Sacrificed

A screech shattered the calmness surrounding me. My hands jumped to block my ears as I dropped to my knees, praying for it to stop.

It got louder and louder, my eyes tightly shut; I could almost see my mind exploding in front of me. Strange shapes appeared in my vision yet I couldn't tell what they were.

Another earth-shattering screech.

I could feel my ear drums about to burst and blood on the verge of seeping out. My teeth clattered to breaking point, making my whole body tremble.

Then silence.

I didn't know if I had gone deaf or if whatever it was was finally over.

I managed to unglue my eyes open. Tears had fallen involuntarily.

Darkness. A pure blackness engulfed my world like I had never thought possible.

I still clung to my ears. The sound of the music in horror movies always scared me more than the actual scene. It played my nerves, ripping them to shreds. So, I kept them covered and closed, as hard as I could.

I removed my hands for a fraction of a second as fear gripped me.

Then, a tinge of white appeared in the distance. So small, yet so bright against the black background.

It grew bigger. And bigger.

I closed my eyes and prayed. I felt the light growing, becoming strong, making my closed eyes see grey instead of black.

Then, movement.

I bent my head to the ground. Grass?

I didn’t want to remove my hands from ears, so I shook my forehead against the floor. It was earth.

Slowly, raising my head, and wishing I had at least four arms to cover my eyes and ears at the same time, I slowly opened my eyes to find a forest. Trees, grass, rocks.

But how?

I looked at my clothing, I was still in my pyjamas. Blue, white and pink and out of place.

Movement again. I looked up and saw a clearing up ahead, with a cloaked figure kneeling on the ground, surrounded by skulls perched on spear tips.

I removed my hands from my ears.

Quiet. Like the forest was holding its breath.

I hugged myself, trying to bringing some warmth or calm to my frigidly-rigid body.

I approached, but never passed the kneeling figure. I opened my mouth but no words came out. I wanted to ask where I was, but was afraid that interrupting this person would get me killed.

Was I even alive at this point?

“Took you too long, little one. Thought you had more mettle,” croaked an elderly woman’s voice.

My breath caught in my chest.

“Wh-who are you? An-And what am-am I doing here?”

She rose. A face trodden and weathered surveyed me as I clung to my body.

“Not bad. Not bad,” she went on, her voice cracking in amusement, as she held my face and looked me over. “You’ll make a fine sacrifice for him.”

“Who-who’s him?” My heart skipped several beats.

“My lord. Ares!” She rasped, lifting her hands gloriously to the sky above as I felt my soul die in fear.