“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.” Her voice dragged against his nerves. “Take these.” She held out her hand, her eyes flashing down to his bloody wounds. “You’re going to need something for the beating you gave yourself.”

Miguel held out his hand and she dropped two small pills in his palm. They were white against the crimson blood dried on his hands. Annika left the room only to return seconds later with a glass of water.

“What are you waiting for?”

He chased the pills down with a gulp of water.

“Good.” Annika walked to the door and stopped. She leveled a cold glare at him. “I think it’d be wise for you to stay away from your friend. I’d hate to imagine her ending up like Sydney.”

What had he done? Annika’s words stoked the fire of doubt in his mind. He killed Sydney? How? Why? His head felt heavy. His body too. The room went black. The burden of what he did sunk him into the depths of darkness. He didn’t fight it. Miguel allowed the abyss to swallow him.

Sweat dripped into his eyes. It stung. His clothes clung to his body, damp with moisture. The bayonet slipped in his hand. If he dropped it, he was a dead man. It was the only weapon he had to defend himself. He heard shouting. He pressed his face deeper into the mud. Muck filled his nostrils. He would suffocate out here. He turned his face for a breath and saw her. Piercing blue eyes. Unusual. Striking. Sydney.

She cowered. Pressed herself deep into the hollow of the tree behind her. It almost hid her. Almost. The shouting grew louder and he knew if he didn’t move soon, they would kill her. He couldn’t understand why.

He clawed his way through the marsh, and with each move her blue eyes grew wider, wild with fear. He was coming for her and she knew it. He was only a few feet away now. He’d try to make it quick . . . wait. What was she holding? Was it a blanket? The long piece of fabric moved. He saw a hand. It was little. No. It couldn’t be. The little boy’s face looked up at him. How?

No! It wasn’t Sydney. It was Lane. Holding her son in her arms. She smiled. Miguel had to warn her. They couldn’t be here. They were in danger. Opening his mouth, he tried to yell but nothing came out. He looked behind him. They were coming. He inched closer. How could he protect her? She was innocent. They were innocent. If they found her . . . He tightened his grip on the bayonet and lunged for her. Her smile melted into terror. She screamed.

FIFTEEN