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The air was quiet as the rabbi finished wrapping the girl in chains. It was the night of the summer solstice. The beast would be here soon to collect its meal.
Looking at the girl, he felt a twinge of fear. Her hair disheveled, her body thin. He knew Midari was picky.
What if she didnt accept this one?
Well beggars can't be choosers.
Swallowing, he looked at the list of instructions Midari left him.
“Lets see, chains. Check. Naked. Check. Girl. check. Tree. check.”
The girl began to grumble from the drugs he fed her to keep her quiet.
Placing a gag in her mouth and a blindfold over her eyes, he walked away.
“I hope this works.” he said.
An eerie howl was heard throughout the forest. The girl (while blinded) began to thrash in fear from the noise. Cigarette smoke was blown in her face.
“That’s right…struggle.” a tongue licked the side of her face before someone smelled her neck. The person pulled back.
“Mmm…I just love the smell of FEAR.”
The blindfold was gently pulled off the girl. Her eyes still squinted.
“Look at me girl.” the voice demanded.
The girl listened. Opening her eyes she noticed a creature with fierce red eyes looking back at her. The creature was covered in black fur with pointed ears. A cigarette was in between its claws.
Sharp claws and sharper teeth completed the look.
The girl thrashed in fear. The creature watched her, unimpressed. Eventually grabbing the girl's chin and forcing her to look at it.
The girl stared at the red eyes. Noticing the pupils started to swirl.
A wave of relaxation washed over her and she stopped thrashing. Her muscles sighing in relief. The creature gently removed the gag. Throwing it into the woods; enraged.
“What disgusting creatures not even allowing you the catharsis of screaming.” it said.
“Y…You can talk?”
The creature nodded before licking the girl's throat again.
“This may hurt.” it said before biting into the girl's throat. Drinking some blood before frowning and pulling away. It spit the blood out; disgusted at the taste.
“Child, how old are you?”
“11.”
The creature frowned and growled but sliced the girls chains in half and freed her.
“Simple instructions. I give them simple instructions. Are they retarded? Those insects were supposed to send me…” the creature paced back and forth, clearly frustrated.
“Perhaps they think they are clever ...I'll show them clever.”
The girl looked at the creature.
“You’re still here?!” it said surprised.
The girl began to cry. The creature walked up and hugged it. Rubbing her hair.
“Hey. im sorry for yelling. Shh its ok.” the girl leaned onto the creature’s chest sobbing.
“You havent been held like this for quite some time have you? Is that why they chose you? A lamb without a home. A shadow of a person that no one would miss.”
The girl cried and nodded.
“Shh. do not cry my lamb. You will suffer no more.” the creature said. “Look in my eyes.”
The girl did and saw the swirls again. This time she fell asleep.
Midari growled as she gathered the remnants of the chain. Placing the sleeping girl in a safe spot and covering her with a jacket.
“Sacrificing an innocent girl to appease the forces of chaos and slaughter. What is your endgame rabbi? I gave you protection and you couldn't even bring me what I asked for…”
Midari howled into the forest and ran toward the village.
The synagogue was quiet as the rabbi finished putting away the scrolls. The service went peacefully. He breathed a sigh of relief.
She must have accepted the sacrifice. He thought to himself.
Hearing a large thrash outside he turned around and ran to the door. Opening the door he saw one of his trusted scribes running toward him. Other men were grabbing guns and sticks. Some even grabbed stones. Women and children began to run away in fear, locking their doors.
“What is going on?” the rabbi said.
“It’s Ikishima. She’s really angry! We gave her the sacrifice she wanted. I don't understand. What do we do sir?”
Looking up he saw Midari floating in the air. A blue aura surrounding her body. She was holding the fractured chain used to bind the village's inadequate sacrifice to the tree.
Floating down to the ground, she scanned the area. Stomping her foot down she knocked the men unconscious. She threw the chain at the rabbi. It landed by his foot.
He looked in horror at her animal-like form. He watched as she kneeled on all fours and ran extremely fast past him, toward his house. The wind from the speed sent him flying into the wall deep inside the synagogue.
Midari jumped into the rabbi’s house from the roof. A woman looked on in horror as Midari held the woman’s child.
Hitting Midari in the face the woman screamed as her entire hand was broken due to Midari’s strong body. Midari backhanded the woman and set her into a wall. The woman slumped over.
“Ikishima…wait! Let's talk about this!” the rabbi said. He was panting and holding his side.
“Simple. Instructions.” Midari said as she petted the child. Her hand was shaking in fear. She moaned slightly. “I gave you simple instructions and you couldn't even follow that.”
“Look. i’ll give you the money…I’ll even double it.”
“Oh you simple man…” Midari said before licking the child's face. “Its not about money…It’s about sending a message.” She tickled the baby…who laughed at her in response. Midari laughed too.
The rabbi glared at her. Reaching for a gun.
“Touch that gun and she dies!”
The rabbi stopped in his tracks.
“Just what are you?” he said terrified at the evil aura seeping through the house.
“Yes…you are perfect. Just my type…although be it too little. You would only be a saltine to my bloodlust.” Midari told the girl. Ignoring him. She rocked the baby back and forth.
Placing the baby back to the crib, Midari glared at him before heading for the door.
“Wait! That's it?”
“Would you rather I kill your town?” Midari flashed her claws.
“No.” he said.
“This is the LAST time I show mercy.” she warned.
“Mercy?”
Midari smirked, snapped her fingers and left.
The child screamed in agony. Rushing to his daughter's bedside, he looked horrified.
The childs eye sockets were empty, her eyes seemingly dissolved into thin air. He tried to console his daughter but it appeared she couldn't hear him. In fact she didn't react to any noise.
Midari rubbed her hungry stomach as she sat under a tree. To her left was the 11 year old from before.
The 11 year old groaned awake.
“Welcome back.” Midari said.
“You…What happened?”
“Don't worry about that. Comeon.” Midari stood and dusted herself off. Offering the girl a hand.
“Where are we going?”
“Well you have no home. I’m taking you in. you’ll live a good life.”
The girl hesitated.
“Look, you can come with me or stay out in the woods. Your choice.”
“You're not gonna eat me?”
“No.”
The girl took Midari’s hand as she walked them back to civilization.
“Thank you.” the girl said.
“You're welcome.” Midari said, blushing. “Do you have any one i can call?”
The girl shook her head. Midari sighed as they walked. Eventually walking the girl to an orphanage.
“Here. you’ll be safe.”
“But I wanna stay with you.”
Midari sighed. “No.”
The girl sighed.
“I’ll visit. Go on. You’ll be safe there.”
Midari watched as the girl went inside.
It started to rain.
Midari walked home.