The Judge's Discipline
by Megan Jones
For the last twenty minutes the silence in the Judge's office had been almost palpable. The constant clicking of the ballpoint pen stretching the two watching peoples' nerves to screaming point. Judge Carson's face grimly perused the official documents in front of him; Lucy watching him, scarcely breathing or blinking, her body and jaw aching with tension and dread. Had she turned to look at her friend and lawyer, Marcus, she would have seen the same expression mirrored in his face. She might have seen the tiny frown between his eyebrows and certain look of resigned trepidation in the eyes that were fixed on the floor.
The silence of the pen clicking signalled that the long wait was over. Judge Carson cleared his throat, stared sternly into Lucy's face and began to speak.
"It's glaringly clear to me that none of the past penalties that have been imposed on you have had no effect whatsoever. In fact I'm of the opinion that you view them as a minor inconvenience and not the punishment or deterrent for which they are meant. For the short time you have been driving, you have managed to violate most of the laws in this State but this last incident beggars belief. Challenging down coming barriers on a rail crossing because you were running late for hair appointment; endangering the lives of the passengers in the oncoming train, as well as your own, is an extremely serious offence, it was only sheer good fortune that you managed to escape a catastrophe. This thoughtless, irresponsible and dangerous behaviour will not be tolerated, you are a danger to yourself and the general public" The Judge paused for a few seconds, then after glancing at Marcus who suddenly knew what he was going to say, continued. " I have given this case much thought and my first judgement was a year's jail sentence. However, I've decided on alternative penalty which I think will be far more effective" Lucy's face had blanched at the words "jail sentence" but had given a sigh of relief at the Judge's words.
"I think you'll find the relief you feel very short lived when you hear what I have decided on. You will be summoned to the Judicial Correction Unit where you will submit to punishment for this heinous offence. Be prepared to spend a full day there. Do not be foolish enough to think that you will be receiving counselling or psychotherapy, the staff there do not care about your past roblems or upbringing, they will ensure that your future behaviour will improve with their own echniques. I will leave these techniques to be explained by your lawyer. Should you decide against this cause of action, a warrant for your arrest will follow and the jail sentence will be imposed.
Alternatively a letter will be sent to you with the date and time of your visit to the unit. Do not, Miss Meadows, consider a sudden holiday, illness or disappearance. I will find you. I will expect a decision by six o'clock tonight. With these parting words, Judge Carson gave Marcus a curt nod, gathered his papers and left the office. A deathly silence remained.
Lucy looked at Marcus who was trying to avoid eye contact and the questions he could see were hovering on Lucy's lips. "What did he mean?" She asked.
"There's a bar over the road, it should be fairly quiet at this time of day. Grab your bag and let's go" he told her.
"So I need a drink to hear this?"
"Not here, Lucy, I'll explain later"
The bar was quiet, Marcus bought Lucy her usual white wine and a beer for himself. He used this bar regularly and knew there was a small walled area in the back that catered for the smoking customers. He decided that this area would be the best place to enlighten Lucy and with a bit of luck it should be empty. It was.
Sitting on the wooden bench, Lucy watched Marcus swallow nearly half of his drink in one go.
"Needed that, did you?" She commented
"Just a bit"
Lucy waited.
"Are you going to tell me, Marcus, I'm getting scared"
Marcus took a deep breath wishing that he was a million miles away and started to speak.
"About two years ago an alternative solution was introduced to deal with the rise in the minor crime rate. Shoplifting, drunken behaviour etc,etc. The usual penalties were proving to be ineffective so some politician decided that a return to other methods might be the answer. Well, it has been, the rate has dropped by sixty percent and it's saved boat loads of money."
"Go on, what is this "alternative solution?"
"Corporal Punishment."
Lucy knew Marcus to be a bit of a joker. There wasn't a sign of humour in his face now.
"You must be joking, it can't be legal!" she whispered, horrified.
"It is, what you did, Lucy, isn't legal."
"My God! This is the choice? Jail or Corporal Punishment?"
