Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Horrors

“Who?” I asked. A gathering in the forest? Why would anyone attend that? Sounds sketchy.

Lily hesitated before answering, "I can't tell you. It's better if you just see for yourself. Trust me, you'll understand once you see it."

I crossed my arms, still skeptical. "I don't know, Lily. This whole thing sounds really weird."

"I know it does," Lily agreed. "But trust me, it's important. And it's not just for me. It's for all of us. Please, John. Just meet me at the shrine at midnight. You can decide for yourself whether or not it's worth your time."

I hesitated, my mind racing with questions and doubts. But something about Lily's sincere expression and the sense of urgency in her voice made me nod.

"Fine," I said reluctantly. "I'll meet you at the shrine at midnight. But if this is some kind of joke or prank, I'm not going to be happy."

Lily's face lit up with relief. "It's not a joke, John. I promise. And I'm not going to be there alone. We'll be there together, and you can make your own decision about what you see."

I nodded, still unsure of what to expect.

As I walked out of the school building, my mind was racing with thoughts of the strange conversation I had just had with Lily. 

I wasn't sure what to think. On one hand, I was curious. Maybe this gathering would give me some answers about the strange happenings in this town, like the truck trying to hit Emily. But on the other hand, it all seemed very weird. A secret gathering in the forest? It was hard to believe.

As I thought about it, I couldn't help but feel a sense of paranoia wash over me. This town was starting to feel more and more unsettling by the day.

I looked down at my injuries, the bruises all over my body, my broken nose, and my kicked-in teeth. It was clear that I needed to to get myself patched up. With a sigh, I set off towards the clinic, my mind still racing with thoughts about the secret gathering and what it could mean.

As I walked to the clinic, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in my stomach. 

I had never been to this clinic before, but I had heard good things about it. Hopefully, the doctors here are competent.

As I walked into the clinic, I was immediately struck by the sterile smell of antiseptic and the sight of several people sitting in the waiting area, all looking bored and uncomfortable. I approached the receptionist, a tired-looking woman with graying hair, and explained my situation.

"I was in a fight," I said, trying to downplay the extent of my injuries. "I just need to get some things patched up."

The receptionist raised an eyebrow and gave me a skeptical look. "A fight, huh? Well, you'll have to wait your turn. We have a few other patients ahead of you."

I nodded and took a seat in the waiting area, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in my nose and the ache in my jaw.

Damn you Sarah.

As I waited for my turn to be patched up, I couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration and anger. Why did I have to get beat up like this? It wasn't fair. And for what? Defending someone who I barely knew?

I was lost in my thoughts when I heard a soft voice speaking to me. "Hey, are you okay?"

I turned to see a young woman sitting on the bench next to me. She had long, dark hair and soft, brown eyes. She was nursing a large bandage on her arm.

"I'm fine," I grumbled, turning away from her.

She seemed to sense my hostility and backed off a little. "I'm sorry if I'm intruding. It's just that I saw you here and you looked so upset. I thought maybe I could help."

I sighed and looked at her again. "It's not your fault. I'm just having a bad day."

She nodded sympathetically. "I know how that feels. My day hasn't been the best either."

I raised an eyebrow, curious despite myself. "What happened?"

She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I was hit by a truck. I managed to escape, but I was pretty badly injured. I've been coming to this clinic ever since."

I gasped, shocked by her story. "That's terrible. Are you okay now?"

She nodded. "I'm getting better. It's just a long process."

I couldn't believe it. The incident with Emily was still fresh in my mind, and now this woman was telling me a similar story. Was this some kind of sick joke?

"Do you mind if I ask your name?" the woman asked, interrupting my thoughts.

"Oh, sorry, I'm John," I said, introducing myself. "That truck incident sounds exactly like what happened to someone I know. Do you have any idea who might have done this to you?"

