J Moncrieff - Return to Dyatlov Pass

“I volunteer to take the first shift. Lana, you should bunk with Nat and Andrew tonight. It’s not safe to stay by yourself. Vasily, you can share with me and Igor,” Steven said.

Nat fully expected the Mansi to refuse, but to her surprise he nodded and went to collect his sleeping bag. It would be damn crowded in their little two-person tent, but she’d feel better knowing a strong, healthy person was with them. Given Andrew’s current condition, he wouldn’t be of much use to her in a fight.

“I’ll stay with you,” Igor told Steven. “You should not be alone.”

“No, you have to get your rest. We’re going to need your strength tomorrow. I’ll be fine. If I see anything, I’ll yell my head off, I promise.”

Nat gently shook Andrew by the shoulder. “Andy?” She was relieved when her producer moaned. “Andy, it’s time to go to bed. Can you walk to the tent? I’ll help you.”

Between her and the Russian, they got Andrew to his feet. “I’m so exhausted,” he said. “I can’t remember feeling this tired in my life.”

“All the better reason to go to bed. Come on.” Hugging her friend around his waist, she was grateful for Igor’s help as he supported Andrew’s other side. He’s not going to be better by tomorrow. The terrible thought flashed through her mind before she could stop it. No matter what, she would never leave Andrew behind. Was Steven right? Did that make her selfish?

Once they reached the tent, Andrew recovered enough energy to crawl inside his sleeping bag. Nat gave the Russian a hug.

“Thanks, Igor.”

“No problem. I am right beside you, okay? You need anything, you yell for me and I will come.”

“Okay, I will. Thank you.”

It was comforting to know Igor would be close by, although if Vasily were correct about the snowmen’s size and strength, it wouldn’t make much difference. If the creatures were determined to destroy them, their group wouldn’t stand a chance.

Leaving the flap partially open for Lana, Nat scrambled into her own sleeping bag. Remembering how the Dyatlov group had been found in their socks, she made the decision to keep her boots on, though that would make it more difficult to get in and out of the bag.

Somewhat settled, she stared into the darkness, waiting for Lana.

Nat’s eyes fluttered open. It took her a moment to remember where she was. She sat bolt upright and regretted it immediately as the blood rushed from her head, making her dizzy.

Beside her, Andrew snored softly, his breathing deep and even. His color was better, and he wasn’t making that nasty wheezing sound any longer. All good signs. Still, something nagged at her. What was it?

Lana. The Olympian was supposed to have shared a tent with them, but there was no sign she’d ever arrived. The flap was partly unzipped, the way Nat had left it the night before. Shit.

Struggling to free herself from her sleeping bag, she tried to tell herself there were lots of innocent explanations for Lana’s absence. Maybe she’d decided to stay with Steven—Nat had detected more than a few sparks between them. Or perhaps it was too crowded in here and she had decided to remain in her own tent. There was no need to panic.

Tell that to her heart, which was fluttering like a crazed bird bent on escape.

Finally yanking her boots free of the sleeping bag, Nat lifted the tent flap, wincing at the blast of wintery air. It was definitely getting colder. At least they’d be leaving today. The trick was surviving one more night on the mountain, and then they’d be back in their cozy hotel, planning the long journey home.

She could hardly wait to eat a meal that hadn’t come out of a foil packet.

Igor sat beside the fire, idly stirring the embers with a stick. The flames weren’t as high as they had been last night, but she could feel the warmth from a few feet away. The pile of kindling had dwindled. That would need to be the first order of business, after she made sure Lana was okay.

He grinned when he saw her approach. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Igor. Did you sleep well?”

“Shockingly, yes. I must have been more tired than I thought. How about you?”

“Too well, apparently.” At his look of confusion, Nat hurried to explain. “I wanted to stay awake until Lana came in, but I must have fallen asleep. Have you seen her this morning?”

“No. Is she not in your tent?”

“It doesn’t look like she ever joined us. I guess she decided to stay in hers. Can’t say I blame her. It would have been very crowded with the three of us.”

“Doesn’t matter. We needed to stick together; that’s what we decided. She should have stayed with you.”

“I’m going to check on her, make sure she’s okay. That’s all I care about right now.”

Dread loomed over Nat as she walked to the woman’s tent. Next to the Mansi’s, it was closest to the forest. Craning her neck, she tried to see if the plate of food Steven had left was empty, but it was too far away.

“Lana?” Nat kept her voice low, not wanting to wake Steven and Vasily if she didn’t have to. “Lana, are you in there?”

There was no response, but she hadn’t expected any. The Olympian had been so scared about staying alone last night. She wouldn’t have done it willingly. Kneeling, Nat unzipped the tent, shaking off the feeling she was intruding. Lana had given up the right to privacy when she hadn’t joined them.

Part of her, a tiny, ugly part that would always be tormented by Anubha’s ruined face, had expected to find some awful scene, but Lana’s tent was neat. Neat and empty, except for a note. The blonde had folded it so it stood up on its own like a place card.

This was good. Murder victims didn’t have time to write letters. But where was Lana’s stuff? Nat had a feeling that whatever Lana had to say, it wasn’t going to make her happy. Pulling off a glove with her teeth, she unfolded the paper.

I’m sorry but I can’t stay here. I’ve gone on to the second camp, where Nat and Igor stayed with Andrew on the first night. I’ll wait there for one day, but if I don’t see you, I’ll continue on to Vizhai and meet you there. Forgive me.

“That stupid bitch. That stupid, selfish bitch.”

“Nat?” Igor called her from right outside the tent, making her jump. “Is everything all right?”

“She left us. She fucking left us.”

There was a rustling sound as Igor poked his head inside. “What do you mean, ‘left us’?”

“See for yourself.” Nat waved her arms at the empty tent before thrusting the note into the Russian’s hand. “How she got past Steven is beyond me. Unless he was in on it.”

Then she heard the voice of the man himself. “What’s going on? What happened?” The mountaineer pulled the flap aside and stared at them, his face drawn and anxious.

“Lana left. She went to the second camp without us,” Igor said, passing Steven the letter.

“You must have seen her leave,” Nat said, trying and failing to keep the accusation out of her voice. “She would have had to pass you.”

“Well, I didn’t. Obviously. If I’d seen her, she wouldn’t have gotten very far.” The mountaineer scowled. “What a colossally stupid risk to take. She could have broken her neck, navigating that slope at night.”

With Igor crouched beside her and Steven blocking the entrance, Nat felt claustrophobic. She pushed past the two men, grateful for the fresh air outside, even though it was freezing. They followed her out. “Maybe she left in the morning. At dawn, before I woke up and saw she was missing. She might not be too far ahead.”

“That would have been Igor’s shift. Did you hear or see anything?” Steven asked.