Marcus nodded. He couldn't feel sorry for her, this last escapade was the final straw, he'd witnessed her driving skills first hand and had been terrified. She was a lunatic behind a wheel.
Lucy didn't speak, her brain wouldn't function. So Marcus continued.
"Offenders who have been punished at the unit were interviewed a couple of weeks later because the government wanted to know if it had been successful as a deterrent and if it would be a permanent measure. They all said that they wouldn't want to endure the humiliation ever again. I'm sorry but you need to know."
Lucy nodded. She could see that he was uncomfortable and slightly embarrassed having to tell her. She had a sudden feeling that there was more to come.
"How do they do it?" I mean on what part of the body? Back? Legs?"
Marcus blushed and shook his head.Lucy suddenly felt slightly sick.
"Not on the bottom? Like a child? God Almighty, never, never never, that's archaic. That's humiliating!"
"Yep, that's the idea."
"I suppose it's on the bare bottom, too?" Lucy replied with more than a touch of sarcasm.
"Yep, that goes without saying."
Lucy stared at Marcus with sheer disbelief. Words failed her, sudden realisation of her untenable situation made her body slump and tears came to her eyes.
"Oh God, Marcus, what am I going to do. I can't go to jail, I'll have a record"
"I can't tell you what to do. Taking a day off for your court appearance today wasn't a problem. Disappearing for a year won't be as easy. Plus, your employers won't be overjoyed having a trainee accountant with a prison record, will they?"
"I can't be spanked, like a child! Would you?"
"Yes, if it kept me out of jail.Can't think of anything worse than being locked away but that's just my opinion"
Lucy didn't answer, just stared into her drink thinking about Marcus' words. The minutes ticked by, Marcus watched the expressions on Lucy's face and knew he would need an answer very soon.
Eventually she looked up and spoke. "If I go to the unit, will you come with me?"
Marcus almost laughed. "It's a judicial unit, the same as a prison, I can't. I'll take you and pick you up afterwards and stay with you if you want me to?"
Lucy nodded and smiled her thanks.
"You'll survive, Luce, it's only one day and nobody will know, it's all very confidential, it'll soon be over and you can get on with your life"
Lucy just stared at him.
They made desultory small talk for half an hour, both carefully avoiding any further mention of her decision until Marcus drove her back to her flat and then to his office to telephone Judge Carson.
The letter arrived two days later. No bolt of lightning or clap of thunder heralded its arrival, just her usual postman who needed her signature for the inoffensive looking envelope. Two cups of strong black coffee later, Lucy steeled herself and opened it. Inside were four pieces of paper, the first two were stapled together. The third was a medical questionnaire that Required her to divulge any medication, illnesses or conditions she may be suffering from. The last two wanted to know if she was pregnant or would be menstruating on the day of the punishment. A positive answer would postpone the her visit to a later date. Lucy filled it in, quickly, "no" being the answer to all of them. "Aren't I a lucky, lucky girl to be so fit and well" she muttered to herself. She picked up the first two, sat down and started to read.
It gave her the date: Tuesday the 21st, six days ahead. It then went on to acknowledge Lucy's decision to choose this option instead of a prison sentence. A short paragraph explaining the how long the unit had been opened and why. It's success in the rehabilitation of minor criminals and the drop in the crime rate was impressive. Humiliation, they found, was the key factor in this and not the actual spanking. Apparently shame was remembered, not the pain. At the end of the second page, Lucy was advised to wear loose comfortable clothing, leave all valuables at home and to arrange transport to and from the unit. She was also advised to allow herself two days to recover before returning to the work place.
The last page was far more formal and frightened Lucy to death. It was the consent form which she had to sign and take, along with the medical form. to the unit. It went on to inform her that punctuality was compulsory and that the unit was a judicial building and during her presence there she was a prisoner. Lucy would be informed on the length and severity of her punishment by a unit officer and delivered by the disciplinarian who was on duty that day. Then came the rules. All personnel were to be addressed as "sir" at all times, instructions were to be completed silently, quickly and without discussion or argument. Not to speak unless asked a direct question and swearing or cursing were not allowed. Her conduct would determine whether she left the building a free woman.
