Jimmy knew he should go to bed and rest for tomorrow. He knew that, but it didn't mean he could, especially because he'd left something unfinished. Jessie hadn't talked to him much since returning to camp and he hadn't come forward with the proper apology he'd promised. But he had no idea what to say. It had been over a year since he last lost his cool. It hadn't happened since... He rubbed his shoulder viciously. It was turning into a habit and he didn't like it.

But he couldn't sleep until he found her and talked to her. About anything. He just wanted to know they were okay again. He walked randomly and reached the river's bank. Jessie sat leaning against a tree in the middle of what looked like a crescent moon of grass, its tips ending in the river. Her guitar in her lap, she played an unknown melody, singing along with it. Her headlamp shone a surreal light around her making her look like some sort of forest nymph.

Jimmy leaned against a tree, watching her. Her voice was wonderful. It seemed to echo inside him, soothing his pain. It also gave him goosebumps and he wanted it to end as much as he wanted it to go on.

The moment he stepped into the open, Jessie stopped singing. She stared at him for the fraction of a second then put her guitar away.

"Hi. I wasn't expecting anyone to be up this late." She looked at him in a way that clearly stated 'especially you'.

"Where did that come from?" He sat next to her and took the guitar in his lap.

She nodded towards it. "Can you play?"

"Not really. I used to at some point. I actually play piano." Jimmy strummed the chords. It brought back no happy memories.

"Come on. Give it a try."

Jimmy looked at the guitar. Her tone seemed off. He had no idea where she was going with this, but since he wanted to get on her good side, he thought he should play along. It was difficult to remember any melody in particular. Especially since he only knew a hand-full to begin with.

He tried to form some sort of melody, but failed miserably. The chords stung his fingers and he kept losing the rhythm. Getting a bit ticked off, he sang along with it. His hands seemed to remember their way and the melody flowed much better. It wasn't bad at all. He was actually pretty proud of himself.

He raised his eyes and his hands froze in place. The look on Jessie's face sent his heart into hyper-drive. Jimmy wasn't sure if he was imagining it, the tenderness, the sheer joy of watching him, the happiness. No girl had ever looked at him like that before.

"Why did you stop?" Her voice was softer than before, but the look in her eyes was gone, as though someone had pulled a curtain behind them.

"I'm not very good at it." He put the guitar away, avoiding her gaze. He didn't want her to see the turmoil her stare had started inside him.

"I actually think you're really good." Jessie took the guitar and put it back in its case. "Not at playing guitar. You suck at that. But your voice is amazing. Pretty enough for pop, raspy enough for rock. You should come with me and sing."

Jimmy shook his head. "You sing? Professionally?" Not that she wasn't good enough.

"Um-hmm. Have an album recorded and everything. I had my first concert planned in about two weeks. Not sure I'll make it." She shrugged. "Who cares? I want to be a doctor anyway."

"Then why are you doing it? And why wouldn't you want to sing. Your voice is just...wow."

Jessie smiled weakly. "Are you tired of hearing the same answer for everything? My parents. This is their dream, the pretty little pop princess. No thanks! I'd rather be doing more intellectual things."

Jimmy had to agree with her. He wasn't drawn to show business either.

"Why are you here?" Jessie asked abruptly.

Jimmy bit his lip. "I owe you an apology, remember? I don't know what got into me, why I got so angry—"

"Did I pass?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I was an assignment, I know that. Kyle told me everything, including how you took my side in front of everyone. The others fully trust me now. Did I pass your personal test? Do you trust me?"

"If you believe Kyle, then you know the answer to that question already."

Jessie frowned. "You have trust issues." She got up and walked away, stopping on the edge of the river.

Jimmy followed her and wrapped his arms around her. His heart pounded. Let her go. What are you doing? Things are bad enough as it is. But he couldn't.

Jessie put her hands on his forearms as though to prevent him for pulling away. "Thanks for saving my life today." She leaned her head back against his chest.

"Anytime." He squeezed her harder and she cuddled against him. It felt as if a huge wound was slowly closing. He had never felt more comfortable in his life. Anytime, sunshine, anytime.

*

Sam bolted up and fought back the scream threatening to escape his lips. He was drenched in cold sweat and had no idea why. He hadn't been dreaming. It actually felt as if fear had awakened him. Billy slept on peacefully, but Tom was gone.

He crawled out of his sleeping bag to change his t-shirt. His finger closed around something and he pulled out a shirt. He didn't care enough to drop it and search again, so he pulled it on, even if it had long sleeves.

Why was his heart still hammering as if something was terribly wrong? It was the strangest feeling. Again, as if someone was forcing him to feel that way. Everything clicked into place.

"Tom," Sam yelped.

He ran outside and collided with his twin. They both crashed to the ground, all tangled up.

"The girls are gone!" Tom said before Sam could even ask.

