WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE OUR WONDERFUL TEAM MEMBER, AUTHOR LORRAINE CAREY. TODAY SHE IS SHARING HER FLASH FICTION - 'THE PERFECT SPECIMEN'

THE PERFECT SPECIMEN

Layla turned around to make sure Parker was behind her. She had invited him to an initiation ceremony in Johnson Woods that night. He had hesitated last night over their dinner date.

“Come on, Parker, it will be fun! I’ve already ordered a new tent and have had my camping gear since I was a teen,” she said, her eyes taking on a mysterious gleam. “Besides, it’s going to be the perfect September night, just a chill in the air. We can expect to do some snuggle time.”

They had been dating for two weeks and were still getting to know each other. They’d met in an English class as both were attending Ohio State University. Both were in their sophomore year and enjoying all of the college parties and other amenities college life had to offer.

It seemed Layla had an instant attraction to this tall dark-haired jock who heralded all the girls’ attention. He was indeed the perfect specimen with his muscular build and dark wavy hair. And Parker was the first to approach Layla for a coffee house date as he was attracted to her shapely figure and long blonde hair, not to mention her magnetic personality.

Parker was into sports, as Layla was passionate about nature studies and, of course, her private sorority, 'The Ashen Thorn Society’, which he had not heard about until they met. He wanted to spend more time with her, but many of her evenings she’d dedicated to meetings with her sorority sisters.

He’d met a few of her friends and thought they were interesting, as most had adored Layla and seemed to be at her beck and call for some odd reason, trying to please her as best they could. That one he couldn’t quite figure out.

Layla was excited for an overnight event with her sorority sisters to initiate a new member. Everyone was bringing food and excited to sit around a campfire that night and enjoy what surprises the evening held.

When Parker had asked her if he could bring a few of his buddies, she was quick to dismiss it, stating there were strict rules within the society, having no strangers at an event. Only invites from the sisters were allowed.

Parker caught up with Layla after he’d dropped his overnight bag. He took her hand as they walked along the path headed to the clearing where the event was to take place.

“So, where’s your gear?” Parker asked, seeing that Layla was empty-handed.

“Oh, it’s already set up. The sisters had taken care of that earlier.” Her voice was riddled with excitement.

I’m sure they have, knowing how they idolized this woman, he thought, breaking his hand away to steady his heavy bag.

His nostrils smelled smoke as it wafted through the air, and he could see a fire blazing up ahead. “I guess you girls would rather spend parties out in the wilderness rather than in a bar.”

Layla squeezed his hand, “More than you know,” she chimed, winking at him.

A slight breeze had picked up, and he noticed there was an eerie silence. No birds, no wildlife, only the rustling of leaves from the tall oaks and maple trees.

Parker dropped his bag as they approached the campsite, taking in a site that was far from the usual campfire outing.

His eyes scanned the eleven figures that stood around the crackling fire, clothed in black-hooded robes, their faces obscured.

“Just what the Hell is this?” he backed away from Layla.

“Not to worry, love. It’s an initiation ritual, a bit tailored to our tastes,” Layla said. “Trust me. You’re going to love it!”

“We welcome you, our Priestess,” the figures said in unison.

“Priestess? What the fuck? Just who are you?” Parker grabbed Layla’s arm.

“It’s simply a role, love. We need to hurry and join in before the portal closes.”

“Portal . . . just what—”

Layla took his hand and led him to the front of the circle. There was a black robe lying there for her and a white one, which she handed him.

Parker threw the white robe back on the ground. “I’m not playing your twisted, fucking game. You and your friends must have watched ‘The Craft’ too many times.”

One of the tall figures walked over to Parker, removing her hood, revealing a youthful face with huge green eyes.

“My name is Martina, and this is no game. You have been chosen to be an offering to the Goddess Antheia. It is an honor. She is the goddess of all nature. We honor her with a sacrifice so that nature will continue to flourish. This is where we get our powers. And you are the perfect specimen.”

