Just as one of them reached for the knot on Nico's rope, ready to drag him toward the flames, the bushes rustled again.
Everyone paused.
A lanky figure stumbled out, dragging a sack over his shoulder. The sack kicked. It whimpered.
"Look what I found," he said, grinning wide, breathless. "Another sweet dinner."
The others lit up like kids on Christmas morning.
"No way!"
"You serious?"
The sack moved again, more frantic this time. Muffled cries came from inside.
The woman with the long black hair clapped her hands. "Tonight's a feast!"
Nico's chest tightened.
Another one?
He wasn't alone anymore.
But was that good… or even worse?
"Open it!" one of them barked, bouncing on his heels. "Let's see what we're having tonight."
"Hope it's tender," another chuckled, licking his lips.
Two lean men crouched beside the sack, untying the knot carelessly, like they'd done it a hundred times before. The muffled whimpers turned to shaky cries.
Nico flinched.
