Thegirlwastooscaredtosayaword.
Whilewewerewaitingforherparents,Sierra,nowchanged,struttedover.
“Natalie,Iknowyou’rejealousofmybadassvibe—everyonelovesme.Youtriedtogetmekilled.”

“Doyourealizehowmanyinnocentpeopleyouputindanger?”
Herattempttomanipulatememademefurious.Ikickedhertothegroundandsaid,“Thinkbeforeyouspeak—Ijustsavedyourmiserablelife!”
Sierra,withherglamorouslookand“coolgirl”persona,alwaysplayedthetoughinfluencer,cooing“littlebro”toherfans.
Now,lyingontheground,shedroppedheractandstartedsobbing“Iwasterrified,andyouhitme,youbrute!”
Islappedhertwiceandsaid,“Wholetyouopenthecage?Wholetyouwearblood-scentedperfumenearapredator?”
“Sierra,ifIhadn’tshownup,howmanypeoplewould’vedied?”

Stunned,shewailed,“Whyblameme?Youdidn’tsecurethekeys!”
Herdefianceonlyaddedtomyrage—amixofmypastandpresenthatred.Iraisedmyhand,butakicksentmesprawling.
Myrightarm,whichhadbeenstrainedfromcarryingthegirl,hitatable,painsearing.
BeforeIcouldreact,aslapstungmyface.

“Natalie,howdareyouattackacoworker?ApologizetoSierra!”
Iclutchedmycheekandstooduptofacehim.“Connor,ifIremembercorrectly,you’remyboyfriend.”
Hehesitatedforamoment,thensnapped,“Doesn’tmatterwhoIam.Youattackedacolleague—that’swrong!I’mstandingforjustice!”
Justice?Ilaughedbitterly.“Shebroketherulesandnearlycausedadisaster.Asteamlead,youdon’tdisciplineher,butlecturemeaboutjustice?”
Connor,fixatedonSierra’stears,glared.“Ifyou’dbeenvigilant,shewouldn’thavegottenthekeys.Ifanyone’spunished,it’syoufornegligence!”
Despiteknowinghisbetrayal,hiswordsnearlymademefaint.
BeforeIcouldargue,ManagerGregLarsonstormedinwithcolleagues.
Seeingthechaos,hehandedSierratissuesandwaitedforhertocalmdownbeforehespoke.
“Natalie,whogaveyouthegutstoattackacoworkeranduseatranquilizergun?”
Facingmypast-lifeaccusers,Iseethed.“Greg,thinkproperly.IfIhadn’tacted,thiszoowouldbeshutdownforfatalities!”
Heshotmeavenomouslook.“Noexcuses,Natalie.Thisisyourfault.”
“You,asenioremployee,failedtosecurethekeys—that’sone.”
“Youdidn’ttrainnewstaff,endangeringthem—that’stwo.”
“Youusedthetranquilizergun,scaringtourists—that’sthree.”
“Multipleoffenses.Writeaconfessionandresign.”
Colleaguesgaspedathisabsurdity.
Sierra,smirkingandsaidinherinfluencer-liketone,“Natalie,stillstandingthere?Greg’sbeinglenient,lettingyouquit.”
Isneered,kickingopentheofficedoor,addressingthegatheredtourists.
“Youallsawmetranquilizethebearandthuspreventatragedy.However,myteamleadandmanagerareprotectingtheidiotwhoprovokedit.Please,helpmegetjustice!”
Therescuedgirlrantome,crying,“Shesavedme!Don’tbullyher!”
TouristspointedatSierra’sgroup.
“Theyblind?WesawNataliesavetheday.”
“Betthey’recoveringforSierra—eitherthey’reintoherorthere’sadeal.”
Connor’sfacedarkened.“Enough!YouonlysawNatalie’s‘heroics,’notherscheme!”
“SheluredSierratostreaminthecageandspikedthebear’sfoodtomakeitaggressive!”