I looked around, there were what, 12? 15? girls here, and they were all around my age, some even younger. This all started with just an ordinary trip to the library. I still remember that day, Stacia was so exited to pick up the newest book by Rick Riordan. She was almost overly happy, jumping and singing, just like the time when she drank a coffee with 4 shots of expresso in it. I mean, who even does that, but still, I can't help but chuckle at her behavior. Even though it was what got us into this mess. Stacia can't help it, shes so, so, innocent. Not any more.

“Primum, quod sanguis. Venena non dantur nisi in libro illo.

Secundo, in lacrimis. Venena non dantur nisi apud eos liber.

Tertio tuus meam. Venena non dantur nisi in libro illo.

Haec est vita juramento binding.”

One girl after another walked up to the dasis, the person in the mask pricking each one of their thumbs before spraying a quick mist in each of their faces. The woman (At least i suspect the person in the mask is female, i could be wrong.) would take their hand and would start smearing the blood in a large black book. I thought to myself, “Was it just me or does the cover of the book get darker and darker everytime more blood is added to it?” My name is called and I stand there frozen in shock, my mouth ran dry and I couldn't seem to make my feet move. I was paralyzed with fear, shaking with it. Stacia, my best friend, turned to me with encouragement in her eyes, "Come on, you can do it" She gave me a smile that she probably thought was reassuring, but instead it made me feel uneasy. The old Stacia would have never done this willingly, no matter how adventurous she was. "Ariel Belle Collins" my name was called again. I started to shuffle forwards, not wanting to make them mad. Finally reaching the steps that led up to the dasis, I could feel my legs starting to give out. Up one step, ‘DANGER DANGER,’ the little voice screamed in my head. Up the next, ‘TURN AROUND,’. One more step to go, ‘IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO TURN BACK,’ at this I paused, 'Was it too late to turn back?' I started to pivot but then the woman grabbed my arm and pulled me up the last step. "Don't worry, this will only hurt a little" and she took the knife and made a gash on my thumb. I gasped with the sudden shock of the pain entering my system. The other women in the room started up the chant, and this time I could actually understand them.

“Primum, quod sanguis. Venena non dantur nisi in libro illo.”

First, the blood. Smear it in the book.

She took my thumb and made an arc of blood on one of the pages.

“Secundo, in lacrimis. Venena non dantur nisi apud eos liber.”

Second, the tears. Smear them in the book.

This time she sprayed that mist in my eyes, it felt like pepper spray. I had to hold in a scream as my eyes started to water, spreading the tears across my face before running down my nose. Sure enough, my tears dripped onto the page like they said it would.

“Tertio tuus meam. Venena non dantur nisi in libro illo.”

Third, your soul. Smear it in the book.

The women put one long fingernail to my chest, and as she pulled away I felt a horrible ripping coming from inside, accopanied with a tearing sound emanating from my chest. The pain was so terrible, I could hardly bear it.

“Haec est vita juramento binding.”

This oath is life binding.

Suddenly it was all over, no pain in my chest, my eyes didn't burn, even the cut on my thumb was healed up. Nothing left but a shiny pink scar, the color of a wound freshly healed. “Welcome to The Praesul” the woman whispered. I numbly walked back to my place as the next girl went up. Stacia leaned over to me. "Wasn't that fun, I mean except for the pepper spray and the cut, but other than that it was exhilarating." "Mmm-hmm" I nodded my reply, but all I was thinking was, 'What did we just get ourselves into'.

5 MONTHS LATER

The wind whipped my hair into my eyes and my mouth, but I didn’t bother to reach up to wipe it out of the way for fear of dropping the book. I could hear someone tramping behind me, crashing through the bushes and trees like they weren’t even there. I stumbled on a loose root but kept on running despite my throbbing ankle. Whoever was following me was gaining ground, getting closer every second. Finally I burst into the clearing where the fire was blazing, but as I made a move towards it, I tripped yet again. This time I couldn't get up though, my ankle has been pushed to far to fast. This time it was broken. One look back told me all that I needed to know, taking a gamble, I threw the book, watching it make an arc in the air. If it did not land directly in the fire it could at least land somewhere in the stray embers. I was hoping for the former, but the latter might work as well, after all, the book was super dry and brittle from years and years of use, it should be fine. I was still caught up with worry, but it looked like it was on a straight course for the middle when suddenly a hand shot out and grabbed it.

