I ran, reaching for him. He groaned when my hand connected with his side, and I jerked back.
“I can get him down.”
I whirled, startling as a tall figure appeared behind me. “Don’t come any closer.”
“You’ve got seconds. A minute if you’re lucky.”
I blinked at the teenager, his face covered in scrapes and bruises from his fight with Isaac. “Is this a trick?”
He was holding a knife. A big one.
I stepped between him and Isaac.
He pinched the blade between his fingers, offering the hilt to me. “Take it.”
I hesitated, glancing at the blade and then Isaac. The kid grew more insistent, tension radiating from him as he glanced backward toward the house. “Take it!”
I did as he said, the blade feeling heavy and awkward in my hand.
With my free hand, I brushed carefully over Isaac’s skin, my throat tight as I asked, “Is he alive?”
“Yes.” The kid didn’t bother with explanation, coming around the side of the tree and unfastening the chain.
Isaac dropped in a crumpled heap, groaning and rolling his shoulders. My eyes flitted from the kid and to Isaac, not sure what to do next.
I moved the knife to my left hand, kneeling beside Isaac and lifting one of his wrists to stare at the thick metal shackle there.
“You need a key,” the kid murmured, dropping beside me and procuring the key from his pocket.
“Why are you helping us?”
He smiled sadly. “It’s a long story. You don’t have time.”
Isaac sat up, eyes bleary as he reached for me. “Did he hurt you?”
“I’m much more worried about you right now. Can you walk?” There was no way I was going to support his weight. We wouldn’t make it twenty feet.
“It’s just a scratch.” His voice was raspy and every time he took a breath, he winced.
“The road is that way,” the kid pointed. “Stab me first.”
“What?” I squeaked.
“They’ll kill me if you don’t.”
I dropped the knife, hands trembling too hard to grip it. “Come with us.”
“I can’t. I have to finish something first.”
The kid moved fast, snatching the knife off the ground and gripping the hilt. Then he drove the blade into his stomach and doubled over.
I gagged, swaying where I crouched beside Isaac.
“He’ll live,” Isaac said, sounding stronger. “Thanks kid. Don’t get yourself killed.”
Then we were on our feet, stumbling through the trees. Within minutes, it was clear he couldn’t make it to the road like this.
A howl split the night, deep and quavering. Fear skittered up my spine.