The Calling (Darkness Rising 2)

I'd always thought of myself as an open-minded person. I had no patience with anyone who put down other kids because of their race, religion, or sexuality. But that's just one kind of open-mindedness. There's another kind, too, the kind that's willing to see people for who they really are and admit when you were wrong about them. That's the part I still need to work on.

I climbed down the tree and started making my way back to the others. I had to put aside my worries for now. Our pursuers could be anywhere. I needed to be careful.

When I was almost back, I heard branches snap as someone barreled through the woods.

I ducked behind a fallen tree. A dark shape sprang, then stopped short, just out of sight. A whine.

Kenjii.

I nudged aside branches until I could see her. She was still wearing the muzzle. A length of rope trailed behind her.

I closed my eyes to listen for the sound of anyone else. More twigs snapped as Kenjii caught my scent and raced around the fallen tree.

I grabbed her and held her close, whispering, "Shhh," as I kept looking and listening.

Kenjii nudged me, as if to say, That's no welcome.

I pulled the rope in. The end wasn't broken, as I'd hoped, but as I ran it through my fingers I saw red smears. I took a better look. Blood. Someone had been holding her and Kenjii had wrenched so hard she'd scraped the skin from his hands as she broke free.

I hugged her. "They couldn't hold you, huh? Good girl."

"Maya?"

I stood. It was Sam, coming through the trees. Daniel and Corey appeared behind her. Seeing the dog beside me, Daniel grinned.

"We got one escapee, at least," he said.

"Only one," I said as I tugged off the muzzle. "I found Hayley. She managed to communicate with me. It was a trap. There was no way..." I took a deep breath. "I wanted to try rescuing her anyway, but she said no."

"Too bad dogs can't talk," Sam said.

I glanced over at her.

"Um, we're all feeling bad about Hayley," Corey said. "Don't interrupt by wishing we could question the dog."

"That's not what I meant. Hayley could tell you it was a trap. He can't."

"Kenjii's a she," I said.

"Whatever. My point is that your dog has conveniently escaped, just like Hayley did. You don't think that's a trap?"

"If it is, then we've already been caught." I looked around. "Huh. I don't see the guys with guns yet."

"Because they've put a tracking device on her. Or in her."

I removed the rope. Then I took off her collar and handed it to Daniel to check while I ran my fingers over her, looking for tender spots.

"It's clean," Daniel said, handing me back the collar. "If she was still wearing the muzzle and rope, then they--"

"--wanted it to look like she really escaped," Sam said.

"There's blood on the rope," I said. "That means she pulled free from whoever had her."

"Or they're very detail-oriented."

"Oh, please," Corey said. "Seriously?"

I turned to Sam. "So what do you suggest?"