Sacrifice

I’m going to die today.

My breath formed icy clouds in the frigid air as I walked through the falling snow. With every step, the snow piled up on my lashes, while the icy wind turned my hair into a painful whip that stung my face. My feet were raw and aching after walking for what seemed like hours. Left behind with no shoes, I looked down at my feet and wondered if they were already bleeding.

I knew that running away wouldn't solve anything, no matter how far or fast I went. The scar on my knee was a reminder of the time I tried to run after they left me, a move that would horrify them if they found out, given their efforts to save my skin from any injury. Screaming until my throat felt raw was futile too, as no one came to my aid.

Just a few feet away, the dangerous winding path to the Dragon God’s temple looms before me.

The temple on the mountain looked like something straight out of a nightmare, with its dark, faded exterior looming ominously against the horizon. I take a deep breath, feeling the crisp winter air fill my lungs, and hug myself tighter before marching up the snowy, jagged path. I felt like a ghostly apparition as my red dress flowed in the wind.

But, here's the thing, I have a secret. A secret that only my closest friend and I knew.

I grabbed a bunch of coal from one of the sacks outside the temple and felt its gritty texture in my hand. With a forceful kick, the massive double doors fly open, and I'm left with the sensation of ash in my hand. The sound of the door slamming open echoes through the room, and the dust fills the air, making it hard to breathe. Making a beeline for the center of the temple, I approach the massive metal cauldron and toss the coal inside with a swift motion.

And if my memory serves me right…

Walking to the offertory box by the door, I sneak a peek inside. I can't help but grin as I notice the food, pillows, blankets, and extra clothes that have been laid out for me. My hands quickly gather all the supplies I need to survive the night. The sight of the box of incense filled me with a sense of calm, as I knew there would also be matches that could start a fire to keep myself warm through the night.

Making sure the incense is safely stowed away in the offertory box, I grab the matchbox and head towards the cauldron. No matter how hard I try, it took me at least five matchsticks to get the fire going. He showed me how to use matches, but my clumsy fingers made it difficult to get the hang of it, and I didn't have many chances to practice.

I set a dusty blanket down on the ground and immediately wrinkled my nose at the musty smell. The object had been sitting there for years since we left it, and it dawned on me that my younger self didn't expect to grow any taller. I had to scrunch up my body to fit on top of the blanket, which made for a less comfortable sleep. I've grown accustomed to sleeping in beds where I can roll over without fear of falling out.

As I wrap a scarf around my neck, I take another deep, measured breath of the crisp winter air. The scarf had a musty, old smell, just like the others, and was covered in a thick layer of dust. My skin started to itch, but I had to remind myself that I was lucky to have it. The fire flickered weakly, doing little to ward off the cold that made my breath visible in the air. 

Though things are not perfect, I’m relieved that they were not worse.

I sit motionless on the blanket, gazing down at my feet. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw that there was no blood, but the raw skin under my feet made it clear that I had been walking for too long. Walking is not something I do frequently, but when I do, I always wear shoes. I went through the day without any of that. 

I was under the impression that they wouldn't give me away today, but I was wrong.

From the moment I was born, every aspect of my life had been meticulously planned. I was lucky enough to be cared for by my entire village, and they provided me with the most delicious food, the best education, and a life of luxury. I believed it was simply a favoritism gesture when they gave all those gifts to me at first. 

As I grew older, I realized that the only thing adults seemed to do was lie.

The truth was kept from me, not even by my caretaker, Mother Orvi. I used to think that she was my mother when I was younger. She corrected me swiftly, emphasizing that she was just a caretaker paid by the villagers to take care of me. She refused to tell me about my parents and punished me by withholding food for three days after I asked. 

From then on, I avoided the topic altogether.

Even though the ritual stated that they were supposed to give me away at 21, the villagers couldn't handle me any longer. Here I am, 20 years old, huddled inside the temple of the Dragon God, seeking refuge from the raging snowstorm outside. My hands trembled incessantly, but I took a deep breath and reminded myself that he was only a few minutes away.

I held onto the hope that he would keep his promise to find me and save me.

As children, he and I snuck out of my house one day to explore the temple of the Dragon God, feeling like daring adventurers. I was always afraid of venturing into the unknown, but he had an insatiable curiosity about it. He dismissed the Dragon God as a mere legend, created to instill fear in the villagers and provide them with a scapegoat for their misfortunes.

Though I knew I would be punished when we got home, the relief of finding an empty temple without a fearsome Dragon God made it all worthwhile. I felt hopeful knowing that there was a chance I would live beyond the age of 21.

It turns out I was mistaken.

With a loud bang, the double door swings open, and I spin around, expecting to see him, but instead, I'm met with a looming figure of a man that sends a chill down my spine. 

No, not just a man. 

The Dragon God.