Writing Prompt

The surface of the swamp bloomed with clouds of iridescent orange, white, blue, and red. The waters, placid like glass, reflected the sky overhead, the skies which were now filled with hundreds of glowing lanterns. The tiny flickering flames pocketed in each white lantern danced along the water. Their flames, the ones reflected in the waters, were lengthened and distorted, appearing more like ghostly orange figures than fire.

Each person encircling the body of water, all 2000 members of the village watched this hellish dance with the wonder, their minds all churning with the same unanswered questions: will this sacrifice be their last? Will the beast finally be satiated?

“Ygnacii”, Father Hunji called, his loud voice a deep rumble splicing through the silence. All the villagers, even the youngest ones still too small to light their own candle, turned towards the village chief. Father Hunji, with his heavy ivory robes draped over his thin frame and his long silver locks looked himself, like something of folklore. A ghost or perhaps an elven thing.

The waters rippled, warbling the reflection upon its surface. In an instance, the luminous streaks on the waters vanished, blinking away and turning the waters into inky black slates. The villagers, though used to this ritual by now, still glanced up at the sky, half expecting the lanterns to have vanished. But there they were, hanging suspended in the night sky, unmoving yet still burning.

Even the full heavy moon which hung like a painted mural against the charred sky should’ve been reflected on the water's surface, and yet, that too was amiss.

It was not customary that everyone wear white on the Ygnacii Blue Moon, but still, it seemed they all did. Perhaps it was the need to blend in with the lanterns themselves, becoming nothing more than a vessel for the flickering flames of their souls. Or perhaps it was simply to seem pure and clean, the perfect image of obedience worth saving.

The only one of them not in this crisp moonbeam color was Nula, the young child who stood so close to the water's edge, that the cool waters lapped at his feet. Nula was as all sacrificial children were, dressed in the finest cloth. Rippling silk tunics dyed as blue as the iridescent feathers of a peafowl adorned his skin, and finely smithed chains lay against his throat. Nula was not used to such fine garments, poor as he was. It was unfortunate that the moment in which he finally wore such rich fabrics was now, in the final hours of his life.

“Ygnacii, great spirit of our waters, we have brought you a gift. One we wish will satisfy you at last, Great One”, Hunji changed, the reverence in his voice so profound, it rang its praise deep in the cavities of every body standing witness.

Hunji, having stood a few feet behind Nula, stepped forward. He bent down to whisper in the boy's ear, his voice a warm breeze at Nula's shoulder.

“Announce yourself, child”

A forest of tiny goosebumps sprouted across Nulas shoulders, down his back, and along his arms. For the first time today, after being worshiped like a king since he was granted the chosen one seven nights ago, Nula felt some semblance of fear. The fear beaded in his gut, congealing into rough-edged pebbles that pressed uncomfortably against his skin.

“N-Nula, your greatness. My name is Nula”

His voice trembled and shook, an unsteady trickle that spilled from his lips.

All was quiet for a while. The water remained so black it seemed to swallow the light around and cast swaying shadows along its edge. The villagers seemed to multiply, the shadows adding thickness and density to their numbers.

The waters that washed against Nulas toes turned icy, so frigid he took a step back, feet mottled with red and purple.

Nothing seemed to happen for a moment, but the villagers knew better than to walk away so soon. The great water goddess never failed to accept the sacrifices at her doorstep each blue moon.

As expected, the waters rippled, then churned. Slowly, as though peeling open a sleeping eye, the waters receded. They curled away towards the opposite shore, revealing the mucky undergrowth and reedy plants that covered the swamp floors. The lanterns suspended in the sky finally broke free of their spell, floating into the night and blinking out of existence.

“Go”, Hunji preened, nudging Nula forward for the second time today.

Nula's heart beat hard in his chest, almost painful in its jittery dance against his sternum.

His eyes skimmed the crowd, searching the sallow faces of the villagers for his mother. He thought perhaps she hadn’t come at all, too afraid to witness the death of her only child. But finally, he found her, standing between the throng of white clothes bodies. Her long dark hair was coiled atop her head, elegantly poised as always. But unlike her usual calm collected self, she appeared a broken shell of her former self. Her skin, usually so rich in color, now appeared washed out, almost ghostly.

