Silver moonlight swept across the entire village. Terry Mao was already hoarse from shouting. No matter how he screamed, the reality could not be changed. Nearly two thousand people in the tribe—almost none of them thought anything about this was strange.
"It's so strange. There aren't even any gods, so why do we have to do this?"
Terry Mao spoke in a raspy voice, his face twisted in a sorrowful smile. His younger sister, Lily Mao, had always been obedient, clinging to him since childhood. He often took her hunting, but now, to watch her drown before his eyes—he couldn't do it.
"Brother, are you hungry?"
A tender voice rang out. Terry Mao looked over and saw a small hand reaching through the window. Next, a cheerful little boy clung to the windowsill, holding water and some food.
"Mason, hurry up and let me go, quickly."
Mason Mao's face was blank. After hesitating for a moment, he shook his head.
"Big brother, Father said we can't let you out before the ritual is over. Eat quickly, I have to go back, or Father will find out."
As Mason Mao spoke, he placed the food at Terry Mao's mouth. Terry opened wide and ate, then drank some water. Mason quickly left afterward.
As the moon sank westward, Mason Mao sneaked over to the Sacrifice Well, bowed his head, and called out softly.
"Sis, are you still awake?"
After a while, a gentle hum came from the bottom of the well, sounding very weak.
"I already brought food for big brother, and I brought some for you too, Sis. Even though Father said you can't eat because of the ritual, you must be hungry."
Lily Mao stared blankly up at Mason Mao. He tossed the food down accurately beside her. Lily swallowed, and then, desperate with hunger, grabbed the food and devoured it. She hadn't eaten for a whole day.
"Mason, you should hurry back, or Father will find out and punish you again."
Mason Mao replied with a soft 'okay,' not saying much more. Though he felt sad about his sister being the offering, he was only six years old—these things were beyond him.
"Oh, Mason, the day after tomorrow I'll be leaving. You have to take good care of yourself from now on."
Just as Mason Mao turned to leave, Lily Mao's gentle voice echoed from the deep well. He suddenly stopped, clutching his chest, feeling as if a knife were twisting inside. Tears began to fall, and he ran off into the night, as if trying to release all the sorrow in his heart.
His sister was about to die. The thought twisted Mason Mao's heart. Eventually, Mason stopped, kneeling on the ground.
"I'm still not as strong as big brother. I just can't do it!"
In the pale morning light, Terry Mao woke with a start, drenched in sweat and terrified. He was still tied up, with guards outside. He began to struggle—tonight was his last chance. If he missed it, by tomorrow morning most of the villagers would have returned.
There was a custom in the tribe: before the festival began, most people would go on a pilgrimage through the forest, circling all the places marked with the tribal totem.
Now, there were probably only a few dozen people left in the village. Tonight was the last chance—if Terry Mao wanted to save Lily Mao, this was it.
Just then, the door opened and Mason Mao came in with food and water. The guard at the door paid no attention, but this was Terry Mao's final chance.
"Brother..."
"Mason, please help me."
Terry Mao looked at Mason Mao with a grave expression.
"But, Brother..."
"No buts, Mason. Let me ask you—are you really going to just stand by and watch Lily be sent to her death?"
Mason Mao lowered his head, silent, clearly hesitating.
"Listen, Mason. You need to help me prepare a few things. Once we rescue Lily, the three of us will leave together."
Mason Mao widened his eyes at Terry Mao. Strangely, everything Terry asked for, Mason remembered perfectly. By the time he snapped out of it, he'd spent the whole afternoon secretly preparing the items.
Terry Mao kept waiting. The sun had set, and the sky was growing dark. He looked out the window—the guard had sat down and seemed to be dozing off.
At last, a small hand reached in, holding a white bone knife. Terry Mao slowly moved, struggling to grip the bone knife with two fingers.
"Mason, hurry back and put everything by the well. Be careful not to let Father find out."
Terry Mao kept cutting the rope. Night had fully fallen when footsteps sounded outside. With a creak, the door opened and Laurence Mao walked in, a torch lighting the room. Terry Mao stared at his father.
"I'm not asking you to change your mind. I just hope you behave tomorrow—don't embarrass me. Remember, you're the future heir of the tribe."
