Chapter Four
Before Pilate (finished at last)
The Roman soldiers hauled Jesus upright at Pilate's command. Bare feet slidding on the bloody floor, Jesus struggled to walk out to Pilate.
Kat jumped up, tears streaming down her face, and followed.
"Behold!" Pilate was shouting. "I find no wrong in this man!"
"He must die," screamed a voice from the crowd and other's joined it. "Crucify him!!! Crucify him!!!"
"What wrong has he committed!?!" Pilate exclaimed, fists clenching and unclenching in exasperation.
"He made himself the Son of God!!!" The angry cry came from the crowd.
Kat watched as something like fear flickered over Pilate's face as he turned quickly to Jesus. "He should believe them," she whispered, half to herself and half to her Guardian. "He should know that it is true. No one could look in those eyes and not know."
"He has free will," her Guardian said softly, sadly. "Just like you, he can turn his head away and let it happen."
Kat bit her lip, digging her fingernails into her palms in an effort to keep from crying as she watched Pilate approach Jesus. The praetor's eyes were alight with anger and nervous fear.
"Where do you come from?" Pilate hissed, circling Jesus.
There was no answer.
"Will you not speak to me!?" Pilate cried, jaw clenched. "Do you not know that I have the power to release you, and I have the power to crucify you!!!"
Jesus looked up slowly, meeting Pilate's eyes. "You would have no power over me," he said quietly," if it were not given to you from above. For this reason, the one who handed me over to you has committed the greater sin."
Pilate stumbled as he backed quickly away, unable to look away from the penetrating gaze. His breath rasped loudly in his throat for a moment before he found his voice. "Release him," he whispered. "Release him, now. Release him!"
Kat exclaimed with joy as the guards leapt forward to undue the bonds.
"No!" The chief priest screamed. "No! Crucify him!!! We want Barabass!!! Crucify him!!! Crucify him!!! Crucify him!!!"
"No!" Kat cried, but it was too late as the crowd began to cry Jesus's death. "No! Pilate, you can't!!!"
"Any man," said the chief priest, glaring," who makes himself a king is no friend of Caesar. If you release him, you are no friend of Caesar."
Pilate's eyes darted back and forth between the silent Jesus and the screaming crowd, seeing that they were ready to riot. It was about noon. He turned his back on the crowd and stared at Jesus, who did not meet his eyes.
"Water," Pilate said, holding up a hand to halt his soldiers. "Bring me water!"
A bowl of water was brought, and Pilate washed his hands before the crowd. "I wash my hands of this matter," he cried, holding his dripping hands high. "I am innocent of the blood of this man, the responsibility is yours!!!"
"Then let his blood be upon us and upon our children," cried the chief priest, and the other roared their approval.
Pilate turned to the nearest soldier, avoiding looking at Jesus. "Crucify him."
"NO!!!" Kat screamed. She leapt forward before her guardian could react and threw her arms around Jesus. "No, you can't die! I won't let you! You can't die," she held him tight, weeping. "Please Jesus, if you love me, don't do this to me. . ."
"Kat," Jesus said. "Kat, do not ask that of me. Would you truly condemn me to a eternity without you, when I could have saved you? It is my burden, but I bear it gladly. Do not weep, my child, joy cometh in the morning. I will pay your debt, and after that, it is your choice. If you truly do not want eternity by my side, then I will not force it on you."
"Oh Jesus," Kat wept. "I don't want you to die. I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry. . ."
"I know," the Lord said, as the guards took his arms. "I know."
Kat could feel all the strength leaving her as she watched him walk away. "He is going to die," she told her guardian softly as he laid hands on her shoulders. "He's going to die."
"For God so loved the world," the angel said softly. "Come Kat, I will take you back to John. . ."
author's note: rather short.