THE TRIAL
When the applause stops, I step to the microphone and wait until all the men in cages focus on me. Raising my hand, I signal to George and he wheels a cart onto the stage. Knives of various sizes and utilities cover the top of the cart and I scan the assortment of tools before turning to the men behind me.
"The eight men you see on the stage are what remain from a much larger group. There were Gamer Gate supporters, Men's Rights Activists, and some were..." I pause and smile. "Some were Republicans."
The crowd jeers and throws objects at the glass wall separating the stage from the seating area. I watch George exit the stage before I raise my hand once more for silence.
"I know, the horror. Republicans in Holden Farms? Not on my fucking watch."
A roar fills the auditorium, making the hair rise on the back of my neck. "But, these eight prisoners aren't on trial for being Gamer Gate supporters or even that dastardly crime of registering as a Republican."
Taking the remote George gave me into my hands, I approach the cage closest to me. "Do you know why you're on trial?"
Without a pause, the man answers, "I post anti-feminist rants on the internet."
A chorus of boos rains down onto the stage. Moving to the next prisoner, I repeat my question.
"I voted for George W. Bush. Twice."
Laughter erupts from the corner of the stage and I wink at Ana as she tries to compose herself. The emerald green dress she wears sparkles in the stage lighting and I can't help admire her beauty. Shaking the distraction from my mind, I return my attention to the prisoners.
"As ghastly as that is...you are not on trial for that. No, you are all on trial for one reason - you are all rapists."
Silence falls over the crowd while I kneel to lower my face to the level of the next prisoner. "Do you know the function of the third button on this remote?"
"No..." he stammers.
Looking over my shoulder, I watch the women moving forward out of the seats and pressing against the stage.
"It lowers the glass."
The man shows no recognition that he understands my meaning. Behind us, hands pound the glass and screams fill the room. Lifting my arm, I signal to George and the music begins to play.
I press my mouth against the cage and sing to the man. "Blood will follow blood, dying time is here..."
Ana walks onto the stage and unlocks each of the cages. Following close behind her, Saul pulls the men free and throws the men, one by one, in front of the glass enclosure. Holding the remote high in the air, I close my eyes and let the music pulse in my veins.
"The verdict is GUILTY." I open my eyes and stare down at the men in front of me. "I sentence you all to death."
I press the button and the glass disappears into the opening in the stage. Women rush forward, grabbing at the weapons on the cart. Screams mix with the music when the women reach the pile of prisoners at the front of the stage. Blood covers my vision and I almost miss one man managing to crawl from the pile of bodies, making a path towards the stage exit.
Saul, Ana, and I watch the man leave a trail of blood, pulling his body forward with the one arm that functions. Ana smiles and lifts her eyes towards the exit. Waiting is a small figure wearing a white dress stained with blood. Charles stands next the girl with his arms locked behind his back. When the man reaches the feet of the girl, she pulls a long thin sword from a hidden sheath.
The screams from the stage end and all eyes watch the girl remove the hood covering her face. Mary Holden lifts the sword high into the air.
"I didn't do anything. She...is wrong. I didn't rape anyone." The man says, trying to point at me with his broken bloody stump of an arm.
Mary smiles and swings the sword, severing his leg at the knee. The man's screams bring a cheer from the crowd of women watching. Writhing in agony, the man places his hand on Charles and tries to lift himself.
"Are you suggesting the Master of Holden Farms is lying?" Charles asks the prisoner.
"No, yes...I didn't rape her..." he manages to say between screams.
Mary places the blade against his neck and the room becomes silent. "I have bad news for you. I don't care."
Swinging the sword, Mary severs the man's head from the body and laughs when it rolls along the stage. Saul stomps on the head, crushing it and the entire room erupts in delirious cheers.
"The eight men you see on the stage are what remain from a much larger group. There were Gamer Gate supporters, Men's Rights Activists, and some were..." I pause and smile. "Some were Republicans."
The crowd jeers and throws objects at the glass wall separating the stage from the seating area. I watch George exit the stage before I raise my hand once more for silence.
"I know, the horror. Republicans in Holden Farms? Not on my fucking watch."
A roar fills the auditorium, making the hair rise on the back of my neck. "But, these eight prisoners aren't on trial for being Gamer Gate supporters or even that dastardly crime of registering as a Republican."
Taking the remote George gave me into my hands, I approach the cage closest to me. "Do you know why you're on trial?"
Without a pause, the man answers, "I post anti-feminist rants on the internet."
A chorus of boos rains down onto the stage. Moving to the next prisoner, I repeat my question.
"I voted for George W. Bush. Twice."
Laughter erupts from the corner of the stage and I wink at Ana as she tries to compose herself. The emerald green dress she wears sparkles in the stage lighting and I can't help admire her beauty. Shaking the distraction from my mind, I return my attention to the prisoners.
"As ghastly as that is...you are not on trial for that. No, you are all on trial for one reason - you are all rapists."
Silence falls over the crowd while I kneel to lower my face to the level of the next prisoner. "Do you know the function of the third button on this remote?"
"No..." he stammers.
Looking over my shoulder, I watch the women moving forward out of the seats and pressing against the stage.
"It lowers the glass."
The man shows no recognition that he understands my meaning. Behind us, hands pound the glass and screams fill the room. Lifting my arm, I signal to George and the music begins to play.
I press my mouth against the cage and sing to the man. "Blood will follow blood, dying time is here..."
Ana walks onto the stage and unlocks each of the cages. Following close behind her, Saul pulls the men free and throws the men, one by one, in front of the glass enclosure. Holding the remote high in the air, I close my eyes and let the music pulse in my veins.
"The verdict is GUILTY." I open my eyes and stare down at the men in front of me. "I sentence you all to death."
I press the button and the glass disappears into the opening in the stage. Women rush forward, grabbing at the weapons on the cart. Screams mix with the music when the women reach the pile of prisoners at the front of the stage. Blood covers my vision and I almost miss one man managing to crawl from the pile of bodies, making a path towards the stage exit.
Saul, Ana, and I watch the man leave a trail of blood, pulling his body forward with the one arm that functions. Ana smiles and lifts her eyes towards the exit. Waiting is a small figure wearing a white dress stained with blood. Charles stands next the girl with his arms locked behind his back. When the man reaches the feet of the girl, she pulls a long thin sword from a hidden sheath.
The screams from the stage end and all eyes watch the girl remove the hood covering her face. Mary Holden lifts the sword high into the air.
"I didn't do anything. She...is wrong. I didn't rape anyone." The man says, trying to point at me with his broken bloody stump of an arm.
Mary smiles and swings the sword, severing his leg at the knee. The man's screams bring a cheer from the crowd of women watching. Writhing in agony, the man places his hand on Charles and tries to lift himself.
"Are you suggesting the Master of Holden Farms is lying?" Charles asks the prisoner.
"No, yes...I didn't rape her..." he manages to say between screams.
Mary places the blade against his neck and the room becomes silent. "I have bad news for you. I don't care."
Swinging the sword, Mary severs the man's head from the body and laughs when it rolls along the stage. Saul stomps on the head, crushing it and the entire room erupts in delirious cheers.
