Thegirlcriedout,shrieking,“Look!Sierrapushedmetoescape!”
“Shewantedthebeartogetme!”

ThecoupleglaredatSierracoldly.Immediately,bodyguardsformedacirclearoundme.
Sierra,realizingIhadevidence,lungedforwardandsmashedmyphone.“It’sfake!”
“Zoostaffwillbackme!”
Icalmlyfacedheroutburst.“Theywill—becauseyou’reDirectorKane’ssecretdaughter,Sierra.”
Paul,whohadbeenstandingquietlyinthecrowd,paled.“Natalie,don’tspreadlies!Ihavenodaughter!”
Iplayedthehospitalrecording.“You’llhearSierraadmititherself,”Isaid.

“Denyingyourownkidnow?”
“Ifyouhadn’tindulgedher,lettingherstealkeys,noneofthiswould’vehappened.”
“Tocoverhercrimeandstealmycredit,youstarvedtigerstotrapme,bettingI’ddie.”
“Didyouconsiderthetourists’safetyifitwentwrong?”

Touristseruptedinanger.“Theguide’sinonit!”
“Heartlessmonsters!”
Sierratriedtospeak,butthecrowdsurgedforward,kickingher,Paul,andConnortotheground,punchingandkickingthem.
Bloodpooledonthegroundassirenswailed.
Weweretakentothepolicestation.
Withthecouple’shelp—revealedasthestate’srichest—Ihiredatoplawyer,chargingthetriowithattemptedmurder.
Thestoryofusinganimalstocommitmurderwentviral,andpublicoutrageledtoharshsentences:lifeinprisonforallthree.
MybraveryintwiceavertingdisasterearnedmeSierra’scovetedfame,dubbed“America’sBravestZookeeper.”
Thegirlbecamemygoddaughter.Withherparents’support,Ileftthezoo,joiningtheircompany.
Sierra,unabletosurviveprison,diedmysteriously—likelyherenemies’doing.
Ididn’tcare.Iwasbusyworkingandstreaming,sharingzoostorieswithfans.
Sierra’snamefadedfrommystreams,andsoon,theinfluencerwhoriskedlivesforcloutwasforgotten.
Mycareersoaredtonewheights.Nolongerthebulliedzookeeper,Ithrived.
Sometimes,IrecalledSierra’swords:“Karmacomesforall.”
Theworld’scyclesprovedherright.