Part of him screamed to run inside, lock the doors, and forget this surreal encounter. But something in the bear’s manner tugged at him. He couldn’t abandon what might be a person in danger. Steadying himself, Mike followed—every nerve in his body on high alert.
He entered the forest’s edge, the faint glow from the hotel’s floodlight fading. Twisted branches swayed overhead, casting dancing shadows on the ground. The bear led him further, never once glancing back. With every step, Mike questioned his sanity, imagining the bear’s teeth closing in.