As I drew closer, I saw that something had already reached the man. It was a Pig Born. It was slowly wrapping the unconscious figure with chains. The Pig Born looked very much like the one who had taken me to Danny.
It hadn’t seen me yet, my presence masked by the rain, and so I ducked low and began to circle around the duo. As I walked, a thought popped through the bog of my cautious mind.
Kill that thing. Don’t let it take another.
I paused, the Pig Born now a couple dozen yards to my left with its back turned to me. It was securing the chain around the man’s throat.
It’s an abomination. Cut it down.
I gave in to the voice and took my ax in both hands. Staying low, I rushed the unaware monster, heart racing, anticipation like gasoline in my veins.
When I was directly behind the mutilated creature, I raised the ax above my head and brought it down into the base of the Pig Born’s skull. The blade thudded deep into the rotting meat and I felt the edge split bone.
With a surprised howl, the ruined creature spun, clawing at the base of its neck where my ax remained. I quickly stepped back, grip lost, watching with grim satisfaction as its eyes widened in pain. It fell to its knees, still screaming, its jaw extending beyond human capabilities.
Black blood poured over its bloated, pale flesh as it stared at me, its strength fading.
I booted it in the face as hard as I could.
Gurgling, the Pig Born tumbled backward and the force of the ax meeting ground was enough the drive the blade deeper, forever silencing the monster.
Surging with righteous pleasure, I kicked the corpse over and yanked the ax free. I turned to the unconscious man and saw he was actually much younger than I originally thought. Rain bounced off his face as I turned away from him.
Black blood seeped around my boots, diluting in the mud. I surveyed my victim unsure what exactly I should feel.
And then I embraced the violence like an old friend. I wrapped myself in my murderous action, draping the warmth it brought me over my shoulders and grinned into the storm.
I could get used to this feeling.
I left the man where he lay, knowing I couldn’t help him any more than I already had. I pressed forward and soon he was lost behind me in a torrent of rain and dim gray.
After some time the rain let up a little, reducing to a gentle trickle and I bounced my gaze between the growing mountain and the gashes in the sky. I didn’t want any unexpected company falling on my head.
The broken sun sat miserably to my right, a dark reminder of how poisoned we all were here. I wondered what the creation of it must have looked like. How did The Pig do it? Did it simply sit in its massive barn and summon it? Did The Pig once roam the land along with all of its creations?
I wrapped one arm around myself, shivering as I walked. The wind was getting colder and I felt myself begin to shiver. My boots sunk deep into the earth, each step costing me more strength than I wanted to expend. Somewhere on the plains, I heard the howls of other Pig Born and I sharpened my awareness as best I could. To my left the forest grew, emerging from the horizon like a green strip of cloth. I readjusted my course and re-centered the mountain before me.
As I walked, casting occasional glances ahead of me, I saw something on the snow capped peak. I was still a couple miles from it, but the sudden contrast immediately captured my eyes.
It was a flash of blue light, blinking once, twice, and then vanishing. It was a mere pinprick of color, but enough to stand out against the stark white summit.
“What was that?” I muttered to myself, watching for another flash. When none came, I continued on, new questions rising in my mind like zombies from the grave. I shook myself free of their claws and buried them back where they belonged. I had enough to worry about right now.
Soon Muck’s Needle Fields came into view. From this distance it looked like an iron cornfield, the sharpened steel rising high into the sky. I turned my path away from it and headed for the other side of the mountain.
My legs were burning like fire when I finally spotted The Temple of the Pig. It sprang from the background, emerging from the mountainside like an optical illusion.
It was enormous, resting at the base of the mountain opposite the side where Muck’s cave was. It was built entirely from rock, four carved spires poking into the gray sky like the ends of a pencil.
Its crude walls rose dozens of feet into the air, the long rectangular design not quite symmetrical, almost as if it had been formed from clay by clumsy hands. At the front of the temple, resting above the colossal twin doors, was an impeccably carved pig head. Rain sloshed into its ears and exited through the mouth creating a natural waterfall that splashed across the shallow steps leading up to its entrance.
I observed all this from the peak of a small foothill, weighing my options carefully. As I considered what my next move was, I spotted a trio of cloaked figures emerge from the temple. I crouched to one knee, feeling exposed, and watched nervously as they descended the stairs and turned my way.
I scrubbed rain from my eyes and felt my heart begin to race. I knew what I had to do, I knew I needed to interact with these people in order to get inside…but even so, I felt fear tickle my senses with a cold finger. I had no idea what awaited me behind those walls. What if they saw my true intentions? What if I was captured again, held against my will and tortured for their pleasure?
The three figures continued to approach, smudges of gray across the long plain, slowly growing larger with each anxious breath. I knew I was exposed, I knew they could see me. I gritted my teeth. This was probably the best chance I’d have. I needed to confront them, ask for admission. I prepared the words on my tongue and strolled down the hill to meet them. I kept the ax slung across my shoulders. No need to part with my weapon yet.
If the three hooded men felt threatened by my approach, they didn’t show it. As we grew closer, the man in the middle lowered his head and met my gaze from fifty yards. I held his eyes until the four of us stood a handful of feet apart.
