芭乐出品的电影

The rest of the day passed by in a blur of ‘praise the lords’ and songs and prayer. Han almost lost his mind in the middle of a sermon when the preacher started dancing and generally running mad. The crazy thing was that all the members of the congregation didn’t even see it as something weird!

They were just dancing along like a bunch of crazy people!

This was normal to them!!?

Han noticed his hanger-on looking towards him expectantly, but he ignored her! Did she think he was a circus animal!? He would never do something like this! Han had to get out of here before whatever stupid bug infected all these people started getting to him too!

He was so happy when night finally came and the entire church started moving out to the walls. Han was put with the other chosen and his hanger-on followed behind him dutifully. They were all carrying candles and moving to a hymn. It was a sad tune that made Han remember some of the terrible things that happened to him in the past. Something about how the followers had to suffer to become true devotees, after a while, they switched the tune of the song to a more upbeat tune with a happier tempo and Han rolled his eyes as he pieces together a tale of the Lord… Again.

The congregation spread out across the bottom of the wall and Han had to crane his neck high to see the top of it.

It was freaking tall!!

Han wondered how they managed to build something like this so quickly. They must’ve used up a lot of resources from the rich aristocrats in the city. Were they also a part of the cult maybe? Curiouser and curiouser.

The congregation stopped their songs and then Han saw a group of people coming into a stage from the left. The head of the group was the old woman that Han had seen leading the chosen in prayer, she held a chain in her hand and the chain was tied to a long line of people who were coming up from behind her.

Han felt his stomach squeeze uncomfortably as he saw the many people that were lining up to become sacrifices for this mad god. Men and women, little boys and little girls. Even the elderly. They were all tied up and gagged as they walked behind the old woman like sheep being led to the slaughter.

The old woman leading the group suddenly shouted out while moving towards a stairway at the side to take them to the top of the walls.

“Praise the lord for he is the key to our salvation!”

The crowd around Han all shouted.

“Praise the Lord!”

“Praise the lord for he is our benefactor!”

“Praise the lord!”

“Praise the lord for he is our creator!”

“Praise the lord!”

Han couldn’t take his eyes off the group behind the woman. Every one of them there looked so happy to be going to the top of the wall. The wide, excited looks in their eyes showed Han that this was nothing new to them, everyone here already accepted that they would either join the ranks of the followers or become one of the zombies.

But there was one person that made Han do a double-take. It was a small boy that was moving at the very rear of the group, he had on a simple shirt and trousers and was following quietly behind the older man in front of him. But it was the look in his eyes that made Han focus on him.

Petrified.

Wide eyes that looked around him like he was in the middle of a horror house found Han’s eyes and Han could see how terrified the boy was. A single tear fell down the boys eyes and he sniffed while trying to move his mouth around the gag.

What was going on with him? Han was confused now. Did they not all enjoy this? Was this not just something they already accepted as their fate? Why was this boy looking at him like he was being led to his death?

Well, he was, but Han thought this was just a universally accepted truth for these people.

The sun rises in the east. The river flows downhill. We go to the wall to either die or live.

Han took a step forward without thinking about it and a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder. It was Martha.

“Chosen one, it is not time for us to move yet! The ritual of the lord is not to be disturbed by any of us!”

Han squeezed his hand and glared forward. What did he think he was doing? Was he actually going to try fighting hundreds of people here just for the sake of that one boy? Could he even win if he tried? If he did this then he would definitely be destroying any chance he had of finding the cardinal and getting how the virus came to be.

What should he do?

“Praise the Lord for he is the source of our salvation! Today our brothers and sisters find peace in the lord and join the ranks of the followers! May the lord grant unto them the grace of his light!”

“Praise the lord!!”

“Praise the lord!!”

“Praise the lord!!”

The people around Han all went crazy with their chants as the old woman suddenly tugged the group in the chains forward and began to lead them towards the stairs once again. Han couldn’t take his eyes off the boy. He couldn’t have been more than ten years. His eyes were red and he was now trying to tug back against the pull of the adults in front of him, but he was too weak to break free from the pull of the old woman. His red eyes bored into Han’s eyes and he tried desperately to speak past his gag.

‘Please! Please!!’

“They will be given the keys to the kingdom! The grace to persevere the temptation of evil! May their strength prove enough to persevere! May they sacrifice not be in vain!”

“Praise the lord! Praise the lord! Praise the lord!”

The man standing behind the boy suddenly pulled the boy forward while glaring down at him. What did this boy think he was doing!? They were going to receive the blessing of the lord and he was hesitating!? The man’s angry eyes bored into the boy and cowed him into silence and then the man turned around to walk again.

The boy lowered his head and began moving along, only for a hand to land on his shoulder and stop the entire line in their tracks.

The entire crowd in front of the wall gasped and Martha looked towards where her chosen was, only to see him missing!

Han’s eyes bored into those of the old woman in front of the line and he spoke up.

“I don’t think this one wants to belong to your Lord.”

“Heretic!!!!!!!!”