Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16 Mel wasn't the only one who saw the grizzly. From somewhere behind her, back up the hill, Mel heard voices and clapping. "There's a grizzly!" a man shouted. "The show's about to start!" Flashlight beams lit up the bear, which was about twenty feet in front of Mel. Its eyes glowed green in the lights. And those eyes were drilling

right into Mel. She didn't move. She didn't breathe or blink. Stay calm. Stay calm. Stay calm. She just had to walk away, get back to the chalet. Like she had the other night at the cabin. But something about this grizzly kept Mel's feet glued to the ground. It was coming toward her without making a sound. Its ears were pinned back. It was acting just like the sow that had attacked Steve. And Mel knew — in her bones — that this grizzly wasn't going to just let her back away. It saw her as a threat. To its food. That ditch was right behind her. The air smelled of garbage mixed with fresh food. The workers had probably already dumped some of tonight's leftovers — the bait, to get the grizzly to come for the "show." The cheers and whoops were getting louder. People obviously had no idea Mel was down

there. Their flashlights were pointed at the bear. The beams danced around, stabbing at the grizzly's eyes. She had no doubt that the lights were making the grizzly even more furious. Stop! Mel wanted to scream. But she was afraid to make a sound. Her only hope was to drop down and play dead. She prayed the attack would be quick. She realized she had no pack strapped to her back. No thick hiking boots. Nothing to protect her but her light T-shirt and shorts. She thought of that scar on Steve's leg. She had only seconds to decide what to do. Play dead, play dead, she told herself. But then she noticed a pine tree, in front of a big bush. She knew that grizzlies could climb. But most didn't. Should she risk it? Before Mel knew what she was doing, she had kicked off her flip-flops and was sprinting toward the tree. The bear was just a few feet behind when Mel launched herself upward. She gripped a low

branch, kicked her legs up, and swung them around. Too late. The grizzly was right there. With lightning speed, it rose up and swiped at Mel with its paw. Its claws stabbed into her thigh, ripping open her flesh. Mel gasped at the pain. But she managed to pull herself higher before the bear could knock her down with another swipe. Now the grizzly was even more enraged. The frail tree shook as the grizzly pounded against it with its paws. Graaaaaawrrrrr! Suddenly a man shouted, "Wait! There's a girl in the tree!" The cheering and clapping stopped. It became eerily silent. All Mel could hear was the bear's low, hissing breaths. A woman shouted, "We need to help her!" And then… Crack!

The branch snapped, and Mel fell into the darkness.