The Sacrifice

                                 ★ ★ ★ ★

Emma Slate sat adjacent to her window, reading the third sequel of the Dracula series. It has been her favorite since the first day she came across it in the school library.

She had only returned home to spend the summer holiday with her parents. It turned out that Emma hadn't been concentrating on what she was reading. Why? It's Aug 25th, a marked day when the human sacrifice is made to appease the beast from hunting more than he should.

It could have been okay if it is said that the human sacrifice involves no gender in particular, but it wasn't. The sacrifice is only for young adults from the age of twenty to twenty five, and she just turned twenty five four months ago.

She's been trying to calm herself down, imagining faces of about a hundred youths who are involved in it; five youths will be chosen. She thought of herself not being included since the last four years has been a narrow escape for her. But that's some thing only fate can decide.

She left her bed, heading to the toilet. It's her fourth time going in there, her fears seem to be increasing and she just can't take her mind off it.

"Calm down, Emma, you have to calm down." She said, trying to console herself even though she knew it wasn't helping.

She walked out of the toilet weak and tired, she did nothing else but force herself to sleep.

They were five of them tied by the hands, they were made to kneel down then, they were again tied around their eyes. Emma's heart was beating so fast, and she was silently praying for Zeus to save her.

The beast had eaten the four girls before her, it was her turn. The way he glared at her got him hungry the more. His mouth widened as he attempted to devour her, she jerked up.

She glared around her room, breathing heavily. "Fu*k." She cursed, realizing that what she had seen was all a dream.

She steps down from her bed, leaving the room for the kitchen. Her parents were both eating dinner, they didn't want to disturb her so they ate instead.

"You're awake?" Said her mother.

Emma walked past them to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. Mrs Slate was surprised at her attitude, so she decided to ask what the problem was when she came out of the kitchen.

Emma walked out of the kitchen, it was then Mrs Slate saw how pale and tired she looked. "Have you been reading all day?" She asked, wondering if she has been reading since morning.

"No." She said,

"Emma, talk to us, what's going on?" Asked her father.

She was quiet.

"It's about the sacrifice, isn't it?" Asked her mother. She still made no comment. "Sweetheart, you don't have to worry about it. This isn't the first nor the second time the sacrifice is being held, and for the last few years you've been freed from participating. And besides, there are lots of young adults in the community, there's an assurance that you aren't among this year's participants."

"You don't understand, mom." Emma said, sounding cold.

"I do. But if you think I don't, then explain it better to me."

"I have this feeling that I'll be picked tonight. I know I've felt scared for other years, but this year seems different. Not just that, I had a dream, and in my dream, I was among the people chosen for the sacrifice. This dream looked so real. I saw him, he was going to kill me and I couldn't hold it, so I had to wake up." Mrs Slate looked at her husband. "I'm serious, mom, this dream looked so real. He was standing right behind me, angry and so hungry. He wouldn't hold back."

Mrs Slate left where she sat, walking to where she stood. "It's a dream, not reality. Don't let that bother you, okay? They never chose you for the past four years, they won't choose you this time."

"You think so?" She asked, not sure.

Mrs Slate nodded her head. "Now come, you need to eat some thing." 

Bianca was eating but she wasn't herself. Her mind has been going to and fro, but she forces herself to smile and not to get her parents worried.

"What if..." She was about to ask concerning the sacrifice if she would be picked, but her mother cut her short.

"Emma, please."

Emma concentrated back on her food. They weren't going to listen to her but deep inside her, she knew she was right. Her instincts keep telling her that she won't escape this year's sacrifice.

She sat on her bed, her legs cuddled to her chest. She was crying, and she couldn't hold the tears back. "What if I don't come back home? What if it eventually kills me? Don't you think..." She bursted out in tears.

Just then, the bell rang. It was time for the sacrifice to be done. It was as if the world had finally come to an end. She thought of staying back in her room, and not participating, that would save her life, right?

But then she remembered her best friend's sister who had stayed back home on the same day last year was found dead the following morning. Maybe it's not just about the beast being cursed, every thing that has to do with it was likewise cursed.

Mrs Slate knocked on her door, without waiting for Bianca's permission, she opened the door. "It's time." She said,

"I'll be there, just give me a minute."

"Okay." Mrs Slate shuts the door close.

Emma went into the toilet, she sat on the toilet cover. She saw that crying wasn't going to change what fate has for her, no. It is said that fate has no emotion.

