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Sacrificial Weekend
An unreleased short story from the book:
Love Me to Death: Disturbing Tales of Online Dating Gone Horribly Wrong
Jake had never been the type to believe in the supernatural, but when he saw her picture on the dating app, something about it made him feel like fate was playing a hand. Claire, with her warm smile and deep eyes, seemed like the perfect escape from the mundanity of his life. Their chats had been easy and playful, a nice balance to the exhausting grind of his nine-to-five job.
After a few weeks of texting, they agreed to meet in person. Claire suggested a secluded cabin in the mountains—just a couple of hours out of town, an ideal spot for a quiet weekend getaway. Jake, tired of the same old routine and intrigued by the mysterious woman, agreed without hesitation. He was excited—maybe even a little too excited. After all, she was everything he’d been looking for: kind, beautiful, with a touch of mystery.
He drove up on Friday afternoon, the autumn leaves swirling in the breeze as he ascended the mountain roads. The further he got from civilization, the more the feeling of excitement shifted into something darker. The road narrowed, the trees grew denser, and the air grew colder.
When he finally arrived at the cabin, it felt almost like a dream. A rustic structure, built with logs and stone, nestled in a valley surrounded by towering trees. A sense of calm washed over him as he parked and walked up the stone path to the door. Claire was waiting for him, standing at the threshold, smiling warmly. She looked just as she had in her pictures—no surprises there.
“Hey, Jake. I’m so glad you made it,” she said softly, stepping forward and giving him a gentle hug. Her scent, a mix of cedar and something floral, enveloped him, sending a rush of heat through his chest.
“Me too,” he murmured, stepping back to take her in. The smile on her face was genuine, yet there was something in her eyes—something flickering—that made him pause for a moment.
Claire led him inside, and the atmosphere was exactly as he’d imagined: cozy, with a crackling fire in the stone hearth, dimly lit lanterns hanging from the ceiling. She poured them each a glass of wine, and they sat on the couch, exchanging small talk. Jake tried to shake off the uneasy feeling creeping up his spine. Something about the isolation of the place, the eerie quiet of the forest, made him feel oddly on edge.
“Don’t worry,” Claire said, noticing his distracted expression. “This place is perfect for disconnecting, right? No distractions. Just you, me, and the wilderness.”
Jake smiled, trying to relax. They spent the evening enjoying dinner and talking more about their lives, the small details that always seemed more fascinating when you were far away from the rush of the city. But as the night wore on, Claire’s demeanor shifted slightly. She grew quieter, more serious. Her eyes would linger on him just a little too long, and her voice had a soft edge that made him feel like she was leading him into something he didn’t fully understand.
He laughed it off at first, but as the fire flickered and the night deepened, something inside him began to churn. He had come for a weekend of fun, of exploration—but there was something hidden in the air that made his heart race a little faster. The cabin, once inviting, now seemed suffocating, oppressive.
After some time, Claire stood and walked toward the door. “I’ll show you something,” she said cryptically. “Something that’s part of this place. Something you’ll understand soon.”
Jake followed her, unsure what to expect. She led him out of the cabin and down a narrow, winding path toward the edge of the forest. The trees loomed overhead, their branches swaying in the cold wind.
When they reached a clearing, Jake saw a small, stone structure—a shrine, perhaps—partially hidden by the overgrowth. It was ancient, covered in moss and ivy, and there were faint carvings in the stone, words in a language he didn’t recognize.
“This is where we worship,” Claire said softly, her voice taking on a reverent tone. “It’s part of the tradition.”
Jake stepped back, confusion and alarm rushing through him. “What is this?” he asked, his voice shaking. “I thought we were just here for a nice weekend. What is all this about?”
Claire’s eyes darkened, and for a brief moment, the warmth she had shown earlier disappeared, replaced by something cold, calculating. “You’re here for a reason, Jake. You just don’t know it yet.”
Before he could react, Claire took a step forward and reached into her pocket. When she pulled out a small vial, the liquid inside glowed faintly, as though it was alive. Claire uncorked the bottle, holding it up to the dim moonlight. “Drink it,” she commanded.
Jake froze, his heart racing. “What the hell is this?”
“It will help you understand,” Claire said, her voice soft but firm. “You were chosen.”
The words hit him like a punch. Chosen? He tried to take a step back, but Claire’s grip on his arm was too strong. “No, I’m not part of whatever this is. I’m leaving. Right now.”
But as he attempted to pull away, a sharp pain shot through his head. The world spun, the ground beneath him shifting, and he fell to his knees. Claire knelt beside him, her face now an unsettling mixture of pity and something darker.
“I’m sorry, Jake,” she whispered. “This was the only way. You were the perfect candidate. We’ve been watching you for months.”
His vision blurred, and his body felt like it was turning to stone, heavy, unresponsive. “Watching me? Why?”
Claire smiled, the twisted edge to her expression now fully visible. “You were the one we needed. The one who could complete the ritual.”
Jake tried to speak, but the words were lost in the fog creeping over his mind. He could barely keep his eyes open, the world slipping away, until the last thing he heard was Claire’s voice, distant and cold:
“You’re our sacrifice, Jake. Welcome to the end.”
The next morning, Jake woke up on the cold stone floor of the shrine, his body still sluggish, as though he had been drugged. His hands and feet were bound, and he could feel the roughness of the ropes cutting into his skin. Panic surged through him as he struggled against the restraints, but it was no use. He was trapped.
He looked up, and there were others—several men and women, all wearing strange, ceremonial robes. They stood in a circle around him, their faces masked, their eyes cold and empty.
Claire stepped forward, holding a sharp knife in her hands. Her smile was gone now, replaced by something grim, something terrifying. “You’re the final piece, Jake,” she said, her voice low. “You will die for a purpose.”
Jake opened his mouth to scream, but the words caught in his throat. It was too late. The ritual had begun. As the others chanted in unison, he realized with horror that his death wasn’t just for Claire—it was for something much darker. A god that demanded blood, a sacrifice that would live on for generations.
And as the cold blade touched his skin, he knew there would be no escape. The camera above them flickered to life, the ritual broadcast to the highest bidder—an anonymous audience that would feast on the horror of his death, just as they had with countless others before him.
The last thing he saw before the darkness claimed him was Claire’s face, expressionless, watching as the life drained from his body. There was no mercy. No reprieve. Just the cold, unyielding grasp of the cult’s twisted desires.
And the cycle would continue, as it always had.
If you enjoyed this short story you will probably like our latest release available now:
Love Me to Death: Disturbing Tales of Online Dating Gone Horribly Wrong
Original price was: $5.99.$3.99Current price is: $3.99.
“Love Me to Death” dives deeply into the chilling abyss of online dating, where hope and romance quickly devolve into horror, manipulation, and death.
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