"Unless you want to see your friend die I suggest you tell me what the hell is going on and what I have to do with your plan." His voice was cavernous and menacing. Cayson was so terrified he was actually quaking. The hairs on the back of Cayson's neck stood up as he wrestled to contain his racing heart.

"What are you talking about?" Finley countered; visibly muddled.

"Please," Cayson wheezed. The man tightened his hold, Cayson squeaking as he thrashed around.

"Last chance," the stranger advised.

"We don't know what freaking plan you're talking about!" Emery bellowed in frustration.

"Lie to me again and I'll snap his neck." The unknown man had kept a tight hold on Cayson but one that allowed him to collect a small amount of air. To display the seriousness of his warning, however, the stranger closed the gap and cut of Cayson's supply.

Cayson clawed at his arms in a frantic effort to break free from his grasp as his face began to turn a dangerous red.

"We don't know," Finley retorted.

"Please!" Emery pleaded. "We just woke up an-and we don't know where we are or why." The man didn't slacken his grip and Cayson's vision started to fade. "Cayson hasn't done anything – I promise . . . Please, you have to believe me." Cayson was a second away from passing out when he was freed.

Cayson hurtled to his knees, coughing and sucking in all the air he could. Emery hastily sprinted forward and dragged Cayson backwards and away from the stranger. Emery rubbed his back as he sprawled out among the dirt and the leaves; his world spinning.

"Who are you?" The unidentified guy ordered.

"Emery," she responded from behind Cayson. "This is Cayson and Finley." Cayson rotated so he could evaluate whoever had tried to kill him.

"And you Bigfoot?" Cayson queried, exasperated.

"Mason . . . Mason Vendler." Cayson, Finley, and Emery all appeared to be in the same age range; somewhere in their mid-twenties. Mason, however, had broken that streak.

Mason was clearly older - probably in his early forties. His buzz-cut gave off the illusion that his head was bulky and oval-shaped. Sweat dripped down his mocha skin as his tired sapphire eyes studied Cayson, Emery, and Finley. Perhaps the most alarming thing about Mason were his muscles. He looked as if he'd eaten John Cena for breakfast and could rip a phone book in half with ease; he was ripped.

Cayson couldn't swallow the fact that Mason could have broken his neck so effortlessly.

"What do you guys know?" Mason requested.

"About as much or less than you," Finley droned.

"Sitting around isn't doing anything," Emery complained as she stood up, slapping her hands on her thighs to strengthen both her point and her frustration.

"She's right," Mason bobbed his head. "We-"

"We?" Cayson stammered. "You just tried to kill me! What makes you think you're doing anything with us?"

"Cayson come on-"Emery began.

"Come on? What I'm being unreasonable?

"You think it's just a coincidence that four people all stumbled across each other with no memory of how they got there or why?" She argued strongly, the fury in her face highlighting the vein on the side of her neck. "Sitting around bickering isn't helping anyone, okay? Mason is just one of us."

Cayson grinded his teeth, infuriated as he realized Emery didn't care about what Mason had just done. Instead of fighting with his words Cayson decided to instead fight with action. He laid down on the ground assuming the same position he had when he'd woken up; eyes closed, lying on his back, and his left arm acting as a pillow.

"What are you doing?" Emery moaned.

"I'm going back to sleep," he smirked.

"You've got to be kidding," Finley ridiculed.

"And when I wake up you'll be gone," he finished, eyeing Finley and Mason before shutting his eyes.

"Oh grow up Cayson." Emery stomped, nudging him with her foot. He didn't say a word nor did he move an inch. "Oh my god," her voice was brittle.

"Everyone just calm down-"Mason tried to mediate.

"Nope . . . You can throw your little tantrum all you want. I'm going to find people who can get us the hell out of here before dark. Come or don't." With that Cayson listened to her thunderous steps as she stormed off.

"Emery wait!" Finley called taking off after her. Cayson peeked open an eye to glance at Mason as he hesitated to speak.

"Either kill me now or leave me to sleep."