She shook her head. "No, I have no idea. It was all so sudden, and I didn't get a good look at the driver. The police are investigating, but I don't hold out much hope of finding the person responsible."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This was almost exactly what had happened to Emily, the girl I had saved from being hit by a truck on my first day at school. Could it be a coincidence, or was there something else?

"Oh right, what about you? What's your name?" I asked.

"I'm Rachel," she replied.

Rachel, huh? That's a nice name.

As I sat there, lost in thought, I was suddenly snapped back to reality by my name being called. "John? John Fairfield?"

I looked up to see the nurse beckoning me over to the reception desk. "The doctor is ready to see you now."

I stood up, making my way to the examination room. Making sure to say goodbye to Rachel before leaving.

As the doctor treated my injuries, I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that had settled in my stomach. I knew I had to do something, but I wasn't sure what.

When I left the clinic, I had made up my mind. I will go to the forest by the shrine and see what Lily has to show me. I have to know the truth, no matter how dangerous it might be.

As I left the clinic and made my way home, I couldn't help but worry about what my parents would think when they saw my injuries. My nose was broken, my jaw was swollen, and I had bruises all over my body. I knew I couldn't tell them the truth, that I had been in a fight with Sarah's brother. So, I need to come up with a lie. Something clever and never thought of before. A lie they wouldn’t expect.

When I finally reached home, my parents welcomed me with concerned looks on their faces. My mother immediately took one look at my injuries and gasped.

"Oh my goodness, John! What happened to you?" she asked, her brown eyes wide with worry.

"I fell down the stairs," I replied, hoping that my lie would be enough to satisfy their curiosity.

My dad raised an eyebrow. "You fell down the stairs? That seems a bit extreme. Are you sure that's all that happened?"

I nodded, hoping they would buy my excuse. "Yeah, I was rushing to get to my class and I tripped. It's no big deal."

My mom wouldn't stop fussing over me, however, bringing me ice packs and making sure I was comfortable. "You should be more careful, sweetie," she said, concern etched on her face. "You don't want to get hurt again."

As we sat down at the dinner table, my mom dished out servings of her famous lasagna. My dad and I dug in eagerly, the smells and flavors bringing back memories of home-cooked meals from when I was younger.

"So, how was your first day at school?" my mom asked, taking a sip of her wine.

I hesitated, not wanting to lie to my parents but also not wanting to worry them about the truth. "It was fine," I finally said, hoping they would leave it at that.

But my dad could always sense when I was holding something back. "Come on, John. You can tell us the truth. Was it tough fitting in at a new school?"

I sighed, knowing that I couldn't keep anything from my parents. "It was okay. I made a few friends."

My dad grinned. "Glad to hear it. It's always tough starting at a new school, but it sounds like you're adjusting well."

"Yeah," I replied, thinking about Emily and Lily. "I think I'll be okay."

My mom smiled. "That's great, honey. And what about your classes? Did you like your teachers?"

I nodded, grateful for the change in subject. "Yeah, they all seem pretty cool. I'm excited to learn from them."

My dad chuckled. "I remember those days. The excitement of learning something new. It's a feeling that never really goes away."

As we continued to chat and catch up, I couldn't help but feel grateful for my family. They were always there for me, no matter what. And even though I was angry about being forced to move to this small town, I knew that as long as I had my family with me, I could get through anything.

You are reading story A Cycle of Death and Rebirth at novel35.com

I found myself relaxing despite the underlying tension caused by my injuries and the secret gathering I was planning to attend that night.

As we finished dinner and cleared the table, I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and gratitude towards my parents. They may not have understood everything that was going on with me, but they cared about me and wanted the best for me.

After saying goodnight to my parents and heading up to my room, I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt as I checked the time and prepared to sneak out to meet Lily at the shrine. I knew they would worry if they knew what I was doing, but I couldn't ignore the curiosity and desire to uncover the truth that was driving me forward. I just hoped that I would be able to handle whatever I found.

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, I knew that I couldn't back out anymore.

