He moved closer, and I could smell unwashed bodies and old blood. It made my stomach turn. “You know what I think? I think you’re looking for someone.”

My mind raced through terrible options. If I ran, they’d catch me—I was exhausted, they were fresh, and they clearly knew this forest better than I did. If I screamed, there was no one around to hear. If I tried to fight—

The scarred man grabbed my arm before I could finish the thought, his grip like iron. “Let’s take her back to ...