Warning; Scenes of an execution, dark humor, and a horrible pun.

“McClain!”

The voice of Jailor. He’s always nice to me, except when he can’t be. This the last time I will hear Jailors voice, and its in his command voice. Good. Nothing else suits him. I stand up.

“You’ve seen me do it before McClain. Back to the bars.”

They tie the rope around my hands. It was… uncomfortable. But, my comfort is not their concern. Jailor made it his concern, but no one else would. Or could. I cannot blame them.

“Right. Walk forward, keep your back to us.”

I follow without pause. There are two things I’m good at. Following orders, and thinking. I’m smart. I know that there would be nearly thirty ways for me to escape during the procession. I wouldn’t follow them. No point. Besides, the good people came to see a man die today. No need to disappoint them.

The walk up, and turn me around. I’m surrounded, no way to escape till the cell door. And there it is. I could kill one man, and knock out the jailor and his other help. No problem. I don’t. I am resigned to my fate. Besides, there is only one thing I could do that would surprise them. Go through with it. And that’s what I will do.

I walk the last mile. Jailor beings to speak.

“I’ve followed your instructions. If you want to postpone the execution with this, it won’t work.”

I shake my head. Jailor can be so silly at times.

“I do not fear death. Do you want the truth? I’m curious. Curious to see what will happen. Will I see a bright light, then be cast to hell forever? Will I be accepted into the kingdom? Will I be reborn as a snail? The son of a rich businessman? Only one way to find out.”

Jailor buys that. Of course he will. He knows me. We were friends, before I was sentenced. But even then, he was Jailor. Never anyone else, because Jailor is all Jailor can be.

“There is a priest. If you have any questions or want a prayer, you can ask him.”

I blink. This must be a formality. He knows I don’t believe, only that I don’t discount. I shrug. I pause.