The Stockade

“Go to it.” He said in a coaxing voice.

Immediately, my instincts were screaming. I can’t do this!

I knew what happened to people in the stocks.

They were left out in public. Forced to be bent at the waist or on their knees. Their neck and wrists pinned between the notched wood and locked closed. And sometimes cruel people threw rotten food at them and persecuted them for whatever crime had led them to be there.

Or for simple entertainment.

It looked painful on one’s body to be in that position for so long. Terrifying to be locked in. And horrifying to have the indignity of being made into a public mockery.

The last thing I wanted was to be in that thing.

“Do you know what it’s for?” Mathis asked me darkly.

“Public shaming.” My voice sounded choked even to my own ears.

“You, who are so afraid of feeling shame.” He chuckled. “What an exciting experience, aye?”

Exciting was the furthest thing from my mind. Terrifying.

He was starting to circle me like a hungry vulture. His ch