I waited for them to speak first.
“What are you doing here?” the man in the middle asked. His eyes were dull and matched the shade of his short gray hair.
I blew rain off my lips. “I heard this is where Suicidals pledge themselves to The Pig.”
The two flanking the older man kept their hoods drawn low, but I could see them exchange a look. The gray-haired man spread his arms. “You heard correctly. Is that why you’ve come?”
I nodded, “Yeah. What a place, huh? Pretty wild. Inspiring, really. I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life to experience something like the Black Farm. It’s incredible what The Pig has done. I want to be a part of that.” I had no idea if what I was saying would ring true with these three, but I figured honesty tainted with soft lies was my best bet at getting on their good side.
The man in the middle crossed his arms, his face giving away nothing. “You know what we do here?”
I shrugged, “I’ve heard talk.”
“And you want to be a part of that?”
I grinned with confidence I didn’t feel. “Absolutely. You guys are doing something special in there. And I want in.”
The man appraised me with cold eyes. “We get a lot of requests from Suicidals. And a lot of those requests are for the wrong reasons. They come to us seeking protection and shelter. Is that what you’re after?”
I rested the head of the ax between my feet and cracked a smile, “Do I look like I need protection?”
The man didn’t seem impressed. “So, shelter then?”
I raised my face into the rain, “From what? A little rain? Don’t make me laugh.”
The man exchanged a look with his companions and then cleared his throat. “The Temple of the Pig is a holy place and the next step towards realizing what The Pig intends for us. Becoming one of us is no easy task and requires multiple checkpoints that you must pass along the way. It’s not as simple as a yes or no. First, you
must meet with Ryder, our leader, so that he may witness your true intentions. Then, if he accepts you into the fold, you will travel with the other new recruits to pledge yourself to The Pig. When your elder returns you to the Temple, you’ll take the oath and begin an apprenticeship until your elder clears you to become one of us. Do you understand?”
I mentally exhaled. “Yeah, I understand.”
The man stepped towards me suddenly and grabbed the ax handle, his face inches from mine, his eyes buzzing. “And let me be clear. This isn’t some casual decision to make. If you’re serious, then prepare yourself for some very serious shit. Got it?”
I forced myself to smile. “Got it. I’m Nick, by the way.”
“Peter,” he said with rocks in his voice. “And as of now, you won’t be needing this.” I screamed internally as he pulled the ax from my grip. “That’s not going to be a problem, is it?”
I let him take it. “Not at all.”
“Good. Now, let’s return to the Temple. There are introductions to be made.”
I motioned ahead of us, keeping my tone light, “Lead the way, Peter.”
This felt too easy and it made my skin crawl.
As the four of us turned back toward the Temple, I tried to suppress the feeling of dread that dripped down my throat and pooled in my stomach. My heart told me this was how I found Jess, but my mind screamed madness and caution. The silent, nameless two flanked my sides as Peter led us across the plains towards the base of the mountain where the colossal stone temple awaited.
I focused on remaining loose and non-threatening. I held my head high and walked with a sure step, eyes locked on the back of Peter’s head. If I had any hope of pulling this off, I needed to remain confident in my lie. It wasn’t easy.
“Who built the temple?” I asked as we walked.
Without turning, Peter responded, “Eons ago, the original seven bonded together and presented their vision to The Pig. It rewarded their dedication with the temple you see before you. Ever since then, our numbers have grown and we seek out new ways to honor what we have been gifted with.”
The looming structure grew out of the sheets of rain, morphing detail and texture the closer we came. I searched for doors, hidden windows, something that might be useful later on, but none were apparent other than the twin gates at the front.
This wasn’t going to be easy.
Staying cool, I turned to my hooded companions. “You guys must feel pretty special, huh? To know that The Pig accepts you and rewarded your religion with such an impressive token.”
They didn’t even look at me, water dripping from the edges of drawn hoods.
“What’s The Pig like?” I continued. “What’s it look like? Does it speak to you?”
We were almost to the stone stairs leading up to the expansive double doors. Peter turned his head without slowly. “You ask a lot of questions, Nick.”
“I’m just curious,” I said offhandedly, “and excited. I’ve wanted this for a long time now.”
We were walking up the stairs now and Peter pulled his hood over his head again, “Best save them for Ryder.”
I shut my mouth and looked up, the enormous stone pig head vomiting rain above us. Tiny waterfalls lapped at my boots and slithered across the slick stone. I hugged myself as I realized we were going to walk directly under the cascading tide.
Peter went first, his form lost for a moment as he passed through the pillar of falling water and then I was under. I gasped as a shock of freezing cold engulfed my body, the icy rain drenching me in a current of power. I hurried through the frigid column and ran a hand across my face, clearing my vision.
Peter was waiting for me, his back to the closed doors. Before I could say anything, he was suddenly toe to toe with me, his eyes hostile and his voice dangerous.
“Now understand this, Nick. You are a pet I’ve brought home to show my master. Act accordingly or I swear on the Pig Born I’ll make you regret it. Do you understand me?”
I swallowed hard. “I understand. You have nothing to worry about.” Peter held my gaze a moment longer and then nodded, satisfied.
