After Rachel had finished washing, she dressed and returned to the campsite with Dumah, smelling a little sweeter. As Rachel absent mindedly began meandering back to her own tent, Dumah stopped her by placing a heavy hand on her shoulder. "I think it would be better if you stayed in our tent during the day;" he smiled patronizingly, "just incase you decide to run off again." She grudgingly acquiesced, letting herself be taken to the green tent in which Dumah and his two older brothers were staying in.

As the two of them entered the tent, they were met with an indignant Raziel, "What is she doing in here?!"

"Calm down brother, she has to be kept somewhere during the day, or she will only try to escape again."

"True." Turel said pointedly to Raziel. "Also I imagine the young lady would prefer our company to that of Zephon's"

"Hmn!" Raziel replied as he lay down in his sleeping bag, "Young lady, indeed!" Rachel couldn't help feeling a little bit guilty for what she did earlier and suddenly felt a great urge to apologise. "Um… Raziel, isn't it? ... If it's any consolation, I'm sorry for belting you in the face…" Raziel's only response was a non-committal grunt from within his sleeping bag.

Turel glanced momentarily at Raziel before saying to Dumah, "The sun will rise soon; we had better be getting to sleep as well." As the two of them hunkered down, Rachel had little choice but to lie on her side between Turel and Dumah. Aside from being rather cramped, the experience of being effectively kidnapped was somewhat unpleasant. Not that being squidged between two very fit, well built guys was particularly unpleasant; it was just under the circumstances, she would rather not have been there.

Despite this, when she had been allowed to get clean clothes from her tent, she had had the presence of mind to pick up the pair of trousers that had her mobile phone in one of the pockets. Now as she lay in the tent between the two vampires, she waited and made sure they were asleep before she carefully pulled her phone out of her pocket. As she switched it on, (the use of mobile phones is prohibited on a Duke of Edinbrough expedition, except in emergencies) the screen lit up suddenly. Quickly glancing to either side of her, Rachel made sure that it hadn't woken up either of the vampires. Shielding the screen with one hand, she silently sent a text message to her friend Liz.

Help. Been kidnapped.

Call police. Don't

make a scene.

After she had sent the message and the screen went dark once more, she slipped the phone back into her pocket. Lying between Dumah and Turel, she waited apprehensively for help to come. As the darkness began to fade within the tent, Rachel couldn't resist the temping warmth and calmness of sleep.

Shortly after Liz had risen from within her own tent, she walked over to Rachel's, took hold of the frame, shook it and called to the occupant within. "C'mon Rachel, time to wake up." She paused a moment, expecting a groggy Rachel to ask what time it was. Although she knew Rachel liked her sleep, there were things that needed to be done before the invigilator arrived. When absolutely no sound came from within the tent, Liz unzipped the front and looked inside. She wasn't overly surprised when she found that Rachel wasn't in there. It was possible that she had gone to the toilet or to have breakfast early. Looking around the campsite and the immediate area, Rachel was nowhere to be found. Liz knew Rachel wouldn't be foolish enough to wander off without someone or without telling anyone first. Mild annoyance turned to frigid worry as her search proved inconclusive.

Returning to the campsite, Liz informed the others of the situation. "Do you think she's been kidnapped?" Katrina asked

"I'm afraid it's something that could well have happened." Aaron replied. "Has anyone got their phone? I think we need to call the police."

Katrina was already keying in 999…

Well there you have it! The next chapter at long last! The one after this shouldn't take too long; Iv'e already started writing it up... Mind you, I do use the word 'shouldn't' rather loosely. Anyway, sorry it took so long!