I told you this chapter would be short. To make up for it, I posted this chapter alongside the last one! Enjoy the hunt!

Chapter Ten

Shinichi looked around, and soon realized the best way off.

"Guys," he said to everyone at large, "I think the best way off is to take that tree," he pointed at the tree in question, "and climb down it to the ground. Follow me."

Shinichi then ran over and stated shimmying down, ignoring Sonoko's comment of 'Kudo-kun may be brilliant, but he's still half-monkey.'

Soon all five of them were on the ground, and Shiho met up with them, ignoring the fact they were cut and bruised.

"So, Kudo-kun," said Shiho, "Where do we go next?"

Shinichi thought about it, and then said, "The campfire ring. That's why the criminal burned the tower, to clue us in on that."

He ran off in the direction of the amphitheater, where the fire ring was, and the others followed him. They soon arrived, and hid at the edge, looking around.

There was a tower of wood in the fire ring, unlit, and tied to it was Ran. Shinichi and Co. slowly inched forward towards it.

When they got there, Shinichi immediately went up to Ran and started taking her down. Then Ran's head, which had been looking towards the ground, looked up, and everyone saw it was another dummy. Then the man's voice spoke up from within the dummy, obviously another recording.

"So you made it this far. I congratulate you. But your quest isn't over. Solve this riddle and you might find your girlfriend." The dummy suddenly exploded, and the large pile of wood fell down. At the same time, large plumes of white smoke arose from all over the area, and smothered everyone's view of the area.

"I can't see!" wailed Mayumi. She gripped Shinichi tightly, refusing to let go.

"Everyone calm down!" said Shinichi loudly. "Everyone take someone's hand and let's move out of here."

Everyone did so, and started moving out, following Shinichi's voice. Soon, they cleared the thick fog.

"What now, Shinichi-kun?" asked Sonoko, letting go of the Mikihiko and Kenta.

Shinichi examined the source of the mysterious fog. Then he said, "Next is the Ecology lodge. It's the only place where the dry ice used to make the fog is found."

Shinichi ran off in that direction, but stopped suddenly due to a sharp pain in his chest.

'It can't be…it's only been a few days…it's supposed to last over a week!'

"Kudo-kun, what's wrong?" asked Sonoko. "You're acting like you did at the play! Maybe you need medical treatment…"

"No." said Shinichi flatly. He waited for the pain to die down before saying, "it's nothing. Let's just go find Ran." He continued running towards the lodge, but was stopped again by four identical groans of pain coming from behind him.

"What, you all too?" asked Sonoko incredulously. All four of them had gone into identical spasms of pain at the exact same moment, and were clutching their hearts just like Shinichi had a few minutes before.

Soon, they looked up and said, "We're fine now," all at the same time. Sonoko still looked wary, but she shrugged it off, and they all went looking for Ran.

CONFRONTATION! Next chapter! Don't miss it!

Anyways, review these past few chapters, and submit creative ideas to take down the criminal!