Ethan sits beside me, bound hands in his lap, chin to his chest. His hair hangs limp over his eyes. It’s better that way. I couldn’t stand him looking at me right now.

Hatch first bound my hands and feet. Then he sought out Ethan, dragged him out kicking and screaming and tied him up, too. Now, as twilight crouches around the campfire, we watch as Hatch throws more boards onto the blaze. The firelight dances on his face. His eyes look like round black beads in the fleshy dough of his head. He scratches at the bug bite, red and raw above his ear and throws a cabinet door onto the fire. It crackles, throwing coils of black smoke into the air.

My insides smolder and bubble like wood that fuels our fire. I brought this on us, so I need to get us out. I stare into Hatch’s blank face. There has to be something I can do.

“Hey, Hatch,” I say, smiling at him. He lifts his eyes to mine as he tosses another cabinet door onto the blaze. “Untie us, please. We’re not going anywhere.”

Hatch scratches his head and smears a line of soot above his ear. “I know.”

“We can help you get the fire on. Maybe cook a little something. You hungry?”

“Don’t need help.” He pulls a can of food from his overalls pocket.

I set my mouth in a firm line even though I’m trembling inside. “Hatch, boss is going to be so mad at you for what you’re doing. You better let us go or I’m gonna tell him what you did.”

Hatch’s eyes hungrily trace my body. “I’m boss now.”

I drop my head and stare at my threadbare knees. Why did I think this would work? Why didn’t we just run while we had the chance?

Hatch lumbers up and thuds into the house for more wood. I search the shadows for escape. There’s nothing for miles but dusty back yards, decaying houses, dead trees. Even if we could get free, any attempt to run and he’d be after us in seconds. My eyes trace over our yard: just logs, dry grass, long and matted down from all the walking we’ve been doing.

While my eyes are sweeping the campsite, movement under the armchair draws my eye. Something’s underneath the chair’s fraying fabric.

Then I hear a sound that strikes fear deep into my heart. Sssshhh-thck-thck-thck. A rattler.