The Assassin’s Sacrifice: 8 (final)

Copyright 2020 Jeff Suwak. All rights reserved.

(This story was originally published in Plasma Frequency Magazine, Issue 11.)

Part 1 is here.

Part 2 is here.

Part 3 is here.

Part 4 is here.

Part 5 is here.

Part 6 is here.

The old woman wheeled around, crafting symbols in the air, but the dark energy she summoned was extinguished by the light. The children dragged her down to the ground by the hem of her robe.

A golden doorway appeared in the air. Adta screamed frantically as the children dragged her inside. The door slammed shut, and the light began to draw in on itself, coalescing to a bright point in the center. The luminescent sphere flared blindingly for a second and then disappeared.

Pain ripped through Heider’s ribs and his legs gave out from under him.

From the floor, he looked up to see the boy they had led into the Maze. He approached from the altar, dressed in an immaculate white thawb that kicked off bright rays of illumination. There was no indication that he suffered from his experience upon the altar, nor that he had ever suffered at all. His smiling face was calm and placid. “Do you remember me, Heider?”