...Having come to some decision, they lined up near the partitions. The first one on the left edge began to read aloud names from the "Condemned" book.
— Andrei, Liber, Mari, Mariana, Dmitry, Rudy, Amalia, Agel, Merlin, Nikita, Nikolai, Ramses, Daniil! All those I named, step forward! — the voice was not loud, but rough, most likely belonging to a man of about forty-five.
All those listed stepped out of line and approached the second person from the left, who handed them one pill each. They held the pills in their hands, trembling with fear.
The second person from the right raised his hand, indicating that they should not swallow the pills yet. The one on the far right took a walkie-talkie out of his boot pocket and said:
— You can come out, they're ready now!
A group of two people came out of the passage, holding papers in their hands. They had the sign of a medical cross on their chests and backs. They approached the people in masks and gave them papers with inscriptions and a seal with drops of blood. Having given the papers, both turned to those who were holding the pills.
— So, I'm Artes, and this is my assistant Dmitry, — one of the medical staff introduced himself. — I'll tell you briefly. You guys have been given the honor of taking a dose of a super-powerful pill that will give you freedom. But I warn you, — he rummaged in his breast pocket and took out a revolver, — anyone who doesn't want to swallow the pill will get a bullet right in the gut or the brain! — finishing his speech, Artes aimed the revolver at the people.
— Come on, others are looking at us, — Dmitry objected, — the children are watching!
— C-children? They are slaves, don't forget about their position! Think what you're saying, or I'll blow your head off, and voila, I'll be in control of the parade! — Artes abruptly pointed the revolver at Dmitry.
— Hey, hey, are you serious?
— Never been more serious... Oh, my nose itches, — a shot rang out, echoing through the dungeon. — Oops, oops, I warned you.
The bullet hit Dmitry right between the eyebrows. Due to the unusual shape of the revolver, the stopping power was very high, and the bullet went right through. Dmitry's head exploded into pieces. The body flew a couple of meters and fell lifelessly. Artes, holding the revolver in his hands, brought the barrel to his lips and blew, releasing a hot stream of air from it.
The stream of air disappeared, Artes lowered the revolver and approached Dmitry's body. He crossed himself, took a bag of salt and garlic from his pocket, bit off a large piece of garlic, and poured salt on the dead body. He brought his left hand to his face and pointed the revolver at Dmitry's right hand with his right. Looking away, he pulled the trigger with a smile. The bullet went right through, the hand came off and fell next to the body. Artes did not stop there. He aimed at Dmitry's stomach and fired again. The body jumped up and fell again.
After three shots, Artes froze. The revolver was aimed at Dmitry's body. The silence would have continued for a long time if a girl had not fallen next to him. She was thin, with a rotting chest and dry skin. Her hair was falling out, and there was very little left. The others did not look at the fallen girl, many were even afraid to move. Artes, seeing her, abruptly pointed the revolver at her head. The girl shrank into a ball and trembled. Artes slowly pulled the trigger, but there was no shot. He was out of bullets. Artes laughed loudly. His laughter echoed throughout the dungeon.
Stopping his laughter, Artes put away the revolver and pointed his fingers at the "condemned."
— The ritual offering is ready! Eat to your health. However, the pills should be swallowed before eating!
The "condemned" seemed to break free and rushed to Dmitry's dead body. Each grabbed different parts of the body, they were insatiable and ate like a pack of wolves. The meal did not last long. Some old woman slowly came out of the dungeon, muttering: "Let sleeping dogs lie."
The old woman continued to mutter until she reached Artes. She waved her hand, and Artes bowed. The old woman whispered something, and Artes flinched.
— So, kids, the ritual is ready to be performed. You know what to do, right?
The "condemned" stopped their meal and approached the fences. Each climbed onto a metal or wooden fence and stood up straight. Before them was a pit, and behind them were the rest of the people, Artes, and the old woman.
The old woman crossed her fingers and drew a Star of David in the air.
— Come to us, O darkness, inherent in the whole world, the one god, alien life! — she said.
The water flowing from the sewer stopped, and a thick dark cloud began to form in the pit. Everyone who stood behind the old woman and Artes bowed before the cloud. Those who stood in front trembled. The cloud, reaching five meters wide and seven meters high, made a sound like a thunderclap. Thirteen objects, resembling spears, flew out of it and pierced the "condemned."
The spears began to suck the blood from the bodies of the "condemned." Their bodies dried up and turned into mummies. Then the cloud tore the spears from them and, after floundering a little, began to slowly disappear, turning into ash. The movement of the water resumed, and the ash was carried away by the current.
The old woman sighed and was about to leave, but she noticed Gerda. She had never seen such people with such power before. The old woman coughed and addressed Gerda:
— Granddaughter, who are you?
Everyone who stood behind the old woman and Artes, seeing Gerda, bowed down and shouted: "Oh, God!"
The corpses hanging on the fences swayed and fell into the bottomless pit. Gerda slowly descended and sat down on the fence. All the dirt on her body froze, and Gerda, trembling, fell before the old woman. The old woman was shocked, she did not understand what was happening and hurried to Gerda. She felt for a pulse on the girl's hand and touched her face. As soon as her fingers touched Gerda's skin, burns completely covered her face. Gerda's body was burning, she was moaning. The old woman looked at Artes and nodded towards the dungeon.
— What? Why me? Call the others! — Artes whined.
— Shut up! Otherwise, I'll lock Batti up! — the old woman threatened.
— Whaaat? Don't touch Batti, I... I can't stand your threats, not him! — Artes pleaded.
It was useless to argue further, and Artes, taking Gerda in his arms, carried her into the dungeon. The others followed.