The Crimson Pact

“What a tiring day,” Petra muttered, collapsing onto the bed with a loud sigh. Her dark curls sprawled messily over the pillow as she threw an arm over her face, shielding herself from the dim, flickering light of the room.

“Says the one who did nothing but hide all day from her crush,” Elunuta teased, plopping down on the bed beside her. Her mischievous grin was impossible to miss, even in the half-light. She kicked off her shoes carelessly, one flying dangerously close to the wall, as she stretched her arms overhead.

“It was such a fun and adventurous day,” Hera chimed in, her voice carrying an undeniable cheerfulness as she sank into the couch. Her posture screamed exhaustion, yet her blue eyes sparkled with the excitement of the day’s events.

Minutes passed in silence, each of them lost in their thoughts. The room was filled with the soft hum of the ceiling fan and the occasional creak of the old wooden floor beneath them. Finally, it was Rhodes who broke the quiet.

“Let’s try something new,” she suggested, her voice laced with intrigue. She leaned forward from where she stood near the window, her lithe figure silhouetted against the faint glow of the streetlamp outside.

Elunuta groaned dramatically, rolling her eyes as she pulled her oversized sweater over her head, revealing her comfortably snug pajama top underneath. “No, no way am I doing that with you,” she said firmly, her tone playful but resolute.

“I’m standing with Elly on this one,” Petra added, propping herself up on her elbows. Her expression was one of exasperation mixed with a hint of humor. “The last time we tried something ‘new,’ she emphasized the word with exaggerated air quotes; I was invisible for an entire month.” Her glare at Rhodes was sharp enough to cut through steel.

Rhodes’ lips twitched into a sly smile. “That was one time,” she retorted, waving off the accusation as though it were a minor inconvenience.

Hera, who had been quiet until now, suddenly sat upright. Her curiosity always got the better of her. “Well… I’m in. Let’s try your new thing,” she said, her voice filled with a mix of caution and anticipation.

Rhodes’ face lit up like a child on Christmas morning. She squealed in delight and darted across the room to where Hera was seated. Perching herself on the armrest, she threw her arms around Hera’s neck, her breath warm against Hera’s ear as she whispered, “You are the best.” A quick, affectionate peck on the cheek followed before Rhodes stood up, practically bouncing with excitement.

Her energy was infectious, and even Elunuta and Petra, who were initially hesitant, couldn’t help but exchange amused glances. Still, they remained rooted in their reluctance, their expressions unimpressed as Rhodes moved to stand before them. Elunuta, now looking decidedly more presentable after her wardrobe change, crossed her arms, eyeing Rhodes with a mix of suspicion and amusement.

Rhodes took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she centered herself. The air seemed to be still as she held the moment, inhaling deeply and then exhaling slowly. When her eyes fluttered open, they shimmered with determination.

“Petra… Elly…?” she called softly, her voice almost trembling as she locked eyes with them. Her gaze was pleading, her brown eyes glassy with unshed tears. Her flushed cheeks and slightly quivering lip added to the image of a perfect, heart-wrenching plea. “Please?” she whispered, tilting her head ever so slightly in an endearing and utterly disarming manner.

The two exchanged a long, resigned look. Petra’s face softened, the tension in her shoulders melting away as she let out a defeated sigh. Elunuta’s lips pressed into a thin line before she exhaled sharply through her nose.

“Bring it on,” they huffed in unison, unable to resist Rhodes’ puppy-dog eyes.

A triumphant grin spread across Rhodes’ face, the transformation from desperate to devious happening in an instant. She reached into her back pocket and produced a small, crimson book. The cover was textured and slightly worn, with the word “KIA” embossed in ornate gold lettering. Beneath the title was an intricate emblem of a golden dragon, its eyes gleaming like polished rubies.

“I found this in the school library,” Rhodes announced, holding the book up for her friends to see. Her tone carried a mixture of pride and excitement, but there was an undertone of mystery that sent a small shiver down Petra’s spine.

Elunuta leaned forward, squinting at the strange artifact. “What’s with the dragon? It looks... intense,” she remarked, her voice tinged with unease.

Hera reached out tentatively, her fingers brushing against the cover. The texture of the book felt oddly alive like it pulsed faintly beneath her fingertips.

“This doesn’t seem like something you’d find in a school library,” Petra said cautiously, sitting up fully now. Her earlier fatigue was replaced by a growing sense of apprehension.

Rhodes smirked, flipping the book open to a random page. The parchment inside was aged and yellowed, the text written in an elegant, spidery script that seemed to shift slightly under the dim light.

“That’s exactly why it’s perfect,” Rhodes replied, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “We’ve done all sorts of mundane things. It’s time to try something extraordinary.”

Petra visibly cringed. “Why on earth would anyone want to do that?” she asked, incredulous.

Elunuta’s skepticism deepened, her brows knitting together. “Define extraordinary,” she demanded, her arms crossing once again as she leaned back against the headboard.

Rhodes flipped through the pages, her excitement unrelenting. “It’s like a ritual book,” she explained, stopping at a page adorned with intricate diagrams and symbols.

“It’s not just about secrets,” Rhodes said quickly, sensing their growing hesitation. “Don’t you think it’s kind of beautiful?”

Hera’s curiosity flared again, and she leaned closer to examine the page. The symbols were mesmerizing, their shapes flowing seamlessly into one another as though they were alive.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” Hera asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The question hung in the air, and for a moment, the room felt impossibly still.

Petra’s eyes narrowed. “I can think of a few things,” she muttered under her breath, but she didn’t make a move to leave.

Rhodes took their silence as consent. “Great!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “Now, let’s get started. We’ll need candles, something personal to each of us, and… oh, some salt.”

Elunuta groaned again, but this time there was a faint smile playing on her lips. “I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?” She said, though she got up to gather what was needed anyway.

As the preparations began, the air in the room seemed to grow heavier, charged with a strange anticipation. Shadows danced on the walls, flickering in time with the sputtering candle flames. The little crimson book lay open on the floor, its golden dragon seeming to watch them with an almost sentient gaze.

“Whatever happens, this better not involve turning invisible again,” Petra warned, her tone half-joking, half-serious.

Rhodes grinned, the glint in her eyes unmistakable. “Don’t worry,” she said, though her smile hinted at mischief. “This time, it’s going to be unforgettable.”

She handed the book over to Hera since it was obvious to all of them that she was the strongest and most experienced among them; besides, she was the only one who could easily understand the strange language that was written without having to perform any ritual.

“Elly, get a bowl and a knife,” Hera ordered, and as soon as she read through the book, Elly left the room immediately as the order was given out. She pointed to a part in the book and read it out. “Here, it says we would have to follow every single instruction to know the final outcome.”

“Are you sure this is safe?” Elly asked as she walked back into the large bedroom, handing the bowl and knife to Hera, but she motioned for her to drop it on the rectangular glass table that stood in the middle of the room.

“Every word sounds scary,” Petra complained but kept quiet when no one responded to her queries. Everyone was silent as they made preparations according to the book.

Minutes of preparation passed, and they were all set. They sat cross-legged, forming a circle after they had stripped themselves of every piece of clothing material. They were sitting stark naked in the now slightly dark room except for the pieces of lighted red candle that surrounded them while the bowl and knife sat in their midst.

Hera picked up the knife and sliced both her palms, letting her blood pour into the bowl, one drop at a time. Until she felt a bit dizzy, she gave the knife to the next person, who followed suit by slicing her palm and letting her blood drop into the bowl, the same quantity as Hera’s. As soon as they were done filling the bowl with their blood, they held each other, letting their blood mix as it did in the bowl.