Chapter 02: The nightmare

I shook my head many times, but the site before me, a forest of perverted trees under an indigo sky didn't seem to disappear, so I shut my eyes hard that my sockets start hurting wishing to wake up somehow.

I opened my eyes again, but now my view was concealed by a dark figure standing right in front of me. 

I gasped in fear and shock, and tried to crawl back, away from the strange silhouette, my hands digging on the ground. I was very definite I wasn't at home anymore. And this was no normal dream.

"Wh—where am I?"

The figured knelt in the dirt in front of her, very graceful as she held out her hand to me. Her face was malevolent and her features were very strong, as she was closer I more noticed she's a woman. "You're in Deepville," she said in a smooth voice and tipped her head to the side as if I should know where that is. "Look around you, child, meet your destiny."

"My—what? Child? "

The woman stretched out her hand, the long, bell-like sleeve of her thick robe swaying as she noted her hand at the forest around us. I shifted my eyes around and gasped, scrambling away from the woman.

The forest suddenly opening an almost perfectly round clearing surrounded by terrible looking trees with dying branches . The trees were silhouetted in the bright light that it made everything look silver and casting shadows on everything behind them . Suddenly shadows of many silhouettes stood shoulder-to-shoulder between the trees.

"The sacrifice has arrived," a weathered voice whispered behind the trees and was immediately deemed quite by others. "What? It is only the truth!" It adds. 

"Kori, shut your mouth, or we'll put you back into the elderly home and you might have to wait another year for your coming out." An angry deep, man's voice came from the same direction.

I searched around to see where the voice came from, but the trees were so close around me, that I found only the silence, with many eyes staring at me.

"Who are you? Where am I? How did I get here?"

"You're right to have questions. But they are pointless. The ritual is about to begin. Hopefully you have already made peace with your loved ones," the woman in front of me said.

"Answer my questions! Tell me where I am! And who are you people!?" I demanded answers, livid with anger, but mostly because I'm afraid.

The woman sighed and inserted her hands between the bell sleeves.

"Very well then, if you must know the truth. But know your questions will only bring more questions. You are in Deepville. You were brought here as a sacrifice, for the pleasure of the King. It is an amazing honor, but I know your world did not raise you to appreciate it. You will definitely not live the night, but your death is not in vain. It will assure the healing of The Fruge. And you shall take great pride in it."

My mouth dropped open. "A sacrifice? What king? Who the hell are you people?" I question clouded with confusion. " And what the hell is a Fruuge? “ Everyone gaps around me, as thou I said the unspeakable. 

The woman sighed and made a small clucking noise. " What did I tell you, questions would only bring more questions. Hear me now, prepare yourself for when the drums begin to beat, the others will enter and the ritual will begin. Prove yourself worthy for the choosing. Die with pride."

"Die for what exactly!? You haven't even told me who you are! "

"You do not have a choice." The woman spoke calmly as if everything happening here is normal. "If you fight, you will be slain. And it is not an honorable death."

"Stop talking about death! I'm not dying for anything. This is a dream, a nightmare, or something! It's not real!"

"Ooh, it's very real," the woman said firmly and stepped closer. Too close, I had to put my hand out to stop her in case this ritual was about to begin. My fingers touched her thick robe and it wasn't silk or any usual clothing material, it was fur. Soft, tiny fur. But I didn't have time to think what that meant as the woman continued, her eyes fixed on me with a sharp light. "This is not a dream. You are no longer in your beautiful world, and the chances of you ever returning have dimmed the very moment you refused to cooperate. You must accept that your life has been altered. Meet the challenge before you and die with dignity."

"No! I won't do anything you tell me! Take me home right now or I'll kill you with my bare hands!"

"Your threats are futile. You were chosen for this. Selected by—" A long, deep boom rang between the trees and the crowd shifted, whispering. The woman stopped and turned, staring in the direction of the sudden moonlight. "He's here," she said breathlessly. "Surrender your life to please him and you will be honored by the kingdom." She turns and bows to me, muttered a few words I could not hear, and with a swift movement, she disappeared to join the circle between the trees.

Thunderstruck, I turned in the direction of the drums. Along the largest trees directly under the silver moon, more than a dozen people walk patiently, their steps control by the best of the drums. They seem to be in lines and order as all of them are walking before a tall figure, still deep in the dark under the more distant trees. Their instruments echoing in the chill night air, all around and everywhere.

Soon the first of the people emerged from the shadows of the trees and I could finally see them in the silver light, I backed away as to run to the other direction. But the tall thick trees were so close together, that I couldn't go anywhere further. Panicking and running out of breath, I turn around to see: They were all women.

All painted, their bodies dotted and lined in swipes with a kind of paint that shone white in the moonlight, making patterns on them that resembled spots, stripes, scales, and fur to cover them.

They all dance rhythmically to the drums.

I search in every direction, searching crazily for a way out, and escape from this nightmare—who were these people? And what were they going to do? And the giant silhouette behind them. But everywhere I look, I met eyes fixed on me, but no escape. 

Then the drums stopped.

I turned around and a man who I cannot notice, maybe the king I've been told about, finally steps out of the darkness and into the light. Wearing a cloak, that hooded even his face, or maybe fur rather like the woman. 

His stood taller than anyone near him, and his burley physique seemed to threaten everything around, as he stepped into the circle the girls had opened. Threshing unrestlessness at everything. Suddenly removing his cloak, it fell on the ground revealing his cast iron muscles. His hair fell on his shoulders barely lining his angular cheekbones and concrete jaw , around his body the same painting that covered the girls, and long dark pants .

But I also noticed the blue skin around his shoulders. It glowed bright, though I could barely make what it is. 

He probably is the most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on. He scanned the area with great pride, as it clearly all belonged to him. 

Then a rustle in the trees and I realized that everyone is bowing to him, including the women who had positioned themselves around in a circle, each facing him with their heads held down. Everyone, that is, except me. I swallowed hard as they all rose, seeming to be holding their breaths, listening intensely, waiting for him to speak.

And somehow I moved my hands to my belly and heart, as though to protect it. Because as his eyes dart around the trees, scanning the clearing, they fell on me, and in a split-second the light of recognition burned in them. There was a burning moment between us, then his lips curled into a smug. With animal instincts in his eyes. 

Somehow I didn't turn away, but kept my eyes locked on him. 

But his face remained emotionless. Then he finally looked away , and continued to look around, moved his mouth about to speak.

But my focus more on the pair of dark purple eyes, in the depths of darkness that still continued to scan everything with precision. Then suddenly everything started to blare, as if I was fading away. 

“Nghhh!!" I jolt from sleep, frantically searching the room. A sense of relief washed over me when I notice I'm back in my room. Then I realize it was just a dream or rather a nightmare that felt so real. I sigh pushing my blankets aside and left my bed and went straight to the kitchen. I didn't even want to think about what could the dream have meant.