Ruins Raiders: Book Two

Chapter Twelve, Sacrifices

By Relm

The threat lingered in the air like a foul odor. It was hard to say when it could happen... were they people that did it with the rising or setting sun? Maybe it was when the moon was high in the sky... There were many possibilities of when the people of Bnxqo offered their sacrifices to whatever gods they worshiped. This left the time travelers in a state of constant worry.

Even if Val hadn't opened his big mouth the threat of being sacrificed still would have been there. He had as it was pointed out the obvious. There was blood on the stone work and it was near the top of the pyramid... Sacrifice was something was almost universally common around the world during the earlier times. But they had no way of knowing if this culture was one that sacrificed animals or people. If they sacrificed animals then Lina and company had nothing to worry about. If it was people well... Given the choice of sacrificing one of their own or mysterious strangers from a foreign land it was clear the people of Bnxqo would choose one of the travelers instead.

It was on everyone's mind in the pit except for Naga. She was still fixating on the fact that the Bnxqoian people hadn't fell to their feet and worshiped her. It was good for her because no one knew what an upset/hysterical Naga was going to be like. She definitely wouldn't help matters.

There wasn't much to do laying in the pit but wait. Sure they talked some but after a while the conversations got shorter till silence got a firm grip on them. All there was to do was wait. They could have been spending this time trying to figure out how they were going to get out of this situation but there didn't seem to be much point in doing it. The ball was in the Bnxqoian people's court. They were tied up and in a pit. Even if they could get out of their bonds how would they get out of the pit? The opening the pit was covered by a wooden bars that were too close together to get anything beyond an arm through. They were stuck. If they were getting out it would be because the Bnxqoian people wanted them to.

This left the travelers waiting for the unknown. They possibly could get a chance to escape but that would be after their got out of the pit. Only above ground would they have any hope of getting away. Being outnumbered with no real weapons to defend themselves was problematic but if the alternative was to be beheaded then they were odds they had to face. Still this wasn't good. Because even if by some miracle they did manage to get away they were still trapped in the past. Unless they could get their hands on the altar stone it was unlikely they could get back to their time.

Lina shifted once more on her spot in the pit. She was uncomfortable like they all were though for hers it was for a slightly different reason. Her reasoning for rushing into the city was the food she smelled. Lina's hunger had been peaked and she wanted food badly. Even with the threat of imminent death before her Lina couldn't still her rumbling stomach. It wouldn't be so bad if they had just been thrown in the pit but that had been hours ago. They could see from the rays shining down through the grate what position in the sky the sun was. From where the sun was at that moment told Lina and the others that it was going to be night soon.

This meant that they had spent most of the day in the pit with not a single person checking up on them. They had expected something at around noon as it seemed likely that a sacrifice when the sun was highest in the sky would be the logical time they would so such a thing. However the travelers didn't hear a peep. If a sacrifice had gone on then Lina and company had no knowledge of it. They were no rises in town noises. Though Val had not known for sure if they were cheering during a sacrifice it did stand to reason that they would be extra noise level to be heard from the people. But Lina and company heard no cheers, cries or yelling of any kind. It was quiet too quiet.

With the noon hurdle away and over with the next possibility was right as the sun was setting. The 'dying' of the sun and the 'rebirth' of the moon could be a time that the people of Bnxqo could fear. Perhaps if they didn't sacrifice someone at that time maybe the sun would never rise again. Sunrise, midday, sunset and midnight were the most plausible sacrifice times based on the sun and the moon. There was a very real possibility that one of them could be sacrificed at sunset and all that Lina could think about was that she wished she had a bacon double cheeseburger, chili cheese fries and a big thick frosty chocolate milkshake to eat and drink. In Lina's world her stomach ruled all.

A rouge conversation caught the attentions of those in the pit. At least three or more people were talking and it sounded like they were approaching the grate covering the pit the travelers were trapped in. All of them strained to hear what they were talking about but like when they had entered the town it was just gibberish. Whatever effect King Po-kota had caused to allow them to communicate with him appeared to be limited to just him or the area he had been in.

"What do you think they are talking about?" Zelgadis whispered to Lina. Whispering seemed silly as it didn't seem likely that the Bnxqosian people could understand them when they couldn't understand the people themselves but still Zelgadis kept his voice low. Better to air on the side of caution after all.

Lina frowned. She knew saying what she was thinking wouldn't be good to say too loud so she was thankful for Zelgadis' whispering. Having a loud conversation speculating on what the people above were talking about would just get Val going on his theory that they were all going to die by being beheaded. More so since that was in line with what Lina was thinking anyway. "That that they are discussing who they are going to pick to sacrifice at sunset." She whispered back in a darkened tone.

"So we're agreeing with what Val said now?"

"It's either that or they are going to leave us here till we die of starvation." Lina rationalized.

"Without water we will die of dehydration long before we die of starvation." Zelgadis pointed out rather quickly effectively correcting Lina's statement.

"Sometimes you're as uplifting as a wet blanket." Lina remarked dryly.

