The Calling (Darkness Rising 2)

"I'll let you call her on the satellite phone later, okay? If you get your ass back out here."

"Yeah, yeah. I was just grabbing some water."

He disconnected. We waited for him to go. And waited. Apparently, he wasn't done drinking his "water." At least five minutes passed before he finally made his way toward the door.

He got the door open, then came back and rustled around in the pantry. A pause. Then "huh." I knew Daniel had been careful about putting everything back the way he found it. Daniel was always careful.

The guy grabbed a granola bar, wrapper crinkling as he ripped it open. He munched it on the way to the door. We watched his boots as he hesitated. He turned, as if looking around the cottage. Then he took another bite, and chewing loudly, headed out.

"He made us," Daniel whispered as he shot from under the bed.

I scrambled after him. "What?"

"He knows we're here."

"Are you sure?"

Daniel was already at the door, throwing it open and charging through.

TWELVE

BY THE TIME I caught up, the man was facedown with Daniel on his back, as if he'd knocked him flying clear off the porch. Knocked the radio from his hand, too. It lay a few feet from the man's outstretched fingers.

"Moreno?" The other man's voice came over the radio. "What's up now?"

The man--Moreno--lifted his head to answer. Daniel slammed his face into the ground so hard I winced.

A moment of silence, then the other man sighed and disconnected.

"Guess you made one too many unnecessary calls," Daniel said.

"No," Moreno said. "He realized I'm in trouble. He's coming."

I glanced at Daniel, but he shook his head. The man was bluffing. He motioned for me to stand watch, though, just in case.

"We need to get him away from here," I said, "so we can interrogate him."

"Interrogate me?" Moreno sputtered a laugh. "You kids are cute, you know that? You escape from a helicopter crash and suddenly you're outlaws. Let me tell you how this is going to work--"

Daniel heaved Moreno to his feet. The man swung at him, but Daniel ducked easily and returned a one-two punch that left Moreno reeling.

"Island wrestling champ," I said. "Only third place in boxing, though, so you're getting off easy."

Moreno steadied himself, then charged. I stuck out my foot and tripped him.

"Ouch," I said as he hit the ground. "That's kind of embarrassing."

Daniel hauled him up again and led him toward the forest. I ran back inside and grabbed rope and a towel to gag him if we needed to. But Moreno didn't try to scream for help. He just let Daniel lead him along, smirking, as if humoring us.

"You taking me to the other kids?" he asked.

"There aren't any others," Daniel said. "We're the only ones who made it."

Moreno laughed. "Right. That's sweet, protecting your buddies. Did you forget we have a source now? Little Nicky?"

"Ni-Nicole?" I said.

Daniel glanced back at me, his look warning me not to fall for it so fast.