The Chosen Five

The sun barely peeks over the horizon, waking alongside the town of Neveton. Morning dew dances on the blades of grass as the townsfolk gather at the town border.

There, those who were chosen the day before are loaded into the back of a hooded carriage. The children of the orphanage are gathered around Sasaki.

“It’s ok, guys.” Sasaki blubbered, holding back tears. “This is important work.”

“But why do you have to go?” One of them asked.

“Yeah! I’ll go instead.” The others chimed in agreement. 

Sasaki knows it's hard to understand, but he recalls his own pastor’s words when he left.

“I’m sorry, my children. I know we won’t see each other for a long time, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be around. My life will forever nurture you.

"When you gather water from the stream, I’ll be the most refreshing sip. And when you eat freshly picked berries, I’ll be the sweetest bite. And when you feel cold during the dead of winter, I’ll be the warmest breeze. Just keep your eyes open, pray, and I’ll be there.”

The children's eyes began to swell with tears, realizing that their efforts would not sway Sasaki to stay. With Sasaki’s last goodbyes, the carriage shifts as it prepares to set way.

“I must go,” Sasaki affirmed. “I’ll watch your growth from above.”

The kids' wails pick up again. Some asking him to stay, some wishing goodbyes. With a snap of a whip, the horses pull the carriage and the distance between Sasaki and the kids grows.

The adults hold their shoulders in comfort as they wave goodbye. Sasaki, not wanting to cry in front of the kids, gives one last wave before retreating into the curtains. As soon as he’s out of sight, he can't hold it back anymore.

Tears stream down his face as he bawls into his hands. The other chosen ones pat his back, holding back their own tears from leaving their friends and family. But despite that, they all had a sense of pride across their faces.

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It’s been a few days since they set off. Sasaki and his townsmates were the only ones in the back of that wagon the whole time, only stopping for quick bathroom breaks.

When night came, they slept in the bed of the carriage, and during meals, they were handed bread and bowls of watered-down soup. It was a very grueling trip.

One day, one of the townsmen asked for a little more to eat and was met with a stunned, angry look. Without another word, he slinked back into the carriage to munch upon his given rations.

“Traveling and feeding so many people… It must be pretty hard.” Sasaki says.

But neither of them could say much more. Nobody could ignore the invigorating smell of roasting meat and the priests' gleeful laughter.

​After a week of being on the road, the carriage came to an unscheduled halt. When Sasaki perked up his ears, he realized the snorts of horses seemed to have multiplied, accompanied by chatter of unfamiliar voices.

“What’s happening?” one of the townsmen asked.

The people in the carriage chattered amongst themselves in speculation, but Sasaki was too curious. He moved from the back and positioned himself against the curtains to peer out without moving them.

There, he could see Father Richter talking to someone without the ceremonial white garb the priests wore. This man was large, wearing leather-fashioned armor. His face was gruff and unshaven, and he spoke in an unrefined manner.

Interestingly enough, the Father laughed alongside him in a similar gruff manner. Though whatever they were discussing couldn’t be heard. Suddenly, the two began walking toward the carriage. Hoping not to be caught spying, Sasaki settled into the seat beneath him.

The curtains fling open and the sudden light blinds those within. As their eyes adjust, they hear Father Richter talk.

“Just five?”

“Yeah, we know another group will be coming through soon. Besides, taking care of any more will be a hassle.”

Just as Sasaki’s eyes clear, a pair of hands reach down and grab him by the shoulders, pulling him from the carriage. As his feet hit the ground, he looks back and sees the four sitting closest to him being pulled out alongside him.

“What’s going on?” One of them speaks up.

Father Richter speaks with a larger-than-normal smile.

“Ah. I understand your concerns. We’ll be splitting your group up to be a part of another ritual.”

The group is obviously confused as they chatter amongst themselves. Father Richter attempts to soothe them.

“Well, I hope you didn’t think we needed this many people for one ritual,” he chuckles.

He abruptly changes gears. “Anywho, chop chop. You five will be going over here.”

​Before anyone could raise their objections, the new faces began guiding them to their own carriage. The five townspeople, including Sasaki, filed into the back, too hungry and tired to think further about the matter.

As soon as everyone sat down, a whip snapped, and the carriage lurched forward. Now, with just the five of them, their confusion began to settle, and they braced themselves for the next leg of the trip. But Sasaki couldn’t help but remember that rituals don’t happen all that often.

​-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ride with their new group wasn’t much different. Hard bread and wet soup were still served, but when they were let out for a bathroom break, Sasaki observed that they were no longer on a beaten path, but deep in the thickets of the surrounding forest.

