The Forest Demands Its Due by Kosoko Jackson

Author:Kosoko Jackson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2023-07-18T00:00:00+00:00

19

“What do you mean?” Everett says.

Everett’s demeanor changes almost instantly; even his stance shifts. He’s an inch taller now, his shoulders pulled back, muscles tighter. It’s like he shifted from casual mode to battle readiness with Emma’s words.

“Mom and I were doing the normal rounds in the forest. We came across one,” Emma explains. “She was handling it. I saw another out of the corner of my eye and followed it, but I lost it.”

“How?” I ask, interrupting. Quickly, I add, “Not to say you didn’t do the best you could—I couldn’t have tracked it—but those things are big. How do you lose it?”

“Each Perversion is different,” Emma says, her voice calming down. “This one had six arms; it could swing through trees. Its movements weren’t predictable. I wounded one of its hind legs and followed the blood trail; it led me toward the stables on the east side of campus.”

“Shit, shit, shit.” Everett doesn’t hesitate and opens the trunk of his truck, then spins a four-digit code on a lockbox. As he opens it, moonlight refracts off the metal of a hastily packed pile of weapons—shotguns, revolvers, a crossbow, and a few bladed weapons for the taking.

“Did you send a text to the headmaster?”

Emma nods. “Green Alert, urgent.”

The school bell, which is also the center of the grounds, rings loudly. Each vibration, four right after the other, makes my bones and teeth chatter. I remember from the orientation handbook, when the bell rings, it means everyone should get inside. They never said why, though, and left the reasoning to our imagination. I always assumed it was just for a bear sighting, or even worse, an on-campus event.

I never imagined this.

Emma and Everett seem unfazed, focused on checking their weapons.

“Everyone should be inside anyway,” Everett mutters. “It’s after-hours on a school night.”

“There are always stragglers. Case in point—you two are out here.” Emma doesn’t push any further. “But I didn’t see the Perversion heading in that direction. I think the students are safe.”

“Good. We should do the rounds, anyway.” He nods, tossing her a pack of bullets. “For your handgun.”

“Perversions don’t usually come on campus, right?” I ask, doing my best to swallow down my panic.

“They tend to avoid it,” Emma says, quickly restringing the crossbow. “Even stopping at the edge of the forest line and hesitating. The school is our territory. They know that and respect it. Coming on the grounds is certain death. This one, though . . . The blood trail didn’t stop. It’s like it didn’t care.”

“Why? Why now?” I ask. “What’s changed?”

“That’s what concerns me,” Everett says, slinging the gun over his shoulder. “Between this one and the one I saw in town.”

“You saw one in Winslow?” Emma asks. “Shit.”

Everett waves it off. “I think I saw one. Where’s Mom?”

“Last I saw, she was checking the perimeter to the west.”

Everett nods. “We should split up. You check the north and I’ll head to the east. We need to kill that thing before it attacks any students.

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