Opalescent pearls of tears sprung from her eyes, making her high cheekbones and the area under her eyes swollen veined.

“M-mama”, Nula whispered, the trembled sound a desperate final goodbye. Without him, she would be alone. Not truly alone as she still had her sister and nieces, but their home would always feel empty without Nula.

Her eyes found him and for a moment, it looked as if she were going to step forward and say something. But alas, she turned, ducked her head into the shoulder of the woman beside her, Nulas aunt. To be chosen as the sacrificial offering was the greatest of honors. If Ygnacii accepted him it would mean he would be the one to finally end the villagers seven-year drought and save everyone. If she rejected him, as she had all the offerings before him, he would be hailed a hero, a reverent saint with a shrine in the village temple.

Nula turned back to the parted waters and swallowed hard.

He took a step forward.

Then another.

And another.

When he was finally at the center of the cavity the waters released with a whoosh, swallowing the boy up in its depths.

The last thing the villagers saw of Nula was a tear-stained face large moss green eyes filled with childlike youth before the waters claimed him.

All was still for some time. The villagers did not see his struggle, nor his body beneath the depths. All they saw were the still waters as if nothing had changed.

They waited, well until the sun created the horizon, a flaming torch in the otherwise colorless sky.

But after some time their faith began to fizzle away, swallowed away like the lanterns in the night.

As she had many other times before, The Great water goddess failed to accept their sacrifice. Their unending drought would remain unending.

Hunji was the first to turn away from the swamp, already starting the journey back home. One by one the villagers followed him until only one person remained at the edge of the water.

Nulas mother bend over the silent waters, her grief splitting her deeply at the thought of being without her son. She bunched her robes to her knees and took one step into the water. Her mind, at peace and no longer spelled with grief, felt weightless as she wadded into the cool waters. She took another step.

Then another.

And another.

Her head dipped under the water with swiftness, baring no hint of struggle.

The waters were still, muddy green under the bleak purpling twilight.

Then, something happened, something that had never happened before.

A glowing light appeared in the water.

I was just going to visit my mother... I dont see her very often....My parents split up i dont know why but when ever i ask my father, he says something like “You dont need to know yet. Go and do your homework now little miss!” Or if i ask my mother she says something like “your not ready to know....” then goes on a rant about how much she misses father. So I stopped asking mother.

I had just gotten to the front of my mothers home its really pretty like her. Its pretty and white with a beautiful light brown steep rooftop with the same color for the frame of the door and window frames. As for the electric tall chained fence she added for safety and water mote it really ruins the beauty of her home. She never listens of course like usual when i tell her it ruins her home.

I went and knocked on the door but no one Answered so I tried to simply open the door “Its unlocked?..” i asked myself in confusion then I went inside just to get tased then i saw her.... i saw her....her blue eyes like one of mine.. and blond hair just like what my hair used....b-but there were horns and all i got out of my mom was “Mot-!”

I found myself in a dark cave with a pond of crystal blue water...I looked everywhere for an exit but there was no where to go “Gah...my head hurts..” I said to myself yet thinking i had seen someone or something run into the water yet then and there i saw a glowing light in the water. I felt the need to follow but when I went over and i was standing in the pond. I snapped out of the hex i have from a voice telling me “Dont go in your only getting tranced!”

Then a hand grabbing me by the wrist all i felt was wind brushing through my hair. Then I saw a familiar face.... It was my mother running like our lives depended on it I looked behind us seeing something Chasing us It also looked like my mother she was yelling to us “GIVE ME MY DAUGHTER BACK NOW!!” I looked back at the other woman I assumed was my mother that was running as she kept running i saw crystal blue tears come from her face and scars that didn’t look like they were from a knife or anything humanly possible they looked infected with acidic blood Then I brought up the strength to ask “Mother?! Who is that?!” She replied saying “Its a creature in whom has chasing me for my whole life since I got away! Im sorry i never told you the truth!”

