Roots

“We did an experiment in Science today.”

“Oh?”

“We put a celery in some colored water and it made the celery turn colors. It took all night.”

“Yeah, I remember. We did that last year. I forget what it was supposed to show, though.”

“Plants drink up stuff, I guess, and it affects how they grow?”

The two of them regarded the massive tree. Its branches writhed, clawing at the air. Mottled faces leered in the patterns on its bark.

“I think… maybe we should head home.”

“Yeah.”

Behind them, the tree’s roots slithered down into the dark, cold soil…