A day ago
Serena's pov
The rays of sunshine fell on my face
Someone knocked at my door. It was my mom.
'serena wake up you have to go to school" she said while while waking me up
I open my eyes and said " Mom you go I am coming after getting ready",
She went to prepare breakfast or I went to get ready.
After getting ready, I went downstair where dad was having breakfast.
"good morning dad" I wish him.
"good morning darling". He replied
I sat next to him and started having breakfast and then mom came from the kitchen and placed my or dad's tiffin on the table.
After eating breakfast I left for my school.
I was near the entrance of school I saw liza .
"Hi Liza" I shouted energetically
"Hi Serena, how are your holidays?" She asked.
" Good ,what about you?" I asked
"It was boring " she replied.
Then we both went to our classroom and sit together in front seat.The first period today is of psychology. After finishing our class , we both went towards our school canteen.
Suddenly Liza said "Serena, you know that today 25 girls will be selected for the ritual".
"I don't know about it " I replied.
I asked her "what would happen in the ritual?"
"I did not even know, I heard it while two village women are talking about it .And no one knows what happens to them" She replied.
We both talked a little about it theb the bell rang for our next class and we both had to attend the class.
After all the periods are over, we both went toward our home while walking. Liza's house is a little further away from my house.
After reaching home I started freshening up. After getting fresh, I went to the living room where my mother was sitting , I don't know why but she looks very sad.
"mom what happened?" i asked.
"The head of Village has sent a letter that all girls above 16 years of age will assemble in the village park today evening." She replied
"Don't worry mom, nothing will happen to me."I assured her.
After that I went to my room and started doing school homework.
After completing the homework, I started checking my phone and then I got call from liza.
"Hello Liza what happened" I asked.
"Serena, have you also received a letter from the village head?" She asked.
"Yes " I answered .
"Let's meet in the park", she said.
"ok bye", I replied .
After 3 hours....
I started getting ready for the meeting.
And than I went downstairs to the living room.
"Mom I am going " I said
"Ok take care of yourself" she replied while hugging me.
I went outside and wait for Liza to come.
She came after sometime.
We both looked at eachother with similar confused feeling.
" let's go", I said
We both went to the park together and there were some girls from the village, then the village head came and said
"Today 25 girls will be selected from all of you for the ritual. dont worry you all are doing this sacrifice for your family and villager's".
Then he randomly gave all of us a paper with numbers on it.
After distributing it , they started announcing the number randomly, after sometime .
He said "no. 78 please come in front".
i checked my token no. 78 was written in it.
I got shocked 😳.
He asked again " no. 78 Please come",
With shivers on my body I went towards the front where the head was standing.
Then he said number 90 and I remember number 90 is Liza's. I gave her a sad look and then Liza also came in front .
And I hugged her tightly.
We both are sad and terrified thinking about what's going to happen with us.
Why they are talking about sacrifice, what is this ritual I am so confused.
After selecting the 25 girls village head ask everbody to go back to their houses.
When I reached my home I saw that my mother is sitting in living room looking tensed.
"Mom" I called her.
"Serena baby tell me you don't get selected" she asked me with trembling voice.
I looked at her with teary eyes , and She understands what I am going to say.
Suddenly she hugged me tightly and started crying.
I don't want her to be sad and unhappy.
"Mom don't worry I'll be fine there", I said that with hopeful face.
"Serena, what are you saying, now we will never see you again. Since these years, any girl who has gone there has never returned", she said with terrified voice.
"Mom, this is my fate, nothing can happen now", I replied with serious voice.
She hugged me and said "I'll miss you".
we both cried while hugging each other.
When Dad came home in the evening, he found out about the incident and hugged me while crying.
"serena baby I'll miss you" he said.
"Do one thing and leave this village, they'll never find you " he asked me with red eyes and trembling voice.
"Dad this is my fate" I replied with sad voice.
After having dinner, I went to my bedroom and lay on the bed wondering what would happen next.
I don't know why my heart is feeling strange.
I kept overthinking and didn't know when morning came.
Next day
In the morning I got ready to have breakfast, I saw that both mom and dad were very sad. I wish them and said "don't your daughter is very brave".
After breakfast, we all sat together without talking, then suddenly we heard the bell ringing.
My mom went towards the door and opened it and there was a man he came inside the house and said "Are you Serena " while looking at me.
"Yes" I replied.
"You gave to come with me", he ordered.
Mom and dad hugged me and started crying.
I went outside with the man and he told me to sit on the a bus outside my house
I went inside the bus and there were all the girls , I sat down on my seat, then Liza came inside the bus and she sat next to me.
The driver started driving the bus towards the jungle and after reaching the jungle, the village head asked all of us to get off the bus.
We all went out from the bus into the jungle and then suddenly we all screamed because of the sudden loud and strange voice .
Then a old looking bus came in front of us and the driver asked all of us to Sit inside that strange looking bus.
We all take our seats while the strange looking man was talking to village head, then the strange man came inside the bus and sit on an empty seat.
Suddenly the bus starts moving towards the jungle and after travelling for some hour our bus enters the beautiful portal like door, suddenly I feel dizzy and than everything went dark .
After some hours..
I opened my eyes and saw liza was petting my head gently.
"Liza what happened?" I asked
"Nothing , when we crossed the portal you got unconscious " she replied
"Are you ok?"She asked worriedly
"Yes I am good", I answered.
Suddenly the strange man stand up and said "We'll be there in 1 hour so behave properly and don't talk with royal family while looking in the eyes".
I got confused about which royal family he is talking about.
I looked out of the window, and saw a strange looking surrounding, it's look different nothing similar to our place.
After sometime our bus reaches infront of the castel which looks very big and beautiful .
And doors get opened and our bus get inside the castels entrance gate, then the strange looking man ordered all of us to went outside and stand lowering our eyes .
Suddenly i heard footsteps of someone walking towards us and standing infront of us .
Stranger looking man said " king these are the girls" .
Ohh so he is the king , he looked abit older and dangerous.
"William they'll stay in servents quarter and work with them" he ordered with bold voice.
Oh so the strange looking man's name is William.
And why did they bring us here , this doesn't look like a ritual to me .
Then William direct us towards the servent quarters and provide us room .
Liza and I got the same room.
"Liza what is happening here isn't it strange" I asked
"Yes " she answered with confused face.
Then suddenly someone knocked and asked "is someone inside there?"
"Yes please come in" I replied.
An old looking women opened the door and give us a maid uniform and asked us to shower and get ready .
After getting ready we went towards the kitchen to work .
"Hi are you the new girls they bring tody "a beautiful woman asked us .
"Yes and you are" I asked
"I am Elena I work here as a cook" she replied .
She asked us to prepare dinner with her for the royal family.