By Johnny Utah
Based on a suggestion by MetalbondNYC
Note: This is the final chapter. To start at the very beginning, click here.
The stocks sat in the middle of a sandy, sun-baked clearing, surrounded by big green old Army style tents and a few plywood buildings with tin roofs. Sweat was pouring into my eyes as I shuffled over to a low platform with two tall vertical posts and two cross members with holes cut in them for my head and arms. What had I got myself into!
A gorilla-sized guard of this hellhole pointed at me and said, “OK, shithead, this can go easy or I can go and get ten of my buddies and fuck you up for life, got it?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“You stay still while I get these chains off you.”
“Yes, Sir.”
I was unshackled and uncuffed.
“Put yer boots in the there.”
I dropped my booted feet into the half circles on the platform. A plank with another two half circles dropped in over my boots. My feet were trapped. In front of me was a crosspiece with cut-outs for my head and arms.