Maurice froze. Wait… She actually pulled that off? Not only did Felicia survive, but she even had the audacity to give him the finger.

And just like that, Maurice burst into laughter—a full-throated, chest-shaking laugh that echoed across the enclosure. Everyone else was completely baffled. But there was no denying it—Felicia had defied every expectation. What everyone thought would be her gruesome end had become an incredible display of survival. Step by step, she had lured the crocodiles into attacking each other, narrowly avoiding their jaws and emerging unscathed. Some of the men breathed sighs of relief; her death would have spelled trouble for Maurice.

Not everyone was happy, though. In the shadows, Abbie's face twisted in frustration. It was bad enough that she was disfigured by the crocodiles. Now, watching Felicia not only survive but triumph? It was unbearable. Why should Felicia escape when she couldn't? Jealousy churned within her. Then an idea struck her—Maurice's other "pet," the bear living just beyond the enclosure.

The thought brought a smile to Abbie's lips, but she didn't dare suggest it. Maurice was too unpredictable. One wrong move, and she'd be back in that crocodile pool. But then, as if reading her mind, Maurice casually said, "Open the gate to the next enclosure. Let the bear out."

Abbie's heart skipped a beat. Was this guy telepathic?

The men moved quickly, unlocking the partition between the crocodile pool and the small forest where the grizzly bear resided. They created a commotion to lure the animal out. High in her tree, Felicia's stomach sank. The crocodiles had mostly retreated into the water after their bloody fight, leaving only the stench of death and blood. She'd thought she'd earned a respite.

Then she heard it. The ground shook slightly as a deep growl rumbled through the air. Moments later, a massive grizzly bear—easily over seven feet tall on all fours—appeared at the edge of her vision. Her gaze darted to Maurice, who tilted his head with a mocking grin that practically screamed, "Show me what you've got."

Felicia clenched her jaw and focused on the bear. At first, it didn't notice her. Perched high in the tree, concealed by leaves, the bear seemed more interested in sniffing the source of the noise. It wandered, clearly unsettled but not aggressive.

Then Maurice, the lunatic he was, ordered someone to toss in a string of firecrackers. The bear froze, ears twitching. The sudden noise startled it into a frenzy. It bolted, crashing into Felicia's tree in its panic. The impact shook the tree violently. Felicia clung to the trunk with all her strength, her heart hammering as she nearly lost her grip. Somehow, she managed to stay on, but just barely. Unfortunately, the bear lifted its eyes and locked onto her.

Time seemed to freeze as man and beast stared each other down. The bear's roar shattered the tension, and it reared back on its hind legs before slamming into the tree with all its weight. Felicia was livid, barely able to contain her rage.