Tom needed time before the plan went into action. Too soon and it would be obvious that they were trying to escape.

"Hey, Von Bloot!" Tom called. "I've been meaning to ask you something."

Von Bloot fell back to where Tom and Afjak were and walked beside them. "And what is that?"

"How did you survive?" Tom asked.

Von Bloot smirked. "Strangest thing, actually," he said. "I don't know how for certain, but it was luck to say the least. When Najarin attacked the Threshold, I thought I could make it through in time. Sad to say I didn't. Between Najarin's attack and the energy the Threshold was giving off, I was sure that I was history." He laughed at the pun. Tom smirked just to amuse him. "The shockwave that was created knocked me into the air and I landed on a nearby cliff. I didn't get away unscathed." He glanced at the gaps in his wings where feathers should have been. "But I survived."

Tom nodded. "You were very lucky," he said. He almost gagged on the words.

"Yes, I was," Von Bloot agreed. He grabbed Tom by the hair and pulled his head back. "Unlike you, and your friends." Von Bloot ran a sharp fingernail along Tom's neck. It did not hurt him, but Tom was unnerved.

Von Bloot took to the air again. "Let's move! I want to be at Gothos Tower before dark."

Afjak gave Tom a concerned look. Tom was rubbing his throat and keeping his eyes to the ground. Tom turned to Afjak and smiled. He nodded in Von Bloot's direction. Afjak looked at Von Bloot and then back at Tom, confused.

"Remember what I said about not planning about what comes after?" Tom whispered.

"Yes," replied Afjak.

Tom's smile broadened.

It took a few seconds before Afjak realized what he was trying to tell him. When he did, Afjak dropped his head to hide his smile. Asking Von Bloot what had happened, getting him to walk beside Tom, even Von Bloot threatening Tom's life right there, it was all part of Tom's plan. He needed to get close to Von Bloot. The first part was carried out now.

Tom had his scanner back.

Kaz caught up with Von Bloot and his renegades and did a quick headcount. There weren't many, but he doubted that Maxxor and Najarin could do it alone.

Kaz's scanner beeped, causing him to jump. He answered it.

"Anything?" asked Sarah.

"I count thirty, including Von Bloot," Kaz said. "They're not fooling around. Tom almost has to run to keep up with them."

"Are they okay?" asked Sarah.

"Tom's fine from what I can tell," Kaz replied. "Afjak . . . I can't tell. He doesn't look like he's hurt, but he doesn't look okay, either."

"Keep me posted," said Sarah.

Five seconds after Sarah hung up, Peyton called.

"Dude, do you think Major T has a plan?" he asked.

"Why would he?" asked Kaz.

"It's Tom," Peyton said. "I mean, he always has some sort of plan. Remember when you and Tom rescued Reggie? It was Tom who thought to use mugic on Dractyl to get us all out of there."

"Tom's smart, but I don't see how he's going to get himself out of this one," Kaz said with a slight whimper.

"Keep it together, Kazzie," Peyton told him.

"I am," Kaz said. He took a cleansing breath to calm himself. "I'm cool."

"Good," Peyton said. "We need to be ready for anything."

Tom looked at Afjak. Sweat had broken out on his brow about a quarter of a mile back. He was breathing heavy and his pale blue skin looked even paler. He was dragging his feet, too. This was good. But would it work?

Afjak moaned.

"Are you okay?" Tom asked.

"What's wrong with him?" snapped a soldier.

"My stomach," Afjak pitifully moaned.

"Oh, no," Tom said. "I gave him some human food earlier. He was hungry, so I thought a little wouldn't hurt."

"Fool," muttered the soldier.

"Can you take the chains off?" Tom asked. "It's taking everything he has to stay on his feet. The chains are only making things go slower."

The soldier mumbled something that sounded like "OverWorld weaklings" and removed Afjak's shackles.

Afjak put one hand to his stomach and the other to his mouth and made a beeline for the nearest bush. He dropped to his hands and knees. Tom walked over to him, making sure that the soldiers could see him.

"What's the hold up?" grumbled Von Bloot.

"The OverWorlder got sick," replied the soldier who had freed Afjak.

Tom kneeled beside Afjak, who was coughing violently. Afjak turned to Tom and winked. Tom flashed a smile. It was time.

Peyton saw trouble coming his way and called Sarah. Sarah was with Maxxor and Najarin near the entrance to the UnderWorld.

"What's up, Peyton?" she asked.

"Something's wrong," Peyton said. "They stopped."

"Can you see?" asked Sarah.

Peyton zoomed in using his scanner. He saw Afjak on his hands and knees and Tom kneeling beside him.

"Looks like Afjak is seriously sick," Peyton said. "Whoa!"

"Peyton, what's going on?" Sarah asked. Peyton had a look of disbelief on his face. "Peyton!"

"They just took off!" Peyton cried. "Tom and Afjak, they got away!"

Tom and Afjak pounded the earth beneath their feet as they ran through the trees. The UnderWorlders were shouting and firing at them. Afjak turned around and fired back.

"Keep running," Tom said.

Somehow, Tom and Afjak managed to put some distance between the UnderWorlders. They split up, doubled back, and crossed through a stream to make sure they weren't being followed.

"Okay," Tom panted. "I think we can rest for a minute."

Tom pulled out his scanner and called Kaz.

"Tom, are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine," said Tom. "We're both fine."

"Peyton said something about Afjak being sick," Kaz said.

Tom shook his head. "He's fine. He faked it so he could get the shackles off. Stupid UnderWorlder."

"Where are you?" Kaz asked.

"I don't know," replied Tom. "We just ran for it. We're going to keep moving. I don't know where Von Bloot is, but we can't stay here."

"Maxxor and Najarin are at the entrance to the UnderWorld," Kaz said. "They were going to rescue you when you got there."

"How was I supposed to know?" Tom asked.

Kaz sighed and adjusted his glasses. "Sarah's with Najarin and Maxxor. Call her and tell them what's going on."

"Thanks, Kaz." Tom hung up and called Sarah. "Hey, Sarah."

"Are you crazy?" she shrieked, causing Tom to cringe and Afjak to jump. "You've done some stupid stuff in the past, but you must be out of your mind to think of something like this."

Sarah was relieved of her scanner by Maxxor. "Tom, are you hurt?"

"We're fine," replied Tom.

"Where are you?" he asked.

"I'm not sure," Tom said. He pulled up the map of Pouril Forest. "There's a river about a half mile south of where we are."

"I think I know where you are," said Maxxor. "Follow the river. If it's the river I'm thinking of, it splits into three smaller ones."

Tom checked. "That's the one."

"Wait for us where it splits," said Maxxor. "We'll be there as soon as we can."

"Okay," said Tom. "Have you heard anything from Peyton?"

Sarah retrieved her scanner. "Peyton's been keeping an eye on Von Bloot's goons. He says they keep moving south and have slowed down. You lost them for the time being."

"Thanks, Sarah," said Tom.

"Good luck, Tom," she said.

Tom hung up and slipped his scanner in his pocket. He turned to Afjak.

"Ready to move on?" he asked.

Afjak nodded and they began to head for the river.