Karl Dies in this Book: Chapter 2

Karl's lifted Jeep wobbled and whistled through the night as I glared out the window. Why was I glaring? Probably because Karl had shanghaied me into being his wingman, so he could be the hero for the pretty girl.
See Karl is also pretty, he is not however blessed with an excess of common sense. Which is why whenever he has to do something dangerous he brings me along. Finding things might be our expertise, but not dying is my specialty.
"So how long has your brother been missing?" Karl was shouting because the Jeep had no doors or a roof on it.
"He was in the backyard a few hours ago, playing by the trees. When I went to check on him he was gone but I found his shoe by the woods."
"Why wouldn't the police help you?" I gave Karl a death glare as I turned to listen.
"Because... I never went to them. If my parents found out they would kill me, or kick me out."
I felt a pain develop behind my left eye but we pulled into what I assumed was Krista's driveway before I could say anymore. It was a big, fancy house in a big, fancy neighbourhood borded by trees. Krista led us around to the backyard and showed us her brother's shoe. I shone my flashlight back and forth across the treeline.
Ever seen every horror movie set in the woods ever? It looked exactly like that. I hooked the Ka-bar to my hip, slid the axe through my belt, and loaded the Mare's Leg. I briefly considered shooting Karl, stealing his Jeep and going straight home but decided against it.
Instead I shoved the lever action into the holster across my back and started off into the woods. It didn't take long to pick up the kid's trail, the spongy forest floor mad, tracking easy. The thick underbrush also helped but made movement arduous.
I frequently looked behind to make sure Karl and Krista were still behind me.
Karl was dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, and skate shoes; already his arms and shoes were scratched to shit. Krista in a tank top, yoga pants, and those Toms shoes that look like slippers wasn't doing much better; to her credit she never complained.
In my Truspec 24/7 pants and heavy button down shirt I was protected from scratches, didn't do shit went a stick came out of nowhere and nearly gouged my eye out. I was becoming thoroughly pissed of with this trip when the trail suddenly stopped right before a clearing. I turned to tell the other two and cursed.
"Fuck!"
"What?" Karl turned, "fuck."
Krista was gone, not like fallen behind gone, but straight up gone. Like she never existed, both her's and her brother's tracks had disappeared.
"Karl."
"Rod."
"I'm gonna shoot you now."
Before I could react he stepped out into the clearing, forcing me to follow. In the center of the clearing sat a lone birch tree, disappearing into the black sky. At the bottom of this tree sat a little, green troll dressed in a burlap sack.
"Been expecting you, I have."