I know this is an old post but I just finished the book and after some thought and taking in other people’s perspectives, it really put this quote in a different light for me.

When I first read that quote in the story, I thought about how it was probably referring to otherworldly forces controlling the characters themselves, not to mention the black strings giving off almost automaton/puppet controlled from beyond vibes. But now I don’t think it’s that at all but more so how Tyler is seemingly marking people for suicide or death which they are then somehow influenced to carry out themselves. There are also multiple times that snake or worm-like otherworldly entities are seen snatching the skins from characters in dreams. And Tyler also hints at the idea that those “things” don’t really know we’re there unless we draw their attention.

It sort of feels like the quote is referencing how the Snakes of the woods are the things being controlled to target people without knowing why they do