FIRE OF GENESIS

were getting ready to start a new science project. Alice sat at her desk, looking confident and self-assured as she waited for the class to begin. N

Good morning, everyone! Today, we'll be st

s of four," all the students groa

l ecosystem. Each group will be assigned a different ecosystem, and you'll need to research its plants, animals, and other cha

they would be in the same group. They had always been

h bated breath to hear who they would be working with. Finally

his chair to

artner." He said a

ora an

l you pair me up with her?" S

between you and Miss Smith I urge you to sort it out and make the project work, b

rking together would be a challenge, and they didn't know if they could put their differences

everyone," Ms. Johns

at at their desks, staring at each other awkwardly. No on

guess we should start by discussing

e no

ra said with her arms crossed. Alice scoffed. She was abou

so you can analyze them in class tomorrow. I've made

nd Fred quickly scanned theirs. "It says we have to

said, reading from the list. "It's on the

said, shivering. "The storie

ies," Alice said dismissively. "

ossing her arms. "I don't l

e forest to get our samp

osing sides and Reggie and Fred caught in the middle. Finally, the bell ran

picked up. The leaves rustled ominously in the trees, and the shadows lengthened across th

they knew they had to g

close in around them. They could hear the wind whispering through the bran

certain of where to start. The trees were dense and tangl

aid, her voice shaking. "Le

r head. "We have t

per into the trees, they began to notice strange things. The wind seemed to whisper strange words, and they could hear the rustli

e, y'all can wait here an

ember you're getting an F because no one he

ll me?" Nora yelled,

Alice yelled

to separate them. They all fell to the

t is that?

moved towards the bag and surrounded it. It was get

en it," A

ays so inquisiti

lp it," Ali

to make the biggest mistake of their life by letting their curiosity take