"I wasn't actually going to kill you. I was just-"

"Trying to make me piss my pants?" Cayson interrupted, opening his eyes to glare at Mason.

"Trying to get answers. I heard you guys talking about a plan . . ." Mason went to continue but was halted by Cayson's roaring laugh. "What?"

"Oh god, you want to know what our brilliant survival plan was? Find people. That's it, no find shelter or water or even make a damn fire!" Mason rolled in his bottom lip before cracking a smile. "Do we look viscous enough to kidnap you?"

"You don't even look like you're old enough to drink," Mason snorted. He held out a hand to Cayson. "Come on, we've got to catch up to guy liner and Emery before she blows a casket." Cayson accepted the help.

"Guy-liner," he pondered. "I like it."

A scream of dread echoed through the dead silent woods causing Cayson to jump.

"Emery," he exclaimed, Mason and Cayson exchanging glances before taking off towards the source of the sound. Though Mason's legs were longer than Cayson's, which aided him in there run, Cayson was now tearing through the woods at a pace double than Masons.

"It's alright." Cayson could hear Emery whisper as he burst around the corner. Emery was sitting on the ground across from a younger girl whom had backed herself against a tree.

Cayson doubted she was older than twelve. Tears streamed down her flushed cheeks and as Cayson came to a stop a couple feet away from them she rushed forward and buried her face into Emery's chest.

"It's okay Marcy, he's not going to hurt you. That's my friend, Cayson." Mason appeared a second later at Cayson's side.

"Smooth Casey," Finley mumbled from in front of them. The bushes behind them rustled and Cayson glimpsed over his shoulder to find a cluster of people progressing towards them. Cayson twisted around, backing up as he whacked Mason's arm.

Mason faced the incoming strangers. Five people migrated closer, spreading out in front of them.

"Who are you?" Mason ordered. An older woman shoved her way through them and made her way to the front of the herd.

"We're asking the questions here . . . Who are you?" She shot back as she forced a strand of her scarlet hair from her face. Crossing her arms over her chest, she impatiently tapped her foot which was encased in a rather large heel.

"Emery." She was the first one to say a word. She could no longer stay seated, making both herself and Marcy on their feet. Emery left Marcy behind with Finley so she could proceed to Cayson's side. "Do you have any idea where we are?"

"No," her tongue traced her front row of teeth. "I'm guessing you guys don't either." Cayson grimaced. "Carissa Deprisco."

"Emery, Cayson-"

"We can play the name game later," Carissa cut in. "Right now, I think we should focus on finding out where we are and how to get ourselves to the nearest police station."

"We?" Mason probed.

"Yes, we. We, your group and mine, should travel together. Unless you have a better idea?" Mason didn't answer. "That's what I thought." Carissa's lips thinned as she spotted Marcy. "Who found her?"

"We did, why?" Emery solicited.

"Because everyone else is either my age or yours," she gestured toward Emery. Cayson realized that Carissa was correct; no one else was under fifteen except her. "That's not suspicious."

"She's . . . she's just a kid." Emery's voice was soft as she was puzzled.

"She's someone who could manipulate us." Carissa inquisitively studied Marcy who in return began to weep.

"She's terrified, okay? Accusing her of something like that is low." Emery spat. Carissa appeared stunned, as if no one ever spoken to her like that.

"We're all terrified." Carissa growled.

"Come on," a woman from behind Carissa thrust her way to the front, standing in-between the two feuding groups. "We need each other and arguing isn't helping-"Something whizzed through the air which was then followed by an uncomfortable smack. The woman stopped mid-speech, Marcy screaming at the top of her lungs.

Everyone's eyes fled to that woman in horror as an arrow had pierced through her chest.

She let out a deadly gasp as blood burst from her mouth. She collapsed to her knees, touching the end of the arrow before her body crashing to the ground; she was dead.

"What the hell?" Mason gulped as another arrow wisped through the trees, hitting one of Carissa's people in the head. His body fell on the girl in front of him and she howled in fear.

"Run!" Carissa screeched as arrow after arrow shot through the woods.