Hunted (Feitan x reader)

Chapter 9- Rescue

"Now, remember, if you hear ominous chanting, the appropriate response is to run."

"What?"

"You hear me. Run."

Y/n was with Feitan, Phinks, and Shalnark in Purgatory. They insisted on seeing where she came from. Well, Shalnark insisted. The other two tagged along for fun, she supposed.

"Why would there be...ominous chanting," questioned Phinks.

Y/n gave him a quick side glance and shook her head lightly.

"Long story short, they are making a sacrifice to Xilaskar, Purgatory's guardian."

"Guardian?"

Y/n beckoned them over to a pile of fallen stones that had once belonged to a towering palace. The four sat on the rubble, looking out upon the wasteland.

"Lady Taree, who sorta raised me, said that Purgatory used to be a grand city thousands of years ago."

The three boys looked at her in interest as she told the story. Her eyes seemed to be glazed over and staring at nothing as she recalled the words of the late Taree.

"It was ruled by Xilaskar, a grand and powerful leader. He was consumed by greed for more land and waged war on the nearby cities. He conquered all but one: Noron. It wasn't nearly as big as Aurum- which was what Purgatory used to be called- and didn't have a large army as Aurum did. However, its people had a strange power that overwhelmed Xilaskar's men. Aurum was destroyed by Noron's army in spite. 
"Xilaskar was consumed by rage and despair that he was defeated. He let his city burn and was cursed by the gods to protect the city for the rest of eternity so that his sins would be forgiven and he'd be able to take his place in the sky."

Her storytelling had attracted a couple of rugged-looking children who listened wide-eyed. As Y/n spoke, she passed them a bottle of water and a small bag filled with food. 

"So," Shalnark said after a few moments of silence. "What exactly are they...sacrificing?"

"The weakest 'citizens' of the city," she replied simply.

He seemed to recoil in shock.

"'The weakest citizens'?" He echoed.

Y/n fixed him with her cold, blank e/c eyes.

"You were from a city like this. You should understand. It's kill or be killed. Those who are too weak won't survive for long. Most of them submit to the sacrifice willingly. They are treated with the utmost respect since they are the key to saving our city."

"What kind of twisted religion is that?!"

There was a loud thunk as a stone was thrown at Phinks' head. He didn't even flinch. Instead, he turned around to face his attacker. It was a girl in her teens, it appeared. She was fiercely thin, as most were in the city, and bore ragged clothes that barely covered her frame.

"Take that back!"

"Huh? Who do you think you are, girl?"

Phinks grabbed her by the collar of her shirt roughly. She held his gaze bravely. No one here had anything to lose.

"I said take it back. You're not from here. You can't even begin to understand how we feel."

Before he could do any damage, Y/n pulled him away from the girl and smacked his head.

"If you're gonna tag along, don't cause trouble. As similar as it is, this isn't Meteor city. She's right; None of you will ever understand how we do things here."