Unholy Mary

The Burning

I wake up to the sound of drums beating in unison. It gives a very ominous impression.

I'm sitting on my knees floor, tied to a post. My mouth is dry and my throat is sore. I try to shout Fleur's name, but am only able to produce a raspy sound out of the back of my throat.

I take a look around. I seem to be in a  cave. No idea where I am. Under the forest? No, can't be.

The cave is illuminated by countless torches and candles, banners of Crosses are hanging everywhere. In the middle of a cave stands a weird construction. Five tall wooden ladders in a circle, and a pile of wood in the middle. 

The drums get louder. I identify human figures marching towards us from afar, entering the cave. They're wearing white robes and masks with long beaks, like those pest doctors in the past used to wear.  carrying crucifixes and other holy objects, too. They march towards the ladders in rows of two. Spreading around it. The drums still beating. A sinister feeling overcomes me.

How long have I been out?

a symphony of a bloody screams suffocated by tears, shed by pure agony cut right through me.

I narrow my eyes to see where it comes from.

That's when i see the horrifying truth. On top of one of the ladders, Held in place by barbed wire hangs a girl. She struggles to get free, releasing screams of pain as the barbed wire cuts  her flesh and causes deep guts. She wails, trying to pull her hand free, streams of blood poor down her arm.

On the other ladders are people too.
One a mere small child, crying in pure panic, yelling for his mother.

I cower and bring forth a noise that was supposed to be a cry for help when I hear an all too familiar voice.

Fleur's.

The girl on the fifth ladder is Fleur. She seems to be in tremendous amounts of pain. She's pale from the blood loss, caused by the cuts the barbed wire gave her. Yet she grits her teeth in pain and tries to calm the child next to her, adressing him as Marcus. She tells him she will help him get out, back to his family. The cross has taken special precautions towards Fleur. they even have barbed wire strapped around her head. The blood that streams from her forehead blocks her eyesight. She tries to remain calm, speaking softly spoken words to the boy. Telling him he's going to be fine.

Why does she know her name? That's when i realise. Those children are her students.

The group around the stakes grow larger. one of the robed men walks toward me with a raised blade. the torches give the blade a threatening glow. I close my eyes, waiting for the deathblow. I hear the blade whistle through the air.

He cuts me loose.
Surprised to be alive I try to crawl away, but his hand shoots out, grabbing my hair. I let out a muffled scream.

He drags me toward the circle. I try to withstand, but my legs are still half sedated. I can't do anything but throw my arms around me to try and find a grip, but all i grasp is sand and solid rock.

I try to fight back but another person places an iron grip on my neck, pushing me to my knees.

They have given me a front row pass to spectate. I look up to Fleur. She's still concentrated on trying to calm the young boy. I try to call out her name but my throat doesn't allow me to. . I raise my hand to try and launch my supressor backwards, but he grabs my hand and twists it behind my back. I hear the bones crack. I let out an inaudible scream and make gargling noises; drenched in pain.

The circle of robed men splits open and makes way for an eyeblinding person. An man with a robe that is so thoroughly white it nearly burns my eyes. He looks like sunlight radiates from him. He would've looked like a saint if his dark brown eyes didn't betray endless cruelty. His facial expression tell a story of a  soul as black as the darkest of nights. He has long white hair with strands of black.  I'm sure this man has no consience, and doubt that he even has a soul.  behind him is a woman, clothed ina  magnificent red robe. She looks young and beautiful for all i can see. She's wearing a mask covering everything but her lips. Those look full and are painted blood red. An aura of vitality surrounds her, although she reeks of evil itself.  I wonder if he's the man's daughter.