Lucy waited until her fingers were steady enough to obey her and then phoned Marcus. The times were arranged and in an appalled voice told him about the advised "recovery time".
"For God's sake, Lucy, they're not going to tickle you with a feather!" A touch of impatience in his voice, "It's a punishment! You might be fine and might not need the two days, just see how it goes. Some people do this for fun, you know, it might open a whole new world for you!
"Oh, very funny. Thanks for that, feel so much better now!" Lucy retorted.
"No problem! Organise the time off work and I'll see you next Tuesday at nine, prompt."
He was prompt and for once Lucy wasn't pleased to see him. Marcus noticed Lucy's choice of clothing: baggy jogging bottoms, slip on sandals and a sweat shirt that would have fitted somebody twice her size. Not her usual trendy self at all and Marcus felt a twinge of sympathy at the sight of her. Not a trace of make up on her face and her hair was tied back with a scrunchy band. The half hour journey was made in complete silence. Lucy appreciated Marcus refraining from patronising her with comforting platitudes, she felt sick with apprehension which wasn't helped by the first site of the Correction Unit building.
Sited on a disused Trading Estate, the one story building had been converted from an old unit, the rest demolished for privacy. Dismal grey walls with barred windows and an entrance equally barred accessed by a keypad intercom. Lucy and Marcus listened for the agonised screams of a poor wretch suffering punishment but heard nothing.
"Must be soundproofed," Marcus thought. He decided that a no-nonsense approach was needed to get Lucy moving.
"Have you got your mobile?" She nodded. "Ring me when you need me to collect you. Go on, Luce. Be brave."
He gave her a quick kiss on her cheek and almost threw her out of the car. He watched her walk up to the barred entrance, and then drove away feeling as if he'd abandoned a family dog.
Lucy pressed the green button on the keypad and very nearly ran off when a disembodied voice barked, "Name?"
"Lucy Meadows, sir" remembering the written instructions.
"When you hear the buzzer, open the gate and stand still."
The gate closed behind her, Lucy was trapped between the gate and the door. A green light flashed above the door and the voice bawled at her again.
"Step through the door, remove the mobile phone from your pocket and place it on the table to your right."
She had passed through a electronic search far more sophisticated than those at any airport.
Lucy removed her phone and put it on the table. Waiting for her was the officer assigned to her case, Carl Brooks, one of the carefully selected men who were chosen from many for this specialised job. Weeks of scrutiny into their employment records and experience in the prison service. Criminal Records Bureau investigation, psychological tests and even their home life was discreetly examined. They had to be above a certain height, strong, physically fit and able to take care of themselves. Carl was all of these and more. He scrutinised the slight girl standing before him, he could choose whether to use the handcuffs hanging from his belt. Looking at her white face and scared eyes, that hadn't moved from his name badge since she entered, decided not to. She wouldn't be any trouble.
"Follow me."
Lucy trotted behind him, stopping when he did in front of a door with another keypad lock. He punched in the code, opened the door and told Lucy to stand in front of the desk. Stark white walls, wooden floor, and a row of grey metal filing cabinets, functional but bleak. Carl sat behind the desk on which there was a highly efficient computer and a telephone. He held out his hand, "You have the two forms?"
Lucy quickly produced the pieces of paper and passed them to him. The medical form was attached to a clipboard, the consent form scanned into the computer.
"Confirm your name, date of birth and address." Carl listened to the whispered details, Lucy was still staring at his chest, she couldn't look at him.
"You read and signed this consent form without duress from any other person?"
"Yes, sir."
"Have you arranged transport home, if you're allowed to leave?"
"Yes, sir."
"Contact number?" he asked. A precaution required to safeguard both the unit and the prisoner.
Lucy gave him Marcus' mobile number.
