Walter closed the gap quickly, his gnarled and calloused hand closing around Steve’s throat. ”You need to get on board.” he snarled, watching with childlike glee as Steve’s face turned from pink, to red to near purple as he writhed in his vice-like grip. ”If they find out what happens here, do you really think we’ll all be able to just walk away?”

Steve struggled; fought with everything he was to try and get free but it was no use, Walter was just too strong.
As black dots danced in front of his eyes, Steve felt around in his pocket, his fingers closing around cold metal salvation. He flicked the knife open and with every ounce of strength left in him, he plunged the blade into Walters throat.

-/-

”Help.” Tag called as loudly as he dare. ”Jane?” he growled. The bundle of dry twigs and small logs stabbed and poked at him. He’d found some vine that served nicely as rope and had tied the branches together. He’d tried dragging the bundle behind him but the sound had been the only reason he’d stopped. In the solitude, it sounded to his ears as though he were felling trees.

”Dammit Jane!” he shouted. He was tired and hungry. The backs of his legs hurt where the firewood had bounced into them when he mislaid the path back and ended up climbing over large rocks.

”Tag?” A tangle of dark hair appeared from behind a large fern as Jane ventured from the cave.

”A little help?” Tag dropped the wood at her feet, resting his scraped and bloodied hands on equally damaged knees as he breathed hard.

Inside the cave, Maura had organised the space in preparation. A large dip would make a great fire pit; it was near enough to the mouth of the cave to prevent them all being smoked like kippers but, hopefully, not so near as to be seen.

Maura busied herself making the fire as Jane cleaned up Tag’s scrapes.

”Isn’t this your job?” Jane asked when Tag flinched yet again.

”It’s not an autopsy, Jane.” Maura smiled as she rooted through the bags for some light kindling to start the fire. ”It’s just some scratches.”
She pulled the wrappers from the bandages Jane had applied to her injuries and shredded them carefully.
Striking a match, Maura grinned as the fire licked around the paper before engulfing the kindling and dancing over the smaller sticks.