Golem of the Crimson Heart

When the sun was fully in the sky I noticed a path through the tall grass surrounding the church. It led into the woods.

Watching the path, I pass through the trees and wonder which way I think is south.

Simple animals wandering around. A few birds but nothing special around. No rodents or any other quadrupeds. I remember now... I love foxes. They were always helpful with rodent control around the house.

I think I owned one at one point in time. My memory's vague. Strange. I recognize all sorts of objects as I walk along as if I don't know what they are until I see them. Like something's written inside me but I'm not allowed to touch it. I feel limited but at least I still know how not to get lost. South... I'm moving south. That's what I know. 

As I walk I see a footprint. A shoe. It stops by a tree where I see something interesting. A trace of fungus on the bark. Someone was picking mushrooms. That someone who probably killed the girl. But where now? I look harder but all I see is grass and dirt, no other tracks.

Wait. I'm seeing the grass covered with wet soil. Looking back my footprints are slightly deep in the ground. Yes of course, I'm a statue but my soles are filthy. It's rained. 

Whoever's picking mushrooms must have cleaned his hands with grass. Clumsy. But I don't think they went around looking for mushrooms. Better I follow the path so far. 

-------------------(Not much time later)-------------

Around the fire used for dinner sat the brother and sister ready to leave.

"I packed up the rest of the rabbit you caught yesterday" the boy says followed by a yawn and scratching his head. "I wish we could have gotten more sleep..."

"Oh come on, you big baby. We need to get moving. Even though we've gone far enough we still have to stick to the timetable." 

"Oh yes, I'll do my best" says the boy with a somewhat cheerful grin. "Do you think anyone else found something interesting along the road?"

That question makes the girl ponder an answer. After nearly ten months separated from their brothers and sisters and being mostly on the road...they have nothing to show for it...just the kids struggling to pitch in and do whatever they are told.

"I hope at least they have something useful for everybody." By my belief it would have been fantastic to have two slobs like us make their presence known with a blood golem. Right in Moyl's face! That little fucking bitch.Degrading herself by bedding members just to gain their favor.

"Stop thinking about Moyl. Yeah, she slept with that acolyte you liked. Spoiler alert, the guy wasn't a virgin and it would have been for nothing."

At that remark the sister turns and glares at her brother. He turns back and pretends not to say anything with a pale look looking through the woods. Shit, maybe she won't kill me for this. 

"You idiot! Those who lose their virginity together can receive blessings from the priests" she replied at the same time with a fist on the back of his head. Yes, such act that leads to spilling of blood and possible new members is seen as an opportunity that the priests thought to support by offering blessings.

"Maybe if you were smarter with words you could fuck someone. You're 17 already. And a man" the pouty girl crossed her hands over her chest.

"Ehhh..let's just get going"

As the brother gets up she hears a noise. She spins around and stands back to back with her brother who had reacted the same way, daggers drawn and ready to skin someone. 

That wasn't natural. Someone's around.

"There! Behind the bush!" the boy exclaims pointing his spear ready to cast a spell. Wait...is that... "Wowh...it's the statue...I mean our golem."

Surprised just as her brother is, she lets her guard down without heed for whatever might happen. "How do you think it found us?" a simple but important question with a probably impossible answer.

"Maybe this is somehow connected to me or the book." The happy brother approaches his handiwork as his sister's hand pulls him back.

"Before that thing crushes that big head of yours, check if you can control it." With a suspicion based on the fact that the golem was wearing a garment she recognized as Anna was wearing before she cut her throat. " It's wearing the girl's coat from last night." 

The brother on his toes with his guard up searches through the book and finds the chapter on the golem. Ritual, requirements... aah here... Before or after the golem becomes mobile a spell for control and restraint must be cast by the creator.

"Du wirst befolgen, was ich dir sage, und nichts weiter!"

After the last word the statue starts to approach but the boy suddenly commands. "Stop."

The sudden stop predicts a good outcome of the spell. "Make it do something else," she asks her brother with an eager cheer. 

"Ehh..punch that tree." The brother points to a nearby tree.

Just as he was told, the golem charges a hit with his right hand and throws a punch into the bark of the tree. 

It withdraws the hand and keeps looking at the place where it hit.

The blow is slow but being made of stone, it managed to pulverize the wood!! 

Impressed, the girl is satisfied with their project turns to her brother with a smile. "Heh, looks like you're more skilled than you know."

"Yes this thing is really amazing!!" smile and cheer all over the boy's face."Turn around." The statue follows his order and turns to face the young man.

The girl still feeling on the edge, also speaks a command."Raise your left hand." But the golem isn't doing anything."This sucks... I guess it's following only your orders."

"Well I casted the control spell...Maybe I can find one to give you co-ownership.."

