A manhunt is underway in rural Nova Scotia for two men charged by RCMP with unlawful confinement involving a 16-year-old boy.

David James Leblanc, 47, and Wayne Alan Cunningham, 31, are facing forcible confinement and sexual assault charges.

"The nature of the charges speaks for themselves. They are serious charges, indeed," said RCMP Sgt. Alain LeBlanc.

Investigators said they believe the accused men could be in Lunenburg County southwest of Halifax or in Halifax County .

Wayne Alan Cunningham (RCMP)

Alice Arnold, 79, said she heard panicked knocking at her back door Monday night.

"I went to the door," she said."I didn't open the storm door. There was a young man, probably about 14, I'd say, standing there saying, 'I want to come in, I want to come in. I've got to come in.' His appearance was unusual; he had chains on his wrists and chains on his feet."

She said the chains were double-wrapped around his wrists and ankles.

Arnold then called 911, but didn't let the teen into her home.

"He became very agitated and said, 'Don't call the police, don't call the police. It'll make it worse for me,'" she said.

But the barefoot, half-naked teen didn't explain.

David James Leblanc (RCMP)

He ran off to another neighbour's house and police later took him to a Halifax hospital.

"We can say that he's safe, which is really good," said LeBlanc.

On Wednesday morning, two forensic identification units arrived at a home on Faulkner Road, in Upper Chelsea. The RCMP confirmed they were investigating an alleged unlawful confinement after receiving a tip Monday night around 7:30 p.m.

The house is in the process of being sold. CBC spoke with the father of the current owner of the house, who said two people moved in about a month ago. Neighbours said two men live there.

Neighbours told the CBC's Craig Paisley they were shocked by the allegations. They said they didn't know the people who just moved into the home and described the situation as scary.

Upper Chelsea is located in Lunenburg County, approximately 125 kilometres southwest of Halifax.

David Leblanc is facing charges of making and distributing child pornography, sex assault and sexual interference involving two boys, aged two and five.

He faces a preliminary hearing on those charges in November.