The Great Escape

It took a lot - and I mean a lot - of self control not to break out in an ecstatic happy dance right there on the sand.

Zac liked me!

I realised I was biting my lip a little too hard when I lost feeling in it. I drew my teeth away but could still feel fierce heat burning behind my cheeks.

It was hard not to just shout out that I really liked him too, but my Aunt Ella -- the most wonderful Aunt anyone could ever have wished for -- had once told me that American boys like it when girls play hard to get.

So that's what I was just planning to do, when we heard the first shouts from our campsite.


"What the hell?" I hissed, and Zac and I took off at a sprint.

Crashing through the scratching, thorny bushes at a breakneck speed, we made the return journey in record time. Samantha was thudding along some way behind us. She probably wasn't used to running. I could imagine her sitting atop of a high-trotting white pony, cantering through the streets of some small town, glaring down her nose at any passer-bys.

The thought made me grin.

Yes, I admit it, I was a terribly prejudiced person. But, when it was Samantha involved, I didn't think many people would blame me.

I burst into the last few lines of trees seconds behind Zac, and flew straight into him. He’d stopped about five metres back from the sand, completely frozen in mid-stride.

“What? What is it?” I puffed, trying to peer past him.

The shouting was a lot closer now, but I still couldn't make out any particular words, or even see anything through the scrub. Zac still wasn't moving, so -- curiosity and impatience overwhelming me -- I shoved him out of the way and leapt out onto the beach.

Bad idea.

The great rustling I'd caused, made four pairs of high-beamed torches start to swing my way, and what sounded like men, began shouting all over again.

At that exact moment, I saw them, in one swing of a light: Delilah and Ethan. Bound with thick ropes and gags. Lying on the shoreline. Between the figures of the four -- or more -- men.

There was no doubting that they were in trouble.

And that's when I realised; This was my moment. Possibly the only chance I would ever have to be a hero. The Torches were about to light up my shadowy frame, which was, for the moment, shrouded by the darkness.

I still had a few seconds to act.

Delilah had somehow seen me, and her eyes stared into mine -- wide and panicked.

I could do it. I could save them. I knew I could. Blind courage welled up inside me like a roaring ball of flame. My mouth set into a firm line. I braced myself to jump and roll.

Then reality hit me like a ton of bricks, that warm bubble of bravery deflating faster than a popped balloon.

Without a second thought, I turned on my heels, and ran.