“Let us bow our heads and close our eyes,” the villagers chanted, “for the Bell waits not for the one who dies.” In the square, the villagers had gathered for The Ritual, which hasn't been performed in more than thirty years. Only those old enough to have been at the last one knew the full gravity of what was to come. Everyone (even the children) knew why they had gathered, but there was only so much that could be conveyed through the retelling of a tale. Some things you had to see for yourself to truly understand.
Author
Michael R. Goodwin is the author of THE LIBERTY KEY, a novel of supernatural suspense, SMOLDER, a horror novella, and ROADSIDE FORGOTTEN, a collection of five short stories. His collection of short stories, HOW GOOD IT FEELS TO BURN, was released by Dark Pine Publishing, and he has published two story singles, THE RITUAL and BROKEN JUSTICE. His stories have been featured in multiple anthologies such as "124 Beloved" by Regulus Press, "Lunatic Lullabies" by Pyke Publishing, "October Blood" by Hawke Haus, and "Devil's Rejects" by Dark Pine Publishing. Aside from writing, he enjoys reading, composing music, and photography. He lives in Maine with his wife and four children.