I slipped out of bed and quickly got dressed, pulling on a pair of jeans and a hoodie. I fumbled in the darkness, trying to find my shoes. I finally located them and slipped them on, lacing them up tightly.

I tiptoed down the hallway, trying my best not to make any noise. I knew my parents would be furious if they found out I was sneaking out of the house at midnight. I couldn't let them know what I was up to.

I reached the front door and hesitated for a moment, wondering if I was really doing the right thing. But then I remembered Lily's words and the incident with Emily and Rachel, and I knew I had to find out more.

I took a deep breath and quietly opened the door, slipping out into the cool night air. I pulled the door closed behind me, hoping it wouldn't make too much noise.

I set off towards the shrine, my heart racing with excitement and fear. I had no idea what I was going to find there, but I knew I had to be brave and face whatever came my way.

My heart was racing as I made my way through the dark streets, the thought of what might be waiting for me at the shrine kept me moving forward, even though every fiber of my being was telling me to turn back.

As I ran, the cool night air burned my lungs and the darkness seemed to close in around me. I could feel my adrenaline pumping as I pushed myself harder.

Finally, I reached the shrine, panting and sweating. The moon was high in the sky, casting a pale light over the ancient stone structure. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I was making a huge mistake. But then I remembered the questions that had been plaguing me. I had to know the truth.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, my feet crunching on the gravel path as I made my way towards the shrine. The air was thick with the smell of incense and the sound of chanting filled my ears. I felt a shiver run down my spine when looking at the dense dark forest around me. Were people really gathering there? What for?

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that I had no idea what was waiting for me on the other side.

As I walked up the stairs to the shrine, I saw Lily waiting for me at the entrance. She was standing there, her raven hair blowing in the breeze and her crimson eyes fixated on me, a sly smile on her face.

"I knew you would come," she whispered as I approached her.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as I followed her into the forest. The trees loomed over us, the branches seeming to reach out like bony fingers. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched.

But Lily seemed excited, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She led me deeper into the woods, being careful to keep her voice down.

"We're almost there," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just a little bit further."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as we approached our destination. What was waiting for us in the clearing? 

As Lily and I made our way through the dense forest, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in my stomach. My heart was racing with anticipation and fear, and I had no idea what to expect when we reached our destination.

We walked in silence, trying our best to remain stealthy as we approached the clearing where the secret gathering was supposed to be taking place. As we got closer, I could hear the faint sound of voices, and my pulse quickened with each step.

Finally, we reached the edge of the clearing and I saw them. A group of people, all dressed in black, standing around an unlit campfire. One of the members spoke up, saying something about bringing "her" out.

I turned to Lily, my voice barely above a whisper. "Who is 'her'? Is she alive?"

Lily just shrugged, her eyes fixed on the scene before us. "I don't know. We'll have to wait and see."

We watched as a man brought out a young woman, who looked to be in her twenties. She was crying and struggling, but the man held her firmly. As I looked closer, I realized that I recognized her.

"Wait... is that Rachel?" I whispered to Lily.

She turned to me, her eyes wide with surprise. "You know her?"

I nodded. "I met her at the clinic today. But... there's no way she could be here."

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Rachel, the kind woman I had met just hours earlier, was now being held captive by this cult. I had no idea what they wanted from her. Were they the ones trying to hit her with the truck? My stomach dropped at the possibility that these people might be responsible for the truck incident with Emily as well. I have to help her!

But before I could act, the man lit a match and threw it onto the campfire. The flames ignited, and I watched in horror as Rachel was thrown into the fire, screaming.

I couldn't help but wonder how many other people these cult members had done this to. How long had they been operating in this small town, right under our noses? And most importantly, did they have their sights set on Emily as well?

I watched in horror as Rachel was thrown into the flames, my mind racing with questions and fear. I couldn't shake the feeling that Emily might be next on their list. I had to do something to stop them, but I knew I couldn't do it alone. I needed to find a way to get help, and fast.