Carl nodded, typed a few extra details into the computer, saved and printed the document, then filed it away in one of the cabinets. Turning to Lucy he said, " You'll now be taken to Doctor Lucas who will perform a short examination then you'll be prepared for punishment. Follow me."
Lucy forced her trembling legs to move not daring to think what the "preparation" would entail.
Another keypad door opening into another stark white room but this one was a little more menacing.
Bigger room this time. Carl told her to stand and wait for the doctor and not to move, she didn't. Her eyes did. Slowly she scanned the room, studying its contents, noticing that behind her, on the wall, was a row of clothes hooks. To her left was a hand basin with a wall cabinet above, next, a door. From the room beyond, Lucy could hear the sound of movement and the sound of a running tap. A desk was straight in front of her on which Officer Brooks had placed the clipboard and medical form, a telephone was the only other item. Next to this was a doctor's examination bed made up of three sections. The top two sections were flat with steel stirrups attached to the end of the second part. The third section was dropped with a stool placed at the end. A steel instrument trolley stood next to the bed, its contents covered with a white cloth. Finally, in the corner, was a drip stand the same as those used for transfusions in hospitals. So engrossed had she been in her examination of the room, she hadn't heard the doctor enter the room. His voice startled her.
"Lucy Meadows?"
"Yes, sir"
Lucy took him to be about thirty five, thick, fairly long dark hair, dark brown eyes and a carefully trimmed stubble. A handsome man, not as well built as Carl Brooks but no puny individual by any means. He had been chosen for the position for his calm, efficient manner, his softly spoken voice, authoritative but not threatening. His next words, however, knocked the breath from Lucy's body.
"Remove your clothes and hang them on the hooks behind you."
Lucy stared at his back as turned to take a stethoscope from the cabinet above the basin. Her face and body flooded with embarrassment as she swiftly followed his instructions, standing before him completely naked. She wasn't ashamed of her body, slim with pert full breasts, flat stomach and a surprisingly full bottom which was the bane of her life. Her skin was creamy white with soft dark blonde pubic hair. Doctor Lucas placed the stethoscope on her chest then her back, nodded to himself and returned to the cabinet to exchange it for the blood pressure gauge.
Satisfied with the reading Lucy was told to lie on the examination bed. "Place your legs in the stirrups, arms by your side and keep completely still" he instructed in his soft voice.
Lucy scrambled on to the bed feeling her embarrassment rise to a whole new level. When he was satisfied with her position, the doctor locked the stirrups round her ankles. He adjusted the supports, loosening the locks underneath the bed. Lucy felt her legs spreading further open until her pubic area was completely exposed. The stirrups were then locked in place. Doctor Lucas took something from the trolley next to the bed, Lucy couldn't see what it was but it made a buzzing noise. In less than a minute her pubic hair was reduced to a stubble with a small, battery operated trimmer. The soft curls floating gently to the floor. Running warm water into the basin, Doctor Lucas soaked a small towel, wrung out the excess water, folded it and placed it over the shaved area. All this without a word, his face impassive, his movements quick and efficient.
The towel was removed and replaced with a liberal covering of shaving foam. With equal speed her genitals were shaved smooth. Lucy was shocked at the speed it had happened, she had never shaved there in her life. Her legs were released.
"Pull your knees up to your chest."
The few hairs near her anus were quickly removed, the razor thrown in the bin, the cloth in a wash bag after it had been used to wipe Lucy's shaved private parts.
She was beyond embarrassment now, she couldn't even formulate a sensible thought.
"Go to the bottom of the bed, kneel on the stool, place your pelvis on the pad and lay your upper body on the bed."
Doctor Lucas donned a pair of latex gloves and stood behind Lucy.
"Reach back with your hands and spread your bottom cheeks apart."
Lucy felt a thin tube slide into her bottom.
"Keep still, I'll remove the thermometer in a couple of minutes."
He walked into the next room leaving her with her bottom stuck in the air with tube sticking out of it. Lucy made the mistake of thinking it couldn't get any worse, it did.
He returned a few minutes later and removed the thermometer, read it, made a note of it and then placed it in a dish containing sterilising fluid.
