Chapter 16: Chapter Sixteen--Grizzly Adams Got Nothing On Me
I really like him,” Lola said.
I moved a branch, precariously hanging off a tree from my face. The incline ahead of us was steep, riddled with damaged trunks. “Syber seems cool.”
“Oh, he is. I’ve never met a guy who’s as considerate, yet so spicy he gives a triple hot taco from the Mex Shack a run for its money.”
“I get that.”
Lola hopped onto a leaf covered rock. She balanced on one foot, head bobbing and humming to her current life’s tune. The girl was a walking jukebox. “He actually puts up with me. No matter what crazy babble comes out my mouth, he doesn’t stare at me as if I’d grown a second head. He laughs at my jokes and is funny himself. That kid has one twisted sense of humor.”
“Then you’ll get along smashingly, I’m sure.”
“Don’t you know it! And let’s not forget he has a body built to ride into the sunset. Mm, mm, mm.” She hopped to a smaller rock.
I pursed my lips, studying her. Such carefree happiness. Did I dare put a wrench into the works? My curiosity burned, surely, I could pump her for information, and still let Lola keep her safe little bubble. “Have you noticed anything strange about him?”
“Strange?” Her flip flops smacked her heels as she skipped along.
“Yeah, a certain…wildness, I guess.”
She beamed. “Oh, yeah. Syber has totally got the whole alpha male thing going on.” She tapped her chin. “Why? Is there something you aren’t telling me? Did Kalvyn tell you some nasty secret about him, and you’re too scared to tell me?”
“No.”
She shrugged. “Then what’s the beef here? You’re acting all suspicious. Not that’s new, for you, anyway.”
“Are you sure you haven’t seen something you can’t explain?”
“Like?”
I laughed nervously. “His eyes glowing?”
She scrunched her nose.
“Yeah, I know. That sounded messed up, but I’m serious.” I refused to get into the whole growing sharp teeth thing.
She felt my forehead. “Are you feeling okay, Kat?”
I batted her away. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a question, is all.”
“Ahh, well, I’ll keep on eye out for any freaky stuff.” She patted my shoulder.
“You’re mocking me in your head.”
“Damn straight I am, and close to letting it all hang out. I think you drank major crazy juice this morning. Or maybe that blue stuff.”
“The party juice is definitely something else.”
“But so good.”
We walked side by side for what seemed like an hour. No birds chirped. No insects flew into our faces. Something about it was unnatural.
My stomach clenched. “You know where we’re headed?”
She waved ahead of us. “That way.”
“No shit, really? No destination in mind?”
“Hell no. What’s the point in that?”
A wave of dizziness hit me out of nowhere. Every hair on my arms stood on end.
“That I’ve been following your lead for three hours.”
She gave me a thumbs up, all mischievous smiles. “Hey, I thought I was following you.”
Couldn’t she feel the impending dread?
“I was following you. Then where are we?” Urgency rode me hard, put me away wet and broken.
We had to leave. Run. Now.
A roar shattered the still mountain air. Lola and I whirled in opposite directions.
“What was that?” she whispered.
“Well.” I tittered, just this side of hysterical. “Call me crazy again, but I think it was that Grizzly bear.”
Fifteen feet from us, tossing his head and flared his nostrils, the massive bear swiped his claws in our direction. He roared. Nothing in his eyes suggested I’d play dead effectively, or make it up a tree, before he did.
Lola shook her head. “Yeah. That is certainly what is looks like.”
Mr. I’m Going To Kill You And Eat Your Intestines pushed himself onto his back paws—feet. Whatever the hell they were called. Claws dug into the dirt. Any second now, we were done like dinner. He’d launch and clear the space between us.
Lola shifted restlessly.
“Shh,” I urged. “Don’t move. Don’t meet his gaze.”
“Stop, drop and roll,” she babbled.
“You idiot,” I hissed. “That’s a fire.”
The bear bayed. It would charge. Would definitely kill us. The bear’s ribcage protruded from his body. When was the last time he’d eaten? Feasibly, a territorial animal wasn’t nearly so dangerous as a hungry one. We were so fucked. My brain melted right then and there.
“Climb the tree.”
“You just told me not to move! Don’t bears climb trees?”
“I think that’s black bears.”
“No! You’re right. Don’t move. It might piss it off. Play dead?”
The bear thundered back onto the ground. A step closer, a snort. The sense of peril tripled. Our gazes clashed. Why the hesitation? Another predator? What wild animal would put off a bear?