“What are we going to do? We can’t just stand here with two boys tied up"

For a moment, the small group stood completely still. Avi strained his ears, but all he could hear was rustling leaves and birds chirping.

“I’m telling you. I heard something... voices,” Matt said insistently. “From somewhere in front of us.”

“Well, go and check it out then!” snapped Ivan. He sounded nervous — and no wonder, thought Avi. If the search party was nearby... if the men were caught with their captives....

He shifted, trying to loosen the pincer-like grip on his arm. It hurt. As a matter of fact, everything hurt: his legs, his arms tied behind his back, even his head. What time was it? How long since they’d eaten? Slept? Was it only yesterday that Ta had dropped them off at the forest? It felt like a lifetime ago.

Stop thinking about it. Focus.

Matt and Ivan were arguing now, Matt blinking furiously as he spoke.

“I can go ahead and look around, but I’ll need a weapon. I don’t have anything, and if they see me...”

“No chance!” sneered Ivan. “There’s a reason the Boss doesn’t trust you with arms, you know.”

Matt flinched, but held his ground. “Listen, I’m not going alone. What if they catch me? What if I can’t get back to you without them seeing? It makes no sense.”

Ivan spat at the ground. “Fine. Fine! You stay here. I’ll go see where the noises were coming from. Which direction?”

Matt shrugged. “Not sure. Try the footpath to the right. If they’re not there, retrace your steps, and cut through where that fallen tree is to a wider trail on the left. If both those paths seem clear, we can keep going.”

“One minute,” Stefan said suddenly, speaking up for the first time. “What are we going to do? We can’t just stand here with two boys tied up. What if the people come this way?”