Author's Notes: So, as I did with Chapter 22, I am giving a warning to those who are about to read. This is the chapter depicting the brutal scourging of Jesus. I was watching 'Passion of The Christ' to get some inspiration for this chapter and... well, you can probably guess the rest. Let's just say, it's not going to be pretty. But, this is how it happened in the Bible, and I want it written like this to capture how much he suffered for us. So, for those who find violence off-putting, I apologize. But anyway, here we go...

Heroboy005

Chapter 24

The courtyard of the Zootropolis Police Station was an empty, barren area with a ground made out of concrete. Fences topped with barbed wire surrounded the yard, and in the middle of the area was a long, tall post made out of metal, painted dark green, and it had handcuffs attached to it. There also were two tables out there, one that the captain of the flogging squad was sitting at, and the other… had the weapons of torture that they would use to beat the prisoners.

The armored truck had parked, and the White Lion was taken out of it. They didn't bother bringing him into the station; all he was here for was to get beaten and whipped. Chained up like a wild animal, Jesus was led into the courtyard by two rhino guards in black armor. Wolfenstein, who was in the lead, came up to the captain of the flogging squad, who was sitting at his desk.

"By the order of Pilate, this White Lion here is to be punished severely." said Wolfenstein.

The captain, a black panther dressed in black armor, nodded in reply. He then made a motion for the White Lion to be taken and chained up, and the two rhino guards moved to do it. The two who were assigned to flog him, two large brown bears dressed in black armor, laughed villainously as the White Lion was taken over to the post.

Jesus was then un-handcuffed, and then stripped of his clothing. They removed his white jacket and his prison clothes, to which he was left in his shorts, which were colored black. Upon seeing him like that, the two flogger started making crude jokes at the White Lion's expense, calling him a 'kitty' and a 'lioness' due to his shaven mane.


A crowd had gathered to watch what was going to happen. In the front of the crowd was Caiaphas, Annas, and the other religious leaders. In the back of the crowd was Judy, Nick, Finnick, Jethro, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Once again, in order to get a better view, Nick, Finnick, and Judy were on Jethro's shoulders.

"And so, it starts…" Jethro said sadly.

"This is terrible." Nick spoke, his tone frightened. "I don't think I can watch this."

Judy watched Jesus' face, and saw him looking up to the sky. He looked he was praying, either that or he was bracing himself for what was going to come next. However, despite him standing there, naked and vulnerable, there was a sense of strength in him. And Judy noticed that, but she still was worried for him. To which, she did have a good reason to be.


To start out, the two brown bears were going to use reeds on the White Lion. They were long, thin, yet thick, sticks that whistled if you swung them in the air really fast. If they hit you, they would be guaranteed to leave a mark. And now, they were going to use them on Jesus!

The captain then motioned for the two to attack… and the flogging began…

The first bear wound back and hit as hard he could! The reed hit the White Lion clear across his back, making a sickening 'crack' sound as it whacked him. The White Lion let out a groan of pain, but he still stood. The second bear then went, and this time it left a mark on Jesus' back. The first then hit again, leaving another welt. If it wasn't for the White Lion's fur (which was now a dull grey in color), they would see welts and bruises starting to form.

Another hit, this time on the back of the White Lion's head, sending him forward somewhat. But still, despite the pain, he stood in place, taking every blow that was given! Another hit against his back, and another, and another. Over and over, with a sickened glee, the two bears continued beating into the White Lion with the reeds! They hit him in the back, the legs, the arms, the head, everywhere! Over and over, like he had committed a crime! It got so bad that some of the religious leaders, and some of the crowd, couldn't watch it anymore and turned away!

Little did they know, the worst was yet to come…

After being hit over and over and over, the White Lion had slumped to his knees. His fur now looked matted, his hands/paws shook like he was having a seizure, and his breath was coming out shakily. But, much to the amazement (or horror) of the crowd, he stood back up. Everybody, even the captain of the flogging squad and his goons, looked on in shock!

"Look, he wants more!" yelled one of the flogging squad, before breaking out into raucous laughter. "He's got guts!"

"Yeah?" asked one of the brown bears, his tone vile. "Well, we'll find out soon enough…"

The panther captain then said in a commanding tone, "Switch weapons, men."

The two brown bears went over to the table with weapons on it. At first, they were going to use a board with nails in it, along with a pole that had barbed-wire tied tightly around it. However, the panther captain overruled their decision, instead telling them to use… the flagrums!


"It's the flagrums." Finnick spoke, his tone scared. "They're using the flagrums on him!"

"The fiends…" Mary Magdalene said silently. "How could they be so cruel?"

Tears welled up in the eyes of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and she had to cover her mouth to keep from crying out. Judy put her hands over mouth as well, shocked by what was about to happen. Nick, guessing what was going to happen, also had a sickened look on his face.


