第3章 《祭祀》

    《祭祀》

    一

    当钟声响起时，我便知道，祭典要开始了。

    这是家族的传统，每隔十八年的今天，家族都会召开一场隆重而华贵的祭祀典礼，来供奉家族的无上的神明。

    二

    而我，是这场祭典上唯一的祭司。

    三

    我穿上复杂的祭司礼服，在母亲担忧的眼神中坐上了前往神庙的花轿。离开前，我按照家族旧礼，将祭司的祝福送给了母亲肚子里面还未出生的孩子。

    四

    神庙修建在山上，花轿停在山脚，我怀着虔诚的心，一步一步走上了前往神庙的楼梯。

    山路很长，此时的祭司服变得十分厚重，但我感受不到这该有的疲惫。

    我从出生起，便被教导要背负起祭司的责任。

    五

    在到达到神庙后，我看着所有人都饱含希冀、热泪盈眶。他们十分自然地退至我的身后，点燃了我手中的烛火。我知道，接下来的路，只有自己。因为神庙，是不容许除祭司以外的人进入的。

    六

    神庙很暗，那扇大门在短暂的打开后，又关闭了起来。我举着唯一的火光，慢慢向里面走去。我敢发誓，那些人绝对没有进来过，因为他们一旦走近，便会看到满地的尸骨。

    七

    在看到所谓的神明后，我没有一点意外。只是解开了衣服，方便“神明”的吃食。

    八

    从一开始，我就知道，我是这场祭典中唯一的祭品。

    九

    母亲肚子里面的孩子诞生了。那是我为家族留下的下一个祭品，也是下一个“我”。十八年后，他会同样成为祭司。

    十

    祭典不会停止，所有人都会沉溺于轮回，而我，为这个故事写上开头。

    。

    。

    。

    the offerg

    one

    when the bell tolls, i know the cereony is about to beg

    it''s a faily tradition, held every eighteen years on this day, where the faily hosts a grand and xurio sacrificial rite to honor our supre deity

    o

    and i a the le priestess  this ritual

    three

    dressed  the tricate vestnts of a priestess, i board the pan bound for the teple under y other''s worried gaze before departg, i follow the old ctos of the faily and bestow the priestess''s blessg upon the unborn child  y other''s wob

    four

    the teple is built a a ounta, and the pan ss at the foot of the hill with a devout heart, i ascend the stairs leadg to the teple one step at a ti

    the path is long, and the cereonial robes feel exceedgly heavy, yet i do not sense the expected wearess

    fro birth, i was taught to shoulder the responsibilities of a priestess

    five

    upon reachg the teple, i see everyone brig with hope, tears wellg  their eyes they retreat naturally behd , ignitg the candle  y hand i understand that the path ahead is e alone to tread, for no one other than the priestess is allowed side the teple

    six

    the teple is dark; the door opens briefly before closg aga holdg the only urce of light, i slowly ake y way side i swear that no one has ever entered here, for if they did, they would witness the bones strewn across the floor

    seven

    upon seeg the -called deity, i a not surprised i rely undress, akg yself ready for the \"deity''s\" feast

    eight

    fro the very begng, i knew i was the le offerg  this cereony

    ne

    the child  y other''s wob is born that is the next offerg i leave to the faily, the next \"\"  eighteen years, he too will bee a priest

    ten

    the cereony will not cease; all will be trapped  the cycle of rebirth and i, i write the begng of this tale