Free Desperate Measures by Jeff Probst Page B

around.
    â€œI don’t know,” Carter said. “But I knew something had to be up.”
    â€œShe didn’t have any choice!” Jane said. He could tell how relieved she was. All of them loved Mima, but for Jane, it had seemed especially hard to see her turn on them. “She had to take Carter, or someone else would have.”
    â€œAnd she had to be convincing,” Carter said. “Otherwise, she couldn’t . . .”
    He trailed off, not sure what to say.
    â€œShe couldn’t what?” Jane asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” he said. “But this isn’t over.”
    â€œMaybe we’re supposed to use the knife for digging,” Buzz said.
    â€œDig where?” Vanessa asked.
    There was no answer for that one. Carter didn’t know the encampment as well as the others, but he’d seen enough to know there was nowhere to go from this level.
    â€œShe probably wasn’t planning on all four of us being down here,” Buzz said.
    â€œThat’s my fault,” Vanessa answered. She sounded upset all over again.
    â€œNo,” Carter said. “If it’s anyone’s fault, you guys—”
    â€œIt’s nobody’s fault!” Jane interrupted. “Okay? And even if it were, so what? None of that changes anything now. Not anymore.”
    â€œWell, I hope Mima has a
really
good idea,” Vanessa said.
    â€œShe does,” Carter said.
    â€œHow can you be so sure?” Buzz asked.
    Carter didn’t have to think about his answer. Somehow, everything they’d been through—even the day they’d just had—was so impossible, it made anything seem just a little more possible.
    â€œBecause she’s amazing,” he said. “She’s the mostamazing person I’ve ever met. And it’s not because I
like
her, okay?”
    â€œYeah, right,” Vanessa said, giving her I’m-older-and-I-know-better look. “Not
just
because you like her, anyway.”
    â€œWhatever,” Carter said. “I also trust her. And so should you. Because if you ask me, this night’s just getting started.”

CHAPTER 13
    B uzz woke up to the smell of smoke.
    After everything that had happened, he never thought for a second he’d fall asleep in that pit. But the hours had worn on, and the long day had caught up to him. Somewhere along the way, each of them had dropped off.
    Now he was sitting up again, wide awake.
    â€œDo you hear that?” Jane asked.
    People were shouting. Buzz could hear the crackle of burning wood, too, far louder than any single campfire. When he looked up, a glowing light showed from the direction of the main clearing.
    â€œSomething’s wrong—” Vanessa started to say, but she was cut off by the crashing sound of a burning limb hitting the ground.
    â€œThat was a branch,” Buzz said. “A big one.”
    â€œIt’s the trees,” Jane said. “It sounds like they’re on fire.”
    Carter was the first onto his feet. “This is it!” he said. Already, he had Mima’s knife clasped between his bound hands.
    The guards were nowhere Buzz could see. From the sound of all the voices, it made sense they would have gone to help. There was no knowing for sure.
    â€œBuzz, here!” Carter said. “Let me cut you free.”
    Buzz held out his hands, and Carter sawed at the vines around his wrists.
    â€œCareful!” Buzz said.
    â€œJust stay still,” he said. It wasn’t long before the cordage split and popped open. Buzz shook his fingers and rubbed at his wrists to get the circulation back.
    â€œNow me,” Carter said.
    It didn’t take long to cut everyone loose. Even ifthey were caught, Buzz thought, there wasn’t much the guards could do but retie them. Still, his heart was going like he’d just sprinted a mile. Because if they
didn’t
get caught . . .
    The possibilities stretched all the