Chapter 1:
The Gathering
(by Joshua Massen, added on January 27, 2010)
“Tonight is a very important night,” Daniel’s father told him as they walked through the forest to the gathering place. “Tonight you become a man.” Daniel was scared but he knew he shouldn’t be. This was a ritual that his father had undertaken at his age and his father before him. It was tradition. The path they were walking down came to an abrupt end. There was no path to the gathering place. Two robed figures emerged from the darkness bearing torches. They would guide them the rest of the way. The woods seemed to become even thicker and darker as they neared the gathering place. Branches snagged at Daniel’s clothing and whipped at his face and it wasn’t long before his face and arms were crisscrossed with cuts and scratches. Suddenly the woods came to an end and they emerged into a clearing where many others awaited them. This was the gathering place. People who Daniel didn’t know came forward and greeted him and his father. Once the greetings were done the ritual began. The others formed a circle around Daniel and his father. Daniel and his father stood facing each other. “Be brave,” said his father smiling. Then the chanting began. Low at first no more than a whisper but as it rose, Daniel saw the smile on his father’s face disappear. He began to shake. Beneath his father’s skin Daniel saw muscle and bone begin to move and reform. He heard a cracking sound as bone began to break. As the chanting rose to fever pitch Daniel saw rivulets of blood begin to flow from his father’s eyes and then his nose and mouth. Daniel watched as his father’s ribcage burst open. From his exposed insides his heart was ripped out by an invisible force. Blood sprayed from the vessels to which it had been connected. Daniel bathed in it and allowed it to wash over him. It felt warm on his skin. He took the heart in his hand and bit into it. Hot blood filled his mouth. It tasted bitter and coppery at first but then he tasted something deeper. The taste of life. It didn’t take him long to completely consume it. His father was now on his knees in front of him. The look on his face was one of pride. He smiled before crumpling to the ground. Daniel turned and saw the others were now on their knees in submission. The sound of their joyous chorus filled the night air.
