Choice Cuts

Pictures On The Wall

The creature walks barefoot and enters the cave barefoot. Such is the Taught Custom of the land. Not one is to wear anything that shields their soles in the cave, and any creature seen or heard violating this sacred rule will face the One Consequence. The creature understands, the creature understands. And so they walk.

The creature shivers as they walk, goosebumps erupting on their flesh. This, they do not understand. Fortunately, the Ones Before have provided some insight into this odd occurrence: Temptation. Those that have violated the sacred rule, and thus have been given the One Consequence, are tempting the creatures that are now crossing the sacred path of the cave. Making them feel unusual sensations in their bodies so they will break the Taught Custom. Tempting, tempting. The creature avoids looking around. The Ones Before warned them not to. The only direction is ahead. This, the creature understands.

Ahead, ahead. Straight ahead. The creature cannot see anything. But this is normal. The Ones Before said so. What’s important is that they are inside the cave, walking on the sacred path. The path towards the creature’s goal.

The creature bites the flesh of their lower lip. The creature’s footsteps do not falter, instead they increase in speed until they are sprinting. Fast, quick, lightning. Exactly what the Taught Custom have told them to do. This is another temptation of the Vile Ones. They make the creatures feel insolent and indescribable sensations on their soles to make them break the Taught Custom. They are getting ever stronger in their endless tempting of the Pure. The creature understands and bites their lip harder.

The creature pretends they are alone. The Ones Before told them to do so. Do not notice the unusual and incredible sounds around you and inside you. They are nothing but temptations. This is the third temptation. They make the creatures hear cries and whimpers so they will break the Taught Custom. Do not heed their calls. The creature closes their eyes and shakes their head. The air licks at the vile wetness on their cheeks and temples. Vile, vile droplets.

There. The light. The Only Light. The creature’s goal is in sight. Glorious light, magnificent light, holy light, gracious light. The creature would kneel down and prostrate themself if they could. Their steps go much faster. Faster! Quicker! Lightning!

And the creature can see them now, the Paintings of the Gods. The Magnificent Creations, the Glorious Apparitions, the Pinnacles of Grandiose Self-Immolation! Oh, glorious! The creature feels the same wetness on their eyes and face and temples again. They do not shake them off this time. The Ones Before had foretold this Blessed Occurrence happening and so they allow this. This is not a temptation of the Vile Ones. The temptation had passed. The creature rejoices in this. Oh, glorious.

The creature throws their body on the ground before the nearest Painting. They inhale the ground and sing a song of glorious praise to the Gods. Oh, what a blessing it is to behold the Paintings. Glorious, glorious!

The creature picks themself up and stands. They stand on one foot and slides all their hands under the sole of the lifted foot. They swipe the Colorful unto the nearest Painting and splatter it on with trembling fingers and palms. They must show their Undying Fealty to the Gods, through the constant application of the Colorful. This is what the creatures are made for! This is what the Taught Custom is for! The Ones Before said so! The creature is in ecstasy! There are so many of them. The creature wants to put the Colorful on them all! The creature switches foot and slides their hands under their sole again.

The yawning cave is full, full, full. The yawning cave cannot take anymore, but the pests have never stopped coming. They enter barefoot and they enter barefoot. And the yawning cave is full, full, full!

|Originally written: March 22, 2020