Eli pushed the knife point against the t-shirt. Beth gasped as she felt it poking against her skin. He twisted it slightly and the point caught in the thin cloth. He yanked it up and to the side, creating a small tear. Eli grabbed the collar, pulling it away as the knife pushed its way into the opening, then he tugged the knife upward, so it sliced through the collar. He regripped the knife and drove the blade into the tree trunk.

His large hands moved to the shirt where it was ripped at the collar. He stared at Beth until she met his gaze. Then he grinned and his...