MaC POV:

I am somewhat ashamed to say that upon reaching the hospice I was shaking in fear and worry. And in doing so I had scared Maisie. And she was not easily spooked to say the least. Her eyes were wide a she handed me off to the hospice staff who gasped, eyes widened in horror as they fawned over my injury.

Clint was there. He simply clapped me on the shoulder, offering a small nod before setting off to help the others.

Maisie was still gawking as the nurse woman pulled up my pant leg. I winced in pain, biting the inside of my cheek.

Minho POV:

Sneaking back toward the… I wasn't really sure what to call them… but I was settling for crazy-shanks at the moment.

John was at my side, quiet for once, and for some reason that set me on edge. Well, that and the fact that MaC had come out of this place bloodied and bruised and scared out of her mind. I wasn't stupid. I knew whatever she saw had to have been some deep-klunk for her to wig out after all we've been through.

And Thomas was still there.

Harriet and Sonya were with us as well. They were light on their feet, quick and agile. And they weren't sissies. They had led their group through all the horrors MaC and I had faced with ours. Besides the whole kidnapping of Thomas thing. Though, they didn't have much choice in the matter. And they didn't know the shank. But he was alive, so-

Well, I hoped he was alive.

The people were walking around their camp in their raggedy deerskin undies, their skin painted various reds and blues. A few had animal teeth and small bones threaded onto ropes draped around their necks, or beads braided into their dark hair. A few had feathers shoved into the braids as well. It was… strange to say the least.

Harriet pointed to a small sort of Tepee like structure, the material was draped around a thin, but sturdy looking tree and outside of the small opening stood two of the tallest and strongest of the bunch, both holding wooden spears. My jaw clenched, Thomas was in there. I knew it. Don't ask how, I just did.

He was in there. We just had to get to him.

Sonya crawled up on my other side, "You think Thomas is in there?" she whispered.

"Yeah," I said, eyeing up the two guards.

"Oh, no," John hissed from behind me. "You can't just go barging in there. They'll kill you!"

"I'm not stupid, John, I know that. We'll have to sneak around back." I hissed in return, shooting the boy a glare.

"Quietly," Harriet added, "I don't like the look of those spears."

It was then that the screaming began. Loud, tortured screaming from a gagged mouth. And then it was over. Stopped, cut off abruptly. And from the tepee emerged two blood spattered men, both covered in blood. And the worst part?

They were smiling.

Smiling.