Sierra pulled her coat tighter against the cold and started down the sidewalk. The street was mostly deserted, and the flickering lights overhead made her shadow dance on the pavement. Her black high heels echoed loudly. Regretting her decision to leave Zeke behind more and more by the minute, Sierra rounded the corner on to the street where her car was parked.
There was the Prius, parked on the corner, thirty feet away from her. Eric was leaning against it.
CHAPTER 7
“End of the line, buttercup.” he said. “Here’s the deal. You come over here like a good little reporter and I’ll bite you. Promise it won’t hurt too much. You try to run, I’ll rip your head off and eat it. What’s your vote?”
Sierra, cold terror clenching her insides, turned from him and ran. She kicked of her shoes and bolted down an alley way, her stocking feet splashing in the cold puddles of rainwater. She heard Eric take off after her.
Halfway down the alley, she heard the sound of fabric ripping and chanced a brief glance backward. Eric was shifting into bear form without breaking stride. Currently half man, half monster, he came at her on all fours. She wretched her eyes away and turned back just in time to narrowly avoid tripping over a trash can.
The muscles in her legs screamed as she tried to push herself faster, knowing she couldn’t possibly outrun a bear. She burst out of the alley way and ran into the street. Cars swerved and honked as she cut through their path. She heard a thud and a roar as one of them struck Eric and chanced another glance backward. He was sprawled onto his back, bleeding, but was growling at her as he climbed up again.
Sierra ran up the street and back towards the gallery, fervently praying Zeke had noticed her absence by now. He was fast, so much faster than her. She could feel his hot breath on her, just behind her now. One great paw reached up and scratched her across her back, knocking her down to her knees just as she reached the gallery doors. Eric stood on his hind legs, towering over her prone figure and roared.
The gallery doors flung open. Zeke and Damon came rushing out. They were followed by James, who was fearlessly snapping pictures. The repeated camera flash shone in Eric’s small, black eyes.
Eric looked around wildly. Everyone inside the gallery had their faces pressed against the glass, watching the scene. Crowds of passersby had gathered, keeping a safe distance as they took pictures and videos on their cell phones. Sierra realized very quickly the mistake Eric had made, the one he himself was coming to realize. He had exposed himself. It wasn’t exactly commonplace to see a wild black bear chasing people through downtown. This would be all over the news.
After one last look at her Eric began to back away, then turned and fled. People screamed as he passed them on the sidewalk. Paying them no notice, he turned down an alley and was gone.
Zeke pulled her to her feet, babbling apologies faster than his brain could form the words. Suddenly she was surrounded by people. Molly was hugging her. James was still taking pictures. Everyone was asking questions. She could see flashing blue and red lights approaching in the distance. Blind terror followed by sharp relief had made everything a little hazy.
Trying to pull herself together, she was able to focus in on Damon, who was holding out a phone to her.
“He wants to talk to you.” he said.
*
Escaped Bear Attacks Journalist
Sierra Christie
Though it is illegal to trap and keep wild animals as pets in Washington, that doesn’t always stop people. Far from the usual possums and stray cats enthusiasts may desire to adopt, Gerald Gregory is wanted for reckless endangerment after his pet bear terrorized the city streets of downtown Olympia last night. The wild black bear had been raised from a cub in Gregory’s basement, going
There was the Prius, parked on the corner, thirty feet away from her. Eric was leaning against it.
CHAPTER 7
“End of the line, buttercup.” he said. “Here’s the deal. You come over here like a good little reporter and I’ll bite you. Promise it won’t hurt too much. You try to run, I’ll rip your head off and eat it. What’s your vote?”
Sierra, cold terror clenching her insides, turned from him and ran. She kicked of her shoes and bolted down an alley way, her stocking feet splashing in the cold puddles of rainwater. She heard Eric take off after her.
Halfway down the alley, she heard the sound of fabric ripping and chanced a brief glance backward. Eric was shifting into bear form without breaking stride. Currently half man, half monster, he came at her on all fours. She wretched her eyes away and turned back just in time to narrowly avoid tripping over a trash can.
The muscles in her legs screamed as she tried to push herself faster, knowing she couldn’t possibly outrun a bear. She burst out of the alley way and ran into the street. Cars swerved and honked as she cut through their path. She heard a thud and a roar as one of them struck Eric and chanced another glance backward. He was sprawled onto his back, bleeding, but was growling at her as he climbed up again.
Sierra ran up the street and back towards the gallery, fervently praying Zeke had noticed her absence by now. He was fast, so much faster than her. She could feel his hot breath on her, just behind her now. One great paw reached up and scratched her across her back, knocking her down to her knees just as she reached the gallery doors. Eric stood on his hind legs, towering over her prone figure and roared.
The gallery doors flung open. Zeke and Damon came rushing out. They were followed by James, who was fearlessly snapping pictures. The repeated camera flash shone in Eric’s small, black eyes.
Eric looked around wildly. Everyone inside the gallery had their faces pressed against the glass, watching the scene. Crowds of passersby had gathered, keeping a safe distance as they took pictures and videos on their cell phones. Sierra realized very quickly the mistake Eric had made, the one he himself was coming to realize. He had exposed himself. It wasn’t exactly commonplace to see a wild black bear chasing people through downtown. This would be all over the news.
After one last look at her Eric began to back away, then turned and fled. People screamed as he passed them on the sidewalk. Paying them no notice, he turned down an alley and was gone.
Zeke pulled her to her feet, babbling apologies faster than his brain could form the words. Suddenly she was surrounded by people. Molly was hugging her. James was still taking pictures. Everyone was asking questions. She could see flashing blue and red lights approaching in the distance. Blind terror followed by sharp relief had made everything a little hazy.
Trying to pull herself together, she was able to focus in on Damon, who was holding out a phone to her.
“He wants to talk to you.” he said.
*
Escaped Bear Attacks Journalist
Sierra Christie
Though it is illegal to trap and keep wild animals as pets in Washington, that doesn’t always stop people. Far from the usual possums and stray cats enthusiasts may desire to adopt, Gerald Gregory is wanted for reckless endangerment after his pet bear terrorized the city streets of downtown Olympia last night. The wild black bear had been raised from a cub in Gregory’s basement, going
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