Life

The forest was silent. It had been for months. Everything was still, save a few leaves, wafting from the branches to the cold ground. The ceremony was almost complete. Everything in its place. The altar was finished. They had arranged a small wall of stones into a circle around a large boulder. Only one thing remained.

The elder made his way to the cave. It was time.

“Child”... he growled into the dark. “Your time has come.”

The child whimpered and wiped away a tear, cowering in to the deepest wall of the cave. “I don’t want to go....”

The elder reached out a hand, and knelt down. “This isn’t about you, or what you want my child,” he put his hand on the child’s shoulder. “This is for the greater good of the people. If you want your parents to live, you’ll come with me. You are the most powerful human right now. We need you. ” He tightened his grip on his shoulder, and pulled the child to his feet, “wipe your face and come with me”. He grabbed the child by his hand and pulled him up.

“I don’t want to go!” The child protested, “I just want my mommy.”

The elder pursed his lips and nodded. “I know my child, I know. But if you want your mommy to live, this must be done.” He gently led the child to the opening of the cave, and towards the stone.

The rest of the elders surrounded the stone structure they had built, each of them carrying a torch, with hoods pulled low over their pale faces. Low guttural growls were heard between the slow stomps of their feet. As the child came closer to the stone, their stomps quickened, the growls became louder. The child’s cries could barely be heard over the elders voices. He fought hard against the elder, trying to get his arm free of his grip. One of the elders passed him a large torch, as the child still fought to free himself.

“Aminausitan Fruedan!!!!” The elder screamed, throwing his torch to the ground.

“Haaaaayannaaaa!!” The chorus screamed as they threw their torches to the stone, stomping their feet one last time. The larger stone was lit ablaze, and the smaller stones surrounding it turned white with heat. The only sound was the screams of the child.

“I’m sorry my child,” he whispered into the child’s ear, “but we must appease the gods”. He picked up the child in both his arms, the child screamed and flailed his limbs, trying to break free. But he was so small. He was small to begin with, but the curse was detrimental to his growth. He was weakened by months of malnutrition. It was over so quickly. The flames engulfed him, a white ball of heat exploded from the stone, and in a flash it was over. The light vanished, the stones were just stones, the child was gone, no ashes to even give evidence he was ever even there. There was a long moment of pure silence, even the elders feared their sacrifice did nothing. But then, they heard it. A bird chirped. Then two, then three. You could hear the rustling of animals skittering through the foliage. The elders audibly sighed. They were forgiven. The gods brought life back to them. It had been months since the animals vanished. So many lives lost to starvation. So much death. But the child, that poor innocent child. He was so young. He didn’t choose to give his life to save everyone, but the elders had chosen him. Their past sins had now been forgiven. They had succeeded. Life had returned.