Free Servants of the Living Forest by Brandon L. Summers Page A

you," Cameron said with a sheepish half-smile.
    Jocelyn waved and smiled pleasantly as they left. At the door, Cameron noticed a symbol cut deep into the dusty white wall. It had three vertical lines, a straight center line with the two at its sides curling away at the top, all drawn over a circle. And jagged, as though it had been clawed into the paint.
    She glanced back as the door closed behind her. The shop owner nodded stiffly, smiling like he had won an election.
    They jumped into the squeaky van and took off down the road.
    Jocelyn giggled, biting her nail. "That was fun!"
    "It was scary!" Cameron said. "I can't believe you told him all that stuff."
    With the service station out of sight, she slowed and searched for the turn into the forest.
    "What? That I have a gun?" Jocelyn said.
    "There's that. But also, you know..."
    Jocelyn thought, and then she rolled her eyes. "Oh! It bothered you that I told him we're a couple?" She scoffed. "You're too uptight, babe. Nobody cares. It's just us out here."
    "I don't know."
    "Admit it. You got excited just a little."
    "Yeah, a little," Cameron mumbled. "Do you really have a rifle?"
    Jocelyn laughed. "No! I hate guns. I just looked up a bunch of stuff online to make us sound all tough and formidable. That way, no one'll even think of messing with us. Not unless they want to take some metal spray in the face. BLAM!"
    "That's really clever. I like that," Cameron said. "I'm going to use that."
    "Thank you!" Jocelyn squeaked.
    As each tenth of a mile ticked on the odometer, Cameron became more alert. Jocelyn joined in, staring at the winding road. Silence pervaded. After a while she sprang up and pointed ahead wildly, her bracelets jingling.
    "There it is!" she said. "Right there! Turn! Turn!"
    "Okay."
    Cameron made the turn onto the narrow dirt road, slowing conspicuously. The van rocked and bounced along the earthen path as the trees drew even nearer to them. She instantly became twice as nervous. She had never been so far from the city, and had certainly never ventured into the wilderness. The risk of looking like a fool in front of her girlfriend had just increased tenfold.
    "I'm really excited," she volunteered, struggling to stay upbeat. "I've never slept in a cabin in the woods before."
    "I hope it's okay," Jocelyn said. "I forgot my stepdad even had a cabin."
    "It was cool of him to let us have it for the weekend."
    "I think he just wants to show how supportive he is, you know?" Jocelyn said. "He's like that."
    "We'll be all alone," Cameron said smoothly.
    "Yeah, we will!"
    They laughed giddily, their elation mutual. And then Jocelyn put her hand on Cameron's bare leg and felt along her thigh. Cameron swooned, her heart racing and her grip tightening on the steering wheel.
    "Joey! I'm driving," she said, not wanting the moment to end.
    Jocelyn giggled wickedly. It was Cameron's favorite sound. "Sorry," she said, grinning as she removed her hand. "I couldn't help myself."
    Cameron took a breath, calmed. "You know, we don't have to, like, do anything this weekend. I mean, it doesn't have to be like that," she said. "We can just take it easy and relax, and stuff."
    She glanced at Jocelyn. After a moment, Jocelyn leaned in closely. "Once I get you in that cabin, I am going to rip off your clothes and lick every part of you twice, starting with your toes and working my way up to your ears. Then, I'm going to work my way back down very, very slowly. And that's just one of the things I'm going to do to you with my tongue. I am going to take you so hard your mind will break!"
    Cameron, already breathing hard, suddenly shuddered and pressed the accelerator. The van whirred as it rapidly charged ahead. She gasped and pushed hard on the brake, making them lunge in their seats.
    "Sorry! Oh, God! Sorry!" she said quickly as the thrumming vehicle drove onward.
    Jocelyn sat back, worry and regret flashing across her face equally. "It's okay," she said. "Hey, um, I'm not going too fast for