Mathias falls silent for a long time, nodding his agreement to Danny, but still feeling trapped and anxious. He wants to scream for help, but he knows that won't get them anywhere. Neil has gone to get someone to rescue them, that's what he has to keep telling himself. Neil has gone and he'll come back with someone who can get them out and everything will be fine.

From across the small clearing they've fallen into, he can still hear the vines whispering and as the minutes drag by, he becomes more and more convinced they're going to wait until Neil returns with help. Then they'll strike, making sure he and Danny never see the surface again.

It's a long time before he hears movement above, but eventually he does hear it and he reaches out in the dark, groping for Danny's hand. It's childish, to need someone to hold onto, but he doesn't care. He wouldn't care in the light of day and he doesn't care down here in the dark.