Chapter 2

Mark's screams, which started full-throated and booming, gradually faded and grew weak.

At first, Lily was humming a tune outside the door, munching on sunflower seeds, clearly pleased with her "miracle remedy."

She said, "Whitney, stay inside and keep Mark company. Once he's better, you two should hurry up and have a baby. I'm looking forward to holding my grandson."

I snacked on sunflower seeds and called back through the door, "Sure thing, Lily. You can count on me. I'll make sure to keep him company."

Minute by minute, the sky outside started to dim.

Mark's screams faded, replaced by weak, broken groans.

Lily finally realized something was off. "Mark? Why are you so quiet? Don't freak me out."

She started pounding on the door. "Whitney. Open up. Let me check on Mark."

I strolled over to the door, putting on the right touch of fake concern in my voice. "Relax, Lily. Didn't you say this remedy needs a full three days and nights to work?

"It's only the first day. If we open the door now, won't we ruin the whole ceremony? This is all for your future grandson, after all."

The word "grandson" was Lily's Achilles' heel.

She stopped pounding on the door. "But Mark doesn't sound right."

"Lily, you know good medicine always tastes bitter. A miracle remedy means he's gotta suffer a bit. Think about it. Getting the poison out and bringing back his manhood. That's a huge job.

"Mark's probably going through the most critical 'blood-changing' stage right now. We can't disturb him." My words were half true, half false, but they landed right where Lily needed them most.

People like her, who swear by folk remedies, totally lap up this kind of mystical talk.

Sure enough, she hesitated, "What you said does make some sense."

Just then, Annie Watson from across the hall opened her door and poked her head out. "Lily, what's going on over there? Are you slaughtering a pig or something?"

Annie was a total blabbermouth. If anything slightly interesting happened in our building, the whole neighborhood would know about it in less than half a day.

Lily, who cared most about her reputation, immediately changed her expression.

She cleared her throat and straightened up. "Go on, get out of here. Stop talking nonsense. My son and his wife are in there, working on making a baby."

Annie looked like she wasn't buying it at all. "Trying for a baby? Then why does it sound like someone's getting slaughtered in there?"

Lily totally lost her composure, her embarrassment written all over her face as her voice shot up an octave. "You have no idea.

"I'm using our family's secret remedy on my son. Snake's Blessing Remedy. Ever heard of it? In three days, Whitney will be pregnant."

Annie was so shocked that she stood there stunned. "Is it that magical?"

"Absolutely." Lily stuck her chin out, grinning with pride. "Once I get my grandson, you'll be the very first to come celebrate at his birthday party."

To look good in front of Annie, Lily dropped any thought of busting down the door.

She even dragged over a little stool and sat right outside our door, like a guardian angel keeping watch. She claimed she was "guarding the ritual" for her precious son.

Inside, Mark's groans faded into barely a whisper.

I walked over to him and crouched down.

His face had turned a sickly blue-purple, his lips were black, and his whole body was convulsing uncontrollably.

The spotted snake was still wrapped tightly around his dick, and the spot where its head used to be was a mess of blood and flesh.

I pulled out my phone and opened the camera app. "Honey, hang in there a little longer for our future big, healthy baby boy."

On my phone screen, Mark's face twisted in agony, while Lily's bragging outside was the perfect punchline to this twisted comedy.

In my previous life, this was the moment I totally lost it, broke down the door in tears, and begged for help.

This time, all I wanted was to hit record and watch the drama unfold whenever I felt like it.