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“Does she?”

“Yes.” The answer is too fast.

The thing begins pulling itself farther from the ground and more roots emerge. No legs. Just roots. Hundreds of them woven together beneath her dress.

I back up. “That’s fucking disgusting.”

Rhett moves in front of me. Malakai stays at my side. Ezra doesn’t move. He just stares at her.

“The seed was yours,” she repeats.

“Shut up.”

“You gave it.”

“Shut up.”

“They planted it.”

“SHUT UP!” Ezra drives the knife into her chest.

She screams and the entire field screams with her. Corn bends violently while roots burst from the ground.

Rhett reaches for me while Malakai grabs Ezra.

The dead Bride convulses around the blade as black liquid pours from her mouth then she laughs. “You still don’t remember.”

Ezra stares. “What?”

Her hand closes around his wrist.

He tries to pull away but she digs her fingers into his skin.

“You asked the Earth to save her.”

Everything stops.

Malakai releases him.

Rhett goes still behind me.

Ezra’s face drains. “No.”

The Bride smiles. “You begged.”

“No.”

“You offered everything.”

Ezra shakes his head.

“You said take us instead.”

Malakai whispers, “Ezra.”

The memory hits him.

I see it happen.