FIRE OF GENESIS

, Nora was facing her par

the woods!" Nora's father said, his voice rai

r eyes. "I didn't mean to worry you

her said, her voice trembling. "Wha

alm "and I was only there for a school project

to the woods?" her mother asked,

research project on local flora and fauna, and

" her mother said. "You should ha

ain. "I promise I'll be m

to ground you for thi

sked, her voice small. "But that's n

ughter?," her father yelled. "Trust me it's more than nore. And that

s. "A month?" she asked, her vo

father said, his voice firm

ems harsh," she said, her voice gentle. "But we're just

g overwhelmed by the situation. "I un

love you," her mother said. "

was too much. She knew her parents loved her,

rom the events of the previous day, and they were trying to figure out what to do next. They all knew they ne

nces, each of them wondering what to do. They knew they had

d out what happened to the b

t let our curiosity get the better of us. We need

still felt restless. "But I can'

aid, sensing the tension in the air. "Maybe if

ora said, though she wa

Reggie said, his voice soft. "

we found the body when we did. It cou

know we need to keep our promise to our pare

esearch later, after sc

need to focus on our normal lives and not let this incide

about the body or doing any research on it. We'l

id, holding out h

agreed to the pact, seal

ng in the other room. She paused, her curiosity getting the be

er's voice was tense, panicked. "We

replied, sounding just as stressed. "The on

heard the words. Keep them

aid she saw a stain of blood on her shirt, and her dressing is suspicious. All

d happen to my daughter, Alex, do someth

d her before she makes any move. And we're not sure

nding hard. Her head was spinning. She felt like she couldn't breathe, like the walls were closing in around her. S

if her and her friends were in danger? She couldn'

erself down. She had to focus. She had t