Page 4 of Firefly Effect

“Yeah, well.” I punched him again, this time making him wince. “That’s how I like it. Go away, Gabe.”

He raised his hands and backed up. “Geez. Fine. Don’t cry to me if you get lost out here.”

I rolled my eyes. “How could I possibly get lost on this trail?”

He shrugged, then winked and turned to head back the way he came. “See ya.”

I only made it another few steps when I heard someone hiss, “Psst,” from nearby.

My heart lurched into my throat, and I whipped around to survey my surroundings. Not again. No one was visible, thanks to the darkened sky. I was a beat away from taking off in a sprint toward camp when a branch cracked loudly.

“Evie,” a deep voice called. “Are you okay?”

I snapped my head toward the sound, this time finding Foster heading toward me. He looked worried, like he cared. My insides flipped and flopped in ridiculous fashion. I had never before wanted to murder a boy and kiss him at the same time.

“I didn’t realize I was so close to the path, then I saw you.” He searched my face, his brow wrinkling. “You okay?”

No, I was not okay, but I wasn’t about to tell him that he’d just scared the shit out of me.

“I still haven’t found Carley,” he said. “She must be down by the creek where we’re supposed to meet everyone. I didn’t get that far before I heard you scream.”

“I’m sorry,” I said automatically, as I always did when someone around me was disappointed. At least that was what Patrick said. He said I needed to stop blaming myself for things that were out of my control. “I screamed because Gabe was being an asshole.”

Foster scrunched his nose, seemingly disgusted with my friend. “What’s new? We should stick together now.”

A sigh of relief relaxed me. Then I noticed how out of breath Foster was from his search. He’d removed his black hoodie, too, revealing a white shirt that must have gotten snagged on some branches because the arm was torn.

“Come on. We can get to the creek quicker this way.” He gave it a few moments before apparently realizing I wasn’t going anywhere. “Come on,” he said again, sounding angry. “I’m not leaving you out here alone again.”

This time, my feet jolted from their spot and took me into the woods until I was right by his side. I hated that I was ignoring the promise I’d made to my uncle in order to follow a boy into the deep, dark marsh, but what else was I supposed to do?

“You’re such a jerk,” I said once my heartbeat began to steady.

Foster shrugged. “You don’t even know me, Evie girl.”

Something about the way he used Uncle Patrick’s nickname for me warmed my chest. But Foster was right. I knew nothing about him or Carley other than that they were visiting the area with their family from Murphy, North Carolina.

We reached a clearing that opened to the water, but at first glance, Carley was nowhere to be found.

“Dammit,” Foster muttered, frustration coating his tone. “Where the hell is she?” He looked around, aiming his flashlight in several different directions, and called, “Carley, where are you?”

We both got quiet, waiting for her to respond.

I tried next, sticking close to Foster’s side. “Carley! Come out, come out, wherever you are.” I laughed lightly, trying to mask my nerves.

Still, no answer.

Foster sighed. “This isn’t funny, Carley. C’mon.”

I frowned, unease compounding in my chest. “Carley, answer us.”

Together, we continued hollering her name, getting nowhere.

Foster’s entire body looked as tense as his words. Then realization illuminated his features. “Isn’t there a clearing to the creek down that way?” He nodded in the direction we were walking then swiveled around, flashing a light on the waterfront. “Yes, this way.” Excitement coated his tone now. He took off running. “Come on!” he shouted back to me.

This time, I didn’t need him to beg me to follow. As I ran to catch him, I wanted to comfort him. To tell him Carley could handle herself. She was a tough girl. Besides, the woods were full of our fellow campers, and she would surely be with some of them. But before I could say any of that, a violent, horrific scream ripped through the night.

Gabe again. That was my first thought, figuring he was getting some sick pleasure in terrifying girls in the woods at night. Still, Foster and I stopped dead in our tracks. We listened closely, and I was sure I would hear someone berating Gabe for his antics, but that never came. In fact, the woods were too quiet.

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