Olivia flinched. Even though he said he wasn't angry, his words and tone of voice convinced her otherwise. Her eyes stung with tears as she nuzzled her face against the tree again in an attempt to hide. If she couldn't see him, then he couldn't see her. Or something like that.
"P-please don't hurt m-me," she whispered in a terrified voice as she peeked over at him through the dark strands of hair that covered her face. "I-I won't sp-splatter," she promised, as if she had control over how the Laughers would kill her.
She knew she would rather get killed by the Laughers than climb the true and face the tiny risk of falling.