Part 1 is here.

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“The Court will rise for the honorable Judge Perry presiding in the case of The State vs Sophie Harris.” The bailiff announces. Sophie is seated uncomfortably on the bench, her hands cuffed behind her back, and before she can stand she feels one of the guards by her side tug harshly at her arms, pulling her to her feet in an undignified and painful lurch.
Grunting with discomfort, she tries to contain her annoyance. She glances around the small courtroom, the gallery filled with a mix of strangers as well as people she knows. Her immediate family are here, and some of her friends - but also students she recognizes from some of her classes - even one of her professors. She flushes with the humiliation at being presented in court this way, barefoot, her wrists shackled behind her back.
Even the long sleeved linen smock she wears that signifies one accused of crimes against public virtue seems to her to be calculated to maximize her indignity. Its rows of small fasteners down each sleeve and down one side enable it to be put on or taken off her without removing her cuffs. Accustomed to a life of careful modesty, she is constantly aware that, denied a bra and with her shoulders pulled back behind her the dress reveals both the motion of her breasts when she moves, and the distinct shape of her nipples when they tighten.
“The Court may be seated - the defendant will remain standing.” The judge states flatly, his tone a mixture of tedium and contempt. “Miss Harris - to the charges of sexual immorality, fornication, and contributing to the corruption of an upstanding Christian man, how do you plead?”
Sophie stares for a moment, not quite able to comprehend the reality of her plight. She blinks in confusion, glancing at the sea of faces eagerly watching her, trying to process the judge’s words, before stammering her reply. “N-not guilty Your Honor.”
She tries to stand tall, hoping to convey a pious dignity as she hears the ripple of whispered conversation at her plea. She was advised by her council not to contest her charges - to confess and throw herself at the mercy of the court - but the prospect of the likely punishment was too appalling for her to contemplate.
The judge sighs, shaking his head slightly. “Very well. The court will hear the opening statement from the prosecution.”
——
Bowing his head slightly towards the judge as he stands, the prosecuting attorney walks to the front of the court. “Your honor, ladies and gentlemen - the State’s case is simple and straightforward. I will present direct evidence and eyewitness testimony that the defendant is guilty of multiple counts of sexual immorality. Her crimes include indulging her own depraved and lustful urges; and also of dragging one Mr Thomas Fairmont, a Christian and churchman in good standing, into her debauched wickedness.”
Pausing to gauge the impact of his statement, the prosecuting attorney glances around the room. Sophie’s brow furrows slightly at the collective looks of disapproval on the faces of the crowd, and for a moment she meets the gaze of her quietly sobbing mother sitting at the back of the courtroom, a black gauze veil indicating her grief and shame.
The attorney lets his gaze rest on Sophie, her face red with anger at his smug tone, furious at the slight smirk on his lips as he looks at her. “Your Honor the prosecution calls its first witness, Inquisitor Jenkins.”
The Inquisitor stands, raising her hand as she swears the oath. Sophie stares, surprised that the inquisitor is giving testimony. Her defense attorney had assured her that the inquisitor would not be in court.
“Inquisitor, did you question the defendant on the 9th July of this year?”
“Yes. I did.” The woman replies, a solemn tone in her voice.
“And could you summarize your findings for the court?”
“I subjected the defendant to a standard interrogation, during which she confessed to experiencing lustful and corrupt cravings. She confessed to succumbing to those temptations - specifically to pleasuring herself by touching her breasts and by fingering her vulva.”
The courtroom ripples with scandalized whispering, and Sophie is shocked at the woman’s words. She looks around the room in horror for her defense attorney, but the man shakes his head in response to the silent question in her eyes, indicating that he does not intend to object.
The inquisitor continues. “She admitted that she knew that a woman’s sexual desire is one way that God communicates his intention for her to marry and bear children, but instead the defendant willingly chose to subvert God’s plan for her, preferring to wallow in her wickedness and sin.”
“No!” Sophie calls out in protest. “Your Honor - that’s not true! That’s not what happened!”. Her breath feels short in her tight chest, the edges of her vision blurring as she feels faint with fear.
“Silence Miss Harris!” The Judge calls out in anger. “You will be silent or face court sanction.”
Sophie fumes at the injustice, aware of the gazes of the spectators who are enjoying her humiliation, the indignity of the prosecuting attorney’s complacent smile almost too much for her to bear.
“Was there anything else, Inquisitor?” The prosecutor says, looking sharply at Sophie.
“Yes Sir.” The woman says quietly. “She further confessed to forcing Mr Thomas Fairmont to fornicate with her. She caused him to desecrate her, and also himself, pleasuring herself lasciviously in ways intended to ease her God-given desires for marital intercourse.”
“I see. Thank you. Does the defense have any questions for the witness?” The judge asks.
“Yes Your Honor.” Sophie’s lawyer states, standing, nodding reassuringly at Sophie.