“Then let’s go in.”
Peter, along with the help of his two companions, pushed the front gates open. The hinges groaned and creaked and I could hear them grunting under the weight. Satisfied, Peter nodded me ahead and I entered the temple, caution an echo in my mind.
I heard the doors close behind me, but my attention was focused on the crude sanctuary before me. Wooden pews lined the vast space, the shoddy carpentry obviously hewed from inexperienced hands. The floor was made of bare stone, smooth and gray as the clouds outside. Bowls of fire hung from the ceiling, the squirming flames reaching towards an arching ceiling overhead. An altar rested at the head of the church, a granite slab that was draped with dirty cloth.
To my left was a set of stairs that twisted down and out of sight, but shadows moved along the walls and my imagination conjured monsters to match. I wondered if Jess was down there.
A handful of hooded figures sat in the pews, hunched over in what I assumed was prayer. None of them turned to see who had just entered their church, the noise of our arrival washing over deaf ears. The place smelled of dirt and ash, a film of filth coating the walls. I felt it on my skin and caught myself wiping my hands on my pants.
“Wait here,” Peter said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll tell Ryder you’re here. He’ll want to see you right away.”
“Ok.”
My other two companions circled around me and joined the others in the pews. They kept their hoods up and heads down. With the absence of windows, the bowls of flame cast shadows that gave the small congregation an almost statue-like quality. They just sat, motionless, like they were waiting for something to happen. I nervously waited, trying to prepare myself for whatever came next. Every part of me screamed to rush down the stairs to my left and seek out Jess. Knowing she might be in the same building as I was eating away at my nerves. I felt my fingers twitching and I forced myself to settle down. If I was going to make this work, I had to be patient.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
I turned towards the voice and saw Danny exiting from a small room to my right. Surprise rippled through me, soon joined by unease. I tried to keep my face neutral as I crossed my arms and nodded at him.
Danny approached me, his dull eyes boring into my skull. “Come to join the ranks?”
I shrugged, my heart inexplicably racing. “If you’ll have me.”
Danny’s face twisted in disgust. “Don’t think for a second I’m part of this. I’m only here to arrange a viewing for the new recruits.”
“Oh, to see The Pig?” I asked.
Danny’s mouth remained bent at the corners. “I don’t know why The Pig wastes its time with these morons. But who am I to question?”
I turned my eyes away from him, letting the conversation die.
But Danny wasn’t ready to leave me alone. He cocked his head at me. “So did Muck finally kill you? Or did you find a way out of there?”
I kept my eyes away from him. “What do you care?”
Danny smirked, “I don’t. I’m just curious.”
“Let’s just say I found a way out.”
Danny took a step closer, “Did you now? Did you have fun with Muck? I’ve never had the pleasure, but I hear he’s quite the entertainer. And judging from the way you looked, I’d say he gave you the royal welcome.”
My hands suddenly clenched into fists. “Drop it, Danny.”
He grinned, his full lips peeling back to reveal white teeth, “Ohhh, tough guy now? What are you going to do? Huh? You going to hit me? To get back at me? To get back at the Black Farm for what it’s done to you? Is that why you’re really here?”
My heart was racing now and I knew I was dangerously close to being exposed. “I’ve had a change of heart. This religion is what I need.”
Danny’s face became unreadable. “Of course it is.”
&nbs
p; “Just leave me alone.”
He reached out and patted my arm, “Sure thing, Nick. Wouldn’t want to mess with you.”
“Just try me,” I muttered.
Suddenly, Danny sprang forward and grabbed me by the throat, slamming me violently against the wall. His breath was hot on my face and he leaned in close, his voice a guttural snarl.
“You think you’ve figured this place out, huh? You think you’ve lived through the worst the Black Farm has to offer? You think you’re some kind of badass now? Well let me tell you something, fucker, the moment you think you’re in control is the moment this place will destroy you all over again.”
I tried to shove him off me, but he only tightened his grip, bringing his face closer, spittle spraying from his lips.
“I don’t know what kind of idiot you think I am, but I know you aren’t here to join these fucks. So why is it? Are you still looking for that bitch of yours? What was her name?”
“Jess,” I growled, forcing fire into my voice, “and you’re goddamn right I’m going to find her.”
Danny shook his head, voice dropping to a whisper, “What is it with you? Why do you keep going?”
I matched his tone, anger starting to bubble just beneath the surface, “What the hell is your problem with me?”
Danny stared at me for a moment without saying anything before releasing me, brushing his hands against his pants as if to wipe away the contact. “Because you still have hope and that disgusts me.”
It was my turn to advance on him. “Why does that scare you?”
His eyes snapped back to me, burning. “Oh…you’re pushing it right now.”
I jabbed a finger, growing more confident, “No, you’re afraid of something. What is it? Why does hope piss you off so much? Is there something about this place you’re not telling me?”
Danny looked like he was going to throttle me so I quickly stepped back. I was growing tired of people grabbing me. I raised my hands defensively, smiling slightly. It felt good to put Danny on edge.
“Hey, relax. I guess I’ll find out for myself. And Danny?” I said, “I have all the time in the world.”
The Black Farm Page 10
