Page 3 of Firefly Effect

I didn’t even have time to return the jar before Carley clutched my arm and started to pull me in the direction of the woods, my heart practically kicking out of my ribs. Guilt knotted inside at the thought of disobeying the one person who had ever truly taken care of me.

Patrick told that story before the mating ritual began for a reason. Fireflies were becoming endangered, thanks to light pollution and the destruction of their natural habitat. I didn’t want a part in any of that, yet I couldn’t say no to Carley and her brother.

The three of us were the last ones to enter the woods. We followed a dirt trail that wound through the trees and veered off in various directions like a spiderweb. In daylight, the trails were easy to navigate, the tree cover sparse enough to see far in the distance. As nightfall descended and the sounds of woodland creatures filled the air, the world around us began to alter into something I didn’t recognize.

Maybe my fifteen-year-old imagination was at play or my senses had gone completely out of whack in the presence of a cute boy, but it felt like I’d just stepped out of my boring life and straight into one of my mystery novels. I didn’t know what would be waiting for me when I turned the page.

A squeal split the air, and Carley’s fingers slipped from mine and pointed straight ahead. “Look! It’s starting.”

My head turned to find nothing but a faint outline of the trees, but I knew in mere seconds my eyes would adjust to the heartbeat of the marsh. That was what my uncle called the entire mating phenomenon, when male fireflies flashed their light to attract a mate and the females flashed back if they liked what they saw.

That night, it took a bit of focus for my eyes to adjust to the tiny sparkles and streaks that flickered in the distance, but as they did, I became mesmerized like I was seeing it all for the first time. The trees simply disappeared and were replaced by a bioluminescent light show I would never get enough of, while cicadas, crickets, and who-knows-what-else provided the soundtrack for the night.

A blueish-white streak crossed my vision, and my eyes followed it into the distance. “Wow, the blue ghosts look so pretty tonight.”

Carley’s jaw dropped—she’d just noticed the rare species of fireflies too. “I’ve never seen so many of them mix with the synchronous ones.” She turned to her brother, eyes wide with delight. “Have you, Foster?”

He shrugged. “Don’t think so.”

She laughed at his disinterest and grabbed his hand. “Did you know the blue-ghost ones can light up for almost a minute? That’s why you see those streaks through the air.”

Again, he didn’t react to the fun facts Carley was spitting out, but she didn’t seem to care. Instead, she took the lead, charging ahead and venturing farther down the path. Once Carley got ready to capture the tiny insects, I copied everything she did. How she unlocked the metal clasp of her jar then held it snugly in the palm of her hand. How she slowed her pace while her captivated eyes locked on the lights flickering around her. And how, with a twist of her palm, she captured her first firefly, catching and trapping it in one quick motion.

My breath came fast as I watched the light dance around her jar. Instinctively, I turned to find Foster, expecting to see him wearing one of his deep frowns or contemplative looks. This time was different—a hint of a smile tugged at his lips as he watched his sister’s joy.

That was all it took for me to open the lid of my jar. One by one, the glass wall brightened with the glow of a dozen tiny fireflies—innocent beings, their lifespans a blip in comparison to humans. But I couldn’t get over the magic created in their combined light.

I hadn’t even noticed that the others in our group had veered off in different directions until Carley darted away from the path and farther into the woods, something my uncle had told me not to do under any circumstances. I was to stay on the trail, and I had promised that I would.

My feet halted, the thought of disobeying Uncle Patrick an invisible collar around my neck, pulling me back.

“Carley, we need to stay on the trail,” I called, unable to contain my alarm.

She didn’t stop. Instead, she tossed me a grin over her shoulder then ran even faster. “Run, run as fast as you can, Evelyn! They’ll be easier to catch out here!”

“Carley, wait up!” Foster yelled. He took a step off the trail toward his sister but stopped to look back at me. “I have to follow her. Come with us.” He gestured to the flashlight he carried, which he had covered with red cellophane to allow night vision. “I have light.”

In true stubborn-Evie fashion, I held up my mason jar. “So do I.” But when I looked at the jar, I frowned. While I had some light, the jar full of fireflies I’d collected didn’t provide enough to help me actually see my way through the darkened woods.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t get my uncle’s warning out of my head. I looked around for a path that veered in the same direction Carley had gone. “I’ll stay on the path. You should find Carley.”

Foster frowned and seemed to hesitate for a second. “Suit yourself.” Then he paused and looked back at me with a sarcastic rise of his brows before following his sister. “Just don’t make any sudden movements. You know, in case the Firefly Man is watching.”

My jaw dropped as I watched him turn and dart into the woods. Suddenly, Foster Pruitt wasn’t so attractive anymore. He looked the opposite of cute, and I glared at his back, hoping he could feel my irritation, until he completely faded from view. A moment later, I continued down the path, trying my best to not think about the fact that I was all alone.

Insides rattling with fear, I walked for what felt like the next hour. Time slowed in the worst possible way. My ears became tuned into any small noise, but that backfired—the slightest rustle of a tree or crunch of a leaf sent me into an anxiety tailspin. If I could just find any of the dozen others who had gone into the woods, I would have felt so much better.

Eventually, I arrived at an intersection. One way pointed back to camp, and the other led to the creek. But I needed to find Carley, at least, if not her stupid brother. With a low growl, I stomped down the path that led to the creek.

“Run, run as fast as you can.” The words were just a whispering hiss, slithering through the woods.

My heart leapt into my throat as I spun around. “It’s not funny if I can’t see you,” I growled angrily.

A low chuckle followed the haunting rhyme, then I heard feet pounding, charging toward me. A scream ripped from my throat as a figure jumped forward, arms raised and ready to attack.

The moment the figure landed, I held up my jar for light to find Gabe bursting into boisterous and annoying laughter. My fist flew out, socking him in the chest. “You asshole. I almost murdered you with my jar of fireflies.”

He laughed even harder, clearly enjoying himself. “Oh, come on, Evelyn. You had it coming walking out here alone.”

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