I was to confused to even function that i passed then when i was faint i heard screams in agony then groans and growls.... then i my heart stopped.

The night was colder and darker than I was used to, my breath a white fog in front of me. I took another step, stopped right in front of the riverbank and kneeled, so I could take a better look.

I was breathing heavily. Walking all this way with no break took it‘s toll on my body. My eyes felt heavy but I kept on staring and then I saw it.

A glowing light appeared in the water.

It was small and dim at first but with every second it grew brighter until it was brilliantly golden and I felt like I could hope again.

"Hello." I said. The light broke the surface and a little creature looked at me with huge, fishy eyes in a tiny face. It was as small as my thumb, with small razor-sharp teeth in an equally tiny mouth.

"Hello." They answered. "How may we help you?"

I showed them my ring. "Help me find the one who gave me this.“

The tiny creature raised it‘s head to take a good look, touched and smelled it. Then they nodded, glowed even brighter than before and licked their lips. Those eyes looked hungry, as deep and dark as the water beneath them had there not been the ethereal glow.

"What will you give us in return?“

I stared right back. No turning back. I was going to do it. No matter how out of control my heartbeat was.

I was going to find them.

No matter the cost.

A glowing light appeared in the water. At least, she thought it was in the water. In the darkness, it was difficult to see where the sea ended and the dark night sky began. It was just a tiny pin prick of light, on the far horizon. She stood, transfixed, unable to take her eyes off of that light. How long had she been there? She couldn’t say. She inhaled a long, deep breath. Salt. Seaweed. Ozone. It smelled clean. Fresh. She remembered when the world smelled clean and fresh all of the time. But those days were gone, and only here, at the edge of the world did she capture that smell that transported her back in time. Images from her childhood flashed through her mind: her seventh birthday party with the rainbow cake. Falling from a chute and skinning her knees. Building a snowman- the low winter sun, the smell of the snow, the feel of her damp wooden mittens. Her brother pulling her hair. God. Jamie. Her breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t thought of him for so long, she had almost forgotten him entirely. She let out a small sob, as she remembered his face: his dark hair, his crooked smile, and those eyes- those crystal clear, blue eyes that knew her very soul. She shivered, and the thought was gone. She forced it back down, deep inside that place where the dark thoughts go. The small light remained. It was on the horizon, she thought, more confidently this time. How far away was it? That she didn’t know. But she hoped. Just a small flicker of hope, but it was there. She hoped it was them- and she hoped they hadn’t forgotten about her.

I have always loved the water. As a child, no one would ever wonder where I was because I was always in or by that always warm and peaceful lake outside our cottage. It was beautiful. Tranquil even. Like all teenagers I stressed about almost everything I could think about so I spent all of my time at that lake.

It was a beautiful summers day so I was spending my afternoon sat by the lake reading my favourite book. When all of a sudden I saw a flash of light hit the water. Many thoughts ran through my head but none of them made sense.

Oh it happened again. And again. But this time it was brighter. It’s getting brighter and brighter the more I focus on it.

Curiosity was taking over my body. My thoughts, my intentions, my actions. Before I knew it I was I. The water swimming toward that blinding light. It was getting bigger, the closer I got the more it seemed like it was spreading. The next minute I know it was surrounding me.

After taking a huge breath, I looked down and there it was the source. So without thinking I took my last breath and plummeted down. All I could see was light. I looked up and all I could see was light...

For me, fishing was always a day of peace for my father and I. Most days he would return from work and the whisky bottle was open on the kitchen counter before he got his jacket off, but when its just me, my father and the stillness of lake sierra the sensation of warm serenity takes place of the usually gray anhedonia that I feel at home. I heard the shouting and fighting the night before. Its hard to ignore at this point and Ive developed the ability to discern the sounds Of dancing or benevolent footsteps compared to muted chaos coming through the floor boards when there is a verbal or physical altercation. Those sounds unfortunately reverberate through my mind the day after, but the clicking of a fishing rod mixed with the calm sounds of lunes in the distance seems ease my mind. The last outing i went with my dad i thought i smelt a hint of whisky on his breathe, but i feared that if I were to bring it up, it would ruin the day.

