Page 6 of Sacrificed to the Mountain Demon

I nod, swallowing hard. As I tend to the boy's wounds, I can't help but wonder: how long can we survive like this? How many more attacks can our village withstand?

The night wears on, a blur of blood and bandages, of whispered prayers and muffled sobs. By the time dawn breaks, my hands are raw and my back aches from bending over the injured. But I can't stop. Won't stop. Not while there are still people who need help.

As the first rays of sunlight peek over the horizon, I allow myself a moment to breathe. To feel. The weight of the night's events crashes down on me, and I have to brace myself against a nearby wall to keep from collapsing.

I look over at Elder Belinda, tears threatening to spill over. "Did we do enough to help?"

She sighs, her eyes filled with a wisdom born of too many similar nights. "We did what we could. That's all anyone can ask."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. As I survey the aftermath of the attack, a thought niggles at the back of my mind. There has to be a way to stop this. To protect our people. But how?

Plagued by exhaustion and grief, I head home to rest. After several hours of fitful sleep, I wake to the sound of Mara and Tomas' worried voices downstairs. I soon hurry to the kitchen.They tell me there's to be a gathering in the square and I must attend. Reluctantly, I pull on my coat and head out into the frigid atmosphere.

The village square, usually a place of bustling activity and cheerful chatter, now stands as a grim testament to last night's horrors. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to ward off the chill that has nothing to do with the crisp mountain air.

Elder Belinda steps onto the makeshift platform, her weathered face etched with lines of worry. The crowd falls silent, a heavy blanket of anticipation settling over us all.

"My friends," she begins, her voice carrying across the square, "we've suffered greatly. But we cannot let fear paralyze us."

I shift uneasily, my stomach twisting into knots. Something in her tone sets my nerves on edge.

"There may be a way to end these attacks for good," she continues, her eyes sweeping over the crowd. "A solution that requires great sacrifice."

Murmurs ripple through the gathering. I strain to hear the fragments of conversation around me.

"What kind of sacrifice?"

"Anything to stop the waira..."

"But at what cost?"

Elder Belinda raises her hand, silencing the whispers. "There are rumors that the creature living in the mountains may require a special offering to protect us. It seems our previous offerings proved insufficient to the dark god."

My mind starts to race uncontrollably. Special offering? What does that mean? I've heard strange whispers lately among the elders, but always dismissed them as nonsense.

"This special offering is quite… unique," Elder Belinda says, her voice faltering slightly. "A young, unmarried woman from our village."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I stumble back a step, my vision blurring at the edges. No. It can't be.

"The woman must be of age, with no family ties to bind her here," Elder Belinda continues, her eyes finding mine in the crowd.

I feel the weight of dozens of stares turn in my direction. My cheeks burn with a mix of embarrassment and dawning horror. I'm the only one who fits that description.

"Bella," a voice next to me whispers. I turn to see Sarah, my closest friend, her eyes wide with fear. "They can't mean..."

But I know they do. The realization settles over me like a shroud. I'm to be the special offering.

Elder Belinda's voice cuts through the rising chatter. "It's our only hope for survival. We've lost too many already."

I want to run. To hide. To wake up and find this all a terrible dream. But my feet remain rooted to the spot, my voice trapped in my throat.

My heart pounds so loudly I'm sure everyone can hear it. I feel dozens of eyes boring into me, a mix of pity and relief etched on their faces. Relief that it's not them. Relief that they're not the ones being offered up as a sacrifice to some unknown monster.

"No," I whisper, my voice barely audible. Then louder, "No! You can't do this!"

Elder Belinda's weathered face softens, but her eyes remain resolute. "Bella, my dear, I'm afraid we have no choice."

I shake my head violently, curls whipping against my face. "There has to be another way. Please!"

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