Page 23 of Craving Chaos

A boulder the size of a city bus lifts from my chest.

We have shelter. We’re going to survive the night.

When I set Shae’s feet back on the ground, there’s a lingering second before she pulls away.

“We should work on getting inside and gather some firewood before it’s completely dark.” She keeps her eyes averted to the cabin.

I go to the door and knock. “Hey there! Anyone home?” I call plenty loud so anyone in the area can hear, then squat to examine the lock. “You still have that pocketknife by chance?”

“Shit, no. It’s buried back in the plane rubble.”

“Maybe there’s something in the first-aid kit that will be useful.” I’d rather not damage the door trying to get in. A cabin isn’t nearly as helpful against the cold with the door busted down.

“While you work on that, I’ll gather some wood.” She gets to work while I open the kit and start searching through its contents. The canvas bag is surprisingly well-equipped. Aside from medical necessities, there’s a sewing kit, several glucose pouches, and the basics for a water filter. Among the medical supplies, I find a pair of metal tweezers. I pull them apart like I would a wishbone, then use one of the broken halves to pry at the deadbolt. I figure I have a better chance of sliding the bolt in from the side rather than trying to pick the lock. The wood is relatively young, and after some wiggling, I can feel the end of the tweezer hit metal. I work the tool back and forth while giving the door a little shake until it finally gives way.

Fuck, yes.

I barely get a look inside when I hear Shae call my name again, but this time, there’s no question her voice is dripping with fear.

I whirl around and see tiny Shae holding a bundle of sticks with a giant bear not ten feet from her. He’s sniffing the ground and shifting his weight from side to side like a fighter waiting for the bell to ring. I don’t understand what the fuck a bear is doing out in the middle of winter. Don’t they hibernate? At the same time, I should have known something like this would happen right when we thought we were in the clear. Nothing could ever be so simple as a warm, empty cabin where Shae is concerned.

Even in the middle of winter with no food, this thing has to be a solid four hundred pounds. One hit would drop her for good.

“Don’t. Move,” I tell her calmly, while my insides are screaming.

“Boots,” she whispers. I … I think he followed … the blood … on your boots.” She speaks in quick, quiet bursts, and though I told her not to move, she’s slowly inching backward. My guess is, she doesn’t even realize she’s doing it.

The bear’s rocking intensifies before he lets out a deafening roar that sends my stomach barreling into my feet.

Jesus Christ, this is bad.

“Shae, I’m gonna count to three. On three, you toss the wood at his face and run for the cabin. Door’s open.”

“He’ll chase me.”

“The wood will stop him at first, and I’ll meet you halfway to keep him back. Your turn to trust me, okay?” I urge her gently but firmly.

Shae nods shakily.

I use my shoe to shove the first-aid kit through the door behind me then unzip my jacket.

“One.”

“Two.”

“Three.”

Shae does exactly as I said and tosses the branches at the bear, who rears back in surprise. At the same time, I shove my hands in my pockets, then lift my jacket up like a sail to make myself look as big as possible. I draw deep down to a primal part of me that never quite evolved and roar my fury. I let out all my frustration and anger about the past two days. I tap into the grief of my father’s death and release every pent-up emotion held captive since his loss.

I loose a battle cry my ancestors would have been proud of, and it works.

The bear pauses long enough for me to reach Shae. But the second I turn my back to follow her to the cabin, I see the bear lurch forward out of the corner of my eye. I sweep down and grab a branch that Shae had dropped and swing around to slam the thing like a bat across the bear’s face just as he swipes at me.

He pulls away and begins a retreat, but not before those monstrous claws rake across my upper arm. I ignore the pain and run as fast as I can for the cabin. Shae waits inside, slamming the door shut behind me the second I’m through.

“Shit, Renzo. You’re bleeding.”

CHAPTER 12

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