OUT OF SALEM by Hal Schrieve

Author:Hal Schrieve [Schrieve Hal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: trans fiction, young adult fantasy, lgbt ya books, YA fantasy, lgbt fantasy, ownvoices, fantasy murder mystery, books for trans teens, books for lgbt teens, books for queer teens, books for queer kids, books about werewolves, books about zombies, books about witchcraft, queer author, non-binary author, trans author, non-binary characters, lgbt characters, queer characters, transgender characters, trans characters, queer fantasy, fantasy, young adult fantasy books, lgbtq books for teens, fantasy books for teens
ISBN: 9781609809027
Publisher: seven stories press
Published: 2017-12-09T18:00:00+00:00

In the morning, Z heard Mrs. Dunnigan get up at a quarter to four and make two pots of coffee in a row. They stayed in bed awhile, to give her some time to herself. At five, they got up and walked out. They glanced over at the potion as they opened the door and realized a cat might come in and knock it over, so they put it on a high shelf.

Out in the living room, Mrs. Dunnigan was glued to the television set. This was very unusual.

“What is it?” Z asked.

Mrs. Dunnigan did not answer.

On the screen there were two paramedics hauling away the body of a young dead man. He was naked, and his body was riddled with bullet holes.

“Holy shit,” Z said. “What’s happening?”

Mrs. Dunnigan remained silent, jittering quietly in her chair. Her brow was furrowed. Z looked at the screen as a reporter appeared to speak about what was happening.

“The werewolves set upon Ron Hardeback by this Salem grocery store last night. He attempted to fend them off, to no avail. Luckily, a local woman, who has preferred to remain anonymous, tipped off police when she saw the two giant beasts moving quickly past her home. The police arrived and shot both werewolves. Both have since died. They are as yet unidentified. Hardeback has been moved to Salem Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.” The reporter onscreen looked tired, like she hadn’t had time to put on makeup after waking up this morning.

“Oh,” Z said.

“This is very bad,” Mrs. Dunnigan said very quietly.

The television continued to speak. “Hardeback had worked for years at a clinic for treating werewolves with electroshock therapy under the Werewolf Commission in Sacramento, California. His leg was bitten deeply, and he has significant nerve damage from bites. Police are looking into the possibility that the attack was revenge.”

Z was still mesmerized by the repeating footage of the dead bodies. “Why are they showing the bodies?” they asked. “And they’re naked. Is that appropriate? Shouldn’t that be censored?”

“They’re werewolves,” Mrs. Dunnigan answered, her eyes wide as she peered over her glasses. Her teeth chattered faintly. “Werewolves are classified as beasts on full-moon days. Censorship rules don’t apply to beasts.”

“That doesn’t seem quite fair,” Z said. “Even if they were attacking someone.”

“No,” Mrs. Dunnigan said.

At a quarter past seven, the news was still playing, but Z left to go to school. Cop cars drove by quickly in twos and threes. Z wondered if it was because of the werewolf attack. The sirens weren’t on, but they still made Z jump. They thought of Aysel and worried.

Z met up with Tommy in the woods near the school. The trees hung low and thick and green with needles falling incessantly in fine waves on the ground. Tommy waited beneath a tall tree, submerged in shadow. He looked as if he hadn’t slept at all. His backpack was on the ground next to him. It was too empty-looking to contain any books.

“Have you seen all the cop cars?” he asked Z.

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