Joven's POV

We trek through the forest, occasionally stumbling, Anthony carrying Kalel. "Where do you think you're going?" a guff voice sounds.

"RUN!" I shout the obvious. We sprint, getting farther and farther ahead. A tree shows which means... water. Water in a plain. We need that water, and we need it badly. I glance back. The guys is right behind me and he grabs me by the neck, pulling me into a headlock.

"Joshua!" Matt shouts. They turn back and stop short of us. RUN! I mutter. I raise my leg and swing it back, hitting him in the nuts. We run, the guy walking back to the place, howling in pain.

We get to the tree and climb up. I lean out and listen, trying to hear running streams. I hear one in the distance and shake David awake. "Dude, we have to get to the stream."

"Yeah, let's go. Matt can carry Emma, Anthony Kalel." We shake them awake and we set off in search of the river. When we do, I sit at the edge of the bank. I kneel down, gulping the water down, and turn.

"Guys, this looks familiar to me.." I trail off. "Do you see codfish in here?" I ask, thinking of what it could be.

"Yeah, there's a few over here."

"No way... guys, this is the river near my school. Anthony, pick Kalel up, Matt pick Emma up. We're going home."

They comply. We start running, after a few minutes of figuring out which way. Soon, I see my school looming ahead of us... on the other side. "We have to cross it."

"How?" Matt shouts, face burning of anger. "We don't deserve this shit! All I want is to be able to do is walk home, throw the door open, and shout a hi to my mother and ask when dinner is. I want to show my mom Emma, be making a birthday wish list, anything other then this!" He explodes.

"So do I, but at least you're not Mari!" I explode back. "She's probably as hungry as us, not to mention she's getting raped! By multiple men!"

Everything and everyone stops and let the harsh truth sink in... Mari may as well be dead...

"We have to cross. Ant, why doesn't Kalel get on your back and we swim over? It's shallow, so you can probably reach the bottom."

Kalel jumps on his back and we start swimming over. My feet barely graze the bottom, so everyone else must be struggling.

"God, right now I'd prefer to be in a bed." I mumble as soon as we get to the shore, audible to the group.

"Well, that won't happe- Joshua Ovenshire?!" I hear my principal, JZ exclaim.

"We need help. We were kidnapped and someone is still there, you need to get there now." I gasp out, catching my breath.