the chief priest went to Pilate and said, 'Do not write 'King of the Jews' but write that He says 'I am King of the Jews'.
Portia felt terribly distressed and was determined that Antonius does not suffer a similar fate.
"That's not going to happen this time." she said, her voice heavy with restrained emotion, "I'll make sure it doesn't!"
"Portia wait!"
Worried, that same afternoon Portia begs her uncle Tiberius to intervene on behalf of Antonius. A hesitant Tiberius agrees to send a message to the Emperor. Very soon, the trial for Antonius is underway.
"The evidence is clear!" Senator Marcus shouted, "A crime horrific. I say we must execute this man!"
Many of the other politicians were in agreement.
"Hear! Hear!"
"Marcus is right!"
"Senators wait, we should hear what Antonius has to say!" One called out.
Antonius held his head high, "I will not deny what I did. But was it wrong?"
Everyone stared back at him.
"We Romans rule the world! Is there anyone, anywhere as strong as we are?"
"That's true not as strong." Some acknowledged.
Antonius continued, "So what can we possibly lose by showing a little compassion to our enemies? Or caring for the sick? Or helping the poor? What need is there to kill people who disagree with us? That's all this is about. Nothing more."
"Lovely sentiments, Antonius. But here it's kill or be killed!" sneered Marcus.
Antonius glared down at him. That's only because you, and others like you have made the world that way."
"Listen to Antonius!"
"No, we must be strong!"
"Senators please! Let me ask you a simple question: Which would you rather be the Christian…" Marcus said with a conniving smirk, "or the lion?"
This question took all the senators aback.
"The lion of course! We must be strong!"
"Well of course."
Tiberius stood up, "Senators, you've invited me here as an advisor. Will you not hear my advice?"
"You have the floor Tiberius."
"I wouldn't dare tell you how to rule on this," Tiberius acknowledged, "But I suggest you do not act hastily. I've sent a messenger to the Emperor to inform him about this."
"What's the point?" Marcus snapped. "We all know what Antonius deserves, don't we?"
"We agree!"
"Hear, hear!"
Tiberius only looked stoic, his face not betraying any emotion. "The thirst for vengeance is strong, but your duty here is to be just."
"Can't anyone else see what's going on? Tiberius is stalling!"
"I must concur" shouted one senator. "I call for a vote!"
"Guilty!"
Antonius is guilty!"
Just then the main doors of the building were opened.
"Apologies for the interruption Senators, but I carry a message from the Emperor."
Tiberius received it and read the scroll critically. What did the message say?
Sometime later in the afternoon, Eliana had gone to retrieve the slipper before Antonius is incriminated with charges of subterfuge.
She went to her secret spot where she'd hidden the slipper under some tiles but it wasn't there. Where was it?
"Are you looking for this?"
Eliana jumped and looked up to see Marcus holding the sandal in his hand.
"There must be quite a story to go with it. Could it be that you've stolen this?"
"No, I did not. It was given to me." Eliana replied steadily.
Marcus scoffed, "Nothing is ever given for free, for everything you must pay."
"That's not true at all: love and kindness is given freely."
"Which happens only in children's stories. However here in actual life? No. That's not a plausible answer. No one will believe a dirty little orphan slave. But with the word of a respectable citizen to put you forward, you will not be ignored."
Eliana folded her arms. "Get to the point and tell me what you want, don't insult me."
"When you are married you will make me the head of the Magistrate's household. Your stepmother will leave you alone, your rival Ilithya and her ambitious mother can easily pair off with wealthy bachelors and I shall manage the boy. Best leave it to me than everyone wins. Tell me where they are."
Eliana simply shook her head. "No. It's wrong."
"And I suppose what your friend Antonius did was right?"
"Then let me tell you something: I couldn't protect my father from my stepmother, but I certainly can and I will protect my friends – those that helped me when no one else would, from you and anyone else that tries to hurt them no matter what befalls me."
"Well that's a mistake, probably the last one you'll ever make." Marcus rolled his eyes and casually throws the sandal in the fireplace.
"No! No! W-why? Why are you so cruel? I don't understand it. I've tried to be kind to you."
"You kind to me?"
"Yes! I know no one deserves to be treated as you have treated so many others. Why do you do it? Why?!"
"Why? Really?!" The middle-aged man actually facepalmed in disbelief. "When a push comes to shove, I know only one person who's truly there for me: Me. In a selfish world only the selfish succeed."
That said he slammed the door shut before Eliana could get to it. She tried to open it, but could not get out. She was trapped.
That same later afternoon, Portia angrily confronted her uncle. "You lied to me! You betrayed Antonius and you betrayed me too!"
"I… didn't lie to you. Remember my exact words, I said I would see what I could do. And I did." replied Tiberius.