"Nah maybe later..right now it's perfect as it is." The sister reach to her brother and starts rubbing his head. "Nice one bro." she says followed by a soft smile."But let's go."

Listening to his sister, the brother gets ready to follow. "Still want to use the golem to rob some people?"

"What else is this moving pet-rock good for?" Says the girl with an wicked smile. "It's easier this way. You and I take out troublesome targets and the golem gets the weak ones."

As she takes an extra step, an idea pops in her head.Then she drops her bag on the ground.

"Also good to carrying our luggage. HA."

"Ohh...true!!" The boy also drops his bag."Carry these for us." and gets going after his sister

As was told the golem picks up the bags and follows the siblings.

---------------------(Later before evening)------------------

Geeeh...how long do I have to follow 'em..they only talk about crimes and that little tramp who's their acolyte... cultists..They leave a nasty taste in my mouth...Hah..I don't even have one...and my hearing...still nothing but I can hear the boy. That spell...It's supposed to give them control over me but it didn't..

I can kill them...but how?Simply looking at the girl I can tell she's fast and good with those daggers. She may fail to hurt me but she's sure to give the boy backing and he'll definitely fuck me up with some spell.

"Aaaah I'm tired...and I'm hungry... I'm going to find something to eat.." The girl exclaims and reaches into her pockets and finds a shiny thread. "I'll set a trap...maybe I'll catch something later and take it when we get back on the road." As she finishes talking she leaves.

"No problem. I'll set the camp and start the fire." Turning back at me he say. "Put the bags down and step back."

Once I leave the bags down I do as he says I start thinking.

I can kill him right now. He doesn't have the spear within reach and the book is in his bag..Easy..But what about the sister..I kill him now but the sister comes back..she surely won't attack me head on..or she won't risk it and leave as soon as she sees the boy is dead. I still can't hear. I'm too easy to avoid in a case like this. I must wait longer.

My train of thought is cut short by the boy. Particularly the spell he uses to light the fire.

A wordless spell. Easily conjured with a flick of the fingers. Looks like a spark.

A branch's simple rustle signals that the sister is back."Nothing..but I set the trap. Maybe we get something in after an hour or two."

"Should we stop when you haven't caught anything?"

"Well I wanna sit down for a sec and we haven't had a propper rest last night soo..." The girl lifts up her hands and bums on the sleeping bag.

"Well I'm gonna go find some water." The brother picks a big bottle from each bag and turns to me. "Come with me."

Hmmm...this is good...this is my chance..I move with the boy but I speed up my stride. Right when he's in my reach.

Sorry boy.

Without any sign I grab him by the head with both hands. Before he makes a sound of panic I squeeze and crush his skull like an apple. Brains and blood spread on my hands. Once I let go, the body falls to the earth and thrashes in its last moments. Afterwards... the blood on my hands is absorbed as before, and the same sensation occurs. 

Everything happened in no more than five seconds. In the sixth.. the girl's shock was replaced by terror and then rage..

"You....y-you killed my brother!!" rage boiling she pulls out the two daggers and jumps high to attack.

Much faster and strong than I predicted. I roll to dodge and watch as the knife shreds through a tree trunk with ease. Damn it...a magical enhancement on those things? No..she's just that strong with a stronger knife.

Another full-blown fit of rage followed by a charge.

I don't have time to dodge...I must protect myself as much as I can! I cross my hand ready for the attack but she rolls and plunges that dagger into my knee. I try a punch but no resolt. She dodges and kicks hard enough to break it.

Crap.

She gets on top of me and gets ready to drill holes in my head but I block the first blow with my left hand and hit the exposed rib on her left side. For a second, she winced in pain and after she gets the control of it, she cuts at my hand. Leaving behind a mere stump.

Panic hits me but I realize I have a good grip on her right hand. I squeeze it hard and watch as it cracks under pressure.

"AAAAUAAH!!!" She screams and drops the dagger.

Using my free hand I grab her by her shoulder and with what's left of my right hand I smack her hard across the face. The blow draws blood and from the horrible expression she makes she realizes she's lost her eye.

The sense of panic overwhelms her and she attempts to slip away but makes matters worse when she unwittingly drops onto her right hand and breaks it completely, bending at an ugly angle.

This is only getting uglier and uglier.

She crawls wounded, trying to escape but turns around after a few feet. "Don't you come near me!!" she yells, tears visible in her one good eye and a trembling voice. But I don't stop.

I pick up the dropped knife and with one smooth movement cut deep into her thigh. On her last rush of adrenaline she kicks her other foot in my face and I feel it crack. No pain but it cracked. 

Then I remember. The blood on my hands after I killed the boy was sucked dry. So I drop the dagger and stick my hand in the wound in her leg.

Her screaming could wake the whole forest if I could hear it. So much pain finally overwhelms her and she falls on her back, losing consciousness.