It was a Tuesday. I remember it clearly, because that was the day we always had dinner with the kids of the other workers. I remember sitting there with people I knew but didn't fit in with, people who shared an employer and a few interests if that.

My table normally had a team of two which we nicknamed Sword and Shield, since that was simpler than their real names. Shield's was French and Sword's was just plain odd, and their aliases fit them, so no one complained. They were the type of people to rush into battle headlong without doubting each other. Very in love.

We had others, but the lack of sleep is getting to me. Perhaps it's this infernal forest that we were placed here to investigate. I'm not alone in the woods. There's a woman, a few years older than me. A genius, the lead researcher among us. Her name escapes me, so I'll call her Owl. She's wise enough to play the part.

The kid is Shield's, I think. They look too similar to not be related. She's dressed only in green, so I'll call her Emerald. I should've learned more names.

It was Tuesday. We were all at our tables, eating a dinner that had been provided by the government that had hired us. I can't say who. If I ever get out of here, I want to change careers. Never see another of these damn labs in the middle of nowhere.

It was spaghetti and meatballs. Mediocre by my standards, but relatively high quality for the usual sustenance we got. I ate slowly, savoring the food. At least it wasn't shitty marinara. Sword was arguing about something with another researcher, I think their name was Alex.

Their bickering was background noise, a layer of static in my ears as I turned to glance through the reinforced glass walls. And there it was, a little speck of light floating there in front of the path. I blinked and it was gone, so I chalked it up to an overactive imagination. Just lack of sleep.

God, how stupid. I shouldn't have said anything, and maybe Emerald and Owl would be safe in their beds. I can't believe I convinced them to follow it.

I stepped away for only a minute. I told them I'd be right back, that I was going to look for food. Where are they?

I see the light. It's blue, flitting about. I want to follow it.

It has a voice. A beautiful voice, undescribable. It calls my name and in a moment, I lose myself. I want this being to say my name again, just to hear the syllables drip from its tongue like honey.

"Kitiné,” it calls, "Follow me." And of course I will. I cannot resist. Every step, I see it clearer, an elegant creature with eyes like pools of sapphire water. I want to stay here forever, with this perfect entity. It knows my name, it wants me.

Cassia. The name hits me like a train. I recognize it. I'd seen it in the report. Ancient legends of a creature that entranced its victims with glowing lights and pretty sounds, and then kept them forever.

I knew all these things. I led them into the woods for this god, and they foolishly followed me further and further until finally, my god accepted the offering.

They're in peace, Owl and Emerald. No need to make them suffer, they were pure enough for my god to smile upon me. I smile back with pure adoration, for what else would I have for them?

They say they love me for what I've done. I hope they know I love them too. I want to make sure they keep me at their side. The others have to join us here in this other realm.

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that was dark
uhh okay Cassia16 you wanted kissia so here's some low-key cult i wrote in one sitting on my phone