The tree they landed on was five meters high.
With one arm holding Victoria securely while, Hank Clegg carefully climbed down with the aid of the other hand.
He gently settled Victoria on the soft grass, first unbinding her hands, then checked her ears to ensure nothing was there, before finally removing the cloth gag from her mouth.
Victoria closed her mouth quietly.
She didn't say a word, nor did she call out to him, her breathing was faint.
Hank had already detected something was amiss; he stretched out his hand, gripping the blindfold behind her head, and with a single tug, it fell away from Victoria's face.
Her eyes were squeezed shut, as if afraid to witness some terrifying scene upon opening them.
Hank reached out, his hand gently caressing her face.
"Victoria, it's me," he whispered, "can you hear me?"
Victoria bit her lip as if she was painfully suppressing something.
The situation Hank had feared the most had happened.
