All in the Family
The tradition in my family goes back at least five generations. It’s probably even longer than that, but records have been lost going back further than that. It was everything to my family, but I didn’t feel the same way. To me it was old and tired and I was ready for something new, different and exciting. My family was less than thrilled by the idea.
But, I was putting my foot down. My siblings could carry on the tradition. I was going to do my own thing, and I didn’t care whether my family supported me or not. I didn’t need them or their stuffy tradition anyway.
I hadn’t been over to my parents’ house since I stated my intention. They hadn’t talked to me for over a month, but the day before the full moon my phone rang and they invited me over to dinner the next night. I was dubious, but if they wanted to bury the hatchet, I would given them that chance, because they deserved a chance to apologize, and I deserved a chance to to say good-bye if they didn’t.
The next night I pulled up to the house and the hair on my arms stood on end. The bright moonlight shown on open courtyard, but the house was dark. The only light that was visible was the light shining on the vacant windows of the house.
Trepidation made my heart pound as I got out from the car. I walked to the front door, turned the knob, and my world went black.
I awoke sometime later in the basement bathed by the moonlight coming in from the floor to ceiling window that always remained covered. I looked around startled as my whole family was gathered around me with their eyes focused on me.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
My father stepped foward and I caught the glint of a knife in the moonlight. I scrambled backward and my whole family closed in around me.
“The tradition is not optional,” my father said. “Thankfully, we have a contingency for that too. If you won’t join us, we will take your blood to reforge the bonds.”
I screamed and backed up against the wall. The whole family started chanting and pounced. The one mercy I got was to pass out before the immense pain started.
Scribble City: Write Now 