Joy the Nine

Prologue

Nine...

Nine humans were chosen

...

The nine still bodies hang lifeless, impaled on the tall poles that sat lonely at the front of the small grey village. The poles struck tall and slender shadows, as if trying to impale even the things that they cannot ensnare. Blood flows down from the rusty steel spikes, the raw and crimson scraps of gritty human flesh flapped to the whistling wind, their entrails and organs poked out from their wounds. The bright calamity of pink and red, stood a great contrast to the pale, colorless bodies. The still crowd below was soundless. Not even a squeak from a crying child, not even the usual gasping and murmurs of gossiping adults. They huddled close, eyes facing downwards, downwards, and downwards, towards their feet and soles, towards the cursed land that they are forced to live on.

Only silence

...

The guards flitted and rearranged their weapons once in awhile, shuffling around on their,great big dragons, with spear-like claws and odd dagger-like teeth. The metallic heavy breathing of the gigantic beasts kept the people tamed.

Time stands still

...

The head guard has spoken, his words are heard every month. The once packed space, has now cleared. The guards wearing heavy intimidating armor are escorting the civilians home into their tiny sheep pens. Their plasma guns and poison dart spears heaved and shoved the people, who are still silent. Then with a swish of the wings, the guards left, leaving only the dust and silence behind.

...

Nine