Page 38 of Ring Around the Rosie

“Your mother?” Sabbath eyed me. “Your mother is here?”

Sabbath grabbed my arm. “Come on. We need to get back.”

“No!” I yanked my arm away. “I have so many questions!”

“Well, I’m not going to answer them! Now, let’s go!”

I tried to think quickly on my feet. “If you won’t answer any more questions, then tell me this.” Sabbath made a face. “What did Foster mean when he said blood had been spilled, so now they can begin?”

His face went white as a ghost. “He said that?” I nodded. “Fuck,” he whispered under his breath.

“What did he mean?” I asked again.

“That damn kid.” Sabbath shook his head and exhaled heavily with a smile. “You already know. It’s as the rumors say, Rosie.” He stood and grabbed the axe. “Every ten years, people go missing in these woods. Eventually, they all turn up. Dead.” He flashed his canines. “Since you’re so damn curious. Can you guess how many die?”

My stomach twisted as I recalled Solomon and Nurse B’s words. The rumors of this camp, they weren’t just rumors. The totems, the Sapling, the murders. It was all true. And Solomon said six people died ten years ago. Which meant six people were going to die.

“Oh my God.” I covered my mouth.

“That’s right.” Sabbath brushed his long hair back. “Every ten years, six lucky people are chosen to die as our gift to The Redwood. A sacrifice made to continue the protection over all our members. And now that Foster has come of age, as heir to The Order, he was to start this year’s sacrifice by spilling the first blood of the chosen.” He leaned down and grabbed my face. “Care to guess which lucky six have been picked?” Tears rolled down my cheeks as he watched me. I knew exactly who they were. “I guess you got your answers after all.”

“You’re sick, Sabbath.” I choked on the words. “All of you.”

His face darkened. “Us. You’re a member of The Order too, Rosie. The same pact made long ago is sealed within my blood. Our blood. It’s time to stop running, spitfire. Fate brought you here to Camp Redwood. How else do you explain both our presence here at the same time as the ritual? It’s written in our destiny. You’re meant to be here, to partake in the ritual we must all perform.”

No.

“Yes,” he growled, as his grip tightened around my face. “I saved you once, but now that you know everything, there is no turning back. You made your bed, now it’s time to lie in it.” Sabbath roughly released my jaw. “I told you to stay away from the counselors. I told you to stop asking questions, but you just couldn’t let it go.” He twirled the axe in his hand. “The six have been chosen. The Order is coming for them, Rosie. And we will claim them, with or without you.”

“You can’t do this, Sabbath. I won’t let you!”

He laughed. “It's too late. The heir has begun the ritual and blood has already been spilled. This ritual is happening, Rosie. And there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”

I swallowed, and my throat burned from crying. “I’ll tell them. I’ll tell everyone!”

Sabbath ruptured into laughter. “Do you really think that’s going to do anything? Go ahead! Tell them! Half of them won’t believe a word you say. And those who do won't just leave because some vagrant tells them too!” His words stung. “It won’t change anything. You are just one person. And there are hundreds of us hiding in these woods. The Order is always watching.” He tilted his head. “Do you think we’re alone out here? Right now?” I looked around. “We’re not. There’s always someone watching. Always someone hiding in the shadows and ready to do what must be done. Do you think you’re the first person to try to stop us? To stand in our way of salvation? You’re not. And just like those before you, if you try to stop us, you will fail.” His nostrils flared. “The Order is bred and raised to do anything we must to protect The Redwood and serve him. Every single member is more than willing to sacrifice themselves to protect our faith. So go ahead, tell them. Because the only thing you’d be doing is killing them sooner than planned. And in the end, we still get exactly what we want. What The Redwood wants.” I slowly stood and walked up to him. He gently grazedmy face and played with my hair. “Or you can stop running and finally do what you swore to do all those years ago.” Sabbath stepped closer, and his breath hit my face. “What do you say, spitfire? Are you ready to set your soul free and join me in the darkness?”

I spat at his feet and dropped his jacket. “Go to hell, Sabbath.” His face hardened. I shoved past him and quickly stomped away in the direction of camp.

Sabbath yelled after me. “Don’t you get it? I’m already there!”

So am I.

SEVEN

SABBATH

“I will only askthis one more time. Did you tell hereverything?” The woman asked through her damn plague doctor mask. I didn’t answer. God, I really did hate those fucking masks. All of them. Including my own. “Sabbath!” The woman raised her gloved hand and arched her fingers. Immense pain pierced my skull as I groaned loudly. “We cannot afford any distractions!” I fell to my knees and clawed at my head. Loud enchanting whispers wrapped around my brain, and I felt the dark prickling pain of The Redwood within myself. My face felt as though it was on fire, and I knew she wouldn’t stop until I spoke up.

“She–she won’t be a–a problem!” I strained as the veins along my face bulged. I looked down and noticed the ones in my hand doing the same and turning black. She was trying to hurt me. To break my walls and enter my mind. But I couldn’t let her. I had to protect Rosie. Her fingers curled some more, and my face began to tighten. I could feel my blood slowly seeping from my nostrils, eyes, mouth and ears. “My blood is sacred!” I grunted through the extreme pain. “To harm me or waste even a drop is a sin to The Order!”

The woman leaned down and tilted her head. There, staring back at me, was my own self. My body was covered in blood and raging within the eternal fire of hell in a pit of absolute darkness. The direct reflection of my fucking soul. “For now.” She snapped her fingers, and all the pain and torture immediately vanished. The sensation of being burned alive evaporated, and my blood recoiled back into my veins. “Keep your secrets, Sabbath. They do you no good. But if that girl prevents the ritual from succeeding and stops us from doing what must be done, you’ll both be marked for death. You would’ve condemned yourself to damnation, and once you stray from the path, your blood is no longer sacred. And even with that mark on her back and your blood in her veins, she will be damned alongside you. If that happens, there is nothing I can do to save you. Not again.” The woman grabbed my arm and pulled it straight. A second plague doctor joined her and carried a large ritual knife. He handed it to her, and she looked back at me as she tapped it just beneath my chin. “Do you understand me, Sabbath?”

My eyes fell in defeat as I understood the harsh truth of her words. “Yes, Mother.”

“Good.” She flipped my wrist over. “Now, prove your loyalty.” She rotated the knife and offered it to me. “Show him your devotion.”

I grabbed the knife and stood. Both of them watched me closely as I stepped to The Ancient One and fell to my knees. I raised my arm and slowly dragged the sharp blade along my skin. Black blood poured from the deep gash and dripped onto the roots. It hurt like hell, but I knew I had no choice. I had to do as I was told. For her.

---