"Thanks, I try." Zelgadis flashed her a smile that would otherwise be saucy and playful. In this light and mood the smile looked forced and thin.

The conversation above got louder as the group got almost right on top of the pit cover. Everyone looked up wondering what was going to happen next. Was the group just passing through or was it time for a sacrifice? The lifting of the grate answered that question. With the top off the Bnxqoians threw a smoking ball of weeds down into the pit. Though not life threatening the smoke from the burning weeds made the trapped time travelers cough uncontrollably. Furthermore the smoke stun their eyes making them close them shut.

With those in the pit distracted the Bnxqoians above used ropes and poles to fish one of the trapped travelers out of the pit. The chosen one, Professor Lina Inverse.

"NO! Give her back!" Zelgadis protested weakly as Lina was hoisted away. Even if he wasn't choking as he spoke this request would have gone unanswered as they had no idea what Zelgadis was saying.

This would have been a good chance for Lina asses her options and plan a method of escape but her senses were skewed from the smoke. All of her energy was being used up trying to expel smoke from her lungs and breathe in fresh air while her eyes still burned. She wasn't in any position to try and excuse a master plan to escape.

Rather than cut the ties that bonded Lina's feet together so that she could walk the Bnxqoians used a long pole and tied her bonds to it. If it weren't for the fact that Lina was a human she could easily be mistaken for a pig that was about to be roasted over a fire rotisserie style.

Lina wasn't happy as she was carried throughout the city in this manner. To her it was like she was being paraded around for all to see right before the big moment where they chopped off her head. It was just like Val had said and that in itself was frightening. Of course there was still the distinct possibility that they weren't taking her to be sacrificed but instead to a large feast being held in her honor. Naturally this notion was stupid but Lina was still starving after all. Food always had the front half of her thoughts.

Any hopes of a giant feast was thwarted by the men carrying Lina up the pyramid. In her mind Lina could see those blood stained steps. This was it. This was how the great Lina Inverse was going to die. Sure she had thought she was going to die on many occasions in the past but somehow she had managed to get out of them. How she had lived that long was a bit a mystery. Like she was sure she was done for when her and Zelgadis fought that reborn god. Somehow she and Zelgadis had managed to live. This time however she was sure she was done for.

Any person potentially facing their end would be regretful of their life's decisions. They would obsess over all the things they didn't do in their lives because they were too risky or the bad decisions they made. Maybe they would think about their families and loved ones and that they weren't going to be able to say goodbye. For Lina she was going to her end with only regret lingering on her mind. That she didn't get to eat one last bacon double cheeseburger, chili fries and a big thick frosty chocolate milkshake. Really it wasn't right to be denied your last meal before your death. No Lina's life wasn't full with too many regrets. Even dying this way wasn't a big disappointment. Being sacrificed by a real ancient civilization in the time period that said civilization existed in was one hell of a way to die. At least for that Lina was proud.

'Way to go out with a bang.' Lina thought to herself proudly. It was good she was clinging to her pride. Otherwise she might actually feel scared. Well probably not as she was Lina Inverse after all but anything was possible right?

So as Lina was ready for the demise that stood before her fate threw another curve ball at her. The men carrying her did not stop at the bloodied spot of the pyramid. No they kept going and went inside the structure to the same throne room she and the others had been taken to when they first had arrived. And just like when they had first arrived at this very room the Bnxqoian Kin Po-kota sat staring at her.

With a wave of his hand the king silently ordered his men to cut Lina's binds and leave. The Bnxqoian men did as they were told and Lina fell to ground with a loud thud which left the professor quite confused.

King Po-kota addressed Lina with his native tongue complete with lots of hand gestures but Lina just looked up at him blankly from the floor. For a moment it seemed that the king had forgotten that she couldn't understand him. Once this realization dawned on him King Po-kota sighed in complete annoyance. He pulled out that same gem he had used before and room flashed green. "Do you know why I summoned you here?"

"I had thought it was to sacrifice me to whatever god or goddess you guys worship." Lina answered honestly.

"Sacrifice you? What do you think we are savages? We place offerings for our gods and sacrifice animals but never people." King Po-kota laughed off Lina's comment though the sound was anything but jovial. No it was a laugh of complete condescension as if Lina was too stupid to take seriously.

Inwardly Lina sighed with relief. If this wasn't a culture that sacrificed people then at the very least she and the others had more a chance then she had originally thought. Plus it was nice to know that she lived in a world where Val wasn't right. "Okay so you don't want to kill us for your gods... then why did you bring me here?"

"I had you all put in the pit because I believed you were all spies from Vsvle. But you see I have spies of my own in Vsvle. They routinely report to me what Vsvle is up to. Well I just received my spies most recent report. According to them you and your people are not from Vsvle. They have never heard of you nor have they ever seen people that match you or your people's descriptions. So now I'm left with a problem. If you are not spies then who are you? Am I really to believe your crazy story? Or are you going to actually tell me the truth?" King Po-kota dared Lina.