For Enteral Blessings

By Maelyn Swann

In the cold, dark northern woods of Canada lived a small community of people; some pale and some darken. This community had lived hidden for hundreds if not thousands of years, separated from society in the early years. The community was founded by two Indigenous women, using any means of survival, including taking anyone who entered their forest. Overtime the community grew, the women grew old and left a young boy in charge once they passed. This young boy grew and became a man, a cruel man. He made his people take and murder anyone who entered the woods, all in the name of a god he swore spoke to him. "We need to bring her more flesh!" He had cried out, holding a bloody book in his hands. "She has spoken!! For enteral blessings we must live by her word!"

Time went by slowly for these people, the mans family continuing to lead their people for hundreds of years. However, it took not even a hundred years after the mans death for the community to stop killing and start taking people in once more, growing the community further. The word of their goddess was followed just as the man had proclaimed, teaching the children, the people, to be kind, to look after one another. This community was not cruel, they were a family. Or so they thought.

On a early Septembers day, a beautiful baby girl was born. She had her mothers forest green eyes and her father pale flesh, Lily was born. From a young age Lily knew she was different, she held no love for the new comers, for the weak or sick. She thought her parents to be lacking, her father liked to yell, her mother too busy to be around. Lily found herself looking after her younger brother, Kilo, for the most part. She adored her brother, he was small and loud, but he was smart, and agreed with her.

However, Lily also knew that her father had plans for them. She saw the way he looked at Kilo, the odd lust in his eyes, she hated it. Lily knew she couldn't just get rid of her father, he was the leader of the community, teaching their people the word of their goddess; and yet, Lily knew she could do better. She could lead their people, keep them safe, keep her brother safe from whatever their father had planned.

One late night Lily crept into her brothers room, softly shaking him awake. "Kilo, it's time. You need to wake up." She whispered, speaking softly as he opened his eyes.

"Lily..? What are you taking about.." He whispered back, rubbing his eyes as he yawned.

"We're going to kill father." Lily smiled, watching Kilo tense before staring at her.

"What..?" Lily grabbed Kilos hand, helping him up before leading him out and into the hall. They slowly walked to their fathers study before stopping at the door.

"Here. take this." Lily took a small vile from her pocket, it was a dark red colour, barely seen in the dark hallway. "Kilo, I need you to sneak in and pour this into fathers wine, he'll never wake up again. I promise."

Kilo, shaking slightly, took the vile, eyeing it carefully. Kilo knew that there was something wrong with his sister, but to go so far to plan out their fathers death, he hadn't expected that. "What happens after..? Mother will likely take over after him…"

"Not if she's also dead." Lily quickly said, reaching into her other pocket, pulling out a sharp butchers knife. "I'll take care of mother, everyone will think that she had poisoned father before running away. Then I can take over and we'll be safe." She smiled, her eyes seeming to glow in the moonlight. Kilo couldn't bring himself to respond, he was about to murder his own father. He nodded his head slowly, holding the vile of poison tightly.

Lily turned, walking quickly down the hallway towards her parents' bedroom where she knew her mother was sleeping. She knew her brother would do it, she trusted him with that much. Using her empty hand to open her parents door, she crept into the room. Her mother was sleeping on her back, arms spread out, almost like she was reaching out for someone. Lily paused, was she truly about to murder her own mother? Yes, she needed to protect her brother, and their people. "Sorry mommy." Lily whispered before slicing her mothers throat. She stood still for a few moments, watching as her mother awoke, reaching up to her own throat as she gagged on blood. Lily could feel herself smiling wickedly at her mother, choking on her own blood.

It had taken Lily two hours to clean up, she knew they wouldn't get caught. Lily made her way back to her bedroom, shutting her door behinded herself. Lily turned on her light only to realized her brother was on her bed. He was wide wake, sitting on top of her bed. He had wrapped her blanket around himself, the fabric covering his small frame. "He's dead…" He muttered under his breath, looking up at her. He looked so small like this, he sweet baby brother of 7 summers.

Lily Smiled sweetly, she had known that her brother would do as she said. "Thank you, brother." She turned her light off once again before crawling into her bed, holding Kilo in her arms as he started to sob. Lily quickly realized that Kilo was not like her, he had loved their parents, cared deeply for them. But, she knew that it needed to be done, they needed to be free from them, and now they are, her brother is safe.

Quite some years had went by before any real problems happened. Once Lily had turned 16, her brother 14, she had became a beloved leader to her people. Using the story of finding her fathers dead body at 9 summers of age as a way to endear her to the people. However, Lily was starting to have some issues, they were running out of food. Lily's wife of two years, Yerka, had suggested they cut down on their intake, to start rationing. But, Lily and Kilo knew that it would just make them seem weak, poor even. Incapable of leading. They needed a way to get meat, their animals had died out, from either being eaten or from sickness; and their crops were ruining from the weather.

It was a chill February day when Kilo entered Lily's study, leading against the wall. "What's the plan, Lily?" He asked quietly, he had seen the look in her eyes before, from the day leading up to their parents death.

"Have I ever told you about how much I hate the newcomers brother?" Lily muttered softly, glancing up at her brother before looking back down at the papers, plans, in front of her.

