Page 73 of The Bleak Beginning

I guess I know who shot the arrow to keep my bag in place.

He raises an eyebrow. “Suit yourself, mudslide.” There’s that nickname again, like a slap in the face.

I didn’t need help from anyone, especially not a Legacy. If anything, he would probably sabotage my efforts and cause me to lose an eye.

How hard could it really be? I mean, if a Legacy could figure it out, I could too.

I grit my teeth and turn back to the target, determined to at least hit something. Anywhere on the target would be a win at this point. I draw back the string, trying to mimic the stance I’ve seen in movies. The arrow wobbles as I aim, my arms already shaking from the strain.

“You’re going to hurt yourself,” Camden warns from somewhere behind me.

I ignore him, focusing on the target. With a deep breath, I release the string. The arrow flies through the air with a sharp whistle, veering wildly off course. It sails past the target, over the safety netting, and disappears into the trees beyond with a faint rustle of leaves.

A chorus of laughter erupts from the group. My cheeks burn hot with embarrassment as I lower the bow, wishing I could disappear along with my wayward arrow.

“Nice shot,” Camden calls out mockingly. “I think you almost hit a chipmunk!”

I clench my jaw and grab another arrow. “A warmup,” I say to no one in particular.

“Clearly,” he replies dryly.

I notch the arrow again, determined to prove them wrong. This time, I take a moment to steady myself, breathing deeply and trying to tune out the snickering around me. I focus on the target, imagining Bishop’s face right at the center.

The arrow flies straighter this time, but still misses the target by a good few feet, embedding itself in the grass with a soft thud.At least it’s visible, I think grimly.

“Well, that was better,” Camden says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You managed to hit the ground this time.”

I whirl around to face him, my patience wearing thin. “I figured the ground needed a target more than your ego does.”

He steps forward, his smirk disappearing as he snatches the bow from my grip with a roughness that was unnecessary.

With fluid grace, he notches an arrow and draws back the string in one smooth motion. His stance is perfect, his aim unwavering. I hate to admit it, but he looks like he was born to do this.

“Watch and learn,” he says, his voice sure and confident.

The arrow flies true, striking the bullseye with a satisfying thunk. The onlookers cheer, and Camden turns to me with a smug grin.

“That’s how it’s done,” he says, pompously.

I feel blood rush to my face, a cocktail of humiliation and anger churning in my stomach. I want nothing more than to wipe that smirk off his face.

I snatch the bow from his grasp and quickly grab another arrow. My hands tremble as I pull back on the string, feeling the tension coursing through my muscles.

Camden turns back to me, his expression a mixture of smugness and pity. “Maybe you should just quit while your ahead and leave the real work to us Legacies.”

His comment goes unnoticed as I concentrate on steadying my hand. The world narrows to a pinpoint, the target swimming into focus as if by magic. I let the arrow fly.

Time seems to slow as it arcs through the air. For a heartbeat, I’m certain it will miss again. But then, impossibly, it strikes the target dead center, splitting Camden’s arrow clean down the middle.

The silence that follows is deafening. I lower the bow, my hands shaking as the reality of what I’ve just done sinks in. Camden’s jaw has gone slack, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“How…” he begins, but trails off, unable to finish the thought.

I’m just as shocked as he is, but I force myself to shrug nonchalantly. “Guess I’m a quick learner,” I say, shoving the bow back into his chest with the same strength he’d used on me before trudging off.

I duck behind a nearby pine tree, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. It’s only after I’m far enough away that I release the ragged breath I’d been holding. I can’t believe I just did that.Howdid I do that?

I take a deep breath to steady my trembling hand as I pull out my list again. They say the third time’s the charm, right?

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