The pendulum’s swaying shadow kept in time to the sound. Silence echoed around the room. Darkness remained dormant within the clock. Twelve figures awaited the blessings the noble bird would give them. Above them, she stood silent, overlooking the minuscule villagers of its realm.

The figures worshipped the noble bird for its intelligence and compassion. She rewarded chosen ones with gifts. Those figures disappeared, but the villagers knew their rewards of thrones in the sky. The same kind that the noble bird had sacrificed to create this world. For this reason, each villager desired to serve her in any way possible. These twelve figures, selected for varying reasons, were desperate for the hour to come.

At the last minute, the noble bird called out, “Greetings, my loyal subjects.”

The figures gazed upon her form.

“I am pleased to tell you of the rewards that await you.”

Applauds and cries of joy greeted this announcement.

“Before we proclaim the hour, I shall deliver to each of you a present as you go outside. Don’t attempt to open them. They shall open on their own when you exit.” Pausing, she added, “You shall all have rewards for your services to me.”

The clock had struck the hour.

The bird was matching her voice to each of the twelve chimes and dropping the presents in the figures’ arms. Overjoyed of the blessings by their benevolent bird, they were awaiting their first glimpse of the outside. Once it came, the presents opened. Creatures that were slimy, sharp beaked, with rows of cobra fangs, with a dead fish’s eyes and tarantula legs began popping out.

The figures’ screams drowned out by the creatures’ constant shrieks. No amount of struggling of the figures helped. The creatures began tearing flesh and bursting beating hearts. They tossed down the figures to the ground. Much breaking of bones and bloody splatters remaining silent under the noble bird’s calls.

The twelfth hour had come to pass, and the villagers rejoiced as the noble bird came out to greet them. “The twelve have ascended to the thrones of the sky! They are blessed with the highest honor!”

The villagers rejoiced, and the noble bird retired to her room. She made a horrendous call, and the creatures gathered around her. “You all have done well with destroying those unworthy villagers.”

The creatures hissed in amusement. “We shall continue to do away with them so that the true worthy ones shall succeed!”

Her hollow laughter began joining the creatures’ shrieks of delight.

The clock kept ticking away, with the villagers in bed dreaming of their own gifts.

Image by Regina Basaran from Pixabay