“No . . . I don’t think so. I’m outta here!” Parker turned, leaving his bag on the ground, but found himself paralyzed. His legs were like lead as he struggled to move. He couldn’t move, but he could speak. He didn’t speak, but he yelled, yet his cries were futile.

Layla removed her hood and locked eyes with his, chanting words in Greek. Her words took hold of him, and he was now her plaything, her victim, or whatever she and her sisters had in mind for him. He was now in a trance, able to follow her every command.

She led him into the center of the circle as she instructed him to lie on the makeshift white pedestal as the rest of her sisters adjusted the white robe around him. He was at the mercy of this cult. Then she took her position within the circle at the north position.

Layla began the ritual, calling the Goddess Antheia to open up the portal.

‘’ We honor you tonight with this offering, my goddess. Let the ancient portal of Atlantis be open to accept this gift.”

Parker remained still as the trance was in effect.

Layla instructed the girls to recite the chant with her three times:

“Let this soul be taken to your realm to serve you in your time.”

“Let this soul be taken to your realm to serve you in your time.”

“Let this soul be taken to your realm to serve you in your time.”

The roll of thunder was heard in the distance, and they all turned to the skies as lightning followed.

Layla’s heart raced in anticipation that the goddess was here.

A bolt of lightning struck close to the fire, and all the girls jumped back a few feet as the flames rose higher in the night sky.

“Nothing to fear, my sisters. For once he is taken, we will each gain more strength. We each take a part from him.”

Another bolt shot down, striking right into Parker’s chest. Sparks flew everywhere, circling his body as flames took over, encompassing every inch of his body.

When the flames died down, the body was gone. Only a few ashes were left on the pedestal.

Layla instructed the girls to close the circle, which she led, thanking the goddess.

The rest joined her in chanting a grounding hymn.

“And so it is done, my sisters,” Layla said as she removed her robe as well as the others.

Everyone had to return to their tents to remain in solitude for the night, except for Layla. She had to go back out and bury Parker’s bag deeper into the woods.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she heard the cry of a wolf not far off, but she continued digging. She had to get rid of the evidence.

Just as she covered the ground, she looked up to see a large wolf standing just a few feet away. He was all white, not native to this area in Ohio.

She froze in fear as the wolf began to shake and its skin stretched to long legs, which looked to be human. Within seconds, its body had fully transformed into human form. It was the form of a human boy who looked vaguely familiar to her. She gazed at his long blonde hair and muscular build.

“Y . . . You are—”

“Yes, I am Jordan, Layla. And you remember me. I was your previous sacrifice before the one tonight.”

Layla stepped back in fear. “No! How could this be? You were sent back to the Atlantian realm!”

“Not quite, my dear Sister. See, you and your little coven haven’t quite done your research. Let’s say you fucked my transport up. I was sent into a group of shifters. Due to your inexperience, I was rejected by the goddess as not pure enough. Guess I wasn’t a perfect specimen. ”

“What about Parker, the man we offered up tonight? Will he be accepted?”

“I cannot say for certain. I only know what happened to me.”

Layla was ready to run, but not before Jordan issued her warning statement.

“Let it be known that in return, you will need to sacrifice one of your own to my pack, or you will face an eternity of hellfire!”

“But how will I–“

“Not to worry. It has been done.”

And with his last words, a mist shrouded his body, and he morphed into wolf form, taking off into the woods.

Layla ran back to camp, terrified at what she would find. Her sisters met her on the way back, all frantic and breathless, letting her know that Martina had gone missing.

Layla shook her head, tears streaming as she instructed the girls to all meet at the center camp and strike up another fire. It was going to be a long night.

The end.

COMING SOON: On Wednesday 21st May, we are excited to host author and poet, Kathleen Swann, who is sharing some of her poems with us from her poetry book, 'Mind of a Nomad'.