Testing Grounds (On Dangerous Grounds Book 1) by G. Allen Wilbanks

Author:G. Allen Wilbanks [Wilbanks, G. Allen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Deep Dark Thoughts Publications LLC
Published: 2021-07-14T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

Leon kicked at the dead remains of their campfire. They had left this spot four times, choosing a different direction each time, and they knew nothing more now than when they had first arrived.

“We, left again, go?” asked Shoo, exactly as she had the last time they were here.

“No. I think we can say with some certainty that there isn’t a particular road out of here. Repeating what we already did isn’t going to do anything except waste time and whatever strength we have left.” Leon kicked another charred branch into the underbrush at the side of the path. “No single direction will get us out, we aren’t in a jar, and we aren’t in a maze. Unless there’s something obvious I’m missing, that leaves only a repeating pattern. There’s a system we have to figure out and I have no idea where to start.”

“We got out of the grasslands,” Sofia said, laying a calming hand on Leon’s shoulder. “We can get out of here, too. What did we do when we escaped the first time?”

“Straight, straight, right, left,” recited Shoo. “We, on left, exited.”

“If that pattern worked once, shouldn’t it work again?” asked Sofia.

“It might,” Leon agreed. “It’s certainly the best option we have. I don’t know if we need to go straight twice before we go right. We could just go straight, right, left. Or maybe only right and left. But, since we don’t know anything with any certainty, we probably shouldn’t take any chances. I vote we do exactly what we did to get out of the grasslands. Straight, straight, right, left.”

“Straight, straight, right, left,” repeated Shoo.

“I’m with Leon,” said Sofia, raising a hand as though casting a vote.

Annie and Michael, having nothing to add to the conversation, simply nodded their agreement.

“Walking around in circles,” muttered Malcolm. “This fucking cunt is going to get us all killed.”

“What was that?” asked Michael. “You have a better plan?”

Malcolm glowered at Michael. “Not yet, mate. But when I do, you can bet you’re going to be a part of it.”

“That sounds like a threat.”

“Does it? Now, why would I threaten you when you’ve been nothing but a fucking gentleman to me this whole time?”

Michael met Malcolm’s angry stare. “Try something or start walking. Your choice.”

Malcolm forced an ingratiating smile. “I’m ready to walk. I’m just waitin’ on the bug to lead the party.”

Malcolm’s smile faded to a sneer as he followed behind the Many. The rest of the group took up their positions behind him with Leon and Sofia at the rear of the line. From habit, Leon pulled out his phone to check the time. It would be almost 5:30 in the evening at home. Except for the half bar of trail mix and a few sips of energy drink, he had not eaten anything since a hastily consumed bowl of cold cereal that morning. His stomach growled and complained at being ignored for so long. The noise was loud enough that Sofia glanced in his direction when she heard it.

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