Terry Mao forced a bitter smile at his father. After Laurence Mao left, Terry broke free from his restraints. In the darkness, his eyes were wild, like a beast.
After removing the wooden bars from the window, Terry Mao climbed out and darted through the village. The night was pitch black, with only a few scattered lights. He reached the Sacrifice Well and, by faint moonlight, found the big tree where Mason Mao had hidden the supplies.
Mason Mao was probably with Father now, while most of the villagers were busy discussing tomorrow's ritual. Terry had to hurry.
After making sure no one was around, Terry Mao dashed to the base of the tree and climbed up quickly. He found a spear, a bow and arrows, and a thick coil of rope. He tied the rope to the tree, then crouched and moved toward the Sacrifice Well.
"Lily."
Completely exhausted, Lily Mao lay quietly on the damp, cold stone platform. She was shivering, unable to endure any longer, her consciousness fading.
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Gradually, Lily Mao heard a voice from above. She opened her eyes slightly—it was Terry Mao. Suddenly, Lily snapped awake and called out in disbelief.
"Big brother, how did you...?"
A rope was lowered down.
"Lily, grab the rope—I'll pull you up."
During these two short days, Lily Mao had prayed countless times, hoping to get out of here. The rope dangling down seemed like a ray of hope.
Yet, in that instant, Lily Mao hesitated.
"Big brother, if you do this..."
"No more talking, Lily—please, just grab the rope. Once you're up, we'll leave here together."
Lily Mao lowered her head, her face full of hesitation. This was the tribe's sacred festival, and as the offering, she was not allowed to leave.
"Grab the rope, Lily—I'm begging you, please!"
Terry Mao couldn't shout—he could only lower his voice, hoarse and desperate.
"Even if we escape, what about us...?"
"Just leave it to me, Lily. I'll take care of everything—just grab the rope, hurry!"
Just then, a stern voice rang out, and distant torches appeared.
"You ungrateful child—what are you trying to do?"
Laurence Mao's voice carried from afar. Terry Mao glanced over, then looked back down into the well.
"Lily, listen to me. Do you remember? When you were little, you were always curious about the unknown, always saying the world was so big and you wanted to see it. Have you forgotten?"
"Big brother..."
Tears shimmered in Lily Mao's eyes. She felt unable to cross the barrier in her heart—the rope was just a finger's length away, but her hands felt powerless.
Lily Mao knew very well—if she did this, tonight her big brother, her father, even her younger brother, would never go back to how things were. Father and son would be completely torn apart. She didn't want to see that happen.
"If you die, there's nothing left, Lily—nothing at all. Do you really want to see me and Mason sad and miserable for the rest of our lives?"
In the moonlight, a pair of bright eyes radiated deep sorrow. Suddenly, Lily Mao found strength from somewhere and grabbed the rope. Terry Mao roared, pulling Lily up from the well.
"Nobody move! If anyone does, I'll shoot them!"
Terry Mao brandished a bow, arrow nocked and ready. Lily Mao collapsed behind him, clutching his leg, terrified by everything in front of her. Her father and some tribesmen glared angrily, and Mason Mao was among them, looking like he'd already been punished.
With a whoosh, someone tried to rush over—an arrow shot past, grazing his arm. He immediately clutched his bleeding arm and cried out.
"I'll say it again—don't move."
Terry Mao nocked a second arrow. To ensure their escape, he'd told Mason Mao to sabotage the villagers' bows and arrows long ago. Now, the bow in Terry's hands held the entire village hostage.
Though they were less than ten meters apart, no one wanted any trouble to break out just before the festival.
"I told you—don't come any closer."
Laurence Mao slowly circled the well, closing in on Terry Mao. Terry raised his bow, while Lily Mao struggled to stand and tried to grab him, only to see the sadness on his face.
"It seems you've finally come to your senses, Terry."
Laurence Mao came closer, the floorboards creaking. Terry Mao's arrow was nearly slipping from his grip.
"Or is that all the resolve you have?"
Suddenly, Laurence Mao lunged forward when only five or six meters remained between them.
With a whoosh, accompanied by Lily Mao's scream.
"Father..."
Lily Mao burst into tears.
"I told you not to move."
Terry Mao shouted again, then looked at Mason Mao, who was shivering in fear.
"Mason, come here—quick!"