He hadn’t noticed before, but the carriages’ wheels were thick with metal spikes along the rim. Seeing the line of crushed vegetation beneath them, he concluded that these wheels were made specifically for going through forests. The carriages were also lined with a thin, clear coating around their perimeters. It seemed to be some kind of armor, since the parts without the coating showed considerable wear.

"That wear..." Sasaki thought.

It seems more than just trees bashing against it. It seemed almost claw-like.

“Ok!” The man’s voice snapped Sasaki out of his thoughts. “Back in, everyone.”

With nowhere else to go, Sasaki and the others stepped back into the carriage and continued on.

The days pass in this manner. 

After a dozen or so stops, a voice calls out to the group in the carriage.

“Alright! Everyone out. We’re here.”

The weary townsfolk climb out. After two weeks of sitting on hard, unstable wood and eating barely anything, all five of them were stumbling over their own feet, weakened by hunger and fatigue. Sasaki steps down and gazes at their destination.

​“...what?” He couldn’t help but utter his surprise.

Before him was a small log cabin. One that you would see as a hunting respite. Not a big town square like he was expecting. Maybe the ceremony needs to be done deep in this forest?

 
But seeing the vegetation growing past its place in the ground and wrapping multiple times around the surrounding rocks and trees makes Sasaki wonder what kind of ritual his life will be used for.

​Only one person can fit through the door at a time. So the strangers push them in. Inside, there’s not much to it—still a very normal cabin. There’s an entryway that seemed to lead to a kitchen, with an open area for a dining room table. But the strewn-about chairs and smashed pickling jars made Sasaki feel as if no one had lived here in a very long time.

The leader of the group steps forward and moves a nearby carpet, revealing a wooden hatch in the floor. He grabs its metal handle and lifts the hatch with difficulty, the weight of the door making itself obvious as it lands on the ground with a loud thud, kicking dust into the air. The leader coughs and waves away the cloud.

“cough, Ok! cough cough. Alright, let's go.” The leader begins his descent down steep stairs into a basement. His companions grab Sasaki and others by their arms to guide them forward. But as they approach, one of them can’t help it anymore.

“Whoa, whoa, ok? What is this place? What the hell is going on?” A man named Nozomu speaks up. A long-time friend of Sasaki.

“Just keep moving,” says the man holding his arm, but he pulls away.

“No! I think I’m owed a bit of explanation. We’ve been on the road without a peep, accepting our measly food for two weeks straight. We suddenly had to separate, and now you want us to go down into this creepy basement? I’d rather wait up here until it's time for the ceremony.”

The gruff man tries to pull Nozomu by his arm again, but Nozomu yanks it out of his grasp, causing the man to stumble.

“No! I said-”

But before he can continue, the gruff man grabs him by the back of his head and slams his face into the ground with a loud slam. Suddenly, everyone’s blood goes cold. All the signs Sasaki’s been trying to ignore come rushing back to him. This isn’t right!​

Immediately, he rushes forward to help his friend, but his collar is yanked against his throat. The force was so powerful that he folds backward, causing his legs to collapse beneath him, and lands hard on his back. Before he can collect his bearings, he’s flipped over and pinned down by the man beside him. The man’s knees dig deep into his back as his arms are grabbed and bound.

​Sasaki is barely able to lift his head to see his friend's face pressed hard into the ground. He isn’t fighting back. In fact, he wasn’t moving much at all. As if to heighten his fears, Sasaki sees blood beginning to pool underneath his face.

“Nozomu! Hey! Are you ok?” Sasaki calls out.

But instead of a reply, screams ring out behind him as the remaining three are being tied up as well.

“Ah, man… What did I tell you?!” The leader of the group grumbles. “We literally just got here, and you’re going to mess up the sacrifices now?

“Sorry, boss, he pushed me.” The thug lifts Nozomu’s head from his hair. 

Nozomu’s face was bloody. His nose was broken, and his teeth were out of place. A pitiful cough sputters out of his mouth, giving Sasaki a wave of relief, realizing he’s still alive. The thug further pulls Nozomu up and sits him on the ground as another man brings him rope.

“As long as he’s still alive,” the leader scoffs. “ I already paid the priest for five; I’m getting five back.”

The five were all bound, scared, and weak. It became clear to everyone at that moment that there would be no ceremony, no ritual. Their lives, which they were gladly willing to hand over to the gods, were now in the hands of blasphemous villains.

What happened? What went wrong? What about the others? Sasaki’s gears shifted. Suddenly all he could think about was how to survive. This is not what his life is for. This is not what their lives are for! As reality weighed on Sasaki all at once, he didn’t realize they were already descending the stairs into the grave-like cellar, unable to move an inch for himself.