Author's note: SUPER-DUPER depressing for Torn fangirls.

Chapter 5

I turned to Dash who had a hand on my shoulder.

Janovah: Let's go.
Dash: Where?
Janovah: To...that place where they chastise people!!
Dash: You mean the wasteland? Throngs of people come to these things, it's sick. I don't want you to watch. It's horrible.
Janovah: I want to be by his side until the end.
Dash: Well, if you're sure, we'd better hurry and get to the air train.

We followed a wave of people to about thirty air trains. People were loading on like sheep. We hurried onto one, and in about thirty minutes we were taking off, the whole fleet. In about forty-five minutes we landed, and we exited among the mass of people. We assembled in the group, fighting our way through the crowd until we go to the front. There, in the middle of it all, I saw Torn. He wasn't wearing a shirt, they must have had him take it off so it made it easier to beat him. His arms were tied to a starnge contaption that looked a little like a B in our language. There were three guys, with whips, and as Dash had said, were three headed, with blades. One of men waved his whip in Torn's face mockingly, like he got some pleasure out of it. There was also a stone podium about ten feet away from the contraption. There was a guy who looked a little like a priest.

Dash: Just think about something else.

The priest guy raised his arm. The men with whips went into positions in back of, on the right of, and on the left of Torn. The whole crowd went silent hold their collective breath. Torn closed his eyes, as though preparing for the blow. Dash squeezed my hand.

Dash: This is it...

The priest guy lowered his arm gruffly, and the man in back of Torn struck first. The whip flashed across his back, and Torn screamed. It was heart wrenching, and painful. Three ribbons of blood appeared on his back. Then the man on the right struck, then left, in a repeating pattern. The people howled with glee everytime Torn managed belt out a cry of pain. After about forty blows, Dash finally found her voice.

Dash: I'm suprised he's lasted this long. Forty-two strikes.
Janovah: When will they stop?
Dash: They're not aloud to go past sixty, but when the criminal, or in this case, victim, keels over and passes out and/or dies, they stop.

I counted blows...forty-four, forty-five...Torn was shaking, his back was just covered in blood. Fifty-one, Fifty-two...Hang in there, I thought. Fifty-nine, SIXTY. The priest guy raised his arm again, and the whipping men moaned. Torn's skin on his back was shredded, the ground was soaked with blood. One of the men grudgingly undid the knots on the contraption, and Torn fell, limp. The other two began to pick him up and drag him off, while the one the undid the knots spat on him.

Dash: He lived. That's incredible, horrible, but incredible.
Janovah: Great, now he has to suffer the night and be HUNG.
Dash: Don't worry...I have a plan. I'll tell you later.

We boarded the air train again, and I wondered what Dash had planned. We returned to the city, and drove the zoomer back to Freedom HQ. It was dark, and I was tired. Not that I had much to look foward to. Dash forced me to eat, even after watching the love of my life tortured I really didn't have a stomach. I eventually just went to bed. Finally alone in the darkness, I started to cry softly. I reached in the drawer of the end table next to me and drew out the engagement ring Torn gave me. It really was beautiful, it must have costed him all of his savings. I took off the neacklace with my seal on it, and took off the seal, and replaced it with the ring. I put it back on, and placed the seal in the drawer. I finally went to sleep.

I woke up the next morning, it was early. Not sunrise yet, it was still dark. I rushed into the Cafeteria where I found Dash pretending to be asleep.

Janovah: Dash, I know you're not asleep, you don't sleep. You told me.
Dash: Oh, you had to bring THAT up.
Janovah: Sorry...

We once again took the zoomer to the courthouse. I knew where they hung people. Plus there was a fresh throng of people seeping into the back. We once again fought our way to the front. I saw Torn off to the side, hands bound. I went over, but a man stepped in front.

Man: I'm sorry, we cannot let get close to the criminal.
Janovah: Do you really want me to sick Dash on you?
Man: Ha ha, nice try sweetheart.
Janovah: I want to talk to Torn NOW!!!!!

The man looked threatened.

Man: Okay...okay...

He rushed away, and I was alone with Torn. He didn't seem to notice I was there.

Janovah: How are you?

Torn looked up, and smiled.

Torn: Well, let's see, I have no skin on my back, I feel like shit, and I'm about to die. Never been better.

I kissed him, on the mouth, like old times.

Janovah: Feeling any better?
Torn: A little.

Then I noticed his hands were still bound. I knew the cuffs well, there was a little button on the bottom. I pushed it, and the cuffs fell off.

Torn: Thanks, I mean, Damn, they put them on so tight. Well, I AM a convicted murderer and rapist.
Janovah: You're innocent, the dark makers murdered those people, not you.

I pulled out my seal from my shirt when Torn wasn't looking. Finally He looked back at me and tried to touch my face with his hand, but he stopped short.

Janovah: It's okay.

He touched me, his hand was rough, but warm. His hand was always warm. I kissed him again. He kissed my back. He kept kissing me. I took his free hand and I put my seal in it. He looked at the gift in his hand and looked at me with his pure, blue eyes.

Torn: You shouldn't give me this. I don't deserve it.
Janovah: Yes you do.
Torn: Nobody deserves you, you're much too good for anyone.

His eyes fell the the ring I was wearing. He lowered the hand hand touching me to it.

Torn: I guess I forgot about that...
Dash: Jan! It's almost time! You have to go before they catch you!

Torn raised hand and kissed it.

Torn: Long live the queen.

We shared one last long kiss, and we parted the embrace.

Torn: Goodbye, Janovah.
Janovah: I won't forget you.

And then I turned and ran, but not far before I turned for one last look at Torn. He was putting the seal into the shirt he got to wear that day. It was just his normal old Torn-shirt, but without the red neck scarf. I saw two men, one of the from the day before hassle him, violently pin him to a wall, and put new cuffs on him. Then they dragged him in front of everybody. I rushed to the front of crowd with Dash.

Dash: Mmm, somebody had a nice chat.

I can't understand it. Why was she so CHIPPER? But the judge began reading off a sheet of paper, and a single tear ran down my face. Torn was staring right at me. With a "This is it, the end." sort of look.

Judge:...he has been charged and convicted of three counts of murder, two counts of attempted rape, and two counts of attempted murder. And he is to be, in roughly two minutes, hung by the neck, until dead. May the precursors have mercy on your soul.

They put the noose on Torn's neck. It was made of chains...I imagined having that cold metal on your throat.

Janovah: This is wrong...

A man pulled a lever, and the floor under Torn fell. He sputtered and started turning blue. It was over in minutes...he was dead. The crowd cheered. I began to weep uncontrollably. I looked back at Dash, and she had an anxious look, as though antcipating something. She took my hand and led me off to the side. She pulled out what looked like some remote control.

Dash: There's a plan at work here. This will be dangerous, but if all goes well, we can save more than one life tonight.

End of Act 1