Free Zero Visibility by Sharon Dunn Page B

head. “Crossbows.”
    Merci furled her forehead. “Crossbows?”
    “In the activities shed. They are stored there. I’m pretty sure they are not hauled away in the off-season. I know it is hardly a fair match, but it is better than nothing. I used to be pretty good with a crossbow.”
    “It’s worth a try. We’ve come this far.” Her expression grew serious. “Do you think Lorelei is still alive?”
    “We have to find out. If we can’t find her, I say we head back to the cabin. If this weather holds, the plows will be up here in less than twenty-four hours.”
    “That long?”
    “The deputy might push to get up here faster since he was expecting us in town. It’s not something we should count on, though.” The realization of how alone they were in this fight sank in.
    Merci sat for a long moment with her head tilted toward the sky. He wondered if she was praying. Then she stared out at the camp and light slowly spread across it. “Look over there.”
    She pointed toward a long skinny building that was used as a girls’ dorm on the other side of the camp. Smoke rose out of the chimney.
    “That must be where they are?” He took in a calming breath. If things didn’t go as he planned, it could cost them their lives. “Over there is the activities storage shed.” He pointed to a small cabin.
    “It’s not that far from here. We should go before we have full daylight.” Merci spoke in a monotone, probably an effort to push down any fear she might be wrestling with.
    Climbing down proved easier than getting up. Merci followed behind him as he walked through the snow toward the small cabin. The thieves had not broken down the door of the activities cabin. They must have thought it was too small to be where the food was.
    Nathan pulled out his key ring and released the padlock. The place smelled musty. As he shone the flashlight around the windowless room, it looked as if the storage procedures hadn’t changed since he was a kid.
    Various plastic boxes were labeled Balls, Paintball and Frisbees. The archery gear took up several boxes. He pulled one off a shelf.
    Merci leaned over to peer in the box. “Maybe a bow and arrow would be better.”
    “The crossbows are more powerful. Once the string is cocked not as much arm strength is needed.” He pulled one of the arrows out and turned it around in his hand.
    He located two crossbows and two sets of arrows. For safety, these arrows were not as sharp as those used for hunting, but they would pierce a target just fine, so they might do some damage at close range. “You ever use one of these before?”
    She shook her head. He took a moment to show her how to cock the string and place the arrow in. He held the bow up to eye level. “Once the arrow is in place, you just look down your sight and pull the trigger.”
    Even as he instructed her, he prayed it wouldn’t come to having to use these things to defend themselves. They stepped out of the cabin with the crossbows in their hands and the quivers slung over their shoulders.
    They moved cautiously, slipping behind buildings and trees for cover. The smell of smoke became evident as they approached three identical buildings. All the buildings were long with small windows lining the long side.
    The sky had begun to lighten up. They hid behind a large evergreen. Nathan could make out the smoke rising from one chimney. He tapped Merci’s shoulder and pointed. She nodded in understanding. He signaled that she should stay behind while he moved in to see what he could.
    Again, she nodded in agreement and settled down at the base of the tree. Crouching, he ran toward the next bit of cover, a woodpile that hadn’t been stacked yet. When he looked back, Merci was leaning out, watching him.
    He gripped his crossbow in his gloved hand and darted for the final bit of cover, the dorm closest to them. The thieves were in the middle dorm. He was about to edge around the corner to the short side of the dorm when he heard a