“Thank you for attending our evening ceremony,” Eshan said to the crowd, still seated. “It is an important night for us. Tonight marks the first night of our harvesting season. We will ask her for grace and abundance.” The buzz droned on in the background.
“FOR HER,” the crowd chanted together.
Shelly knew she was talking, but noticed she had no real control over what she was saying and realized she didn’t care to have control. She was in the warmth of the buzz.
“Tonight, I will ask each and every one of you to make the ultimate sacrifice: to give yourselves to her for the sake of the harvest. And in return you will be granted eternal life. You will exist in a state of forever happiness and belonging,” Eshan continued.
Eshan stood slowly and held out his hand in a cup. A group of bees gathered around his hand and accumulated into a black mass.
“FOR HER,” he shouted.
“FOR HER,” the crowd responded.
“We will begin with the first row on my right. Please line up at the stage,” Eshan said. Without question, the first pew gathered in front of the stage. In front of the line was a muscular man of about fifty years. A peppered beard hung neatly from his face. He moved forward to Eshan.
“Samuel, are you ready for infinity?” Eshan asked.
He nodded.
“Please place your back against the hora, feet together.”
Samuel followed directions immediately.
“Samuel, I need you to buzz.”
He began buzzing loudly.
“Now, let’s all buzz with Samuel and join him on his journey to eternity!”
The group buzzed in harmony.
***
Sophie could see the stage from the path leading down. The stage glowed ominously against the surrounding darkness of the forest. The hora tree stood still. Sophie didn’t truly appreciate its enormity close up, but from far away it was impossibly large and foreboding. She took in the crowd that surrounded the stage.
Was it the buzz? Are they drawn to the noise?
She crept slowly down the path for a better vantage. What is that man doing on the stage?
The hora tree began to shake and sway. A flock of birds escaped from its canopy. The tree rumbled repeatedly.
What is THAT? Sophie thought. The cold shock of terror ran down her spine.
Two large red eyes peaked from beneath the canopy. With each rumble more of the abomination was seen. Telephone pole sized antennae dangled from her head, waving with each massive step. Each step revealed more of the monster, until it was apparent. It’s a bee, Sophie thought.
***
“BEHOLD HER,” Eshan said. His body was now a wiggling black mass of bees. “OUR QUEEN.”
The queen continued down the hora tree, one quaking step at a time. She reoriented herself, such that her stinger was pointing toward Samuel’s head. Her stinger alone was the size of a grown man and as thick as a lead pipe. She guided it carefully over his head and flapped her colossal wings, making the wind of a landing helicopter.
“FOR HER,” Samuel shouted.
“FOR HER,” the crowd returned.
The queen placed her abdomen over Samuel’s head. Samuel buzzed in pleasure. Beeswax poured from her and down his body, sealing him to the tree. She continued until he was motionless and congealed; his body was frozen. The crowd roared with applause.
“NEXT!” Eshan said in excitement.
***
Sophie watched in horror as the man was solidified in a brick of wax. She had to find Shelly and get off this mountain. She snuck into an open tent and dressed herself in white linens to not be recognized. She found a screwdriver on the ground and pocketed it for protection. She stepped onto the viewing deck.
“Welcome madam, I’m sorry you’re late for the festivities. Please take your honey,” the man at the foot of the steps said. He dipped his fingers into the black resin and drew wings on her neck. Sophie understood that he wanted her to drink whatever was in the cup.
Sophie cheeked her honey and pretended to swallow. She nodded her head in gratitude and continued to the stage, where she found Shelly sitting in her pew. Her eyes were glossed and her mouth agape and smiling.
The next sacrifice approached the tree and placed her back to it. It was Samuel’s child, a girl of about ten years.
Sophie took a seat next to Shelly and shook her leg. Shelly didn’t stir. Instead, she was smiling at the site of the young girl being buried in her tomb of wax. She began typing vigorously on her phone to Shelly. “WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING????”
Shelly paid her no regard.
The buzz, Sophie thought. I have to get her out of the buzz. She reached under her dress and felt the firmness of the screwdriver. This is so fucked.
Without second thought, Sophie drove the screwdriver into Shelly’s right ear until she felt the give of her ear drum. To her shock, Shelly had no reaction. A yellow-red fluid poured from her ear. Again Sophie thought and met Shelly’s left ear drum with the screwdriver. This time Shelly began to scream.
Sophie shook her and pointed to her phone. “WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE. WHAT ARE YOU DOING????”
Shelly began to panic as she watched the young girl on stage. Wax filled the girl’s open mouth and sealed her closed.
“FOR HER,” Eshan shouted.
“FOR HER,” the crowd returned.
Eshan and the crowd were too buzz-drunk to notice the commotion of Shelly and Sophie. As the next sacrifice was being sealed, the pair found a stone staircase leading from the viewing deck to the valley below.
Sophie felt the ground begin to break apart from under her. Stone crumbled and gave way down the mountain. She wobbled at the edge of the cliff and reached to grab Shelly’s hand. Her hand was bulky and slick with wax. The last thing Sophie saw before falling was Shelly’s entombed body.
***
“Madam?”
Shelly awoke next to Sophie, still topless in her bed. She covered herself.
“You missed dinner last night, are you feeling unwell?” Inesh said to her. Shelly shook her head in disbelief.
“We are nearly ready for today’s hike. Please meet me at the deck in fifteen minutes for tea and breakfast.”
Brandon Marshall Writing 
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