Blood Red (Adopted by Cannibals)

chapter 25

chapter 25

I remained sitting on my bed for the next hour, waiting for someone to get me. I know that they will be excited I get to kill but I don't think I can. Killing someone is not my nature. They grew up with these traditions but for me it's only been a couple of months, how they expect me to kill. Outside I could hear people gathering at the pit all talking and yelling out in excitement. My gaze moved over to the door where dad stood with a wide smile.

"You ready my dear?"

"Dad, I don't know if I can do this." I managed to choke out without crying. I know how dad feels about crying. It shows weakness and, in our family, there is no room for the weak.

"Of course, you can. You will do this." He glared at me slightly before motioning me to come. I did as well and together we walked in the direction of the pit where I would need to kill someone. I know dad is happy that I will kill someone I think that he may think it's a sort of initiation into the family, killing someone. I hope that I will never have to do it again that this is the first and last time that I will kill someone. I want to be protected by my family from the outside world but that doesn't mean I want to kill.

We made it to the pit in a matter of minutes. So many people have already gathered around and only a few more were arriving. I swallowed hard as I stared at the front where David stood, however, I couldn't see Marcy anywhere. Could it be that she is getting out of having to kill someone? Lucky. However, I doubt she got out without punishment. I know that she was caught otherwise I wouldn't be seeing David standing here with a smirk on his lips. I know that he is happy, he showed Marcy who is boss, who is stronger. He is her master and he made her see that.

"Friends." His voice echoed around the pit causing everyone to fall silent immediately. "Welcome to the pit." As if on cue two women and a man were pushed to the stage by four men, two holding the one man tightly as he fought against their grip.

"Ladies and gentlemen please come forward when I say your name: Ryan Murphy, Nova Brown, and Behue Sting. I stood silent staring at the man on stage. He never called out Marcy's name. Does that mean she got away? Of course, not he would never let that happen. He would be punishing her for running. I don't know why dad hasn't punished me yet. I felt a small nudge from behind me. Looking back, I noticed dad there with a small smile, almost cruel. I guess my punishment is killing someone. They know I don't want to kill; I struggle seeing people killed, how can I be expected to kill? I forced my foot forward. I cannot escape this fate. I slowly made my way to the front. I can get through this. I just need to kill one person. How hard can it be? I can feel the other cannibals staring at me. As I glance around, I notice the two others moving towards the front, both smiling brightly. This is sadistic. They are innocent people we are eating. But then again, I don't think there is another away as much as I wish there was. I don't want to kill an innocent, but I know how much harder it will be to find rapists and killers. Paedophiles and psychopaths. But I just wish that there was a way for these innocent people to get out. Marcy managed to escape death, but at what cost. She will remain living with David for the rest of her life, forced to be his wife. If only I can change her fate and all the others forced into this lifestyle. As I reached the stage I stared down at my fisted hands. Making sure to not show them shaking. I need to come off as strong. That is all I need to do. Maybe then I'll be able to get through this and kill someone. I already have blood on my hands by eating human this can't be much worse. I risk a glance up at dad who still stood smiling that almost creepy yet proud smile. Next, my eyes drifted over to Mum and then Jace and lastly Xavier and Laura who were holding on to each other tightly and smiling brightly. Proud that I am standing on the stage ready to kill. But am I ready to kill? Can I do it? I tuned back into the speech David was holding just in time to hear, "Let start tonight off with Ryan!" The crowd erupted in loud yells and cheers. All excited to see the first kill of the night. Before him stood a petite woman, who had tear stains decorating her cheeks. She looked like a petrified puppy the way she stood before Ryan. I can only imagine how she would feel. I wish I could stop it but if I do, I will not only embrace and dishonour my new family I will be severely punished for it. I know I will. I need to escape if I want to try and save lives but even that I doubt. There are so many cannibals here there is nothing I can do. Even if I escape, I can never get them to change their ways. The police and FBI would round them all up and they'd all get lifelong prison time. I don't want that for them. This is generations of traditions passed down from one family member to the next. But what about Marcy. She doesn't want to be here. I didn't want to be here. But I did learn to enjoy my time. The meat is delicious, holds more flavour than any other meat I have ever had. So why do I still want to escape? Is it knowing that people are looking for me? Is it knowing that it is expected of me to want to escape? Is societies grasp on me so strong that I force myself to believe what they think is right? Is it so wrong to kill other humans and eat them? It solves overpopulation with people having more than one or two kids.

I stare with wide eyes as Ryan slices the knife across the woman's throat. Easy as that. Could I do the same? I will have to do the same, I don't have much choice. I watch as a middle-aged man is lead my way. He is pretty good looking with his luscious brown hair. I can see the stubble of a beard showing, as a result of not shaving. I gulp audibly and I know he can sense my fear. He can sense my hesitation as he stares at me with pleading eyes. I can't do this to him. But I have no choice. I look over at my family who are all giving me encouraging smiles. I can't let them down. I move over the table with the knives in them. The men holding onto my victim retrain him tightly as he struggles to free himself. There is nothing I can do for him. I pick up a large knife. Hopefully, I'll be able to hit the heart and he'll be able to die quickly. I turn back to his struggling form. I stare at the place where I believe his heart to be. It is hard to be sure. I've never had to know where someone's heart was before now. I don't want to miss him and risk inflicting more pain rather than a quick death. I look over at my family once more. Dad is giving me a stern glare. He wants a show, just like everyone else did. Just like Laura did. If I kill him to quick I might still get punished. I glance over to Ryan, even he made a show of it, I just caught the ending of it. The killed woman is now laying on a table on the side of the stage being gutted and prepped for the barbeque. I can do this. I look back to my victim and he must have seen my hesitation as he started yelling out to me, silencing the crowd of cannibals around him.

"You don't have to do this. Let me go! You don't have to kill me..." I can sense his hesitation just as I'm sure he is sensing the turmoil in my eyes. I can see David ready to step forward but Dad, who I hadn't noticed had moved held him back. He wants me to do this alone. He wants to see how I will react. I gulped again as I listened to the man pleading for his life. There is nothing I can do. I can't save him even if I wanted to. I can't save him. I lifted the knife up a little silencing his pleas.

"I do not have a choice." I whispered out however in this deafening silence I'm sure he was able to hear me and so was everyone else. "we want dinner tonight." I continued still in a whisper. I can feel my hands stop shaking as I lift my eyes and stare directly into his eyes. I am no longer an innocent girl who lost her entire family. I cam a wolf. A hunter and he is the pray. My pray. I lift the knife a little more as I make my way over to him. I can do this. To keep my family safe and fed I can do this. He must die so we can live. I stepped forward as I slowly pushed the knife into his chest right where I thought his heart would be. I heard his screams as I slowly continued to press. He fought against the two cannibals restraining him but to no avail. There is no chance for him to free himself and there is no chance for me to gain my humanity back. I am part of this family, this big family of cannibals not only the Browns. My name is Nova Brown and I am a cannibal.