"But you made me think that-"
"That I would intervene with the Emperor on Antonius' behalf? I did, I informed him Antonius' is in trouble and he was grateful."
"But you didn't ask Antonius to show him mercy did you?"
"What if the Emperor didn't want to show him mercy?" Tiberius asked Portia grimly, "I would have been risking my own position. I AM a politician, you know."
And a few other things as well." Portia said sternly, she then turned and began to leave.
"Portia, there was a vote among the Senators, the matter was out of my hands." Tiberius explained.
"Tell me honestly, Uncle. Were it your right, how would you have voted?" Portia icily demanded.
Tiberius coldly just picked up his hand mirror to gaze into it, not sparing his niece a glance until she left the chamber.
At the same time, Verus was speaking to his adoptive father who had been second-guessing himself ever since the trial had ended.
"I love and respect you, but I will not. Much like Antonius, I believe that we need not use force nor cruelty as a way of life. What we need is right before us. And we need only have courage and be kind to see it." Verus said to him evenly.
The Magistrate was stunned. Verus was certainly a much different man than the energetic, conceited youth in the past.
"You've become your own man, one I've not fathomed. But an independent man nevertheless. Not a hand shall be raised against you from my part… The others, I cannot promise."
"That's fine, Father. I already know the risks and I'm ready face whatever tribulations lie ahead."
"Just don't repeat this mistake: Do not marry for advantage as I have. Marry for love. Find that girl. Find her. The one they're all talking about. The forgetful one who loses her sandals."
"And as you make your way into the world, pray for me and your mother, my son."
The younger man heard him and nodded. The Roman legal system failed Antonius, now it was up to his truest friends.
Portia returned to the safe-house to where Macky was.
"How did it go?" He asked.
"Pretty much like in your story." Portia replied, hanging her head, "Uncle Tiberius never had any intention on helping Antonius. They're going to put him to death in the morning."
"It's not over yet. Macky declared, "I've still got my plan."
"Then count me in." Verus replied as she walked in. "My father has given me his blessing on whatever I choose."
"You sure you know what you're getting yourself into? Once you do this, there's no going back."
"If I didn't, I wouldn't be here."
As he sits in his cell the night before his planned execution, Antonius tells a seemingly uninterested guard the story of the crucifixion. But the guard turns out to be Macky in disguise.
"Down here, it leads to the catacombs," He urged Antonius down a trapdoor under one of the tiles.
To his surprise besides Verus, there was a familiar face waiting.
"Absolom! I thought you left town weeks ago."
"I did, but Macky Verus found to ask for my help. Seeing that your friend the Emperor wasn't going to."
"The guards already know which way we've gone."
"Are you sure?"
Macky glanced upwards to see two guards headed their way. "Pretty sure."
At once he slammed the lid closed and jumped down. Absolom handed him the torch.
"If they're smart they'll sends outside the exit on the prison grounds." Verus speculated.
We have to get there before…" Macky was cut off.
"There they are!"
"They do!"
They fled going through one tunnel and evading them by climbing up the support beams so that the guards passed right under them. There, the four men doubled back where they were originally headed, opening a trapdoor that lead up into
"Hurry, they'll be here any minute."
"You're right, I'll try to confuse them." Macky ran off and tried to distract the guards but one of them was the same one on shift that evening and recognized him.
From above, the other three could hear Macky struggling.
Before either Verus or Absolom could stop him, Antonius jumped right in. He approached the two guards from behind and slammed their heads together, stunning them.
"Thanks, but that's not going to hold them for long."
"No. But this will keep them away from us." Antonius had walked to a pillar and began push it.
His intention was to cave in the entrance and give them a better chance at escape. Macky helped him push it down completely. It worked but much too well no part of the tunnel was collapsing and they're forced to run. Antonius tripped, only for a piece of the ceiling to fall on his leg!
Macky pushes the debris off with some effort.
"I can't move my leg." Antonius told him.
So it had to take the combined strength of Macky and Verus to help pull Antonius up to the trapdoor.
Absolom checked, "It looks like it's broken."
"You're going to need a splint." Verus analyzed.
Antonius shook his head. "I can't walk on it."
Just then Absolom looked around, he'd almost forgotten that they were in a stable.
"Maybe you won't have to," he grinned. "But I'll need Verus to give me a hand."
"They have to be in here, we've tried everywhere else!" One of the soldiers said approaching the stable doors
Just then a chariot crashed through! Driving it was Absolom with Antonius, Macky and Verus as passengers
Absolom laughed, "This is the happiest night of my life!"
"You got to be kidding!" Verus cried.
"No, I'm not." Absolom answered ecstatically, "I'm finally a chariot driver!"
That said they drove off into the distance, more than ready to face the road ahead. Verus only one thing he need to retrieve: Eliana.
To be concluded…