Kilo paused, his month agape as he stared. "Sister, you cannot..!" He moved towards her desk, his eyes glancing down at stacks of different plans. Lily's papers outlined a carefully made plan to stop taking in those who come into their forest, and instead use them for food. Kilos heart felt like it was about to burst from his chest. His beloved big sister wanted to murder and eat people. "There has to be a better way-!"

"There isn't." Lily cut him off, her voice cold, causing a shiver down Kilos spine. "It's either we eat, or we starve Kilo. Which would you prefer, my dear brother?"

Kilo glanced at Lily, then at the papers before letting out a breath of air he didn't realize he was holding. "You're right, you're always right…" He muttered, he didn't like the idea of eating human flesh, but he knew that they needed the food. "What of our Goddess? What does she have to say on this matter?" Kilo looked back at Lily.

Lily smiled, she knew her brother would agree. "She shall grant us her enteral blessing for long as we live by her word."

Yerka was a sheltered young girl, she cared for her family who joined the community when she was a mere babe; and she loves her darling wife. However, she was also aware that something was wrong. For the last few months the hunters had been coming back with large bags, there was no more new people, just a influx of strange meat. Yerka didn't want to assume the worse of the their leaders, but after hearing some young boys talking about seeing human bones behind the butchers, it was becoming hard to ignore.

It was a cold winters night when Yerka snuck out of Lilys' and her shared cabin to the butchers. The whole village was quiet, the crushing of snow beneath her boots was the only sound that comforted her.

Yerka pulled out a shiny key that she had stolen from Lilys' office and unlocked the butchers. All she had to light the building up was the bright moonlight of a full moon. Yerka quietly made her way to the back room, where the meat likely is due to the cold winter. However, she didn't see any meat, the room smelled harshly of blood. She watched her steps, making sure not to trip on any blood on the concrete floor. As she looked around, from the knifes to the cutting boards, she noticed a heavy door. It had four different locks along the side, however they were all clips, none needing a code nor key.

Yerka could feel her heart beating as she unclasped the locks, before grabbing a hold of the handle, pulling the door open.

All Yerka could do was look around her, a flickering light bulb lighting up the small room; exposing the horrors to her. The room was a perfect square. Along the back wall there were two large hooks, about 21cm apart, and hanging from the hooks there is was man. Yerka could see blood dripping from where the hooks came out of his flesh, holding him up by his shoulders. She slowly stepped towards him, before everything went black.

When Yerka awoke all she could feel was pain, a harsh hot pain running up from her legs to her head. She tried to open her eyes, only to be met with darkness. She could suddenly feel the cloth covering her eyes, tied behind her head.

Trying to move Yerka found that she was bound to a wooden chair, her arms tied behind the back and her legs strapped tightly to the chair legs as well. She felt helpless as her breath quicken, the silence eating her alive. "Hello!!" She cried out. "LILY!!!" She screamed, as hot tears rolled down her checks after the cloth failed to soak them up. Yerka could hear her voice growing harsh, rough even, as she kept screaming, pleading, begging, to be freed.

"Hello, Darling." Yerka paused, hearing the cold voice of Lily. Her month agape as a sudden realization washed over her. A harsh cold chill raising up her spine.

"No… No… You… Lily?" Yerka whispered, praying to her Goddess that Lily wasn't the one to do this. That her wife whom took care of her and the people wasn't a monster.

"Ah.. My sweet little Yerka…" Lily spoke, her voice dripping with honey like venom. "I truly am sorry for this, but I can't have you telling everyone else." Yerka could feel Lily's cold wet hands on her checks, lifting her head upwards as lips touched hers.

January 17th, 20##

I can still hear her cries as they fill up the small room, her sweet voice growing harsh and course. I didn't mean for this to happen, you have to believe me! But, I know that my sweet Yerka would never allow me to continue otherwise… But don't worry! I won't kill her, I love my darling girl…

…

February 24th, 20##

I love her. You have to believe me, I never wanted to hurt her!!. But she's safer with me. Inside of me. I'll protect her, forever… I know that you're watching me, I can feel your eyes. She doesn't need her legs, I do…

…

March 6th, 20##

She keeps screaming when I go to visit, she can't even see me! My darling is so smart! What a shame that she doesn't need to think anymore. All she needs is ME our goddess… I'm trying my best, you know? Kilo is always asking about Yerka, it's rather annoying, why does he care about her anyways? Our people are safe, fed, cared for. All they need is to listen to the word of our god…

…

April 29th, 20##

She's so delicious, her soft skin underneath my teeth, on my tongue. I'll be so sad when she's gone, but she'll always be with me!! My darling Yerka knows how much I love her, only I can protect her… Kilo is getting bold, asking too many questions. Who cares about some god? Father didn't hear her either!! I'm starting to believe out ancestor made her up to gain control… Who am I to judge, I'm doing the very same right now! Oh, you don't understand, THEY NEED ME!

…

May 21st, 20##

She's gone, my sweet Yerka is all mine now, forever inside of me… All I need is for Kilo to leave me alone, he's becoming a problem. I think he knows, knows that our family has been lying about our Goddess for generations… He hates me? Perhaps, he misses Yerka, I know he does…

…

May 30th, 20##

I killed him. He tried to poison me, just as I had him do to our dearest father. After all I did for him he tried to kill me… My sweet Yerka, and now my baby brother… I'll keep you both inside me forever, for enteral blessings.