Dylan’s stomach dropped. She wouldn’t die. He couldn’t let that happen, not now. He loved her, and he needed to tell her that even if she never forgave him.

“Blood.” Luke dropped to his knees.

“It’s from Buzz. Z-Zander cut him, but it’s not bad.”

Fin examined the scene, as did the Trainers, looking for clues as to what direction to take.

“You bastards don’t follow orders is my guess.”

Cubby Hawker crashed through the trees wearing a backpack.

“No time,” Dylan said.

“This way.” Fin pushed aside some branches, and soon they were moving again.

They heard the helicopter then, and Dylan knew that would scare Zander, because it would signal they were hunting him.

Piper moved as slow as she could, but every time she stumbled or tried to stop, Zander jabbed her in the back with his gun.

“Get moving, and stop playing games!”

“Yes, because this is fucking hilarious.”

“I’ve always hated your smart mouth.”

“Yeah, we’ll I’ve always hated you because you’re a loser.”

“You won’t be such a smartass soon.”

“And you’ll look nice in prison orange. Should be a real reunion for you, being locked up nice and tight with your daddy.”

“What do you know about my father!”

She heard the shock in his words, but didn’t turn. He might see the fear then, and Piper wasn’t giving him that.

“Dylan knows everything. You messed up, Zander... if that’s even your name.”

“No! I never mess up. We planned everything perfectly.”

“Doesn’t look perfect from where I’m standing. Dylan said something about rerouting and a place in Queens.”

“No! I didn’t make a mistake.”

“Yeah, you did. So maybe you’re not quite as switched on as that sick bastard you call a father.”

“Shut up!”

“That your next thing, torturing and murdering women?”

“He didn’t do that, he’s innocent!”

“Oh come on, Zander. Do you really believe all those FBI people and the months they spent on your father’s case could get it so wrong? You need to wise up.”

“Shut up!”

She could hear the fear in him now.

“Adjust,” he muttered. “He told me that things change so I need to learn to adjust.”

“Who? Dear sadistic Daddy? He’s gonna be pissed with you if you muck this up.”

“Shut up!”

She’d never heard that particular tone in Zander’s voice, and it scared Piper enough to do as he said... for now.

They heard the helicopter, and every time it hovered overhead, Zander dragged her down and forced the gun into her ribs.