The Sacrifice Part 1

Just as Gresham left the steel factory with three other people in tow heading towards the meeting place. The already low hanging sun sunk into the horizon bringing with it not only night but also many devoted purifier followers. Some even brought there whole families including their children to learn and bear witness to what will lead to their salvation. From the tyrannical rule of the magi, ushering in a new era of prosperity for the oppressed people of the world.

Rows of people gathered behind the steel factory this community of people conversed like any other. As they congregated to hold their ceremony, knowing full well that many lives would be ending that day.

Children ran off to play with there friends ignoring their parent's commands just as much as they ignore the guiding hand of Mr.Cornel. While more pious men waited at the door of the building greeting their brothers, sisters, and future purifier advocates with open arms.

Everyone wore normal common cloths nothing fancy nor hoods to hide because there was no reason to be ashamed or to hide who you are from others especially god. That's why people came in their work clothes with oil stains even tattered rags.

They showed their truest selves as they sat on their chairs inside that building with walls made of stone and patted down dirt floor. Almost 100 trusted supporters some with their families sat inside the back building of the steel mill between multiple large blast furnaces that were turned off except for one.

That blast furnace was built into the wall in the middle at the end of the room where all the chairs were facing. In front of the blast furnace was a stage that was recently constructed there for the event. On the stage was only Mr.Cornel and a woman with her hands and feet chained up dangling next to him in the air as she struggled to free herself.

Tears ran down her face as she squirmed around hoping her pathetic form would garner enough sympathy from the people around her to let her go. Her hopes of leaving alive that day dwindle into nothing as she looked out at the fervent faces around her. They wanted to see her struggle to see her in pain, her feeble attempt only made what shall befall her more entertaining.

...

Next to the stage laid many cages filled with people who huddled together for support crying as they bared witness to the girl strung up by her hands like a dirty rag. An experience all of them know they would soon share.

While many of them cried none of them shouted out in protest or rattled their cages because the three guards near them would use the shock baton in their hands to electrify the cage shocking everyone inside. The guards wanted none of the sacrifices to disturbed Mr.Cornel with their constant whining.

One of the guards while walking by the smallest cage in the line up for the umpteenth time noticed even after so much time has passed one of them wasn't waking up. He could tell that the old man was still alive by how loudly he snored in his ears. Annoyed by the old man's constant snoring the guard decided to give him a rather rude wake-up call.

"Wake the fuck up princess" the guard shouted at Desmond as he jabbed the small cage Desmond was sleeping in electrifying it and shocking him inside. Desmond spasmed in the cage shaking it so much he flipped it over. He landed on his right side putting him in an awkward position when he finally opened his eyes and scanned the room around him.

Desmond didn't stay long on his side because moments after he opened his eyes his cage, was kicked back over by the guard that shocked him flipping him back upright. Being shaken around so much made Desmond's wounds flair up. Different parts of his body hurt a lot, it was his head and back that caused the most pain.

"What's going on? Where am I? And why does it feel like I got hit by a car?" Desmond questioned everything around him when he finally recalled what happened. His confused face turned to anger as Desmond grabbed the cage door and shook it furiously.

"Those sons of bitches I'm going to kill them" Desmond yells at the top of his lungs before his entire body was once again thrashed about in pain inside the cage. The guard had shocked Desmond once more for making to much noise.

Annoyed by Desmond's talking the guard in front of Desmond's cage bent down to talk to him he said "jeez, It doesn't matter whether your asleep or awake you can't stop making noise can you princess. Keep that up and guess who's going up next after that woman up there".

Desmond didn't need to think much to figure out what was going on, the biggest question he needed answered was how much danger was he in. That answer came quickly as he witnessed what happened on the stage in front of him.

Cornel raised both his hands in the air wide and kept them there while the fire of the blast furnace raged behind him. The woman wriggling next to him pulled the chains keeping her bound with all her energy to no avail as Cornel began to speak.

"Brothers and sisters today I am glad, I am glad because many of our friends still draw breath as they risk their lives rallying people against the magi. I am glad for the sacrifices that have been brought to us today, but most of all I am glad to see you all here. To see your children here, even though we hold these ceremonies in filthy inconvenient areas.

To hide from the sight of those who would do us harm. You still come here when we call because you believe, you believe in a change that is the stuff of dreams, but let me tell you all this now it is because you believe and because you dream that we can keep fighting. For that I thank you, from the bottom of my heart I thank".

Many people were touched by Cornel's words they stood up and praised Cornel for helping them pave the way to a better future.

Cornel let the crowd applaud him for a bit before he settled them down.

"Please stop, today isn't about me it's about those filthy magi and how we are going to beat them. You all know how we're going to do it so let me hear you say it".

"Sacrifice"

"Sacrifice"

"Sacrifice"

That same word was repeated over and over again as the crowd stomped their feet in their seats mimicking waring drums. They anxiously awaited blood and Cornel had full intention of giving it to them.

"That's right through sacrifice we will gain the strength to defeat the magi. They want us to think that all the gods are dead so we wouldn't pray to them and gain strength greater than theirs. Over 400,000 years ago this is how it was done, devout believers like ourselves would pledge to one true God and receive boons for our continued worship and service. It is nothing like today were the magi keep everything for themselves to oppress the people of this world.

We may not have been able to reach one of those gods yet, but it will happen and it won't happen when people only sit with their heads down. So, stand up everybody, stand up and let's begin the sacrifice".