"Reach back again." He said.
This time his finger entered her back passage coating it with lubricant before inserting the thicker tube attached to an enema bag. The warm water flowed into her bowel making her stomach cramp and distend. The tube was removed to be replaced with something soft and bulbous. Lucy had never even seen a Butt Plug much less used one, the one inside her was black and very large but very effective for stopping spillage. She was left in considerable discomfort for fifteen minutes, squirming with cramps, feeling the plug stretching her.
"Go into the next room, remove the plug and put it in basin. Empty your bowels and bladder, completely. You are required to take a shower using the medicated gel you'll find in there. Do not use this on your genital, it's too harsh and the shaving will have left the skin sensitive. A towel for your use is on the chair along with a tunic. Put that on and return in here."
Very carefully, Lucy did as she was told, removing the plug with great relief but nothing compared to the release of the enema. Thankfully the shower was hot, the gel stringent and strong smelling. It left her skin feeling tight and dry. Folding the towel and placing it back on the chair, she shook out the tunic. A grey, long vest top with two buttons on the back just on the waist. It came to mid thigh on her and was quite loose.
Finished, she walked back to the doctor. He gave her a quick glance, picked up the phone, punched a couple of numbers and said "Ready".
Minutes later, a trembling Lucy found herself in yet another white-walled, square room. No keypad this time, nobody would want to come in here willingly, there was no need for the door to be locked. She stood on the spot indicated by Officer Brooks, he stood a few feet away from her, staring straight ahead, arms folded across his chest. For fifteen minutes Lucy would be made to wait, this was a deliberate ploy, it gave the offender time to view the punishment bench and implements that would be used on their exposed bottoms thus, enforcing the "humiliation" approach.
Lucy tried to steady her trembling, pulling air into her lungs and releasing very slowly. It helped, a little. Her eyes swept the windowless room, sterilely clean with a slight odour of disinfectant in the air. She saw the punishment bench on her right, a simple construction, quite low and made from solid timber. A wide padded bench supported by two 'A' frames, a thick pad at the front top of the bench to raise the pelvis higher than the torso. On the outside of the front legs, two shorter pieces of wood with pads for the knees. Velcro restraints were folded on the top ready to be used.
Above the apparatus, an array of implements were hung on the wall, ranging from small leather paddles to vicious looking canes. At the opposite side of the room, against the wall, two seats faced the bench and in the space between was a sturdy wooden chair turned sideways. On either side of it, about eighteen inches apart and two feet away from the chair's legs, firmly bolted to the floor, were two metal rings with spring clips - the same as ones on dog leads - attached to them. A small table with a spray bottle, a folded towel. a rigid leather paddle and a brick shaped block of wood with a wide piece of elastic round it, stood next to the chair. A large metal container stood on a square table to the left of the door. The door that opened, admitting two men.
Lucy watched fearfully as the taller of the two sat in the single chair. She took him to be in his early fifties, short grey hair, strongly built and forbidding. He stared straight ahead and waited as the other walked over to the other two chairs and moved them a little closer. This man was a little shorter, thinner and wiry. He settled himself in one of the chairs and then pointed his finger to the floor in front of him.
"Stand there." He told Lucy. "I am Senior Officer Clark and I am here to witness your punishment.
"Disciplinarian Thomas," nodding to the older man, "will administer it. He is very experienced and very thorough, you will not be punished on any part of your body other than your buttocks. This is far more humiliating than being thrashed on your back and not as brutal. There are four categories of punishment. A, being the most severe, which involves the use of canes, through to D. Judge Carson has recommended that you receive category C punishment. Fortunately, for you, canes will not be used but the leather straps will leave your bottom very red and sore. After Officer Brooks has prepared you, you will place yourself over the knees of Officer Thomas. Your ankles and wrists will be restrained to avoid movement. A ten minute hand spanking will be administered on your covered bottom. Following this, the tunic will be raised and a hard, hand spanking will take place. A ten minute respite will be needed to give Mr Thomas time to rest his arm and for you to feel the result of the punishment. I'm sure that the discomfort will encourage you to make changes in your life. Forty spanks with the paddle will end the first part of the punishment. I will count each one, loudly. You will remain still for a few minutes to recover, Officer Brooks will release your restraints and you'll be given a glass of water. A thirty minute display of your punished bottom is required. You will stand in front of the punishment bench, arms folded behind your back and keep perfectly still. Should you rub your bottom or fidget, I will have you reacquainted with a certain plug which you will wear for the full thirty minutes. The final part of your punishment will take place later.
