You're In The Tall Grass

Chapter Five: Samuel

The time was nigh. Samuel had just received a message from Judas about the sacrifice. His name was Gerard (unnecessary information) and he was being transported to the ginormous sacred rock hidden within the maze. The Lapis Sanguinis Vivi was being prepped by his followers for the ritual. The rock must be cleaned and the ancient markings must be rubbed with burning sticks of dragon's blood incense. Red candles decorated with waxy white lace are arranged in a perfect infinity symbol at the foot of the gramen vivium altar and lit with black flames that smell of burning roses.

Each follower of the Gramen Angelorum cult wore frilly white tops with high waisted black pants, their midriffs and extremities wrapped in thick blades of grass. Their blank faces were obscured by plague bird masks bejeweled with various green gems such as malachite, bloodstone, and green labradorite. Every man, woman, and child wore headdresses woven from the greenest grass the planet had to offer.

Samuel was adorned in his black and jade ceremonial robes with a mask of his own. He raised a hand for silence, the weak candlelight catching on the claws of his black zircon hand armor.

His voice cut through the quiet like scissors through wrapping paper, "Subjects! The time of sacrifice is at hand. Judas is set to arrive with the newest seed any second now." As if Samuel's words had materialized him out of thin air, Judas stepped silently through the wall of tall grass like an assassin. He carried a human-shaped bundle of white silk bridal style in his exposed arms.

The flames of the candles wavered as Judas passed, blown by the breeze of his billowing white cloak. Upon reaching the altar's foot, Judas knelt and laid the bundle within the infinity loop.

"Your sacrifice, My Princeps," Judas said in a hushed but strong voice. Even in the most formal of events, his voice still managed to sound like the taunting whistle of a mockingjay.

Samuel nodded his head as permission for Judas to rise and step to the side. "My thanks, Judas. Now, let's unveil our guest, shall we?" Hundreds of greedy eyes fell to the cloth as Samuel unfurled the wrapped gift. Gerard lay paralyzed on the ground, immobilized by the syringe full of strychnine Judas had dosed him with. His eyes were frozen open and they darted wildly around the land, taking in the oddly dressed aliens surrounding him. His mouth was stuck shut in merciless silence.

Samuel leaned over Gerard in a prayer position, positioning one black clawed finger at the far right edge of his throat, and whispered, "It begins."

All at once, the cult began to chant,

"Tu es in alta herba."

The claw sank into the terrified man's neck.

"Tu es in alta herba."

A perfect straight line was slowly sliced across his rapidly paling flesh.

"Tu es in alta herba."

A gorgeously decorated medieval chalice was brought up to the neck.

"Tu es in alta herba."

The slowly suffocating Gerard gurgled and sputtered helplessly as he was tilted forward, crimson blood spilling into the cup.

"Tu es in alta herba."

Glass after glass was fetched as all 1.5 gallons of blood were drained from Gerard. His corpse was devoid of all color now that the blood was missing from his body. Each cup was poured over the sacrificial stone, running through the ancient crevices like the blood would bring it to life. The blood ran straight into the soil, feeding the tall grass. The cult broke their chant and erupted into joyous cheers at the sight. The ritual was complete, the grass had been fed and by extension–their God had been fed.

Samuel clapped slowly, almost condescendingly, and tilted his head down to the bloodless cadaver at his feet. The body was being slowly smoked from laying atop the candle formation.

"And now," he announced to the crowd, "we feast!"

The cheers grew louder.

"Tu es in alta herba."