Page 59 of Ring Around the Rosie
“Time to pay for your sins, Mother.” Sabbath took the Sapling and plucked a single twig from it. He then began to weave and sew the twig through the small figure. The Ancient One’s roots began to rise from the floor of the cave and mimic his actions. They branched towards Thisbe and pierced her body, mirroring his movements. The roots then shot through her flesh and ripped through her body like it was paper. Thisbe remained still, with wide eyes, as Sabbath then pierced the twig through the top of the figure. A large, ashen root rose directly behind Thisbe and within the blink of an eye, it shot through the back of her skull and forced its way through her open mouth. She remained there, wheezing as her black blood poured down from her gaped mouth and many wounds. Sabbath then reached into my pocket and retrieved my lighter. He walked closer to Thisbe and flicked it. “Let’s see your Redwood save you now.” He snapped the Sapling in half. The ashen roots curled around Thisbe’s body and snapped it back, and I flinched at the soundsof her bones breaking. Her body fell back onto the floor. Sabbath then set the Sapling on fire and tossed it onto her corpse. The smell of burnt flesh entered my nostrils, and soon, she was fully engulfed. The ashen roots around her limbs and body quickly ignited and burned like a candle wick, only instead of a candle, this wick led straight to The Ancient One. Sabbath stepped in front of me to shield me from the gruesome sight, but I pushed him away. “Rosie.”
“No. I want to see.”
The fire from Thisbe’s body had quickly spread from her body, to the roots, and now The Ancient One. The Redwood within screeched, and the ground shook as the fire engulfed The Ancient One. The other members of The Order panicked and began to flee as the tree quickly began to burn. I remained still and watched the bodies of my friends ignite. Only then did I finally turn away.
Sabbath tried to comfort me, but I fell down in pain and grabbed Thisbe’s knife. “Rosie!” My hand tightened around the hilt. “Let me help you.”
I closed my eyes and pressed my forehead against his. “You already have. I’m sorry, Sabbath.” I pierced the blade into his chest. “But this has to end, before we both die.” Sabbath stared at me with wide eyes. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry.” I kissed him and gently laid him back. “Forgive me.”
The cave ruptured into a great fire, and I stumbled to my feet. I slowly made my way out of the cave and watched as leaves from The Ancient One rained from the sky. They were on fire and burning the surrounding woods. Everything was slowly dying.
“Ring around the Rosie, a pocket full of posies.” I looked back at The Ancient One and smiled as tears streamed down my face. “Ashes. Ashes. We all fall down.”