Today seems serene. The suns piercing through a quilted sky, swans are guarding their young ones as they glide across the lake and for all I know my dad is sober. “Hand me that sandwich, kid. No the tuna. Thats the one, thanks buddy.” “Any bites yet dad?” “No not a single bite. Soon enough, its a waiting game my boy. Its these moments in our lives we have to find meaning. The quiet, the still, the mundane. If not we will cling to chaos like a shy child clings to his mothers thigh.”

He always goes off on a philosophical tear. He was an accountant, but his bookshelf was full of writers from the turn of the 20th century and german philosophers. Usually when the conversation had an existential theme it meant he was projecting his dissatisfaction on to me as a form of therapy. I was just happy to have a conversation with him when he wasn’t slurring his words or yelling at my mother about the most innocuous shit, like his food not being warm enough or she smoked his last cigarette.

As he hands me the wrapper to toss in our garbage bag i see he grimaces as he takes a big swig out of his thermos. My instincts get the best of me and before i even try and do any detective work I flat out accuse him. “Is there alcohol in there?” “What?” “In your thermos, is there alcohol in there?” “What am i under the 3rd degree by my own son?” “Whatever.”

I put my fishing rod down, take my phone out, plug my ear pods in and start listening to Tom Wait’s Burma Shave. He see’s that I tuned out and he nudges my leg. I keep my eyes off him and continue to gaze out into the distance, purposely avoiding eye contact with him. He grows angry and grabs me by both of legs and begins to shake me with great force. We gain hold of one another and begin to the wrestle. This is the first time In my young adulthood I decided to fight back and I can tell by the embittered look in his eyes he doesn’t like that I am standing my ground. “This is our time. Father and son time. Don’t go fucking this up.” As I think to myself how this man is unable to take the slightest bit of blame for his ghastly actions I find myself in the air, tumbling over the side of the boat, then splashing into the lake head first. As I look up to my father for help I see his face stricken with remorse. “Come on, take my hand. Pull yourself up son. There you go.” I lay splayed on the floor of the boat shivering, frantically searching for my phone. We both lean over the boat and see a glowing light appear in the water.

She headed outside, not knowing or caring about her destination. She had tried to get through the year, but too much had dragged her down. Some of it was her doing, she knew. She shut down, closed people out, and stopped caring. She became numb and allowed time to pass her by. She grew older, but not wiser.

She needed a new path, and hoped the fresh air gave her some clarity. At she was moving, moving was good.

The was clear, not even a puff of a cloud was to be seen. It added to her feeling of emptiness, so she tried to look forward, not up. Doing so, she stumbled on a root and fell. She laughed ruefully to herself. Getting up, she dusted herself off, and noticed a snake on the grass. She loved reptiles, had an affinity to creatures usually shunned. This was just an ordinary garter snake, but it was lovely. She decided to watch the snake for a bit. Plus, she was still embarrassed from that fall!

The snake’s tongue flickered, and it seemed to be watching her as well. With what seemed to be a bob of its head, it turned and slithered off. She followed, her curiously piqued. The snake was rather fast, and didn’t seem to mind the human following it.

Both snake and human arrived at a small lake, the waters were still and shining in the sunlight. The snake stopped, look at her (she sears it did) and slithered into the water. She was shocked, she had never seen a garter snake do this!

Then, as if out of a poorly written story, a glowing light appeared in the water. Was she to receive a sword now? Cool, she was going to rule Britain! She waited, but no hand appeared out of the lake. She started to pace back and forth, worried about the snake and wondering if she might just be going a tad insane.

The glowing light grew stronger, and she had a sudden sense of purpose. She was an excellent swimmer, and so set out, not even bothering to disrobe. The water was cool and refreshing.

She had reached the light, and felt a curious sensation of weightlessness. Everything became blinding bright, and she felt a strong desire to fall asleep. As she drifted off, she swore she saw the snake change form, and welcomed her.

