"Sacrifice" by Colt M. Henderson
Sacrifice
by Colt M. Henderson
“It's time, ladies.” The deep and soothing voice of Todd rushed through the silk curtain that divided the room.
Seven young women, all dressed in white, filed out of the dressing area and headed for the makeshift stage. On the stage was a table that leaned towards the massive tree. The first young woman climbed on the table, laid down with her head towards the tree, feet pointing at the sky, and started to silently cry. She remained motionless on the wooden table as Todd, the temple priest, moved closer to her. He held up an old crusted knife and the crowd rejoiced.
“Brothers and sisters, it is time we pay our simple tribute to our savior, our protector, our redeemer, and our life giver. Because of these women and their noble sacrifices we will enjoy prosperity. Our enemies will be kept outside our barrier and we will take untold strides towards victory. Our crops and livestock will thrive.”
Todd had started walking back and forth on the stage, playing to the crowd. The people were starting to chant “sacrifice” and Todd took the middle of the stage and basked in the amalgamation of voices. After it rose to its peak he motioned for them to settle down with the flick of his wrists. They quickly went silent and the priest continued.
“With this small sacrifice we will be rewarded. The Father Tree blesses us every day and with this sacrifice,” Todd walked to the young woman's head and raised the knife, “I, High Priest of the Father, uphold the agreement we made to you so long ago!” With that he sliced the petite girl ear to ear.
The blood shot out instantly and the girl instinctively grabbed for her neck. Todd, also in white, dropped the knife and grabbed the girl's hands before they could cover the wound. He was now standing over her causing the blood spray to shoot on his torso and head. With a face dripping from a young woman's blood he raised his head, blood spurting against his neck, and started chanting “sacrifice”. The people started chanting back as Todd dropped the girl's limbs. She was almost out of life and was no longer struggling.
He let the girl continue to bleed and picked up the blade, placing it in the hem of his red dripping trousers, and reached above his head and grabbed a camouflaged rope and brought it down. With stressing muscles and beads of blood still running down his face Todd was able to stretch the rope to the table. Grabbing a metal hook under the girl's once flowing dress located at the ankle he picked up her leg and strapped it to the line. Todd then repeated this routine with the next leg.
“Sacrifice!”
The dead girl was slowly picked up by the strength of the rope and Todd pulled on the line and she started to inch her way closer to the tree. When she moved off the table the now vibrant colors of red soaked into the white dress opened like the flowers of the tree. He continued to move the still bleeding corpse over the roots of the tree while motioning with his head for the next girl to approach. She did so hesitantly.
“Sacrifice!”
The girl walked to the blood covered table and reluctantly laid down. Her eyes welled up and the tears burst out as she watched the priest near her head. This time Todd yelled “SACRIFICE!” at the top of his lungs before plunging the dirty blade into this girl's throat. The crimson liquid gushed over her face and splashed back off of Todd's already drenched clothes.
“Sacrifice!”
Todd was ready for her hands to shoot to her open throat, but she instead gripped her dress as tightly as she could, while the blood poured out of her wound. Her fingers started white, but quickly faded back to her original light brown as her life left her body and her grip loosened. Once she was completely lifeless and her eyes were void of light Todd repeated the process of hooking her legs to the line and inching her down the line.
The rest of the girls followed the same gruesome routine until seven manufactured flowers hung around the base of the tree, dripping innocent blood on its roots. Todd stood there, on the stage, and answered questions for as long as they were asked. By the time the last person left it was dark. As Todd watched the old lady hobble her way out of sight he turned to look at the macabre scene behind him. The sacrifices would remain on display for seven days, which would be enough time for Todd to admire this year's masterpiece.