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Unfortunately, he’s right.

I walk toward the tree.

The mark around my wrist warms.

The fruit splits.

I stop.

Inside… nothing.

Darkness.

Then something moves.

A tiny green shoot pushes from the center. It unfurls slowly, twisting upward until a miniature ear of corn emerges.

I stare at it. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

Rhett starts laughing.

“Don’t fucking start.”

He laughs harder.

“Rhett.”

Malakai covers his mouth.

Traitor.

Even Ezra’s shoulders shake.

“Fuck all three of you.”

The tiny ear ripens.

Green becomes yellow.

Then one kernel turns red.

My laughter dies.

So does theirs.

The kernel pulses.

Once.

THUMP.

I stare at it.

No.

Not a heartbeat.

Something else.