“She’s around here somewhere,” one of the men said.
Naomi’s entire body trembled.
“Probably hiding like a scared rabbit.” The second voice laughed, the sound harsh and ugly. “Come on out, sweetheart. We just want totalk.”
Her heart slammed against her ribs so hard it hurt. There would be no talking. She knew that.
These men wanted to hurt her.
The footsteps moved closer.
Closer.
Their boots stepped into view.
They were right in front of her hiding spot.
She could hear them breathing.
“You see anything?” one of the men asked.
“Nah. But she couldn’t have gone far.”
Naomi held her breath, every muscle in her body locked tight.
Please don’t look under here. Please don’t look under here.
The second man let out a frustrated grunt. “Let’s check over there. She’s gotta be close.”
The boots moved—one step, two steps—away from the boulder.
But not far enough.
The men were still talking, their voices low, but she couldn’t make out the words over the roar of blood in her ears.
Then one of them stopped moving.
Silence.
Long and horrible.
“Wait.” It was the first voice again, sharper now. “You hear that?”
Naomi’s heart stopped.
Had she made a noise?
If they checked under this boulder, she would be done.
Micah ran through the woods, his weapon drawn, his eyes scanning the terrain.
He tried to move quietly, but speed mattered more than stealth right now.
The woods pressed in around him, dense and shadowed.
Then he heard voices . Two of them. Both male. Both agitated.
Micah slowed, moving more carefully now, using the trees for cover.
