Brutalis The crucible of life

Ethan walked down a dimly lit hallway, the only light was torches set into the wall that did not do much to dispel the darkness, as it slightly slowly declined down further into darkness. Giving the hallway a deep foreboding vibe that made it seem like you were descending deeper and deeper into hell.

Ethan was 13 at the time and a smaller boy, dark black hair and gray eyes. He was not alone, surrounding him was a group of 12 robed figures that moved him at a quickened pace, if anyone was there besides Ethan and these figures they would see that each robed figure carried a spiked chain that led to an iron collar around Ethans neck.

As they marched further and further into the tunnel it got warmer and warmer and there seemed to be a light at the end of the tunnel?… no not ”that light ” this light was accompanied by drums… and chanting and every so often… a scream that is cut short shortly followed by another.

When they finally reached the light.. It was blinding. Ethan would have tried to shield his eyes if he could, but that was impossible since his arms were bound to a thick slab of metal going vertically up his back and leading to the collar effectively preventing from moving on his own at all.

Even though he was unable to see he was pushed and pulled into the room and the heat continued to rise, once his sight slowly returned he could see a dark room with torches in random patterns around the room, the torches were made of wood with a red fleshy substance running up the torch leading to a human skull that was partially still covered in flesh. Ethan looked closer and could see that the fleshy substance was actually the skin from what used to be the skulls face, the side of the skull that had flesh still had his eye and when Ethan met its gaze the pupil contracted and the skulls jaw moved and seemed to be trying to talk!

” k…ill m…eee ” the skull groaned out in a heart wrenching plea.

As Ethan looked around the room, he could see that each of the other 12 torches were much the same, each asking for release around the room to anyone that would listen.

”plleeaase… kill me… ” ” I just want my Family ”

I am going to be sick. Ethan thought ”what the hell is all of this?! … where are my parents?! How did I get here??! ”

The last thing Ethan remembered was being asleep in his bed on the ”farm ” which is the compound where his family and the other members of his family as he knew them lived, all 10,000 members of them, thats right Ethan lives in a cult.

You would think Ethan would see this coming… well I guess not considering he was born and raised here. Raised to believe living in a massive compound in the arklay mountains was a perfectly normal way to grow up, everyone he knew was doing it? I guess that kind of throws the whole metaphor about friends and bridges out the window I suppose. Back to the room Ethan now found himself in, the