Page 7 of Sacrificed to the Mountain Demon

I stumble back, my legs threatening to give out beneath me. Sarah's hand on my arm steadies me, but I can see the conflict in her eyes.

"I... I can't," I stammer, looking desperately around the crowd. "I'm not... I'm not strong enough for this."

Elder Belinda steps down from the platform, approaching me with slow, measured steps. "You are stronger than you know, Bella. And you have the power to save us all."

I feel the weight of expectation pressing down on me, suffocating me. My chest tightens, each breath a struggle. "But what about my life? My future?"

"Your sacrifice will ensure a future for all of us," someone calls out.

The murmurs of agreement ripple through the crowd, and I feel my resolve crumbling. I've always been the one to go along with things. But this... this is too much.

"Please," I beg, tears streaming down my face. "Don't ask this of me."

Elder Belinda takes my hands in hers, her grip surprisingly strong. "We don't ask lightly, Bella. But you're our only hope."

I look into her eyes, searching for any sign of doubt, any flicker of uncertainty. But all I see is grim determination and a desperate hope.

My shoulders slump in defeat. "I... I'll do it," I whisper, the words tasting like ash in my mouth.

A collective sigh of relief sweeps through the crowd. I feel hollow, empty, as if I've just signed away my very soul.

As the reality of my fate settles over me, I can't help but wonder: what kind of monster am I being sacrificed to? And will I survive long enough to find out?

I soon stumble through the door of my small cottage, my legs barely supporting me. The familiar scent of dried herbs and wood smoke does nothing to calm the storm raging inside me. My hands shake as I fumble with the latch, desperate to shut out the world and the fate it's thrust upon me.

"This can't be happening," I whisper.

I sink to the floor, my back pressed against the rough wooden door. The chill from outside seeps through my clothes, but Ibarely notice. My mind races, replaying the scene in the village square over and over.

A sacrifice. They want me to be a sacrifice.

A hysterical laugh bubbles up from my chest, quickly turning into a sob. I wrap my arms around my knees, rocking back and forth as tears stream down my face.

"What am I going to do?" I ask the silent room.

I force myself to stand, my legs unsteady beneath me. My gaze falls on the small mirror hanging by the washbasin. The face staring back at me is a stranger – pale, wide-eyed, with tear-stained cheeks.

"You're going to die," I tell my reflection. "They're sending you to die."

The words hang in the air, heavy and suffocating. I turn away, unable to bear the sight of my own fear.

The silence of the cottage presses in on me, amplifying the frantic beating of my heart. I've always been the one to go along, to avoid conflict. But now, faced with my own mortality, I feel a spark of rebellion ignite within me.

"No," I say, my voice stronger than before. "I won't just roll over and die."

But even as the words leave my mouth, doubt creeps in. What choice do I have? The village needs me. People will die if I don't go. Can I live with that on my conscience?

I sink onto my bed, the weight of indecision crushing me. The monster in the mountains looms in my imagination, a faceless terror waiting to devour me.

4

JYTOS

Iprowl the edge of the forest, my tentacles twitching with anticipation. Something is different in the human village today. The air thrums with an energy I've never felt before, and it sets me on edge.

"What the fuck are those insects up to now?" I mutter, my deep voice rumbling in my throat.

Crouching low, I slink closer to the village. My black skin blends seamlessly with the shadows. The scent of fear and desperation wafts towards me, tickling my nostrils. It's intoxicating.

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