Looking at the scene, I was wondering how the cult members were staying so calm. No normal human would be okay looking at that.

I watched as Rachel body slowly turned to crisp. Her skin flaking off her body while the metal and cloth fell to the floor in long strands, melting into thick black streaks as they burned. The screams she emitted could haunt my nightmares for years to come. Sure, I barely knew Rachel but seeing a person die would make mostly anyone freak out.

She laid there, unrecognizable from the kind young lady I had previously met that day.

I knew I had to do something, but I didn't know what. All I could do was stand there and watch as the flames consumed her, my heart heavy with grief and horror.

"Hey, Boss. I've noticed that there are more candidates popping up recently. Do you know why that is?" One of the men asked.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Candidates? Do they mean victims? Sounds like they’ve got a fancy new name for it. Doesn’t change anything though.

"Don’t you know? It’s almost time for the festival. It was like this last time too. Candidates popping up left and right. Daughters murdering their mothers, mothers murdering their husbands. It’s all happening again.” He said while looking down deeply at the fire. As if engraining the sight into the deepest depths of his mind.

What festival? And what does he mean by daughters murdering their mothers and mothers murdering their husbands? What are they planning?

I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up, ready to do something, anything to stop this madness. But Lily grabbed my arm and pulled me back down.

"Don't," she whispered. "There's too many of them. You won’t be able to beat them all.”

I nodded, knowing she was right. But as I watched the cult members silently watch Rachel burn to death I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt and helplessness. 

I was in shock as Lily and I walked out of the forest. I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. The image of Rachel being thrown into the fire was burned into my mind, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt for not doing anything to stop it.

Lily asked me if I was okay, but I couldn't even form a coherent response. My thoughts were racing and I felt like I was going to have a panic attack. I collapsed to the ground, feeling overwhelmed by the horrors that I had just witnessed.

What the hell is wrong with this town? Why’s there a cult? Why do they have to kill people? Why am I involved?

I couldn't believe it. Rachel, that kind, sweet woman I had met at the clinic just hours earlier, had been thrown into a fire and burned to death by a group of cultists. And for what? What could possibly justify such a horrific act? They said something about new candidates, as well. How many people have they killed? And how many people are they going to kill at this ‘festival’?

Lily knelt beside me, her hand on my shoulder as she tried to comfort me. "It's okay, John," she said softly. "It's not your fault. You couldn't have known this would happen."

But I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt and responsibility. I should have done something, I should have stopped it. And what about Emily? If these cultists were willing to go to such lengths to kill Rachel, what were they planning for Emily?

I looked up at Lily, my eyes filled with determination. "We have to stop them," I said firmly. "We can't let this happen to anyone else."

Lily nodded, a determined look in her eyes as well. Although, that look was accompanied by an eerie smile. What’s up with that? "You're right. We have to take them down. And we will, John. Together."

I took a deep breath and stood up, my resolve solidifying with every passing moment. I couldn't let these monsters get away with what they had done. I would make them pay, no matter what it took.

 

That was the resolution I had made way back then.

But in hindsight, I realize how foolish it was. I had blindly charged into a battle that I knew nothing about. I had no idea why the cult was killing others, or why Rachel and Emily were being targeted. And most of all, I didn't understand why Lily wanted me to get involved.

I had no idea what kind of road I was about to embark on. All I knew was that I was determined to get to the bottom of things and bring an end to this madness. So, with Lily by my side, I set out to gather as much information as possible and devise a plan to take down the cult.

It wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to see it through to the end. A foolish decision, where nothing but horrors and death awaited me.

---

To Be Continued ⇒ Chapter 5: From The Depths of Torment, The Worse Arose

You can find story with these keywords: A Cycle of Death and Rebirth, Read A Cycle of Death and Rebirth, A Cycle of Death and Rebirth novel, A Cycle of Death and Rebirth book, A Cycle of Death and Rebirth story, A Cycle of Death and Rebirth full, A Cycle of Death and Rebirth Latest Chapter