Now we will begin, go and stand to the right of Mr Thomas." He nodded to Officer Brooks who took four leather handcuffs from the metal box on the table, attaching to them a length of strong metal chain about two feet long.
Heart thumping, Lucy forced her legs to move. Rational thought had deserted her, the whole procedure felt as if it was happening to someone else. Standing where indicated, she watched Mr Thomas place the wooden block under his right foot, sliding the band over his shoe. This raised his right knee a good three inches higher than the left. He then slowly and carefully folded up the right sleeve revealing a well muscled arm that made Lucy swallow hard.
Officer Brooks took his place opposite Lucy and said, "Raise your arms to me."
Slowly pulling her forward, Lucy was about to fall when an arm swept under her thighs, lifting her feet off the ground and dropping her down so her pelvis was placed over the right knee. Her upper body slanted down to the floor, a hand on her back prevented her falling forward. Leather cuffs were quickly fastened to her ankles, the metal chain clipped to the rings on the floor, her wrists were next. She felt the tunic being pulled down and tucked tightly under her hips, her body trembling, she stiffened and waited.
"Begin."
The hand started slowly and methodically, slapping down, left cheek, right cheek, gathering speed and intensity as the minutes passed. Lucy felt warmth but little pain, the cloth giving protection against the piston-like slaps. The warm up over, the hem of the tunic was folded back revealing two tabs with buttonholes. These were fastened to the buttons on the back. Her pink, full bottom was exposed. As professional as they were, the three Officers were men, the sight of her rounded cheeks and the shaved parts in between made Officer Brooks give a slight groan, Officer Clark cough and Mr Thomas smile. It wasn't very often they were treated to a glimpse of perfection.
The first spray of water made Lucy start. Her bottom was wetted and then blotted with the towel. She felt her right cheek being pulled upwards.
"Begin."
Five stinging, burning slaps landed on the under curve of her right cheek. The sound ricocheted around the room, the pain knocking the breath from her body. Her right cheek turned crimson within seconds, not one part of it was neglected, every part was given the same treatment. Her left cheek followed, matching the colour, perfectly. Lucy yanked at the restraints, her hands curled into tight fists and her legs pulled strained upwards. Her lips were drawn back over her clenched jaw, eyes tightly shut. For ten minutes she lay there whilst her bottom was pounded with his large, hard hand until her bottom was a blazing, stinging ember.
"Stop."
Lucy slumped with relief.
The room was silent. She waited for the burning to subside, it didn't. For ten minutes she lay there trying to keep still, hoping that this would help. That didn't either. She felt a slight movement and realised that Mr Thomas was picking up the leather paddle, he laid it on the middle of her right cheek and waited. Lucy held her breath, her body tensing, she too, waited..
"Begin."
"One."
Lucy found herself counting with him, every slow stinging burning blow from one cheek to the next, the same spot on each one. Her skin was nearly purple but, being the expert he was, not one bruise or abrasion could be seen. Officer Thomas was a skilled disciplinarian, he'd had plenty of practice.
"Twenty three.......... twenty four.......... twenty five"
"Nearly done.......... nearly done.......... nearly done chanted mentally alongside the counting.
"Thirty nine.......... Forty. Stop."
