The Woods

Chapter Two

The horns had been echoing through the village for the past hour. It was a monotonous tone that droned on and on without end. A summoning for the maidens. I woke before they started and had already bathed and dressed. My dress was made of black silk; the customary dress for the Reaping. Nothing adorned it; it was plain and reached all the way down to my ankles. My feet were left bare.

"Fida." Father stopped me before I left. He pulled me into an embrace, his hands trembling. "My dear Fida."

"I'll be alright, Father," I murmured, kissing his cheek. "As soon as this is over with, I'll meet you at work and help out, okay?"

He didn't seem convinced. The look in his eyes was that of pure terror. He didn't want to lose me. I squeezed his hand one last time before descending the stairs and slipping outside. I shivered at the cold, as I had nothing on other than my dress, and rubbed my arms in an attempt to get warm.

Most of the girls were already waiting in the town centre, each wearing dresses identical to my own. No one other than the maidens and Representatives were allowed to leave their houses while the Reaping took place. The two lower Representatives were the ones blowing the horns, which were much louder in the town centre than they were from my home. It wasn't long until my head throbbed with the sound, though I hid my wince.

"Maidens of this village." The Head Representative's voice echoed through the streets. The horns suddenly stopped, leaving an eerie silence blanketing the town. "We are gathered here for the Reaping; the sacrifice which will save this village from ruin. It is an honour to be chosen"

He beckoned for us to position ourselves in a semicircle around the stone bowl. Something began to glow from within it; a blue light that flickered like a flame, yet seemed to suck all the warmth from the air. It began to grow, bubbling out of the bowl and spilling out onto the streets. We gasped, edging away, but the substance was faster, covering our feet and holding us in place so we couldn't move away. The light began to dance around us; beautiful yet terrifying.

"Spirits of the Woods," roared the Head Representative. "We call upon you to choose your sacrifice!"

The light moved faster and seemed to take a physical form. It tugged at our hair and pushed us around, almost knocking several of us over, if it weren't holding our feet firmly. It seemed to be chaos as it moved faster and faster. My eyes could barely keep up with it.

And then it stopped.

All was dark once more, the only light being a faint glow from within the stone bowl. The Head Representative stepped forward and stared into the bowl, a smile tugging at his lips. He reached in and pulled out a singed piece of parchment.

"Fida Clark." My heart froze as I stared at him. "Come here, Miss Clark." I tentatively stepped forward, stopping on the other side of the bowl. He reached towards me and grabbed the back of my neck, forcing me to lean down and put my face into the light. A burning feeling suddenly bloomed on my arm and I let out a scream, trying to get out of his grip, but to no avail. Despite his old age, he was strong; unnaturally so.

I wasn't sure how long passed as my head was in the light; I saw nothing but the blue brightness and felt nothing more than the burning that travelled up my arm. I felt my struggling weaken as time passed, as if all my strength was being drained from my body. My own screams seemed distant; echoes. As if I were no longer where I was just moments before.

When the Head Representative lifted my head once more, my throat was raw and I could do nothing more than let out shuddering sobs. I glanced at the arm that hurt moments before, and saw black lines inked into my skin. They formed the pattern of vines twisting around a crescent moon.