Beneath the Serpent Shrine

cut off from the outside world. Most of the

to avoid her wrath. Every May, when the snakes were in

had been sent into The Serpent Shrine-no matter how strong he was-came back barely able to stand. Some

arted dropping. The smart families, especially

would draw lots to decide which family had to hand over a man. And it didn't have to b

mom drew the

bed for years. So my mom, just like a bunch of other desperate families before us, called me in the mid

phone, I knew exactly wha

nd a man to die in

oom left him gasping for air. If we actually sent him to that shrine, Lady Serpent wouldn'

arted as one call a day became ten. She kept pushing, begging me

t want to h

o had ever gone to college, with yea

d, twisted tradition. I didn't have the power to change i

day, everyt

austing call from my mo

e tried to escape, but they beat her to death. Literally tor

s were still out t

de. Posters, announcements, warnings e

t news, something

take the risk and texted my mom, "Mom, I found

praise before finally hanging up. But inside, I felt nothing,

e always t

rls and sell them off like cattle

nd I didn't have any weapons or training. One wrong mov

cky. A few nights

lite on the outside, but there was something sle

en he came up and started chatting me up. The moment I saw him, I knew exactly what he wan