It happened to fast to react physically, but my mind was already running. Is this a trick? An ambush? Were the others dragged in? Is this the day we die? How can I escape?

The tree was dark and cramped. This forest had unusually large trees, but still, it was small. The first thing I noticed was the smell, of smoke and fire. Then I noticed a two figures. The first I quickly recognized as Leo, the second, I had no idea.

I quickly shot my leg out, trying to kick the strange figure.

"Stop! You will go free. Maybe." He said in a leering, ominous voice.

"Where are the rest? Who are you?" I yelped at the same moment Leo said,

"What are you doing? Why are you here?" In the blackness, the figure held up his hands.

"That is none of your business. You will go free if you agree to do one thing."

"And?" I asked. Through the hole, another figure struggled to get in.

"Oh, come on. The rest are trying to get in," the man muttered. Sure enough, one struggled in, and then the rest, one by one. Now it was really cramped, despite how thin we all were.

"Fine. Go to the Barren Lands. Bring back a girl, yes, a teenager, with red hair. You will know her. Bring her to me. Only her. No one else."

Okay, this guy was creeping me out.

"What if we don't want to?" I ask definately. No way was I going to the Barren Lands. That would be a death trap.

"Say yes or you die." 

Leo spoke up.

"No- Dren, this will be a disaster. Better die here, easily." 

The man glared, and raised what seemed to be a gun.

"It is up to the girl. Not you."

There was a gun crack, and I saw a bullet shoot from the gun through the top of the tree. A glimmer of sunlight shone through, and the bullet fell to the ground, inches from Chel. She shrieked.

"You heard me. And no tricks. I will be watching."

Taking chances is a death sentence. That was our motto.

What chance did we have to scramble out of here before he shot? Then again, what chance did we to make it out of the Barren Lands? What chance did we have to trick this man, who had an aura that made me think tricks really would never work?

"Don't-" Leo tried again, but I spoke before he could convince me.

"Yes."