Ritual
1198 Words
It was like The Wolf was trying to kill me. I cried harder as I closed my eyes to see those who were getting closer to me. I hope someone will help me, or I will have to give up my life.
I covered my face with my hands because I felt more and more cornered by the Wolves.
The howling and growling sounds of wolves continued to compete in my ears. I felt after that the atmosphere became quiet, and I ventured to open my eyes to see if there were still wolves around me.
"You are safe." The voice I heard last night is now appearing again. I opened my eyes and looked at him.
There was a boy, probably my age, standing looking at me in his plain white clothes. His face was indeed very handsome with his sharp gaze. I think he chased the wolf away for me.
"Are they gone? I'm scared here. I want to go home." I wish this boy could take me home.
"Yes. Sure. I'll take you home after we do the ritual." He said.
Ritual? I just heard that word. What exactly is it, and why should I do it?
"What is it? Do I have to do it?" I asked him.
"You have to do it if you want to get out of here without being torn to pieces by wolves." If I have to, I will follow the ritual so that I can go home safely without being attacked by wolves.
"Okay. I'll do it. What's your name?" I asked.
"Lucanne," He said briefly.
"Nice to meet you, Lucanne. I'm Emily, and I was hoping you could take me home." My hand reached out to him, wanting to shake his hand. But Lucanne didn't return my hand until I pulled it back.
"Then when will we do the ritual? I can't wait to get home." Even though my house is not as comfortable as other people's houses, it's better to be at home than at someone else's house, right?
"Tonight. During a red lunar eclipse." Said Lucanne. It took me so long to leave this place. Then I have to do what I have to do while I'm here.
Lucanne turned and walked away from me. He was very cold and unfriendly.
Because I felt goosebumps alone here and was afraid that there would be wolves pouncing again, I chose to follow the boy's departure.
●●●●●
Finally night has come. It's time for me to finish my business here and go home.
I was always by Lucanne's side, even when he didn't do anything.
But after the sun went down, the initially very cold look on my face now looked more cheerful, and I often asked me a lot of things.
"The ritual is very easy, Emily. You don't have to worry. My father and I will always protect you." Lucanne kept reassuring me that I would be fine by her side. Even though I didn't quite understand what was being said. I just nodded in response to his words.
While we were sitting in a room with only a table and a chair in the middle, suddenly there was an adult man approaching us.
The man looks very authoritative and fascinating.
"Dad?" After Lucanne said that, I found out that this adult man is his father.
"Lucanne. And you. Ritual preparations are complete. Let's go there because the eclipse of the red moon will soon appear there." Said the man. Lucanne stood up from his seat and I follow him, who followed the direction of Lucanne and the man.
When I arrived at the ritual place, it turned out that there were already several people standing there and staring intently at me. My eyes kept looking the other way, and I was so shocked when suddenly there was a pack of wolves there.
Feeling frightened, I started crying again, but Lucanne held my hand.
"It's okay. They won't eat you." He calmed me down while holding my hand. Even so, my instinct as a human being who is afraid of wild animals is still there.
I tried not to look at the Wolf Pack and continued to hold Lucanne's hand tightly as he stepped towards a place that had been arranged beautifully and neatly.
We both went to higher ground. Lucanne and I were told by Lucanne's father to confront each other.
It looks like the show is about to start because Lucanne's father is not looking at the moon anymore. He kept staring at the moon.
"Lucanne, Emily. The show's about to start. Please hold each other's hands." We followed each other and started to bond.
Sure enough, as I stared towards the moon, it turned red and bloody.
"I will tie you two together as a couple for life. And you will not be separated by anything that wants to separate." Said Lucanne's father. Although I didn't really understand what he meant, I just kept quiet throughout the whole event.
Suddenly my hand was held by Lucanne's father, and he showed my palm. I didn't realize it because Lucanne's father scratched my palm with a golden knife in his hand. I feel like I want to cry, but I can't.
It wasn't just my hand that was scratched with a knife. But Lucanne too.
"Now you are officially a couple and will be together for the rest of your adult life." After Lucanne's father said that. The show was over, and everyone started to leave as well, with a pack of wolves leaving me and Lucanne still in place.
Lucanne covered my wound with a cloth he didn't know where to get.
"Now can I go home? Will you promise to take me home?" Lucanne promised me after the show was over that he would take me home.
"Yes. I remember. Come on, I'll take you home." Lucanne held my left hand that was not scratched leaving this village.
He was very brave in a forest as dark as this and seemed to know the way because I went through a very wide road earlier.
We walked quite a distance, but I didn't feel tired at all. Suddenly we were across the street from my house. Is it possible to walk this fast from the forest to my house? Because when leaving for camping, we need hours of car rides.
"We have arrived." I looked at Lucanne, who was looking at me too.
"Thank you, Lucanne. You were very kind and did not break your promise. Let's go into my house, and I'll introduce you to my family." I intend to take Lucanne to rest first at my house for fear that she will be tired during this trip.
"No, Emily. I'll be home soon. Go and meet your family." Said Lucanne.
"Really? Then goodbye, Lucanne. I'm so glad met you." Even so, Lucanne always protected me there from the Wolves who wanted to pounce on me.
"Goodbye, Emily. I'll pick you up when you're older." After saying that, Lucanne walked away from me.
I don't know what he meant, but hopefully we will meet and be friends again.
- Writer