“Inquisitor Jenkins, how many interrogations have you carried out in your career?” Sophie’s attorney asks.
The woman pauses in thought. “Over 700, Sir.” She replies.
“Oh.” He replies, looking slightly taken aback. “And would you say you have become a good judge of character?”
“Yes Sir, I believe I have a high degree of skill in judging what is in a girl’s heart.”
“And during your interrogation of the defendant what conclusions, if any, did you come to about her state of mind and intent?”
“I came to believe that under her mask of piety and innocence she is, in fact, a slut. It is my professional judgment that she is a brazen temptress burning with lust, who, rather than submitting to marriage, pleasured herself as well as seducing an innocent man to partake in her debauchery.”
The courtroom gasps collectively, Sophie looking in horror at her attorney, who also appears shocked, apparently not receiving the response he was expecting.
“Ah - I-I see.” He stammers. “Erm. But you have no evidence for these conclusions aside from your professional judgment, do you?”
“Sir, I submit to the court the video record of her interrogation containing her confession, but also evidence of her body’s habitual state of arousal. The record will show her lascivious response to the application of stimulation, proving that she is accustomed both to sexual arousal and to receiving release forbidden outside of marriage. In particular I direct the court’s attention to signs of her familiarity with sexual stimulation, including her erect nipples, the immediate and profuse lubrication of her vagina, and her instinctual pelvic thrusting. Indeed even under recorded interrogation she was unable to refrain from begging to be allowed to slake her depraved appetites.”
Sophie’s mouth hangs open in horror as she hears this, a chatter of response erupting in courtroom at the damning testimony. She glares at her attorney, who shrugs apologetically in her direction. “No further questions your honor.”
“You may be seated Inquisitor.” The judge states flatly. “The defendant’s interrogation record will be entered into the court record and will be played after testimony is finished.”
Sophie shakes her head in disbelief, willing herself to remain silent as her face flushes in anger and humiliation at the disastrous performance of her council and the horrifying prospect of the video of her interrogation being played in front of all of these people. Her eyes rest for a moment on the faces of two of her classmates, whispering conspiratorially as they snicker in prurient interest at her plight.
“No! Your honor! You agreed that the interrogation would not be entered into the public record!” Sophie protests.
“Silence, Slut!” The Judge shouts. “If I hear one more outburst from you I will order you gagged for the rest of the hearing.”
She feels her body shake in terror, her skin clammy and cold, as the prosecuting attorney stands once more, smiling cruelly at her as she glares back impotently.
“Your Honor the prosecution calls Mr Thomas Fairmont as a witness.” Sophie feels her head swim as Thomas is sworn in, frightened that she might faint at the prospect of the man she loves giving testimony against her.
“Mr Fairmont.” The attorney begins. “Are you a deacon of First Baptist Church, and a practicing Christian?”
“Yes Sir.” Thomas mumbles uncomfortably, gazing at his shoes.
“And can you describe what your relationship with the defendant was in June of this year?”
“Yes Sir.” He mumbles quietly. “I-I was - I mean that is to say that we - we were courting, Sir.”
“And what does ‘courting’ in a Christian context mean to you, Mr Fairmont?”
“I-I mean - I never meant to - I didn’t want to - she -”
“Take your time Mr Fairmont. I know this is difficult. I would remind you that you are the victim here, and that you are not accused of any wrongdoing here.” Sophie gasps in shock, her face flushed with anger as her eyes drill into Thomas, incredulous at this exchange.
“We would sit together in church Sir, and I would call on her to have tea with her and her family Sir. I had asked her father for her hand in marriage.”
“And what did he say when you asked, Mr Fairmont?”
“He said - he said that she was not ready to commit to marriage while she was still studying.”
“I see. And did you talk with Miss Harris about this?”
“Yes Sir. I asked her to reconsider. I-I wanted us to be married but she said that she loved me but was not ready for marriage.”
“And Mr Fairmont, did Miss Harris ever conspire for the two of you to be alone and unchaperoned?”
Thomas’s eyes briefly dart up, meeting Sophie’s burning gaze for a moment before returning to the ground. “Y-yes Sir. She did.”
“And what happened on those occasions Mr Fairmont?”
“She - she - erm. It was - it was in her bedroom Sir. She - she lay down on her bed and caused me to lay down beside her Sir. I-I tried to resist Sir but she kissed me, and she pulled me in close to her. Sir she was afire with passion - I tried not to but she insisted Sir.”
“I know that it is difficult Mr Fairmont, but I need you to describe for the court what she did to you.”
“She said - she said that she wanted for us to be married in time, but that we needed to wait for her to finish college. She said that since we were engaged God wouldn’t mind us - erm - that it would be ok for us to ease the longings of our flesh as long as we did not lie with each other as man and wife.”
