The bear swings. Massive paws with claws like knives.
I see it happen. See the claws rake across Marco’s face. Cheekbone to jaw. A spray of red that looks black in the dim light.
Another swipe. His forehead. His collarbone.
Blood everywhere.
So much blood.
Marco goes down.
The bear is on top of him. Tearing. Ravaging.
I’m staring. Frozen. Watching the man I love get mauled to death.
And something inside me just... breaks.
Not breaks like shattering.
Breaks like a dam bursting.
All the fear. All the trauma. All the years of being terrified of these woods.
It just drains away.
Replaced by something cold and robotic and utterly fearless.
I lean down to Ben. My voice doesn’t shake. “No matter what you hear, keep your eyes closed.”
“Jess?” Her voice is so small.
“Close. Your. Eyes.”
I reach for the bear spray at my waist.
It’s not there.
Fuck.
The pack.
I moved it to the pack.
I drop to my knees. Grab my pack with hands that don’t shake anymore. Find the canister. Remove the safety pin exactly like Marco taught me.
The bear is still on him. Still attacking. But Marco’s doing something. Fighting back somehow. The bear’s making this horrible retching sound.
He shoved something down its throat.
I don’t think. Don’t hesitate.
I aim the canister. Press the trigger.
A long stream of orange spray hits the bear right in the face.
It screams. Actually screams. A sound I didn’t know bears could make.
It turns toward me. Eyes wild with rage and pain.
