The Boy Who Danced on Water

Parting the Sea

"Coda Hemmings."

My name was called into a tall standing microphone, by a woman who had to stand on her tiptoes to reach it. The lights were shifted off of her and onto me. I could see people pounding their hands together, but the noise was lost.

A few people started to shove me out of my seat and into the isle. My eyes darted back and forth, I could hear my own heartbeat. And it was pounding.

It was surreal...I was next. The council had decided that I would please Mother Nature the most. And now I was to die. The lady, head council member Elenor, had forced a fake smile onto her face.

My body shook as I made my way to the stage. The walk was only a few feet, but it felt like miles. My feet stepped up the crooked wooden stairs and I stood next to head council member Elenor.

The lights blinded me, despite my best effort to shield my eyes. The whole village was gathered in the small meeting hall. I looked out to the sea of people, most were politely applauding. Then my eyes fell to one lady in the far corner, my mother.

She was shifting uncomfortably. Here honey colored eyes, once filled with love, were now replaced with an expression of pain. Her eyes were flooded with tears, but she was willing them back.

I had to be strong for her. I could feel my lips twist up into a forced smirk. And I shyly waved to the audience.

"Coda. You are the next offering to Mother Nature. The council thinks you will please her most. With your parting, your village will remain blessed with warm summers and cool winters. Along with fresh water and an abundance of crops. We thank you." Head councilwoman Elenor spoke. She clapped and grabbed my hands between hers.

They were rough and demanding. She tugged me away from the stage, not letting me say goodbye. I could hear the overlapping voices and clatter as people left the meeting house.

In a doorway, one painted white with gold detailing, stood a man. He was clad in a long, loose fitting robe. He hobbled towards me, with the help of his staff.

The man swung the wooden stick in the air and a rope bound my legs together. I fell at the sudden loss of balance. My head snapping against the ground, tears springing into my eyes.

My hand flung to my head, and when I pulled them away. Blood. Warm, red blood covered my hands. The tears slipped out and with another swing of his staff, my hands were tied.

I not only cried, I sobbed. My whole body was shivering and shaking. My vision was blurred by tears, the same ones streaming down my cheeks.

The man walked over, this time more cautiously. He knelt down to my level and peered into my eyes. His bony fingers wrapped around my thin arms, and he squeezed.

It felt like I was being ripped through a space that was too small for my body. I tried to squirm and get away but the sensation was causing black to dance about my vision.

I tried to blink away the blackness, but after the third time. I wasn't in the meeting hall. I was outside. I could see the cement walls that were built around our village, but I was on the wrong side.

The man grabbed the ropes around my wrist and yanked me to my feet. He thanked me, then I was tumbling off the cliff. The rocks cut my skin and my shirt was torn.

Then I felt the icy water around me. As I sunk I could see the grinning man at the top of the hill slowly disappear.

I slowly fell through the water, trying to keep my mouth clamped shut. I willed with everything I had to survive. I struggled against the ropes and prayed.

I could hear commotion above me, the wind whipping around, and I could faintly see the sun flicker.

I fell a lot faster. And landed on soft sand. The water was flowing around me, avoiding me. And I was breathing just fine.

I was shivering and shaking, the ropes digging into my skin still. My head whipped around, shaking some of the loose water from my chocolate colored hair.

Along the edge of the river sat a boy. He looked older, and had three large scars, like a scratch across his cheek. He yelled something in the other direction and looked back to me worried.

I don't understand how, but the sea parted and made a clear path from the boy to me. He carefully stepped off the rock and made his way towards me. With each step flowers and grasses bloomed.

The boy bent down to my height. I tried to curl up into a ball but he just came closer. I shook my head and tried to push him away. Only to make the ropes dig further into my wrists.

"Hey...hey it's ok. I won't hurt you," he attempted to sooth me. "You're a sacrifice...I can tell."