Just like Jethro had said, the flagrum was a whip with several leather thongs, and it has sharp pieces of metal at the end. And, if it ever hit you, it would tear the meat off of your body faster than the speed of light! To make things even weirder, the guards would only use that weapon on prisoners they liked, hoping that it would kill them so that wouldn't have to go to the cross. However, for the White Lion, this was an exception…

Jesus, still standing with his hands/paws shaking, locked eyes with his mother for a few seconds. Despite being in a whole lot of pain right now, there was still strength in him. He was still going to go through with it…

The captain made the motion again… and the second round started…

The first bear wound back and swung as hard as he could! The flagrum went deep into the White Lion's back, tearing off flesh, fur, and leaving deep, bloody cuts in him! It was so bad that Jesus let out a loud groan of pain when that hit him! The second bear went next, hitting him in the back again and leaving more large, bloody cuts! Another hit, and then another, which caused Jesus to start gasping for air! Another hit, this time on his shoulder, which sent him to his knees! And then another, right across his other shoulder! Another, right across his side, and the White Lion let out a loud yelp of pain, gritting his teeth!

And then, just when you think it couldn't get any worse, the next hit got stuck in his side, and the bear had to pull on it! When he did, he tore a sizable chunk of flesh and fur from the White Lion's ribs! People in the crowd screamed, some fainted, the captain and most of the flogging squad recoiled in disgust, and Jesus began roaring in pain, his hands shaking like crazy and as he shook and wrenched his head over and over!


Mary, the mother of Jesus, turned her head away from the carnage as tears began welling in her eyes.

"My son…" she said silently. "When… where… will you choose to be delivered from this?"

Another sickening slash, followed by another, and another, and another. Mary closed her eyes; she didn't want to witness this. Mary Magdalene also had her face covered with her paws/hands, and she was sobbing profusely. Judy was trying her hardest not to break down, but what she was witnessing was taking a toll on her. It was the same for Finnick, Nick, and Jethro; they may have all been guys, but even they were feeling like they were about to burst into tears at the sight of what was happening.

"It never fails to surprise me…" Nick spoke, his tone sad. "How sick and twisted us animals can be…"


Another hit, this time raking across the White Lion's snout and face, causing him to gasp out in pain once again. Another one followed, slashing across his shoulders. Over and over and over the two bears went, slashing and goring into the White Lion with the flagrums.


As the small group was watching, a male fox wearing black armor came up and tugged on the sleeve of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Upon feeling that, she looked down at the young guard.

"Follow me…" the male fox guard spoke, his tone kind.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene followed him, away from the crowd and the others. The fox guard then led them to another soldier, this one a female hyena in black armor. In her hands were some white towels.

"They're for cleaning his blood…" The female hyena guard said, her tone kind yet saddened. "I know our species don't exactly get along with each other, but… you have my sympathy…"

Mary took the towels from her and replied in a quiet, calm voice, "Thank you…"


After being flogged over and over, the panther captain ordered the two bears to stop. He then made a motion for the White Lion to be flipped over onto his back.

To say the least, Jesus was pretty much unrecognizable at this point. There wasn't much fur or flesh left on his back, only large, bloody gashes, cut, scrapes, you name it and it was on there! It was so bad that he didn't even have enough strength to stand!

One of the guards, a wolf, came over and unchained one of his arms from the post. The wolf, using his foot/paw, pushed the White Lion onto his back.

Just like they did with his back, the two bears began flogging his stomach, chest, ribs, legs, arms, and everything that was in the front. Over and over and over they flogged him, digging into him and tearing off chunks of flesh and fur, causing blood to be spewed everywhere! This went on for about a minute or so, when Chief Wolfenstein came back and saw what was happening!

"STOP!" Wolfenstein yelled out, causing the two bears to stop flogging Jesus.

After examining the White Lion, Wolfenstein then walked over to the panther captain. He then proceeded to punch in the face with a hard right hook, causing him to recoil in pain.

"You moron!" Wolfenstein roared. "Your orders were to punish this lion, not kill him!"

"He's not dead…" The panther captain said calmly, his nose and lip now bleeding.

Wolfenstein looked at White Lion, who was wheezing in pain with his leg twitching. He then went over, bent down, and checked his pulse; he was alive, but barely.

"Take him away…" Wolfenstein ordered. "MOVE IT! GET HIM OUT OF HERE!"

The two bears dropped the flagrums and obeyed. They unchained Jesus from the post and, with one bear holding his legs and the other holding his arms, they carried him out. Jesus gasped in pain as he was carried out, now bleeding profusely from… everywhere. And all that was left as a reminder of the brutal scourging was the refuse of blood, fur, and flesh that was on the concrete.


The crowds had left, sickened by what they had saw. As for Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Jethro, and Finnick, they came into the courtyard. Mary, the mother of Jesus, then got down on her knees, and began cleaning the blood of her son off the concrete, a stoic look on her face. Mary Magdalene just watched, while Jethro began sobbing silently. As for Finnick, he walked up beside Mary Magdalene and just watched what was going on.

"Nick was right…" Finnick spoke, his tone dark. "Us animals can be really sick and twisted…"

Mary Magdalene nodded in reply and said, "Yes… That's why he's doing this…"

As for Nick and Judy, they had left their group and were heading into the police station; they had their own mission to attend to.

Author's Notes: Holy smokes, that was painful. But, sadly, it's not over yet; we've still got a way to go. Anyway, I want to apologize for not updating in so long; I've been busy, busy, busy. But anyway, this chapter's up. So, hope you keep reading.

R&R,

Heroboy005