"Fine," Vicki said, "I’m just glad that you were so close. There’s no way he could have missed."

"We should get out of here," C. J. insisted, "He shouldn’t be down for very long." Vicki didn’t move from her spot.

"I want to find out who this guy is," Vicki said, "Come on, C. J." C. J. reluctantly followed Vicki, even though she had to agree. She wanted to know who it was also, but not that much.

They turned around to confront the strange man, but stopped short. He was nowhere in sight. Had he walked off while they were talking? Where would he head next? The questions were endless. They then rushed over to investigate, thinking that he might have left something behind.

"How could he have moved without us noticing," C. J. asked, "He didn’t even make a sound. I didn’t hear anything."

"Me either," Vicki said, "but that doesn’t mean that we were really thinking that he was trying to get away. We couldn’t have noticed."

"You’re right," C. J. agreed, "but why didn’t he come after us? We were right here in the open." Suddenly, a dark figure appeared in front of them.

"I think I know why," Vicki replied, "He wanted to catch us by surprise. I believe his plan worked." The figure before them again pointed the gun. The girls immediately split up, going opposite directions. They weren’t going to be easy targets.

The man looked one way and then the next. He still held the gun up, but didn’t aim or shoot. Then he finally seemed to decide and aimed at one of them.

"Hey," Vicki called from the other side, "You sure act pretty tough with a gun in your hand, don’t you? As soon as you have it, you think you can’t be defeated. Is that it?"

The man turned to her now, "You say that with no weapon at all," he said, "Now, answer me, who seems tougher to you?"

"I don’t know," C. J. answered, "I’m betting that she could take you though. He don’t look very hard to beat, does he?"

"Not at all," Vicki replied, watching as the man turned back to her, "I could take him down easily." This game continued for a few more moments. C. J. and Vicki would continue to move in while doing this. There was still a chance to get this guy. If they couldn’t then maybe they could get their friends’ attention.

Joe listened as he made his way into the woods. The gunman wasn’t anywhere near him. That was when he heard the gunshot off to his left. He turned around and headed silently in that direction. Nobody was in sight for a while, until he reached a small group of trees.

Joe stopped there and looked out beneath two trees that stood close together. Three figures were standing in the clearing. He recognized the two on either side as Vicki and C. J.

"Come on," Vicki taunted the guy in the middle, "Do you think you can really take us two against one?" The man turned his attention on her and Joe saw C. J. move slightly closer to the man. Now Joe understood the game.

He moved back in the trees and waited for Vicki to come closer. She turned around slightly and suddenly noticed him. He whispered as she passed, "Vicki, get him to move this way." Vicki barely nodded as she passed him up.

"Hey," she called out again, "You want a real challenge? Come over here and see if you can handle it." This time the man got angry. He had listened to their insults for long enough.

"I’ll give you a challenge," he answered her, "I’m coming over." He moved closer and Vicki managed to move out of his range, "I thought you could handle it."

"I can," Vicki replied, "I just want to make sure you’re ready for it. You’re obviously not in very good shape." He moved even closer. He turned and looked at C. J. as she gave another remark.

While he was turned away, Vicki signaled to C. J. Her friend obviously understood, because she allowed Vicki to talk instead, "Are you telling me that you can’t take on a bunch of girls?" She glanced over at Joe for a second.

"What are you looking at," the man asked her.

"Nothing," Vicki said, "Now, aren’t you going to come over and fight?"

He walked all the way over and Vicki eventually lured him to another spot. Joe waited silently. At the last moment, Vicki brought her hands out for a punch. As the man turned to block it, Vicki waited for Joe to make a move.