Nell was doing his morning prayers at the holy maiden's altar, along with the other devout followers. Within his head, thinking, with his back tense and hunched, as if to hide, while the full moon in the sky waited to greet the sun; he was still processing his various plans to escape this place.

Nell wasn’t like the other initiates who were born here, growing up with and instilled with the idea of the importance of the holy maiden. Nell was an outsider; a lost youth who was manipulated and lured into the cult with hopes and dreams of salvation; a promised land, where bunnies can scurry through the bushes, fish can flow freely through the water, and birds can fly high in the sky. Promises of freedom and safety; but alas, he was young and dumb to believe it. His blood was red and the ground was rock solid, so why did his eyes wander to the heavens above; perhaps the most he can ever be is a witness to something he could never have…

But in his mind, from the moment the idea of escape sprouted, it had never left, and after all these years, as his youth dwindled away, it was still something he was looking forward to. If anyone cared to look, cracks could be found in the walls, and there were all sorts of ways to get past locked doors, for those with the tools.

If there was any benefit to the time he spent here at the Church of the Holy Maiden, it was his education; this place refined the way he thought, and gave him all sorts of tools to accomplish tasks for the church. In addition, they introduced him to all sorts of magick and disciplines, such as necromancy, enchantment, and divination, which drew on various energies, from the moon to human emotions.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Nell couldn’t deny it; he had learned a lot. But alas, within the depths of his heart, he hoped for a sort of peace this life would not offer him.

As the line moved forward, eventually it was Nell’s turn. He first bowed, then he got on his knees and kissed the altar. In the depths of his heart, he couldn’t help but pray. Please, there has to be more to life than this. If there is, as long as you can grant it, I will serve you for eternity…

Nell let out a sigh as he gets up, and moves ahead, allowing the next person to approach the altar.

Nell stands to the side and watches the ritual proceed; he shakes his head, and he couldn’t but think, perhaps he would never obtain his dream.

Nell looks to the sky, at the shadow of the full moon, and the bright rising sun; like the corpses, and the blood that stained his hand, perhaps he was doomed to rot.

Suddenly, a bright light flashed in the sky.

Nell raises an eyebrow. What is that? He wonders as he squints his eyes.

Something was moving quickly through the sky, and in Nell’s vision it was getting bigger and bigger.

Its size and presence quickly made itself apparent to Nell, and before he knew it, it was upon him.

Nell’s eyes widen. “Noooo!” He exclaims.

Then…

BANG!!!

Darkness, silence…

On the edge…

Whispers…