Chapter 37: A Sacrifice of Innocence

The wind whipped through the streets of Eldridge Falls, a chill to the air that cut right to the bone. What had been a clear sky was now filled with thick ominous clouds casting spooky shadows across town. Standing at the edge of the square, Emma clutched the box they had uncovered, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty. Besides her, Nathaniel's face was set in grim determination, yet even he could not disguise the unease in his eyes. They knew what hung in the balance, and they both knew it. The evil stirred and spread more quickly than either of them had foreseen. It was time to face it. They were not alone. Standing several feet away from her was Lily, the little girl with supernatural powers. She seemed so little, so fragile to herself as her long golden locks whipped around her pale face against the wind; yet in her eyes shone that weird otherworldly light. There was power in her, the power which might save them all. Yet, there came the price for it, and they knew that. "Lily," Emma said, falling onto her knees and taking the girl's face so she could meet her eyes. "You don't have to do this." Lily looked up at Emma and her face was serene but etched with a sadness beyond years. "I'm the only one who can," she said in a low steady tone. "The evil is inside me too. I can feel it. But I can fight it." It pained Emma inside for the girl to have to make such a sacrifice; she had been so young, so innocent. How could they make her do such a thing? But there was just no way around it. They had no time, and the town fell to pieces: people were changing, turning into some sort of grotesque creature. The evil had overtaken and would not stop until everything was consumed in its darkness. "We'll protect you," Nathaniel forwarded, saying in a laced tone, "whatever may happen. We'll be with you; you are not alone in this." Lily smiled weakly but left her decision hanging in the air as she looked down at the box Emma, the artefact that held the secret of defeating the darkness-and back up at them. "I know what I have to do," she said in that low, quiet voice. "But it's going to hurt. I don't know whether I can survive." Emma's throat was tight. "There has to be another way. We can figure this out "There isn't," Lily interrupted, shaking her head. "I've seen it in my dreams. I am the only way to overcome evil by channelling my power through the artefact. But once I do… it'll take all I have." They were out in the middle, in the village square, where the air began to get thick with the heavyweight of the upcoming battle. The faces of villagers had set in fear and determination; some were still hopeful, yet most of them had already lost their faith. A gray-haired man was working his way through to the front. His features were worn; his eyes sharp with suspicion. "How do we know this will work?" he growled. "We've been through enough. Now you want to risk a child's life for some ancient myth?" He advanced closer and his eyes aglow, he proclaimed, "This isn't some fable; you bear the darkness spreads. It's as real as it is, and it's coming for us all. Should we not do something about that now, then will come the time it'll be too late and we lose all.". The doubt danced in his eyes, and just as he'd say it, another figure emerged from behind the trees- nobody knew him. His face was hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat, his coat tattered and worn. The crowd parted to let him pass, their eyes wary. "I wouldn't be so quick to judge," he said in a low gravelly voice. "There's more to this town's history than you know." Emma's heart had skipped a beat. There was something in the manner of this man that felt. Wrong. As he drew closer, she peered into his eyes-dark, ancient, and holding knowledge that suddenly ran a cold thrill down her spine. "Who are you?" she whispered. He angled his hat over his face, the slow smile crawling across his features. "Someone that has a vested interest in how this plays out," he said with a hint. "Just say I have a connection with the evil you're trying to stop." The eyes flashed in Nathaniel's face, one instinctive hand going toward his weapon. "You're with the secret society? He snorted, shaking his head. "Not quite. But I know them well enough. They have been trying to control something they never understood. And now it's out of their hands." Lily glared at him, her eyes wide with horror. "You're… one of them, aren't you?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "You're part of the darkness." Then all at once, he wasn't smiling, and his eyes were cold. "In a way, yes. But I'm not your enemy. Not today." Emma moved to stand in front of him, between him and Lily. Her heart was pounding. "What do you want?" He faltered then, his eyes seeming to narrow. "I want what you want to see this end. But I won't lie to you. If you use that artefact, it's going to take more than just the girl's power. It will be sure to take a life sacrifice. Emma's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean? His eyes flickered to Lily, back to Emma. "The artefact is ancient-older than this town, older than the evil it was made to control. It doesn't just feed on power-it feeds on innocence. She uses it, the girl will die." They gasped. The tension mounted higher, a tempest ready to break loose at any instance. Emma's mind was reeling. Could they ask that from Lily - such a sacrifice? They could not let her die to save the town, could they? Lily stepped forward, small hands clutching the hem of her dress. "I knew," she said softly. "I knew it was going to take everything. I just… I didn't know it would mean this." The words scarce squeaked out as Nathaniel spoke. "You don't have to do this, Lily. We'll find another way." But she shook her head. "There isn't another way. If I don't do this, the darkness will keep spreading. It'll take all of us." Tears pricked at Emma's eyes, and she fought them back. She wished she were pressing her lips together to scream for the girl to run, to hide, to live her life. But deep inside she knew how right Lily was. "We'll be with you," Emma whispered, voice shaking. "Whatever happens, we'll be with you." Seated in a circle, stern faces and heavy hearts, pending the act, the air thick with nothing but the crackling of fire amidst the smell of earth and smoke. She'd stood at the centre of the circle with the artefact clutched in her hands, and her little body shook under the force of what it contained. The sky above them continued to darken, the wind colder, and it felt as if the earth itself had known what was in store. He watched impassively from the shadows, and Emma couldn't help but think that he had much more invested in the whole thing than he let on, but now there was no time for questions. Lily closed her eyes, and the glow enveloping her grew in brightness and intensity. The air hummed with energy, and Emma could feel it in her bones, dark and ancient, powerful. Then, without warning, a sharp crack tore the air asunder, succeeded by a deep rumbling noise that shook the earth beneath their feet. The darkness was upon them now. And it was after all of them.