The unknown fear exploded into full grown panic. "What? When? Oh no!" Sam slapped his forehead. "This is what I forgot to do last night." He cursed under his breath.

Tom stared at him as though he was crazy. "Did you hear me?"

"JT, Steve and Alice were on guard duty last night. JT and Steve left. They left Alice alone on guard duty."

"What do you mean they left?"

"It doesn't matter now!" Sam yelled. His hands shook. It was still dark outside. How long ago had they been kidnapped? "Go get the others while I think what to do."

He paced impatiently. Could Snitch Gravel have taken them to his base? He rushed towards his tent to get his survival kit, but stopped at the entrance. There was a note pinned to the canvas. Sam tore it off and unfolded it, expecting a long and annoying letter. Instead, he found two lines in handwriting.

There's a hut in the north. They die at dawn.

Sam checked his watch. It was four in the morning. They still had about two hours to get there. Unless Snitch Gravel had made the target unreachable. He entered his tent, nudged Billy awake with his foot, and rushed out with his most complete map of the surroundings. He wouldn't have minded the satellite surveillance, but Steve wasn't there anymore.

"I got everyone, but have no idea—" Tom was cut short when Sam shoved the note in his hand. "Not much time, is there?"

"Tell me about it," Sam mumbled, trying to figure out an approximate location and distance for the cabin. His brain was buzzing and he couldn't concentrate. "Damn it! Where's Kay when you need her?"

"That's what I'd like to know." Kyle sat down in front of Sam and took the map from him.

Sam stared at his brother. "Are you okay?" Kyle looked as if someone had turned off the light behind his eyes.

"That's such a stupid question," he answered, already marking distances on the map.

"How could this happen? How did they get past the traps?" Jimmy said furiously.

"They didn't get past the traps. They got past the trap," Sam said. "The one they got past yesterday as well. The one Jessie showed them around unwillingly. We didn't move it."

"It's here." Kyle marked a big X on the map. "Sam and I went this way and it's the only place we haven't checked."

"We should get going then," Jerry said, handing Sam his survival kit.

"One of us should stay in camp," Billy said quietly.

Sam turned to his cousin. He was right. "Then you should stay, Billy."

"I don't think that's such a good idea. He's way too irresponsible," Kyle said, strapping on his own backpack.

Billy opened his mouth to protest, but seemed to decide that he wanted to come along so he closed it without a word.

Sam stared at Kyle and his brain started working properly. Snitch Gravel could be leading them away from camp to get his hands on the map. In that case, the camp had to be protected, too. He thought of Christine and felt a physical pain in his chest. He had to get her to safety.

Sam grabbed on to the bridge of his nose. "Jimmy, you stay in camp."

"What? Hell no! I'm coming!"

"We need someone who can take care of camp." Sam looked at him.

"But..."

Kyle patted Jimmy's shoulder. "I'll get her out."

"Wait, you don't understand—" Jimmy started.

Kyle smiled weakly. "I mean Jessie. I'll get her out."

"We're getting everyone out. Can we go now?" Jerry tapped his foot. "We don't have all day."

"Fine," Sam said, turning north. "Jimmy, move the traps around. Just leave the northern one the same so we can get back in."

Jimmy raised his hand to his temple in a military salute.

Sam led the way out of camp, walking as fast as possible. They had to find them. They couldn't be too late. He would hate himself for the rest of his life for not sending Christine away from danger. How did Snitch Gravel know the others were leaving? How did he find the perfect moment to come in and take the girls? Millions of questions and scenarios played inside his head and time lost its meaning. His whole world had reduced to aching legs, burning lungs and agony.

"Sam, slow down. We're almost there. We can't go in feeling this tired," Tom said catching up to him and grabbing his shoulder.

Sam yanked his shoulder out of his grip. "I don't care. I'd rather we rested when we got there."

Jerry took advantage of the banter and bypassed Sam. He took only a few steps then stopped abruptly. Sam almost went crashing into him. It would have been a disaster. Jerry had stopped at the top of a very steep hill. A small, wooden, square hut lay at the bottom of the slope.

Carlos' words rang in Sam's head. The valley of the dead. The legend had seemed amusing when he first heard it. Not anymore.

"What now?" Jerry asked. "What if they're not in there?"

"Are you willing to take the chance?" Kyle asked and Jerry shook his head.

"We'd better go. We don't have much time." Billy pointed to the horizon.

Sam saw a thin, pink line there. The stars had all faded away. The sun would be rising any moment now. Billy was right. They were out of time.

"What are we waiting for? Let's move!" Sam said and they rushed down the hill.

🔷🔷🔷

Phew. Thank God for the ending or you would've all drowned in mush. So... question. Too much mush?

Also, what do you think will happen now? Since you already know I'm an evil spawn of the devil, you can guess it's not good.  But just how far will I go?

Thanks for reading and don't forget to vote and comment!