I open my eyes to find myself surrounded by starving people. There had to be hundreds of them, with their bloated bellies, spindly limbs, and blistered skin. “Feeeeeed,” they groan in unison, and clamber toward me. I try to move, but realize I’m rooted to the ground. More than that, my body is entirely gone, replaced by roots, bark, and vine. As the tide of humanity washes in, they lay themselves prostrate in the dirt and begin digging. Like maggots on rotten meat, they squirm into the Earth. I try to call out to them, to tell them that they don’t have to join me, but it’s no use, my wooden mouth won’t move.

“Thank you… I was so hungry.” It is the thin voice of a tired woman.

“Salvation!” Cries out at elderly man.

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“I may finally rest.” This voice belongs to a young man who sounds eerily like Simeon.

With each life I absorb, I am filled with a confounding feeling of euphoria. It feels as if all their worries, all their torments, are taken into me and expelled through my leaves. I feel my roots digging deeper into the soil, my body expanding. Before long, the ocean of mankind is all but drank up. Now, there stands only one man. His bright pale skin reflects the sunlight blindingly, and he carries an ax. When he approaches, he does not bend his knees, nor bow his head. Instead, he lifts his ax and brings it down across my nose. I am blinded by pain but cannot scream. Each sickening thud removes another chunk, another piece of me. I can see pieces of moustache and nose and ears, and my damnable immobile wooden mouth lying at his feet as he sinks the tool into my last remaining eye.