It didn't take long before news of me being the divine tree's next offering spread like wildfire throughout the village.
The men shot strange looks at me when I left the hall. Meanwhile, the women huddled together and discussed among themselves.
"I heard that she managed to peel the egg."
"She did. She's such a slut. The men couldn't take their eyes off her when she was peeling it."
"Fred's so unlucky to have a daughter-in-law like her."
I stuck my nose in the air as I walked past them, intentionally swaying my hips in an even more exaggerated manner.
I didn't care what they said. They would have no choice but to shut their mouths once I returned from the divine tree, looking radiant.
My useless husband, Jack, was squatting in the doorway and smoking a cigarette when I returned home. He didn't even bother looking at me. He blew a smoke ring before asking, "You're going to serve the tree?"
I kicked off my muddy sandals and puffed my chest out.
"What? You can't even keep it up for more than two minutes. Are you going to try to stop me from serving the divine tree when you can't even satisfy me?" I demanded, intentionally raising my voice.
The women next door began to whisper among themselves when they heard me.
I didn't care. The villagers knew that I had a rocky relationship with Jack. It was loud but short every time we shared a bed. My neighbors also always heard me complaining about Jack's inability to please me.
I scoffed.
Jack stubbed out his cigarette before turning around and entering the house.
Frustration bubbled within me as I watched his retreating back.
This was the type of husband that Jack was. He was too scared to say a word even when his own wife was being offered up to serve the divine tree.
…
The next day, a few muscular men brought a sedan chair to the village before dawn broke on the horizon.
According to the rules, the woman had to be blindfolded when she was delivered to the divine tree to prevent the location of the tree from being exposed.
"Drink this, Hailey," David said as he offered me a bowl of black liquid.
I took the bowl from him. The strong, herbal scent stung my nose. "What is this?"
"It's to calm your nerves, so you won't feel as much pain later," David explained with bright eyes.
I couldn't determine if he was telling the truth or lying to me, but I still drained the entire bowl in a single breath. I wanted to see the divine tree no matter the cost.
It didn't take long for me to feel dizzy after drinking the black concoction. I could also feel my strength draining from my limbs.
The men helped me onto the sedan chair before using a strip of black cloth to blindfold me.
I felt the sedan chair being lifted up. It swayed from side to side as the men carried me into the forest.
I had no idea how much time had passed before the sedan chair stopped moving.
Someone removed my blindfold. The sunlight stung my eyes, making it difficult for me to open them for a moment.
Once my eyes got used to the light, I noticed that I was in a clearing. Ancient trees towered all around me. A massive tree that I had never seen before stood in the very center of the clearing.
It was the divine tree.
It was even bigger and taller than I'd expected. The trunk was so thick that it would take at least five or six adults to wrap their arms around it completely.
The tree bark was stained an unnatural shade of deep red that looked like dried blood. Its branches were also unique. Its thick vines swayed slowly in the air, looking as if they were alive.
I swallowed as I looked at the vines, feeling my body heat up within seconds.
"Take off your clothes and kneel on the ground," David ordered in a low voice.
I did as he asked, stripping myself naked and kneeling before the divine tree.
Strangely, I didn't feel any shame. On the contrary, I felt a little excited.
The vines seemed to notice my presence and started reaching for me.
"Remember not to resist no matter what happens," David murmured before he quickly left the clearing with the rest of the men.
