Seth Hartley
Interlude: Bloodfeast
Bloodfeast
The old suburban approached the dilapidated barn house on the property in Sun Valley. London’s knuckles whitened around the steering wheel as the butterflies in her stomach grew. Father had finally called upon her to seek the sacrifice for repentance for the Bloodfeast Ritual. She let out a sigh of relief after jerking the car in park.
She stepped out of the suburban and embraced the warm wind, while the trees rustled overhead. The desert floor was illuminated by the full moon, against a backdrop of mountains painted black by the dark skies. She opened the back door of the Suburban where she met the fear of death in the eyes of the man in the back.
She grabbed the burlap sack on the floor of the old Suburban and pulled it over the man’s head. She brushed the whimpering man’s covered face with her decaying hands, then cinched the bag shut around his throat with a long rope. By now, her paralysis spell has worn off enough to allow the man to amble behind her as she led him to the barn house with the rope.
The sound of chains falling from the barn door taunt the man through the darkness of the sack covering his face. He was yanked forward and fell to the ground as the doors shut behind him. London loosened the rope and snatched the bag from the man’s head. His heart sank as the horror of the barn rushed over him. Three mangled corpses that appeared to have been eaten hung from meat hooks above a large wooden table. His ability to scream was snuffed out by the lump in his throat.
Still dizzy from hitting his head on the rocks, he used every ounce of strength left in him to rise to his feet. He attempted to run for the door when he was stopped by two additional pairs of moldy hands on his shoulders. He turned around and vomited as the barn light shown on the three decomposing faces before him.
Resigning to his fate, he fell to his knees. The three abominations began to drag him to the wooden table. They stripped the clothes from his body and heaved the man onto the moist wood. His wrists and ankles were bound to the table legs as he stared into the eyes of the inanimate corpses hanging above him.
The man’s body jolted as the barn door swung open behind him. His hopes of rescue faded as the man entering began to sing familiar show tunes.
“Hot patootie, bless my soul! I really love that rock and roll!” The voice bellowed as it approached.
He was unable to see the man who stood behind his restrained body at the head of the table. The man began to speak.
“You have been selected to strengthen and nourish the bodies of my children.” The mysterious man said coolly.
The man thrashed around and begged as the voice behind him continued.
“For it is through me that we carry out these orders from God to cleanse this earth of the blasphemy of witchcraft. By sacrificing your flesh to the Bloodfeast, you allow his soldiers to continue his mission. Your sins will be forgiven and your sacrifice rewarded when you depart to the other side.” The man behind him offered.
“My children, savor this reward as we continue on our mission. For the bloodfeast shall set this man free!” The voice faded away as the barn door swung open and shut again.
Panic and desperation set in as the necrotizing women closed in on his body with unhinged jaws. He felt pressure clamp down on his shins and thighs, not yet able to feel the teeth tear away at his flesh. The trickling sensation of warm blood crept down his leg as the smell of iron set into his nose. His constricted throat finally allowed him to scream as he continued to thrash.