“Stacia” I asked incredulously, “What are you doing?” She didn’t respond, she just stared at the book in her hands, stroking its cover lovingly. “Stacia?” I tried again, at this she almost instantaneously snapped her stare to me. “No” her gaze was hollow, where was the light that so often permeated her eyes. The light that infected everyone around her.“What?” She kept on staring, her eyes boring into mine, “ I said no” I felt so confused, “What are you talking about” her gaze drifted back to the book, “You will not hurt my family” I looked at her, surprise expressed openly on my face. "Stacia, your family is at home, I saw Tommy and your mother sitting in the living room on my way over, they are perfectly fine." "I'm not talking about them, my other family, this family." She said while guestering towards the book. “You mean those monsters? They are-” I got cut off by Stacia, “It's The Praesul,” “What” I was confused for a split second until she explained. “They are not monsters, they're The Praesul” at this I felt rage boiling in my veins, and somehow I found the strength to stand. “They call themselves The Praesul, the protectors, but do you know what they actually do? They are cannibals Stacie, I saw it with my own eyes. I saw them eating a child, nothing more than a baby, is that what you call protecting? Does family make you eat children, HUMAN children. Is that what a ‘family’ would do?” Stacia didn't reply for a second and I hoped that I had finally gotten through to her, but all she said was, “I know”

“Wha-what?” I stuttered, “And just so you know” she swiveled towards me, “They don’t ‘make’ me, I do it willingly.” she pulled a sack out of her pocket and handed it to me. I weighed it in my palm, it was about a pound, pulling the drawstring open, I dumped whatever was in there into my hand. As soon as it touched my hand I knew what is was. I dropped it and started gagging, turning away from the Thick meaty stench that was covering my hand and the bag. While I was retching into the bushes Stacia came over and picked it up. Once I was done I turned to her, “Why do you have a pound of human meat sitting in your pocket?” Stacie looked at me with her big blue eyes, pleading with me. “Don't you know? Its for when I get hungry” as if to prove her point Stacia took a big bite out of it, blood dribbling down her chin. “C’mere, try some” she ran towards me and shoved it in my face, trying to get it in my mouth. I turned away but it was too late, it was in my mouth, the metellic flavor of the blood and meat burst in my mouth. And to be honest, I wanted it, but I pushed her away and spit it out. I wiped the blood off my face but there was too much I was just smearing it. “Don't you see? because I sure can.” she asked me, “Your body craves it, I can see it in your eyes. As soon as your blood was smeared in the book, your fate was sealed, don't worry. I’ll be nice and share.” As tempting as it was I turned away yet again. Stacie stuck her bottom lip out in a pout “Fine then, I’ll just have to eat it myself” she turned to take another bite and that's when I saw it, the opportunity. She was only holding the book with one hand, I could take her out and grab the book while she was down. I have to do it now before I lost my resolve.

With a scream of rage, my body powered with hate and anger at what they did to Stacia, i tackled her. When she went down she dropped the meat and it landed with a squishy thud, rolling to a stop a few feet away. We grappled only for a second because I took a rock and hit Stacia on the head with it. I quickly grabbed the book and raced towards the fire, stumbling on my broken ankle. “Ariel wait,” I heard Stacie gasp, “don't burn the book. I need that, we need that book” I stared at her for a good long second before replying, “This is not right Stacia, it's for the best” I turned back towards the fire and was ready to throw it in when I heard Stacie stand up behind me. “Don't you know, if you burn that book, we all die, everybody who has signed their blood in that book, will die.” I stared at her, taking in what might be my last sight of her. Even though she was filthy, covered in blood, both hers and not hers. Her hair was messy and her clothes torn and frayed. But still, I loved her anyways. She was my best friend. “You remember the pact we made when we were younger?" I asked her, she looked confused, until realization dawned on her face. "We got in this together and we will get out of this together" she managed to gasp out.  "I promise you it will be better.” Stacie looked at me, “But you will die as well” a single tear escaped from one eye, “Then that's just a risk I will have to take.” I turned and put the book in the fire. Watching the cover burn away until it was just the pages. Once those started to burn I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my chest, I kneeled over, and watched as my world turned white.