The Calling (Darkness Rising 2)

"They didn't trust you," I murmured.

"What?" Daniel said.

"Nothing, just--Is that a lane? There! Go down there!"

He did, but as he turned into the lane, I realized it was a driveway.

"Doesn't matter," Daniel said, hitting the gas. "I'll get us as far as I can."

As he rocketed along the lane, I scanned the surrounding forest for any opening big enough to drive through. There wasn't one. Just narrow tracks, ending at a cottage, trees hemming in all sides.

"We're going to have to run," Daniel said. "Everyone out! Into the woods! Split up!"

As we scrambled out, I yelled, "Sam! She can't run."

Daniel swore and raced around to the rear. Corey and Rafe were helping Sam down.

"Go," she said.

"Corey and I can carry you," Daniel said. "Just grab on--"

"Then three of us will get caught instead of one. Go."

She pushed Daniel. When he hesitated, she shoved him hard enough to knock him off his feet.

"You know it's the right thing," she said as he scrambled up. "They won't hurt me. Without you, I'm the only benandanti they have."

We didn't know that, of course. But she was right that we'd never escape carrying her.

"We'll come back for you," Daniel said.

"After you have backup, please. No offense, but you guys aren't up to fighting these people."

Daniel nodded. "But we will come back."

"I know." She hugged him. It was an awkward, one-armed embrace that caught him off guard. She pushed him away before he could say anything. Then she turned to me. "Look after him. Don't let him do anything stupid."

"I will."

When I looked for Rafe, he wasn't there. Then I saw him jogging back from the woods.

"Debugged," he said to me.

Daniel gave us a look, but I couldn't explain then.

We ran into the forest just as the service truck was on us. Kenjii brought up the rear, herding us. When a man shouted, she wheeled and snarled. Then she charged.

"Kenjii, no!"

The shot hit her square in the chest and she reared up, toppling over backward and hitting the ground, and if Daniel and Rafe hadn't both been holding me back, nothing would have stopped me from going to her. But they held me and all I could do was fight and scream at them to let me go, until Daniel said,

"It's a dart, Maya." He pointed at her, struggling to rise. "Just a tranquilizer dart."

That stopped my heart from pounding, but it didn't mean I wanted to abandon her. They had to drag me away, Corey helping, until I heard someone say, "Load the dog in the back with the girl," and I knew there was nothing I could do.

So I ran, stumbling at first, still seeing Kenjii lying in the dirt, struggling to rise. Daniel kept me upright and kept me moving.

"They aren't following us," Corey said. "Why aren't they following us?"