Gem Stone by Dale Mayer

knight to save him. He'd learned the hard way that there were no saviors in life – only deviants pretending to be normal.
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    He went back to glaring at the two assholes. Who the hell were they? And why were they still here? And why had they taken him? He hadn't seen anything. Not really. Hell, he hadn't even known these dweebs were near the creek. They'd come out of nowhere.
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    He wished he knew what was in the jugs jammed further back in the van. And where were they getting the different vehicles from? They'd driven a truck in the pictures Gem had taken. A fancy government looking car to John's and now they were in this old beat up van.
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    Gem. What about her? How far behind had she been? Only minutes, surely. He'd been worried that Gem hadn't caught up to them. He'd waited at the rise with Reid, knowing they'd have a better view of the area and could see how far behind she was.
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    That must be how these guys had seen him and Reid approach.
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    Gem was pretty wily though. If they tried to take her, she'd fight like crazy. If they knocked her out, well, then she'd likely end up here with him.
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    "So where's your girlfriend?" Dumpty asked, a leer on his thick lips.
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    Mark narrowed his eyes at him. What girlfriend? Gem? Or did he mean Misty? She'd damn well better be in the hospital. Safe…
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    "Don't hassle him. He looks like he'd cause a ruckus and I don't want to leave any blood behind from having to knock him about. This is a simple job."
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    The initial relief that had overwhelmed Mark at the older man's words, changed to horror when he realized the man was trying to keep the area clean. Evidence free. Mark slumped back onto the bare floor of the vehicle and tried to think. Surely there had to be something he could do… His hands were handcuffed in front of him. He could get out of simple ones, but he didn't know about this set.
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    "Let's go pick the girl up. She should be almost here."
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    Mark stiffened. Damn . He'd hoped Gem and Reid had gotten away.
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    "Let's get this over with," Humpty said to Dumpty, and stepped further back, letting Mark see the bright sunshine. At least they still had daylight on their side.
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    Humpty left through the front driver's door. But Dumpty moved toward the open side door.
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    Mark brought his legs, still tied together, up against Dumpty's knees as he went to step out of the van.
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    "Shit!" The man stumbled and half fell out of the van. He struggled to get his bulk upright again. "Fucking kid."
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    "A little resistance is par for the course. Jesus, you'd think you'd know that by now." Humpty walked to the open door to smirk at Mark. Then without warning, he slammed a hard punch into Mark's shoulder before walking away.
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    Mark twisted in fury, his feet pounding the van wall. Hate burned a hole inside him as he realized he couldn't stop them from going after Gem. She wouldn't even see them coming. He could only lie there, helpless, as the men laughed and took off.
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    His eyes widened.
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    Took off? That meant he was alone.
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    Panicking with concern for Gem, yet calm about what he had to do, he tested the bonds around his ankles. They weren't going to let go any time soon. Damn. Where was Reid? Reid would have the cuffs off Mark in no time. So would Gem, for that matter.
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    Hitching himself forward on his belly, he looked around the door opening. Shuffling further, he searched for any sign he wasn't alone. Tugging and twisting to get his shoulders past the door, he dropped his head to look under the van. No legs showed on the other side.
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    Taking his chance, he placed his hobbled hands on the ground in front of him and walked them forward until he was stretched out like a board, to the point his feet were the only part of him left in the vehicle. Then he pulled his knees up to his chest, and managed, by squatting, to awkwardly stand up.
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    He didn't waste any time. As quickly as he could he