They strained and groaned, but it wouldn’t budge.
It never budged.
But they kept trying. Every day, they kept trying.
Waiting for the day when it wouldn’t be locked.
Their efforts were interrupted by screams, coming from the woods. Several of them peered into the forest. Then, as one, they headed for whoever was screaming.
They would try the door again later.
Cindy used the last of the burn ointment on Tyrone’s hand, then wrapped it in gauze. Her shoulder hurt like crazy, so she couldn’t imagine the pain he must have been in.
“Sara said you need to drink this. When she comes back, I’ll ask if you can have more aspirin.”
Cindy tilted the water bottle up to Tyrone’s lips. Some spilled down his chin, but he managed to swallow a few gulps. She cupped his cheek, feeling such a flood of affection for him she was ready to start crying.
“Thanks,” he mumbled.
Cindy wanted to hug him, to comfort him, to take his pain away. Almost as badly, she wanted him to comfort her, to tell her it was all going to be okay, that they’d live to see the morning. But she didn’t want to seem clingy or needy. She cast her nervous eyes over Tyrone’s shoulder, scanning the woods, knowing what was hiding in there, knowing they could pop out at any time and attack.
“Sara will be back soon,” Tyrone said. “The boat is coming. We’re gonna be safe.”
He didn’t sound convinced. Neither was she.
“You’re in a lot of pain, huh?” she asked. After she said it, Cindy looked around for a hole to bury her head. Of course he was in a lot of pain. He was probably thinking she was an idiot.
“Ain’ so bad,” Tyrone said. His eyes softened. “Cuz you’re here.”
Cindy felt nervous again. Not because people were trying to kill them. But because she was suddenly overcome with the oldest insecurity known to teens. The abrupt change from one kind of apprehension to another was silly, but at that moment she couldn’t help it. Staring at Tyrone, one thought blocked out all others.
Does he like me?
A totally inappropriate question, considering they were in a life-or-death situation. But right then, Cindy’s silly, girlish anxiety mattered more than the pain and the fear. She’d spent her last few years either doing drugs or trying to get drugs, so this completely normal emotion took her by surprise. Especially since she’d never actually had one like it before.
Does he like me?
On one hand, Tyrone has always been nice to her. When he kissed Cindy, it made her heart feel like it would pop like a birthday balloon. But Tyrone probably kissed a lot of girls. It might have been the stress of their current predicament. Or—God forbid—it could have been a pity kiss.
Does he like me?
And what if he did? What did it mean? Cindy liked Tyrone. A lot. But how did this relationship thing work? Did that kiss mean they were going out? Were they exclusive? Was she Tyrone’s girlfriend?
“You look kinda freaked out,” Tyrone said. He reached out and stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “I don’t want my girl to be freaked out.”
Cindy didn’t know how to read that. But she knew how to find out. The girl who had the courage to crawl into that tent could certainly find the courage to ask him.
“So, uh, I’m your girl?”
He gave her a sly grin. “Yeah. I mean, if you wanna be.”
Cindy lit up. “I wanna be. So we’re going out together?”
“Yeah. I won’t be no good at holding hands for a while, though.”
“I know.” Cindy moved a little closer. “But maybe we should, you know, kiss to make it official.”
He nodded. “That would probly be best.”
She put her hands on his chest and leaned into him.
The kiss made her toes curl.
Cindy held the embrace until she realized how exposed they were. With neither of them paying attention, those wild people could sneak up.
She moved back, just a millimeter. “We should, um, watch the trees. Make sure no one is coming.”
“Yeah.” Tyrone learned backward. He looked quickly over her shoulder, then back at her. “One helluva first date, huh?”
Cindy smiled shyly. “Best I ever had.”
“Me too.”
Cindy watched one side, Tyrone the other. The woods were quiet and dark, and though a sliver of moonlight broke through the tree tops, it was hard to see more than a few yards. Her eyes swept back and forth, like a security camera.
When she heard the scream it made her feel like she needed to pee again.
“That’s Tom,” Tyrone said.
“He doesn’t sound too far away.”
They listened, and the sound made Cindy want to claw her ears off. She didn’t like Tom, especially after he acted all crazy with the gun. But he didn’t deserve whatever horror was happening to him.
“You think they’re cooking him?” Her tone was hushed. “Like Meadow?”
“Dunno.”
“What should we do?”
“We have to wait here for Sara. That’s what she told us to do.”
Tom was begging now, screaming, “No!” and “Stop!”
What could they be doing to that poor kid? Something even worse than burning?
“It’s awful.” Cindy wanted to cover up her ears, but was afraid if she did she would miss the sounds of someone coming.
“Be strong, girl. I know you strong.”
Cindy nodded, trying to stay strong. Being strong didn’t make it any less horrible.
Then, after a very long minute, the screaming stopped.
Now what?
They waited. Cindy’s imagination went into overdrive. Is he dead? Are they eating him? Or did they gag him with a spiked ball, like Sara said they gagged Martin?
Cindy stood perfectly still, staring into the woods, waiting, hoping, to hear Tom scream again.
Then something flashed. Bright and quick, temporarily blinding her.
Cindy took a step back. “Tyrone…”
“I saw it too.”
“What was it?”
“Maybe Sara’s comin’ back. She got a light.”
Another flash, lasting only a few milliseconds. From the thicket to their right. Cindy realized with a shock what it was.
“It’s a camera,” she whispered. “Someone is taking our picture.”
Tyrone stepped in front of Cindy. “Who’s there? Answer me.”
Another flash. Cindy doubted the cannibals had a camera; they seemed too primitive and animalistic.
So who is it? And why don’t they say anything? This is seriously freaking me out. Where is Sara?
“Maybe we should go,” Tyrone said.
“What about Sara? We have to wait for her.”
The bushes shook. Whoever had the camera was coming toward them. Cindy decided that Tyrone was right. The smartest thing to do was get the hell out of here, fast.
Tyrone apparently wasn’t waiting for her to approve, because he had his left arm around her waist and was already leading her away. The pair had only taken three steps when they heard:
“The boy and girl are Martin’s kids.”
The voice was soft, almost effeminate, but definitely male. Whoever it was, he knew Martin. Cindy stopped and swung around to face him.
The man was ridiculously tall and thin. He wore blue denim farmer’s overalls, and even in the low light Cindy could see a smiley face button pinned to one of the straps.
Tyrone had also turned to look. “Who the hell are you?”
“Lester.”
Lester raised his camera and took another picture, causing Cindy to blink. She was still scared, and this guy totally qualified as creepy. But he seemed extremely relaxed. So far, his appearance was more menacing than actually threatening.