The device looks ominous sitting in the dark corner. I could smell the rotting wood and grease on the gears. This device is going to be used to torture me to pull a confession from me. My crime is questioning the church and their teachings to the children of our village.

The device consisted of a table made of wood. There are worn ropes that run from two sets of pullies, one at the head and one at the feet. The ropes are strapped tightly around the ankles and wrists. The long wooden wheel, which the torurer is going to turn to pull my body. At first it will feel good but eventually it will start pulling my arms and legs out of their joints. The cracking of bones and the screams that will become horrendous. I must figure a way to get out of this and quick.

The priest walks into the room and begins praying. The executioner is next and wearing a dark hood where I can only see his eyes. and mouth. Those eyes are familiar to me because it is not a he but my wife Sheila. We had paid off the original man who was suppose to handle the torture so she could take his place.

The priest walked closer to me. I could smell the hypocracy on the man; and began to smile as he began yelling at me “Confess. Confess now and maybe your sould can be saved.” With all of his ranting and cursing he didn’t hear Sheila walk up behind him and raise the knife and say “You son of a bitch.” and the knife came down with a thud into the back of the man who was asking me to repent.

The priest fell to the floor in screams of pain. My wife jumped on top of him and repeatedly thrust the knife into the back of the man as he attempted to escape his most certain death. Finally there was silence and she untied me. We embraced each other in a loving embrace and kissed. “

"My dear you were amazing.” I said as we both looked down at the man lying on the floor. “We must get out of here now. Put your hood back on and tell the guards you are taking me back to my cell; and then tell them the priest wished to pray in silence. We can then escape out through the tunnel beneath my cell I dug.”

Throwing her mask on we walked out of the torture chamber. I looked as though I might fall over while my wife dragged my body to my cell, they figured I was a broken man and would be back tomorrow for some more re-education. When we got to my cell I pulled back a block in the wall and we both escaped through the tunnel I had dug to the outside of the prison.

“We will be on the run for the rest of our lives my dear.” I told her, “As long as I’m with you I don’t care we must go.” She said and we ran out of the city never to return.