Saffron wasn’t very fond of lakes. Too wet. No shiny. Bad for wings. She cleaned her black feathers as she stared down at the dark water from her branch. She was looking for new sparkles to decorate her nest. Pebbles. Hair clips. Wrappers. Anything she could fit in her beak. She liked sparkly things very much. Her dark eyes specially picked out something new in the lake. A glowing light appeared in the water. Saffron wanted it. She snapped open her wings and pushed off the branch in a dive toward the lake. The glow was near the edge so Saffron landed in the shallows but the glow had disappeared. Saffron’s head tilted. Shiny? Where go? Come back? No good pebbles here. Too wet. Back to nest. Saffron took flight again circling the lake as the glow returned. This time saffron slowly approached and circled before landing smack in the middle of the shine. It disappeared. She splashed in the water and let out a caw of frustration. Shiny stop running! Want! Pretty! She took off again this time with some difficulty as her wings were slightly submerged. Saffron climbed this time. High into the air. She looked down. The shiny was back! In the center of the lake. Speed. Must catch it. Dive. Too fast! Shiny can’t run! Can’t hide! Got it!

Binoculars pressed to my eyes I watched as the crow dove towards the surface of the lake. It didn’t pull up at the last second. There was no saving this bird. It crashed into the lake surface face first. It made less sound than a pebble being tossed into the deep water. I didn’t want to watch anymore. There was nothing to see. I knew that bird wasn’t coming up anymore. Nothing good ever comes from chasing illusions.

“Go to your parent’s cabin Sarah!” Her aunt told her. “ there, you will find a hidden hot spring.” She paused. “Are you listening Sarah?” Sarah nodded absentmindedly. It was another morning listening to her crazy aunt’s rambling. Hot springs, cabin, next she’s going to mention the light. She heard it every morning since she came to live with her aunt after her parents disappearance . “....Follow the light down Sarah. Follow the light.” Sarah looked up at her aunt. Why did she sound so urgent this time? “ yeah, yeah, I know.” Sarah moved around her aunt to get her backpack. “No you don’t Sarah!” Her aunt snapped. She took a hold of Sarah shoulders and slightly shook her. Sarah grew afraid. “L...let go of me!” “Go to the cabin! Down the hot spring! Follow the light!” “I said let me go!” Sarah yanked herself from her aunts grasp. “You crazy old-“ “The cabin Sarah!” “I’m going to school.” “No you’re not. You haven’t been to high school in weeks!” Sarah shook her head. “I am going to school! Bye!” Sarah did not go to school.She went to Ronny, the only normalcy in her life. “Hello my darling,” Ronny wrapped Sarah in a tight hug. “Hello my dear.” Sarah giggled and kissed him. “What’s my girl doing here and not finishing her final days in school?”
“Aunt.” Was all Sarah had to say. Ronny nodded his head then gave her a look. “What?” “What if-“ “Oh no! Uh uh! No what if’s!” Sarah pulled back out of Ronnie’s arms. “ besides, today is the last day I get to see you before you head off to college. I want to spend time with you.” Ronny shook his head. “Nope! We should go! Hear me out now. Just go and do this so you can get your aunt off your back. You’ll finally have some peace. I’ll drive you myself.” Sarah look at Ronny skeptically. “You just want to see the cabin for yourself huh?” Ronny let out a huff. “Alright, find I do want to go see it. Plus hot springs! Who wouldn’t want to relax in a spring?” “Fine let’s go.” Sarah threw up her arms in defeat. The drive lasted an hour. Sarah looked out the window at her parents cabin. She’d hadn’t been here in since she was a child. “you coming?” Sarah look at Ronny who was already out the car and had opened her door. She nodded and hopped out. Ronny placed his hand on the small of her back and lead her to the door of the cabin. The door was lock. So they decided to look for the spring. It didn’t take long to find the spring.Ronny took off his shirt and pants and climbed in. Sarah went in after. “Hey look.” Sarah look at where Ronny pointed. A glowing light appeared in the water. “Well...?” Ronny said, you know what to do.” Sarah rolled her eyes, took a deep breath and drove in.