She left to the sitting room where her parents stood, waiting for her. "Are you ready?"

She nodded her head slowly. "Yes, I am." She said in a low tone.

Together, they matched to the field. Before they got there, a few Lycan's had gathered, patiently waiting for every one to be assembled.

The gathering was in sections, men stood separately from the women and likewise the young adults. Emma looked at her mother, her eyes licking with tears. 

"It's gonna be alright." Mrs Slate mouthed at her.

One of the lycans stood before the young adults who stood with their hearts high. He glared around, staring at their faces one after the other. 

"You." He points at a girl. "And you." Pointing at a boy. "You." He points at another boy. "You too, follow them." He said to another girl.

There is only one left to make it five. This was a period where almost all the youths who hadn't been picked panicked. And it was obviously clear on their faces. Emma's heart didn't stop beating fast, she looked at her mother again like she knew she was the fifth person.

"You." This time, the voice meant a lot to every one who gathered in the field. Every eye followed the direction of his hand, but when Emma turned to see who it was, she noticed all eyes were staring at her...

Her jaw dropped open, those tears which had refused to fall, finally licked out of her eyes. "I knew it." She mentally said to herself. She turned to her mother again, this time, she was crying. "I knew it, but you never believed me."

She left the crowd, walking to where the other youths stood. "The rest of you can go now." He said. "And the five of you, follow me."

Cries filled the air, the parents of the chosen youths ran to hold their children but they were held back by the rest of the lycans who stood by.

While the others cried, Emma didn't cry, but tears kept rolling continuously out of her eyes. The journey to the top hill took about thirty minutes or more before they got there.

A lot has been said about the mountain, but tonight was the first time for Emma to visit the mountain. To see the home of the beast said to be cursed.

The five of them walked in a queue, with the Lycan's walking behind them. They walked through a pathway which led to a dark tunnel, and from the other end of the tunnel was a different apartment which looked more like a mansion and not a castle.

From the end of the tunnel, one can see the fire flames which moved up to the sky. "I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die." One of the girls cried in a low voice, but loud enough for them to hear. "I don't..."

"Shut the fu*k up!" One of the lycans yelled at her.

His voice made her shiver like she was staring at the real beast. They continued walking until they got to the wide gathering.

They were made to kneel down, and their eyes were tied with a black robe just as she saw in her dream. Every where was quiet, and not even a whisper could be heard. The atmosphere was still and calm, what is going on? 

"Hail the king!" Cried a voice.

"Hail the king!" They chorused, bowing their heads. 

Who could have imagined it to be an animal referred to as the king? The loud sound of footsteps could be heard, and the vibration which followed in every step it took.

"The sacrifice is ready, Your Majesty." The same voice said.

"How many do we have?" Asked the beast in a deep and hard voice.

"Five, sire. That's the normal count for the ritual."

"Good." He said, his voice sounded a bit softer than earlier.

After some strange words had been said, a different voice spoke. "It's time."

At this point, they are all meant to bury their faces to the ground. No one is meant to witness how the sacrifice is to take place. 

It growled, loud enough to scare the night creatures away. Without wasting a second, he devoured the first human. Emma's heart skipped two beats when he ate the second human.

She has already calculated how many humans remained before her. He growled hungrily, like the first two humans he had eaten didn't serve him. He tore the head of the last boy, his body fell to the ground. He grinded on his skull, then he picked the body from the ground, tearing it into halves.

Now, there's only one more before it gets to her turn. With his hand, he grabbed the young lady by her neck, plucking her head out from her neck. He tore her flesh, devouring it like rags.

It got to her, and he was ready to have her eaten once and for all. But then some thing happened, some thing that has never happened before? The sudden pause from the beast seemed to baffle every one. 

Why the hesitation?

Meanwhile, Emma has been panicking since he ate the young lady beside her. She could feel his presence right behind her but why hasn't he eaten her yet? What was keeping him waiting?

She was still having these thoughts in her mind, she felt a large amount of breeze blow her ear. All faces were up, surprised to see she is alive, still kneeling on the ground.

What just happened?

Alex, a high ranked beta from the pack, walked up to Emma. He wanted to find out why the beast hadn't eaten her, but didn't get an answer to his question.

"Take her to the dungeon." He ordered.

~~~~

To Be Continued…