SierrawasPaul’sdaughter.
It'snowondertheseeminglykind-hearteddirectorresortedtosuchblatantliestoprotecther.

Thankfully,myforesightallowedmetocopythefootage.
Withoutit,andwiththevideosdeletedandmycolleaguesturningagainstme,I’dhavehadnodefense.
Athome,Iduplicatedthefootage,thenrested.
Dayslater,mybruisesfaded,andacolleaguecalled,urgingmeback—fluseasonleftthezooshort-staffed.
Ireturned,takingoverfeedingduties.
OnethingthatbotheredmewasSierra.IfshewasPaul'sdaughter,whywasshefollowingmearoundandhelpingmeafterourclash?

Suspicious,Istayedvigilant.
Duringtiger-feeding,disasterstruck.
AsSierraandIentered,thetigers’eyessnappedopen,andtheystartedtoactaggressivelytowardsus.
Havingbeenraisedincaptivity,thesetigerswereusuallydocileandhadnevershownsuchbloodlustbefore.

Asickfeelingsettledinmystomach.Iturnedaround,onlytofindthatSierrahadfledandlockedmeinsidethecage.
Shesmirkedandsaid,“Natalie,thisisagiftfrommeandbigbro.Likeit?”
Thetigers,whichhadoncebeenplump,weregaunt,starvedsinceIleft.
Thezoo,whichpreachedanimalwelfare,starvedtigerstokillme,framingitasanaccidenttododgepastblame.
Myheartpoundedviolentlyinmychestasthetigers,andtheireyesglowingredwithhunger.
Outside,tourists’voicesrose—despitetheareabeingclosed.
Connorappeared,guidingatourgroup,glaringatme.
Thenitdawnedonme.Sierramusthavetakenthelock.Afterall,thecagecouldonlybesecuredfromtheinside.
IfImanagedtoescape,thetigerswouldfollow,attackingvisitors.
TheywerebankingonthefactthatI’dsacrificemyself,lockingmyselfintodie.
WhyshouldIdiefortheirevilscheme?
Asthetigersformedasemicircle,Ihurledmybucketofchickensintheoppositedirection,sprintingastheypouncedonthebait.
Windroaredinmyears.Icouldn’tstop.
Luckilyforme,thecaptive-bredtigersfoundthechickensmoreenticing.
Unluckily,Sierrastillhadthelock.
Ibracedthedoorwithmybody,knowingmystrengthwasnomatchfortigers.
Seeingapproachingtourists,Ishouted,“Anemployeestolethelock!It’sdangerous—run!”
Connor,clearlyshockedthatIhadescaped,grabbedhismegaphone.“Nopanic—thisisanewzooskit.Exciting,right?”
Touristslaughed,relaxed.“Coolshow!Scaredme!”
“Isthatwomanreallyanactor?Looksreal,butthecageisunlocked…”
Furious,Iyelled,“Thesetigershavebeenstarvedfordays!They’llbreakout!”
“Hidenow,oryou’llnevergetanotherchance!”