I kneeled in front of the tree by myself, listening to the sound of my heart hammering against my ribcage.

The concoction I drank had heightened my senses. I could smell a sweet fragrance wafting from the divine tree. It smelled like the bradford pear trees that lined the entrance of the village.

I wasn't sure how far David and the others had gone, but I could feel multiple sets of greedy eyes staring at me, making goosebumps erupt all over my skin.

I looked up at the soft but powerful vines again. I licked my lips. My mouth felt a little dry.

The vines looked exactly like the ones in the murals in the church. They seemed to be able to sense my presence as they began slithering toward me.

The first vine brushed against my shoulder. I shivered at the cool and smooth sensation. I could feel the little bumps on its surface when it wrapped around my arm like a snake and began to rub against my skin.

The concoction began to take effect. I felt my body heating up, and I reflexively moved closer to the vines, wanting to absorb their coolness.

More vines reached toward me when they sensed my reaction. They wrapped around my waist and neck. They were powerful but careful, keeping me trapped in place without hurting me.

I subconsciously moaned.

A strange but pleasing sensation spread through me wherever the vines touched me. The concoction seemed to have made me more sensitive as well.

My vision turned blurry as my body heated up once more. A deep flush spread across my skin. I clung to the vine that was wrapped across my chest, staring at it with hazy eyes before asking, "Do you like me, divine god of the tree?"

The divine tree rustled its branches as if in approval of my question.

I threw myself into it. I thought about all the ways the men had described that made the process more pleasurable as I clung to the vines desperately.

An exceptionally thick vine slithered between my legs as I panted for breath.

Reflexively, I tried to squeeze my legs together, but the other vines immediately tightened, forcing me to keep my legs apart.

The tip of the thick vine split open, revealing its pink and fleshy insides, making it look even more formidable. The moment it brushed against my skin, heat coursed through my body, radiating from the point of contact.

The thick vine began to move rhythmically while the other vines tightened their holds on me. I could also feel a warm liquid being injected into my body.

Feeling excited, I began to move my body to match the vine's rhythm.

My vision turned hazy. The only sounds I could hear were the squelching of water and my satisfied moans.

Just then, piercing pain lanced through my stomach. I felt as if something was stirring my insides.

My back arched in pain as I tried to escape the vine's bindings. However, they were too strong, and my efforts proved useless no matter how hard I struggled.

"It hurts!" I screamed, my voice echoing around the clearing.

The vines began to move even more aggressively as if displeased by my resistance.

Pain and pleasure mixed together as I began to fade in and out of consciousness. I clutched the vines that were wrapped around my body in a death grip.

Just as I was seconds away from reaching ecstasy, I felt large hands touching my body.