Lucy was panting, her breath short and gasping. Watching and waiting for it to return to normal, Officer Clark allowed himself a modicum of respect for this young, slight girl. She had shown courage, not one scream or tears during this painful punishment. He had seen men, so much stronger than her, reduced to bawling babies with much less to cry about. When she was calmer, he nodded to Officer Brooks who released the restraints and helped her to stand. Lucy's legs nearly gave way but she was held upright until she steadied. Standing her facing the spanking bench, he left the room, returning with a glass of cold water. Lucy drank it down gratefully and whispered her thanks.
"Fold your arms behind your back." He whispered and left her standing there, her very red sore bottom on vivid display.
The sound of rattling crockery, a few minutes later, nearly made Lucy turn her head. Luckily, she remembered the plug threat and kept her eyes straight ahead.
"Coffee, gentlemen. Well, there's a well spanked bottom, bet that's sore!" Eddie Tate was silenced by a glare from Officer Clark.
"Strange!" He thought, his comments were usually encouraged as part of the process. He placed the coffee down on the table and left the room, quietly.
The coffee was drunk in silence, glancing over to the bright red, perfect bottom glowing brightly against the creamy white skin.
Coffee finished, Officer Clark glanced at the clock and said, "Shall we continue?" Officer Brooks took Lucy's arm and guided her nearer to the bench.
"Place your knees on the pads and lay over the bench making sure that your pelvis is laid on top of the pad."
He took the Velcro tapes and secured her wrists to the front legs of the bench. Another around her back and lastly her thighs and just above her knees. Mr Thomas looked carefully at the skin on Lucy's bottom, he couldn't see any damage other than a fading redness. The punishment would resume. Taking two leather straps, he stood to the right side of the bench and waited for Officer Clark to speak.
"Twenty with the junior strap and ten with a senior one will conclude your punishment. Begin."
Mr Thomas raised the eighteen inch long strap and quickly laid on five stokes that covered her left cheek. He moved to the left side and did the same. Returning to the right, he allowed the strap to cover both cheeks, five times and repeated it on the left. The senior strap was much heavier and thicker and used prolifically in the more severe punishments. The thud of the strap juddered through Lucy's body, the sting spreading outwards from the point of contact. Five on the right, five on the left.
"Stop. The punishment is concluded."
Mr Thomas returned the straps to the hooks and left the room.
"Officer Brooks will release you in a few minutes, you may remain laying on the bench until you feel ready to stand. You'll be taken back to the medical room where Doctor Lucas will give a short examination and give you an aftercare leaflet. I'll inform Judge Carson that the punishment was carried out without incident and you may return home." He too, left the room.
Lucy felt the tunic being unfastened and pulled down, covering her bottom. The restraints were removed and she carefully stood up. Taking her upper arm, Carl walked her slowly back to the medical room where the doctor was waiting for her.
"You need to sign a release form before you leave. Come back to the office before you leave." Carl told her then left.
Doctor Lucas was silent as he listened to her heart rate and took her blood pressure again. Both were fine.
"Bend over the bed." He gently examined her still red bottom, no damage there.
"You may get dressed." He left her to it, walking into the next room to collect the aftercare leaflet.
Lucy took it from him, nodded her thanks and walked to the office where Carl was waiting. He handed her mobile back and then showed her where to sign the form.
"You can ring your transport."
She couldn't. Exhaustion and relief brought tears flooding to her eyes, she stared, silently at him, tears running down her cheeks. He took the phone from her hand and scrolled down the contacts.
"Name?"
"Marcus."
He found the number and rang. Marcus answered on the second ring.
"Lucy? Are you ok?"
"This is Officer Brooks speaking, Miss Meadows is ready to be collected."
"Thank you. I'll be there in twenty minutes."
"He's on his way." Carl told her, handing back her phone.
"Thank you, sir" Lucy sobbed.
Lucy waited for Marcus outside, despite being told that she could wait in the office. She didn't want to spend another minute in the unit, wanting to breath fresh air. The sound of a car engine signalled Marcus' arrival. He opened the car door, searching her face and seeing the signs of tears. He didn't speak, the drive back as silent as the one earlier. He never asked her about the punishment and Lucy didn't mention it, it was over. Lesson learned.
