The Darkness Is Fallowing

Chapter 5 Sacrifice for Blood

Right. The sacrifice. I've been so caught up in my thoughts that I almost forgot what Eden had just told me. "Blood. Our blood" Eden said, pulling out a carving knife you used in pumpkins, I think he had it because just in case if there was an emergency. He cut a small bit of skin off his wrist and but it on the knife and dripped it into the passage. It didn't open. "We need more" Eden said, handing the knife to Alexia. "W-wha?-M-me?" she asked, confused. "Yes, I thought you were a 'man.'" Eden commented sassily.

While Alexia was cutting her leg, trying to let out a scream or groan of pain, I thought to myself. Eden had been acting differently lately. He was much more serious and straight-forward, not to mention he was more strict and not as timid. Was it the note? Koroshi? His father? I didn't know, and I didn't want to be rude by asking him.

Alexia was done and I saw tears in her eyes, painful tears. She put it on the knife and put it into the passage. This time however, it opened.

"Ready to go back?" asked Eden, eyes like stone and never leaving the open gate to the Forest of Hatred.

I sighed, knowing nothing good was going to come out this. We were either gonna find Koroshi's dead body, or hos fathers, or both. This is quite the adventure signalled Tobaso, I suppose he had never adventured so deep.

While walking through I never really remembered anything, every fork was three ways, all the trees and leaves look the same and without our flashlight, we probably wouldn't have the seen the stream we rested on while running out. We decided to stop there and rest for the night.

We made a small fire with some wood that fell from trees and rocks we rubbed. I saw Alexia and Tobaso, Alexia as a fox, chasing Tobaso down the stream, they seemed to having fun. Than I took a glance to Eden, and my heart sank. He was looking down into the dirt, the dirt was getting wet below him. His face was red and warm, salty tears were running down his face. He made no noise whatsoever. "Eden? Are you alright?" I asked, concerned, I never liked seeing him cry. "F-fine" he said, obviously trying to hold back a sniffle.

"O-oh, K-Koroshi! F-father!" he whined, though it wasn't annoying. "Eden..." I tried to soothe, but couldn't bring myself to it.

I finally, somehow, managed to get comfortable on this bug-infested, disease-full ground, along with Eden, and Alexia and Tobaso.

***

The Next Morning

 It is surprising

how surprised

we are

by death

-Sheila Sykes

That poem kept ringing through my ears. In this case, this wasn't true. I knew this poem was about losing someone. A brother comes to mind in this situation.

"Hey Izanami" Eden said, hanging his head over me. "Morning" I said, smiling, he was smiling too. "Let's go" he said, I turned my head to see a sleepy Tobaso and Alexia walking around like they were zombies. "Do you know where the cabin is? Everywhere looks the same" I commented, getting up and brushing the dirt and roaches out of my hair. I saw Eden's face get darker and sadder. "No..." he responded, I hated breaking the optimism that I knew was hidden behind the facade of shyness from Eden.

Eden, we just need to look for landmarks, right? asked Tobaso, trying to be optimistic. "Right" Eden responded. We all started walking again.

After about an hour of exploring, I could see Eden's face getting redder and redder and his fist were balled, legs pressed together tightly. "Um, guys..." Eden said shyly, looking away. "Yes?"