Adrian, Lily and Moira couldn’t believe what they were staring at: an active volcano. “Is the show trying to kill us all off?” Adrian wondered out loud.
“This isn’t fresh,” Moira said, pointing to the cooled lava that covered the ground in front of them. “Well, it’s fairly fresh, but it isn’t going to burn us.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Thank you, Ms. Science Channel.”
“At least one of us knows what’s going on.”
Adrian held up his hands. “Don’t start, you two. I don’t have the patience for your bickering today. My best friend is in there, along with Will. We need to get them out.”
They wandered near the base of the volcano, trying to find their teammates. The map provided by the show said that they were in the right place. “Here!” Adrian yelled suddenly.
The two girls hurried over to where he was. “There’s a fissure here.” He shone his flashlight into the gap. “I think it’s big enough for us to get in. Maybe they’re inside.”
“Ew, gross! I’m not going in there,” Lily proclaimed.
“How freaking selfish can you be?” Moira asked. “Jesse and Will are both in there. How would you feel if it was you and they didn’t want to come in after you?”
Lily sighed. “Fine! I’ll go in the stupid hole in the rock.”
Something whooshed past their heads as they stood staring into the divide. It hit the ground behind them. Adrian wandered over and picked it up. He swore under his breath. “They’re shooting tranq darts at us!”
“Huh?” Lily and Moira asked in unison.
Adrian held up the object. “Tranquilizer darts. The freaking Hunters are here.” The girls stood and stared at him. “Run!” he yelled, heading for them and pushing them into the tunnel in the rock.
Once inside the volcano, the shooting stopped. They shone their flashlights all around, trying to find Jesse and Will. “What I wouldn’t give for Jesse’s fire power right now,” Adrian muttered under his breath.
“Are you crazy?” Moira asked. “Fire in a volcano? Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
Adrian looked sheepish. “You’re probably right.”
They turned a corner and saw them, bound together back to back. Both were gagged and appeared unconscious. Adrian held a light on them while Lily and Moira knelt down and tried to shake them awake. “Hurry!” he whispered feverishly.
“I don’t see you trying to help,” Moira shot back as she began to untie the ropes.
“I just—” he broke off as his light caught movement in the shadows. A Hunter appeared and grabbed Lily from where she crouched near the ground. She shrieked and disappeared. The Hunter struggled with his invisible burden, but started to carry her off.
“Let go of my sister!” Adrian bellowed.
Moira stood as the last of the ropes fell away from Jesse and Will’s unconscious forms. They had to act fast. I have an idea, she sent to Lily and then to Adrian. Lily, when I tell you, raise your legs out of the way. She concentrated on Adrian. When I say go, shock the guy. “Now!” she shouted.
She hoped Lily had moved her legs. Her own foot shot out and she kicked the Hunter as hard as she could. She connected with his knee and she felt it snap. At the same moment, an electrical charge flared up in Adrian’s hand and he hit the Hunter on the back with it. The man cried out and fell to the ground with a thud. There was a second thud, which they could only assume was Lily.
“I’ll carry Will, you two try and help Jess. He’s smaller,” Adrian said.
He stooped and threw Will over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. The girls got on either side of Jesse and wrapped his arms around their shoulders. They somehow managed to stand and began to half carry and half drag Jesse toward the exit, with Adrian following.
The ground beneath their feet began to shake. “What the . . .” Adrian began.
“Run!” Moira yelled. “It’s getting ready to explode again soon.”
They ran, carrying their burdens to the car. Jesse began to regain consciousness and fought against them. “Jesse, you have to let us help you,” Lily told him.
“Lil? What happened?” he asked.
“Don’t ask questions, just run.”
He let go of the girls and began to run beside them.
When they reached the car, Jesse helped Adrian pack the still unconscious Will into the backseat. They all jumped into the car, but it wouldn’t start.
“Come on!” Adrian yelled as he turned the key in frustration.
“Adrian?” Moira asked.
“What!”
“Your electricity might come in handy here.”
He hit his forehead with the heel of his hand. “Of course. How could I be so stupid?” He concentrated on his hand until a ball of electricity glowed there. He pressed it to the steering column, near the keyhole. The car roared to life. He quickly put the car into gear and peeled away, just as the volcano began to spew lava.
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
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