A Mid-Summer's Nightmare

The solstice was coming, and the fire was raging. The heat was great, and the old ways were coming back. For so many years, we had not celebrated the great summer solstice. The destruction of traditional beliefs has finally ended. The bond fires were packed as the night continued. Each burning with the ferocity of the night. The heat on such a hot day still was welcome on the mid-summer's night. Such a night was special. The night was lit up by the other families. All the fires made the night glow. It is only once a year, and the sun will show its longest time. Each hour was built up to the day. The whole family was preparing for this day.

Many were jumping over the lower flames as protection. All took their turn. James leaped over and then fell over with a burn on his foot. He acted like he could walk but had to be seen, and still, the others continued the ritual. The doctor gently removed the shoe, and he did not stick around. His own wife, Charlotte, came over to discover the mark of death in the burn. He lay in the grass with his foot on the ground as all those who surrounded him retreated from space. Flashes of lightning came over the cloudless sky and struck around James. His poor body jolted as some of them hit him. All anyone could do was just stare as his body went limp and his color turned white. Charlotte, in tears, could only watch in horror and with no way to help the man she loved. He was such a good man and wanted to participate in the ceremony. Now, the ritual had taken his life. Despite others being burned, he was the only one with that mark. The festivities were now coming to a dangerous start.

The lightning settled as it became apparent of his demise. All who saw the event considered going back through the fire. Already, one fire exploded, killing other women with no source of ignition. This was supposed to bring back the old traditions, yet all seemed scary. As the night continued, everyone started to watch the stars. The morning was coming, and the solstice was going to be here. All were watchful for any weirder occurrence. Others did start getting funny marks on them, but nothing. The morning was about to come with great excitement, and so many wanted it so badly.

We looked at the placed stones for the sun shining through. Each is ready for the longest day. This day was the first observation, and yet there were so many off signs. As no light appeared, it seemed that the sun was not coming. Then, the darkness came when the sun was supposed to occur. What else could go wrong? All looked like the time had come with no solstice. The panic started to settle as the light never improved. It was a scene where so many began to head home and bunker down.

The searing darkness spread through the town, and everyone was trying to figure out how to get things. Each family rushes to the stores for the last of the supplies. Chaos was an array with the whole town. Eventually, government troops marched in with their many scientists. The war zone was set up as all lives were controlled to study the lack of sunlight in the town. Some blamed the old adherence to the old ways as the problem, while others claimed a weird space event. Yet, there was no news about why this happened to this town. Each person felt a searing pain as their marks never did disappear.

It was a sign that showed up in the sky, as this did not help the situation. Ethel, the local guide, had warned about bringing back this tradition. She warned that the powers were angry about abandoning the traditions and would strike if we ever got them back. The news spread, and many just wanted to return to the old. The sign remained as the light did not return. Each day, more became depressed. More rations needed to be made for the families. It was still desperate as no one was allowed to leave. Each hour of darkness stretched into weeks, and many feared it would never improve if they had an everyday life.

Out in the field, the ground had the sign in the ground. The tradition states that a sacrifice must be made if you want to please the powers. The ones had already been chosen with the marks on their bodies. They must offer to be picked and pay the price for their disobedience. All the ones started to run as they did not want to die. This was the way in the day, and they all tried to bring it back. Each was hiding as the following days to be determined. It was the only way out, and all those people were unwilling to die for their town. The descendant of the priests was trying to somehow conjure a way not to have any death at all. The hope was dying as many were willing to drag out the chosen to gain the light again. Chaos was taking the streets as the government tried to maintain control, denying the deaths of innocent people. Each dark street showed desperation, and yet no solution seemed fair. Everything was wrong, and the light was not returning to this town.

Each day, the depression and the government were no help. They tried to fix it with their technology, but everything stayed the same. The cameras and news stations came with all the stories of this town's problems. Yet those with the marks remained on their bodies, fearing they would be sacrificed for the sun to reappear. Solutions were on a low, with hope withering daily; darkness was present. So many wanted the old ways, but were they worth it in the end. The darkness brought out the worst in everyone. With violence on the rise, everyone prayed for an end to the situation.

Geoffrey was growing tired of the government handouts and presence. He knew the powers needed to prove their stance. He had carved on himself the mark and walked around crying for mercy. Still, none came as the plague continued. Geoff was growing tired and went back to the hill of stones for the solstice for some inspiration. The rocks looked so different in the dark as he sat. Lightning struck the table and started to crack. He rose and went to it and laid on it. Seeing the faint colors in the sky for him was a relief.

He declared, "I am willing to be the sacrifice for this grave mistake of waking all of you up."

The sky rolled in anger as his body was bolting and burnt to a crisp. His remains sat on the table as the sun reappeared in the sky as if nothing had happened. Geoffrey's body was discovered but was drawn into the ground to be never seen again. All watched in horror as the powers took their victim at last. They never forgot him and his sacrifice, but the solstice was thence banned from being celebrated again. The government troops were dispatched elsewhere, and all returned to normal. Those who had the mark never lost it. The chronicle was written in the old books. Eventually, they returned to their jobs and lives as they previously knew them, except for Geoff's parents. His grave was a place without a body, and all was to thank him for his courage.

May this Mid-summer night's tale be told as a precautionary to all. If the powers are silent, they remain that way. Do not wake up the wrath of them, I say. Some things are better left alone.