Sophie shakes her head, incredulous - unable to believe that Thomas would betray her in this way.
“I see - and did you agree with her on this?”
“N-no Sir - of course not Sir. I’m sorry Sir I knew it was a sin Sir, but she insisted.”
“That’s alright Mr Fairmont. What did she do to you?”
“She - she kissed me, and she pulled my body against hers. She rubbed her body against mine while she kissed my mouth, and then she - she took my hand Sir. She took it and she pressed it against her breasts.”
“Tell me - did her body show any physical signs of her lust?”
“Yes Sir. I-I could feel her hunger, I could feel the nubs of her breasts stand to attention under under her dress.”
“And what happened then Mr Fairmont?”
“I - I felt my manhood rise, and she pressed her body against it and she moaned in her sinfulness. She pulled up the hem of her dress, and then she took my hand in hers and she put it - she - she made me touch her - down here - inside her panties Sir.”
“Order!” The judge calls out, silencing the shocked gasp and scandalized chatter of the courtroom at this development.
Sophie begins to sob, her head hung low, unable to bear the public humiliation and shame of Thomas’s betrayal.
“And then Mr Fairmont - what did she make you do?”
“She-she made me touch her Sir. I remember her - her cuny Sir - it - it was wet Sir. She made me stroke her while she reveled in her carnal lust. I-I tried to stop Sir but she used her hand to make me pleasure her with my fingers until she cried out in delight and I felt her body convulse with the wages of her sin Sir.
“We’re nearly done, Mr Fairmont. I’m sorry to have to put you through this. I have to ask you though - did she try to cause you to spill your seed?”
“Erm - y-yes Sir. She put her hand on my - on my member Sir. I told her not to but she did it anyway. I told her to stop but she wouldn’t. I tried to stop her but she - I mean I - I.”
“That’s enough Mr Fairmont I’m sure the judge does not need to be subjected to any more details about her sinful debauchery.” He turns to the judge, a beatific query on his face.
“No!” Sophie cries out - no longer able to hold back her outrage. “Please! No! That’s not how it happened! Thomas please why? Please! Your Honor! You must allow me to respond! Please Your Honor!”
“Silence slut!” The judge shouts in angry response. “You will not dishonor this court any more with your whorish wickedness. Guards - you will fit her with a bridal!”
“No! No please!” Sophie calls out once more as the two guards on either side of her tug her roughly down onto the bench, the sudden violence silencing her as the wind is knocked out of her.
“Open your mouth, slut.” One guard sneers, producing a metal device whose purpose she immediately understands. She cries out in fear as he turns to stand over her, one knee pushing between her legs, pinning her slender body in place beneath him as the other guard holds her head.
“No! No please! I’m sorry! I’ll be silent I promise! You don’t need to do this please! Nooo!” Her cries are stifled by the guard’s rough hand as he pinches her cheeks between his finger and thumb, forcing her mouth open as the other thrusts the metal cage between her jaws. She can hear the crowd’s laughter and jeers as she instinctively resists, struggling uselessly as she tries to eject the intruder from her mouth.
Grunting in humiliation and pain, she glares helplessly into the guard’s laughing face as he pushes down on the ratchet, the metal device relentlessly forcing her jaw open despite her resistance. Stepping back from her, the guard chuckles softly at her predicament. Powerless, her hands shackled behind her and her mouth held open in an uncomfortable and comical leer. She fumes at the injustice, her anger overcoming her fear, grunting and stamping one foot on the floor in a last attempt to protest.
“Silence!” The judge calls, and the room comes to order. “Now - if there is one more disruption from you young lady I will have you stripped and exposed for contempt. Defense Council - do you have any cross examination?”
“Yes Your Honor.” The man says, shaking his head in disapproval at Sophie. “Mr Fairmont - have received a plea arrangement from the court shielding you from prosecution for your involvement in this fornication in return for your testimony?”
“Y-yes Sir. Thomas mutters.
“And what are the terms of that agreement Mr Thomas?”
“I- I mean. Sir - I am to have two years of probation with spiritual supervision from a senior churchman, and I am to marry within the month Sir.”
“And you agreed to marry Miss Harris even after all this?” Sophie looks up at Thomas, a spark of hope in her confused mind.
“Erm - no Sir. I mean - no - I am to marry Miss Caldwell Sir. I - I mean - her father and I have discussed it and I am grateful that he is willing to forgive my sins if I am truly penitent Sir. Which I am Sir. Penitent I mean.”
Sophie’s heart sinks, a darkness of despair clouding her vision as she spots her dear friend Hannah Caldwell in the gallery, her black dress and bonnet lending an air of solemnity that her smug smile belays. The pain of the betrayal is too much, and she begins to sob loudly, tears falling down her face, her cheeks swollen and flushed.
“Oh. I see.” The attorney says, a tone of defeat in his voice.
