Blood Red (Adopted by Cannibals)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

I want to drop the meat so badly, however before my shaking hand could tip Xavier was already holding on to me tightly. He held my hand holding the meat in a tight hold while his other hand guided me over to Ann who stood in front of the stove. She had prepared dinner already, however still there stood two pans waiting to be used. With Xavier guiding my hand over the pan I could finally drop the meat. I slowly let my hand turn over to the side, watched as the meat slid over the blood, off my hand, and finally into the pan. Hold up, don't tell me we are eating this meat? Her flesh! Stepping away form the sizzling meat in the pan I turned around back to the body, watching as the family continued cutting parts of her off and placing them into the pans. They were all roughly the same size as what I was forced to cut. As the meat cooked my numb body was led over to the dinner table where we all took our seat, all but Ann, who remained at the stove cooking the meat. I stared blankly down at my plate which was slowly being filled with potatoes and vegetables by Xavier. Across from me I could see Jace. A picture of him cutting her throat flashes before me, I relief her last moment alive, her grasping onto the last bit of life she could before death. And finally, the meat is placed on my plate. I gulp loudly as I fight the urge to throw up all over the table. But I don't want to be killed. So, I swallow it down instead.

I listen to the excited chatter of the family as dinner commences. I slowly force myself to take small bites of the vegetables, the furthest away from the meat. Looking around I can see the others eating it happily. My eyes drift over to the body, still hanging by her bound arms dripping blood onto the plastic. Dawn. I'll never forget that name. She deserved so much better than this.

"Nova." My head shoots up at the sound of my name. I look up meeting 'Dads' eyes. He forced me to cut into her, forced me to take of a piece of her skin and now here I am with her on my plate. More tears brim in my eyes at the thought, but I hold them back. I can't seem weak before them; I need to be strong.

"You have been eating this same meat for a week now. So stop fussing and eat your dinner." I chocked on the piece of broccoli in my mouth as I realise the truth behind his words. The meat does look similar to the previous dinners. Have I really been eating human meat this whole time? No! I can't have. I am not a cannibal, I do not eat humans, I will not eat humans! I struggle to get out of my chair, desperate to get away from this family, the meat on my plate and most importantly away from the body still hanging, still dead, still cut up with chunks of her flesh missing. However, hands-on my shoulders keep me from getting up and away. Looking beside me I can see Xavier holding me down, looking at me with disapproval.

"You need to forget your old customs, we are your family now and you need to get used to our traditions, including this," He exclaims pointing down at his meat trying to be the point across. Unable to hold the tears at bay any longer I burst into tears. I want to get away to run and hide but with them around me all the time I can't. Dawns lifeless eyes continue to stare at me, haunting me no matter where I look, no matter how badly I try and block her out. I look down the meat that once belonged to her. What have I become? Have I really been eating human meat all this time?

"Eat up. If you don't eat within the next five seconds, I will force it down your throat." I shook my head wildly left and right. I don't want to. I squeeze my eyes tightly shut as I feel the tears streaming down my face once more. Please let me get out of this a life.

"Five," I hear his voice count. I can't eat human meat, no matter if I liked it before. Now that I know I can't do it.

"Four," He continues. I can feel him glaring down at my small fragile frame as I shake in my seat.

"Three," I gulp as I stare at the meat. Slowly I notice Xavier cutting a piece of my meat bringing it up to my mouth. I gulp audibly as I stare at the perfectly cooked meat.