PHOTO PROMPT © Karen Rawson
The masked men dragged Griselda through the stream, soiling her long white gown. She refused to walk until whips lashed her back, forcing her to crawl upward to escape their stinging punishment. At the top the High Priest grabbed her. The men backed down the stairs.
“Scream,” he whispered. “Strip.” The altar table lifted and she was ushered into it. She glimpsed the priest dressing a skinned goat in her gown after pulling out its heart.
In the depths she saw the sacrifices of previous years. “Welcome to your new home. We may have to dwell underground but its better than being dead.”
Thank you to our host Rochelle Wisoff-Fields and Karen Rawson for supplying the photo prompt.
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About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
A very disturbing tale with vivid imagery.
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Thanks Dahlia. At least the high priest didn’t want to kill those selected to be sacrificed but saved them although they were then effectively jailed for the rest of their lives. I don’t know what would be worse.
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Very descriptive. A bit macabre –
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Sorry……
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That was an unexpected ending. And after that tension you bullt
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Thanks Neil. I didn’t feel like a bloody end today so instead a world of sacrifices living underneath the hillock.
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The tension here is palpable, Irene, the end is not the release I was expecting.
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Thanks Kelvin. Didn’t fancy death today.
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My God, that was brutal and disturbing.
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The photo reminded me of the Incas and their habit of sacrificing children as they were the purest. Since my primary school social studies it disturbed me so I changed it to a nice high priest who saved those that were going to be sacrificed.
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Dear Irene,
This reminds me of Joseph and his coat of many colors that his brothers dipped in goat’s blood so their father would believe his favorite son had been slain. Despite the brutal buildup she is saved in the end. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. Exactly. Cheers Irene
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Wow, I wasn’t expecting that! Such an inventive take on the photo prompt, I really enjoyed reading it.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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The photo reminded me of temples where you climb upward on hands and knees in a position of subservience and also of Inca human sacrifice. Glad you enjoyed reading it Susan. Thank you
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Oh dear, I wonder if she might not be better off dead, unless there is some hope of escape perhaps! Great imagination Irene.
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You had my heart pounding, Irene… So very glad she was not the one sacrificed.
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So am I Dale. Pounding is good. thanks for reading.
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Jeez that was a lucky ending for her. Very well written. It was gripping.
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Thanks Lisa. Glad it was gripping.
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Sacrifices have always seemed to me one of the craziest most insane aspects of religion and beliefs. Your illustrate this brilliantly with your description of what they do to the goat – it grabs the imagination. Well written story.
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Thank you Jilly. I agree sacrifices are insane and I wonder at the strength of belief that allows a parent to knowingly give up their child to the altar.
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Exactly. Gosh, Irene, we could have a good discussion about this over a cup of tea! Jilly.
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Tea and a chat would be lovely.
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WOW!! Your story just grabs you. It send chills down my back. You painted a vivid scene in just a few words. I am impressed.
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Thank you Mike. Your words make me very happy.
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You racked up the tension then offered up an unexpected ending.Brilliant Irene.
My FriFic tale is called Solace!
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Thanks Keith. Much appreciated.
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Horrifying, with a nice twist at the end there.
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thanks Sandra. Horrifying is good.
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A chilling take. Very well crafted.
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Thanks Yarnspinner.
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I suppose it’s a little better than being sacrificed. Such a twist!
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Yes you have to wonder but it might be a whole other world down there.
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I was really scared for her. If only all these human sacrifices had been turned at the last moment. Just a few days ago I read an article about a new archeological find in Peru about children who were sacrificed.
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Yes it is incomprehensible in many ways. I believe they used children as they were the purest being. I just wonder how the mothers must have felt as they watched their child go to the altar. Horrifying.
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That’s a gripping story with an unexpected end. Nicely done, Irene!
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Thank you Penny.
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I like the end… the subject of human sacrifice is so very disturbing, but you made this real for me…
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Glad I made it real Bjorn. That is a great compliment thank you.
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Now there’s an unexpectedly good sacrificial savior.
Randy
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Yes its a wonder in his village that he has survived.
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Better underground than dead? Hmmmmm. Not so sure.
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I’m not so sure either.
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Yikes!
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Yikes indeed.
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