“Yes. That’s quite enough.” The judge interrupts. “If there are no more witnesses we will end testimony, and I will give sentence after we have reviewed the record of her interrogation.”
“Yes Your Honor.” The defense attorney says quietly. “My client would like to offer her sincere apologies for her disgraceful and debauched behavior. She understands the harm she has caused to her own moral well being, to Mr Fairmont, and to the community at large by indulging her base and carnal cravings instead of surrendering them to God and her husband in marriage. She sincerely regrets her disgusting harlotry, and prostrates herself before the mercy of this court, willingly submitting to whatever penance it might offer.”
“Urgnh!” Sophie cries out in protest, the gag biting cruelly as she tries to object. She lunges forward, attempting to stand as the guards grab her, forcefully holding her down. The crowd crying out in shocked laughter and mocking taunts at her impotent flailing.
——
“That’s quite enough Miss Harris. Guards - bring her forward. Secure her to the post. I won’t tolerate this behavior in my court.”
“Ungh! Ease! Ooh!” Sophie cries uselessly into her cruel gag as the guards haul her to her bare feet. Her face is red with shame and tears as the laughs and jeers of the crowd ring in her ears. Her eyes catch her mother’s sobbing face for a moment, the look of disappointment and grief deepening her own shame.
The guards push her roughly forward towards a metal post at the front of the courtroom. Mounted vertically in the floor beside a basket containing a variety of metal shackles and restraints. One guard tugs at her wrists, clipping her wrist shackles to a ring on the bar, forcing her to bend awkwardly. She looks out at the courtroom, quivering in fear and humiliation at the fate ahead of her.
She watches in horror as one guard picks up a polished metal bar with a shackle on each end,
Her shackles clatter loudly against the bar as she tugs ineffectually at her wrist restraints, flinching as she feels him grasp one of her legs. He clicks the cold metal cuff into position around her slender ankle. “Now spread your legs slut.” He urges. She hears him, but doesn’t - or can’t - seem to understand him.
Shivering, she shakes her head, not so much in defiance as in confusion. He leers at her, bringing one of his big hands up to her crotch and groping her lewdly. “I said spread your legs, slut.” The crowd roars with laughter as she squeals and struggles, her body desperately pushing against the unyielding metal post, unable to escape the sickening violation of his meaty fingers as the other guard grasps her free ankle, wrenching her feet wide apart before securing her in the spreader bar.
Panting in shock and fear, she looks up at the courtroom, her predicament granting her a better view of the gallery than previously. She sees her father sitting on the men’s, solemn in his sorrow, and her older sister, married a two-year and already heavy with her second child and unable to conceal her horror at her sister’s fate.
Giving the crowd a moment to settle, the judge speaks again. “Sophie Harris. I hereby give sentence on you before God and this court. To the counts of sexual immorality, I find you guilty. You have polluted your own flesh and willfully indulged your carnal hunger in a disgraceful afront to Man and God.
Sophie shakes in her awkward restraints, her anger, fear, and humiliation boiling inside her. “To the charges of fornication, I find you guilty. You have sinned against man and God by taking what is reserved by God for a woman and her lawful husband. And to the charges of contributing to the corruption of an upstanding Christian man, I find you guilty. You have tempted and abused this otherwise virtuous man. I commend him for his strength and integrity, and fully believe that God and this congregation will find it in their heart to forgive him and strengthen his resolve to live a good and Christian life within the blessed covenant of his marriage.”
Sophie grunts in disappointed outrage at the judge’s pronouncement, shaking her head in impotent objection. “Sophie Harris, I sentence you to be taken from this place to the Correctional Institute, where you will remain for such time as its duly appointed staff may require to place you in community service, in service to a Christian household, or in a breeding farm. In any respect, your sentence shall run until the date of your 45th birthday, or until you God grants that you are unable to bear children, at which point you may be eligible to apply for parole.”
Panic rises in Sophie’s chest as she renews her useless struggles, unable to believe her sentence. The thought of spending the next 25 years in servitude and of being forced to bear children again and again is too much for her to bear. She slumps, her shackles biting cruelly, forcing her to straighten even as she sobs in defeat. Her jaw aches, the gag prying her mouth open, making her helpless to stop herself from drooling on her defenseless body as she listens in numbed horror to the chatters and jeers of the gallery.
“Furthermore Miss Harris, for your disgraceful behavior in my courtroom, and your disrespect and contempt for these just proceedings, I sentence you to be exposed, and to receive the scorn of those you have offended here today.”
The crowd erupts, some in animated excitement and some in shock at the judges words. “Bailiff - you will play for the court the video of the prisoner’s interrogation, and supervise the community’s scorning. After she is stripped naked, and beginning with immediate family, each person here will approach the prisoner and may denounce her, spit upon her, or otherwise scorn her in such a manner as they feel called.”