Hands seized my arms and hauled me out of the tent.
Rough. Purposeful.
"Hey—what the fuck is going on?" I snapped, boots scraping against dirt as I stumbled once. "I haven't decided yet—I—"
I stopped.
The world narrowed to a single line of bodies.
They were kneeling in front of me.
Burlap sacks dragged tight over their heads, seams digging into skin. Rope bit deep into wrists, fibers darkened where blood had already soaked in. The floodlights washed them in harsh white, throwing their shadows long and distorted across the ground.
I knew who was who instantly.
Terri trembled. Not violently— just enough. Her shoulders rose and fell in uneven jerks, breath hitching like she was one panic away from breaking apart.
Another head was bowed, chin tucked, spine straight. Still. Controlled. Not fear.
Aubrey.
The third figure didn't move at all.
No shifting. No tension. No tremor.
Hale.
Even now.
