It wouldn’t have been funny if he hadn’t been bragging all morning about how good he was at archery, how he had his own bow and arrows at home.The counselor nodded along, but I’d seen him roll his eyes.
My friend Jacob and I watched.We were at this camp last year too.We knew how to use a bow.Even though Jacob’s younger than me, he’s really good at it.He almost always hits the center rings.I’m happy when I hit the paper.Still, I’m doing better this year.
The new kid bragged he always hits the bullseye, so the counselor told him to go first and show everyone how it’s done.When he missed the bale entirely, a bunch of us snickered, but the new kid glared at me.
I trip on a rock in the dark meadow.The moon is behind clouds now.
“You and all the other goddamn little shits need to apologize.That bow he gave me is a piece of crap.That’s why I missed.”He holds up the bow and arrows in his hand.“These are the good ones for hunting.Now you’ll see what I can do.”
My heart races at the swears.We aren’t allowed to curse.The counselors will call home if they hear us taking the Lord’s name in vain and swearing.The rule breaking of being out of our cabin at night leveled up.I’m in so much trouble.
“Go stand against the target,” he whisper-shouts.
I stop in my tracks.“What?”
“You heard me.I’ll show you what I can do.I hit an apple balanced on my friend’s head.”
Shaking, I back away.He lunges forward, grabs my arm, and drags me to the target.
“Should I go get that wimpy little friend of yours?Maybe he’ll be a better target.”His hand is bunched in my t-shirt when he slams me against the bale.Sharp pieces of dry hay stab at my arms and neck.
Sudden tears embarrass me.“Leave Jacob alone.”
“Then shut up and do as you’re told.”He shoves me against the bale again to make his point.
I don’t move.Terrified, I’m glued to the spot.
He moves back to the line where we shoot from.He’s whispering, but his voice carries in the quiet night.“When I hit the target right over your head, you can tell everybody I was telling the truth.That asshole counselor gave me a shitty bow.”
He smiles at me with those empty eyes, and I pee my pants.He takes aim.I’m shaking so hard, my teeth are chattering.I hear the twang of the bow string and then?—
ELEVEN
Target Practice
My eyes flashed open to Osso trying to hold me without touching any exposed skin.He stared at my face in horror and picked me up, carrying me over the tape.
The captain was beside us.“Rosen.Get the first aid kit.”
My left eye was watering.It felt like it was on fire.“What happened?”
Osso shook his head.“Your eye is bloody and there’s a huge black ring around it.”
I thought about what I’d seen as I slipped my glove back on.“He shot an arrow into my—his eye.”
“Who did?”the captain asked.
Rosen walked up with a first aid kit under her arm and a cold compress in her hand.“Put this on your eye.Last time, the injury didn’t last long.”Rosen had been with us when we’d been in a different forest, looking for a different child killer.
The cold did help dull the pain a bit.“I don’t know who,” I told the captain.“He was a kid too, though older than…Eli.”
“Eli?”Osso echoed.“That’s the victim’s name?”
I nodded.
Osso looked at his captain.“Hernández is doing research on this place.She’s been texting me updates.She says the last year they were open, they lost a camper named Eli Tate.He disappeared.They called in the cops and formed a search party, but he was never found.”
“Until now,” Rosen murmured.
