Three

Ben looked around at everyone gathered in Weaver's tent. The plan they had come up with was pretty good, but he didn't know how well it was going to go.

"You okay Ben?" Tom asked coming to stand beside him.

"Yeah," Ben said looking over at him. "Just worried about Hal."

"We all are," Tom said. "But don't worry we'll get him out of there and they won't get you."

Ben nodded and then left the tent, heading back to their tent.

In the clearing, Hal watched as Karen walked around. He knew that the hour limit was going to up soon and hoped his dad wouldn't do anything to get anyone killed.

"Ten minutes to go," Karen said as she once again stopped in front of Hal. "Seems like they don't want to save you too much."

She laughed and walked away. Hal sighed and leaned back against the tree.

Back at camp, Ben walked out of the tent with a small pack on his back. Glancing at his watch, he knew that they needed to put this plan in action.

"You ready?" Tom asked as he walked out behind him.

Ben nodded and they went over to where the others were waiting. While Ben would approach the clearing, the others would be close by.

"Just be careful everyone," Weaver said as everyone checked their weapons. "I want everyone to come back in one piece, including Hal and Ben."

After that, the small group headed for the woods. Tom could tell Ben seemed distracted.

"You sure you're okay?" he asked as they walked along.

"Yeah," Ben said. "Just want to get Hal out of there."

As they got closer, the rest of the group spread out until Ben was by himself. He hoisted his pack and moved forward.

In the clearing, Hal looked up as he heard footsteps and soon Ben came into the clearing.

"At least you know how to follow our demands," Karen said turning to face him.

"I'm here," Ben said as skitters appeared behind him. "Let Hal go."

"I did promise that didn't I," Karen said walking over to Hal. "I was thinking about keeping him and turning him to our side."

Ben was suddenly grabbed from behind and held between two skitters.

Not far away, Tom had heard everything Karen said and he signaled for the others to start forward.

Hal watched as Karen unsheathed a knife and came forward.

"Just think Hal," she said. "We can be together again."

"Leave him alone Karen," Ben demanded struggling to free himself from the grasps of the skitters.

The next thing they knew all hell broke loose as the gunfire started. Ben was freed as the skitters were bombarded with bullets as the others stormed into the clearing.

Karen watched as one by one the skitters were cut down then turned her attention back to Hal.

"Well, if I can't have you, then nobody will," she said.

Ben ran as fast as he could toward her and was horrified when she plunged the knife into Hal.

"No!" she shouted as she withdrew the knife.

As she went for another strike, Ben tackled her and the knife went flying. Karen was quickly back on her feet and started backing up.

"You will come back to us Ben," she said. "You're one of us."

She turned and took off into the trees. Tom looked around. Eight skitters littered the ground.

"Dad, I need help!" Ben yelled as he rushed over to Hal.

The knife had entered just below his ribs and Ben quickly freed Hal and lowered him to the ground. Tom rushed over and kneeled beside him.

"I saw Karen stab him," Ben said as he applied pressure to the wound. "We need to get him back to camp."

They placed Hal on a stretcher and while Ben kept pressure on the wound, they headed back.