“Girlhood” by R. Dietrich

Rebecca Dietrich is a writer from New Jersey. Her chapbook Scholar of the Arts and Inhumanities will be published in November 2023. Rebecca’s poetry has been published by Bourgeon Magazine, Oddball Magazine, and Havik. She holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Holocaust Studies from Stockton University.

Girlhood

The townsfolk gathered around the seven young maidens, crowning them with garlands woven from white lilies and asphodels. Their mothers delicately applied crushed ochre to their lips and cheeks, ensuring no stains would mar their pristine white linen dresses. Koralia studied her mother’s face, finding sternness etched upon it, while dark circles underscored her red eyes, persisting since Koralia’s first blood days earlier. The village elders blessed the maidens with wafts of incense as the Scarlet Priest commenced the procession towards the Great Cave. Melodies of yore filled the air as they ventured through the foreboding forest and traversed the river. Upon reaching the mouth of the cave, the Scarlet Priest invoked a prayer over the seven maidens.
“May the almighty gods accept our offering of penance—seven maidens for seven years of peace between gods and men.”
United by clasped hands, the maidens embarked barefoot into the Great Cave. With each step, the surroundings grew increasingly somber and silent, drowning out the beloved voices of their kin. The hems of their dresses became sodden, trailing along the cave’s floor. Koralia had to release Nelida’s hand to feel her way through the darkness.
A resounding roar reverberated throughout the cave, accompanied by agonizing screams. Koralia attempted to flee, but the inky darkness hindered her. Only a pair of gleaming green eyes materialized behind her. Disoriented, she stumbled over an obstacle, collapsing to her knees. To her horror, it was a severed arm. As sharp claws grazed her face, Koralia recoiled just in time, preventing the creature from gaining a stranglehold on her throat. In the pitch-black abyss, she fumbled along the cave floor, eventually grasping a jagged rock. Summoning her strength, she struck out at the beast when it lunged again. A howl of pain ensued, followed by the creature’s lifeless collapse atop her. Koralia kicked it aside, relentlessly pounding its head with the rock until assured of its demise. With urgency, she called out to the other maidens.
“Nelida. Philomele. Zoraida. Phaenna. Leontia. Pelagia.”
Silence persisted. Koralia was alone. Collapsing to the ground, she unleashed a wail, mourning the lost souls of her companions. She severed the beast’s head and dragged it along as she sought an escape from the cavern’s depths. A faint glimmer of light beckoned her forward.
Emerging from the cave’s mouth, she found no one to greet her. Making her way back to the village, the head of the beast trailing behind her, Koralia’s white dress bore the grim stains of crimson—a blend of her own blood and the creature’s. She entered the village square, defiantly raising the severed head for all to witness.
“No more sacrifices,” she proclaimed, her voice filled with anguish, as she hurled the head at the foot of the Scarlet Priest.
The townsfolk regarded her with horror, for no one had ever returned from the sacred rite before.
“You have been touched by the gods! You are cursed!” the Scarlet Priest exclaimed, pointing to the claw mark etched upon Koralia’s face.
“But I have slain the beast! We need not send children to their deaths any longer!” she pleaded.
“You were meant to be sacrificed. Now, due to your insolence, we are doomed!” the Scarlet Priest retorted.

Instead of welcoming Koralia back with open arms, the townsfolk, filled with fury and fear, chased after her, casting both rocks and insults upon her.
“Demon!”
“Harlot!”
“Whore!”
“Sorceress!”
“Please! I have saved your daughters!” Koralia implored.
Seeking solace and protection, she ran toward her mother, only to be met with betrayal as her own flesh and blood spat upon her face.
“My daughter would have fulfilled her duty for the sake of our people. My daughter now resides with her eternal husband in the Great Cave.”
Koralia crumbled under the relentless barrage of rocks, hugging her knees to her chin, tears streaming down her face, as her own mother, too, lifted a stone to cast.

From the Editor:

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