The night was one of contradiction. In the air it was calm, lethargic and cold, while on the roadside, a heated and tense clamour of voices enlivened the surroundings.

"We mean no harm! There must be a misunderstanding!" Jonathan pleaded but the people in attack formations refused to budge. Despite his friends' multiple efforts to convey their goodwill to them, they were unmoving. They seemed to repudiate their pleas of innocence and constantly threatened them with spears and other weapons to keep quiet or else get beheaded. Even their mouths were being wrapped by pieces of cloths.

Who were they? Were they of the same kind as those who had kidnapped them earlier?

Jonathan got a push from behind. He and the others were made to walk with their hands tied behind their backs while the spears and swords were kept pointed at them. This was not right.

"Don't even try running away," a boy smacked Jonathan in the back. He groaned. "We have had enough of your cheap plays."

What was he talking about? Jonathan had no idea. He tried desperately to speak, but the words came out so muffled, he could hardly make them out himself.

"Quiet." Another smack in the back.

Deep through the forest, amidst needle-like leaves and high trees they made their way through a trail. There were a lot of stones in this area and the mountain seemed to be cracked at places to reveal the denuded rubble.

This situation was beyond all levels of bad and into the realms of worst. All their supplies were left behind in their wagon. Without them, Jonathan doubted how long they could last. What was going to become of them now? Where were they being taken? This was not the way to Anabel's village. Were these children really another bunch of kidnappers? But for some reason, they did not seem to be so to Jonathan. He was not certain, but something did not fit right. If they really were not villagers or kidnappers, who were they?

But no matter how many questions swarmed in his head, he had no way of voicing them. He just had to walk on, silently and obediently to wherever he and the others were being taken, as the night grew darker.

It was awry. This landscape. It gave an unsettling feel to Jonathan. As he walked through the forest, he could see mist creeping in from the sides and the crescent moon above was but the most minute light source.

These children were different from the last ones he had encountered. They did not have the same desperation as those villagers had shown. But it still bothered Jonathan as to where he and his friends were being taken.

His hands were tightly bound and his breathing was hindered by the cloth over his mouth. He did not know why they were captured. The little talking that the children did while catching them made little sense to him. The way they talked amongst themselves now could not be discerned. It was hushed and murmured. And only those who kept check they didn't escape from any of the sides, talked, not the ones walking his friends.

You could tackle one easily, but evading multiple opponents was not an option. Not for those like him who had never been into any serious fights. There were techniques that one had to master and only then could one compete against such a number of opponents. Jonathan could not begin to comprehend what such a scenario would look like.

As if in answer to what his thoughts could not fathom, he saw Orlando hurl a boy much younger to him on the ground. It surprised him. He had somehow undone his rope.

Right, the knife.

"Ugh, bastard," he saw the girl holding him hostage turn away in that direction.

It was his cue. Jonathan slammed into her calves with his foot, sending her tumbling downhill.

An object came spinning at him, cutting through the air.

But no, it was not targeted at him. It stuck itself low in the trunk of a tree behind Jonathan.

"Orlando," he muttered. He turned around to see him thrust his head forward and his eyes indicated in the same direction. He wants me to take off running.

Of course. How could Jonathan be so naive? They had no chance escaping together. Orlando knew this. It was all upto Jonathan now to help find a way to set them free or at least make these people understand they did not have foul intentions.

"I truly respect you, buddy," he murmured. He bent down and pulled the knife off the bark of the tree, cut his restraints, then took off running before anyone could notice.

Grace, Beatrice, Mary... I'm getting you all out of here as well. Keep faith.

Jonathan felt a drop of cold sweat trickle down his neck. He had lost his way. Where were they coming from exactly? He had run off in the forward direction to the extent that they did not see him, then he had taken a sharp turn to the right but soon after when he was beginning to run back downhill, he found a massive crack which made it impassable. He had no choice but to keep on moving along its border.

This whole ordeal was so mysterious. Why were so many obstacles coming their way? Maybe it was one of the reasons why none of his elders had returned once they took off from their village. He had awaited their return with hopeful eyes yet only bleak skies answered his gaze which had lingered on the horizon for months.

He desperately wanted to return home sometime. He could not do the same to the brothers and sisters he had left behind. It was a must to return, after he had attained the answers he sought.

The world beyond the borders of his village was definitely harsher in the worst ways imaginable. But that would not stop him. He would push on. He had to.

It took him quite a while to traverse the entirety of the fault line. But when he did manage to get to the other side, he heard sounds. He could not believe this.

A village? Wait, so these people were Anabel's villagers?! No doubt. It was highly improbable to find so many people by themselves so close to the village he had come searching for.

He had to find Anabel. She was the only one who could save them all now. But how would he-

He noticed movement in the frontmost huts. They were of the same kind as his, stone walled with strong wooden roofs. But they were perched on an undulated land littered with boulders of the same kind as the ones that made the walls.

He hid behind the bushes, and listened closely.

"Aren't they taking longer than usual? Robin informed about the gang quite a while ago. It's worrying me."

Unmistakable. That voice.

Jonathan stood up and ran towards the huts.

The two figures suddenly looked at his direction probably noticing his instantaneous leaping out of the shadows. "Hey, who is tha- Jonathan?!" Anabel shouted in disbelief.

"Anabel!" He said as he almost crashed to a stop, panting. "You have to help us out. My friends are in danger. Your people caught them and are taking them some place. I don't know why they took us hostage! We were just coming up the path to visit you." I did not expect this would be the first thing I'd say after I reunited with her like this. Jonathan shook his head, looking away. Then he met her eyes again, hoping for any aid she could offer him.

Anabel looked at the girl to her side, her face looked stunned and horrified. Then she turned back at him, and said, trying to regain her composure, "I see. That is most unfortunate and..." she looked away, "embarassing." She sighed then took his hand in hers and told the other girl to head in a certain direction.

Anabel pulled Jonathan up. When she looked at him, her expression held the doubt if Jonathan was ever going to forgive her.

"Follow me," she said simply.