Page 51 of Face Her Fear

Nicola walked in from the kitchen and joined him.

Josie positioned herself across the doorway. “What’s going on?”

Nicola folded her arms across her chest and glanced at Brian. He said, “We wanted to apologize to Sandrine. We were out of line. The stress of everything—Meg’s death, being stuck up here, not knowing when we’re getting rescued—it got to us.”

Josie looked over her shoulder to see Alice standing nearby. On her mattress, Sandrine sat cross-legged, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “What’s going on?” she asked.

Josie looked behind Nicola and Brian. “Where’s Taryn?”

Brian said, “She was with you guys.”

Alice drew up beside Josie, crowding into the doorway. “She said she was going up to her cabin.”

“How long ago was that?” asked Josie.

Alice laughed. “Time doesn’t exist here, remember?”

Josie looked from Nicola to Sandrine. “Was it before or after Nicola and Sandrine went up to their cabins?”

Alice glanced back at Sandrine, who was now on her feet, trudging toward them. “It was before Sandrine left.”

“Wait,” said Nicola. “Were you spying on us?”

“No,” said Josie. “I was in the rage room, trying to get service on my phone to see if there were any updates on when we might be rescued. I saw you walk up to your cabin and then later on you, Sandrine. I didn’t see Taryn. I did see the bear, though so I’m a little concerned that if Taryn walked up to her cabin, she’s not back yet. She doesn’t even have a lantern with her—all of them are over by the door—which means she’s in the dark.”

“Wait. You saw the bear?” asked Nicola. “Where?”

“Along the path,” said Josie.

Nicola elbowed Brian in the ribs. “We should go check on her. Do you still have the flashlight?”

“I have it but the batteries are dead.”

“We’ll just have to use the lanterns.” Josie walked over to the door. “I’ll go with you.”

“Me too,” said Alice.

Brian threw his arms up in the air. “Why don’t we all go, then?”

Sandrine walked out of the breakout room, pulling her sweater tight around her. “I’ll stay behind. I can throw something together for dinner while you all get Taryn. I’m just glad to see you working together.”

Josie considered this. Leaving Sandrine alone while the rest of them were out searching for Taryn was probably the safest bet. She would not be at the mercy of Taryn, Nicola, or Brian and neither would Josie or Alice if they stuck together. “Okay,” she said. “Let’s go.”

THIRTY-THREE

Josie held her solar-powered lantern out in front of her, lighting the way up the path to the cabins. The moon was just a dull orb behind the clouds, barely giving off any illumination. Her boots slid against the snow. Now that it was evening, the temperature had dropped even lower, making the path icier and more treacherous. A hand clutched her upper arm, holding her upright so she didn’t fall. Alice said, “I’ve got you.”

Josie turned back and did another head count. Alice, Nicola, and Brian. Each one of them had brought their own lanterns. They didn’t give off much light, but it was something. Enough to see a bear approaching, she hoped. “Stay together,” she said.

“This is stupid,” Brian said. He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, “Taryn!”

They passed Sandrine’s cabin, then Nicola and Brian’s before stopping at the bottom of the steps to Taryn’s cabin.

From her periphery, Josie saw the lights behind her pitching back and forth. Alice said, “I’ll go in with you.”

“We’ll watch for the bear,” Brian said.

But the cabin was empty. Only Taryn’s tote bags remained. The edge of the binder about Sandrine peeked from the top of one of them. Alice didn’t notice. “Where is she?”

---