Chapter 7

"If you're going to eat someone, eat me! Don't you dare hurt Ansel!" Adeline shouted.

Ansel huddled behind her without a shred of guilt. When he caught sight of Elias in the front seat, he shouted at him, "Elias, why aren't you getting out of the car? Are you just going to sit there and watch Adeline get hurt?"

As the bear's claws came down again and again, Adeline dropped her earlier hesitation. "Elias, get out first and draw it away, or it's going to drag Ansel off!"

Elias had thought nothing could stir his feelings anymore, but he still felt like his heart had been stabbed. Adeline was willing to sacrifice him just to keep Ansel alive.

In the next instant, the bear accidentally hit the door handle and yanked the door open with a bang. Almost immediately, it thrust its body inside, seized Adeline by the leg, and dragged her out of the car.

Adeline fainted from sheer terror, while Ansel stayed curled up in the corner as if it had nothing to do with him.

Elias reached out to stop it, but he was no match for the bear's strength. The bear dragged Adeline to the ground. Just as it was about to sink its teeth into her neck, Elias charged out with every ounce of strength he had left and used his body weight and momentum to knock it aside.

He shielded Adeline behind him and, weak as he was, forced himself to stand his ground against the bear. Behind him, Adeline murmured deliriously, "Help me... Somebody, please help me."

Elias glanced back at her, and the thought crossed his mind that he might die here today.

Furious at losing the meal that had been right in its mouth, the bear let out a frenzied roar. Once it had vented its rage, it lunged at Elias.

At the last possible second, a gunshot rang out from the sky. The bullet tore through the bear, and it dropped to the ground. A helicopter was flying toward them, and the rescue team member who'd fired the shot stood in the open doorway, looking down at them.

"It's the rescue team! We're saved!" Ansel came running out of the car, waving his arms and shouting.

Adeline slowly came to. When she saw the bear's body on the ground, she shrank back in fear. Elias took off his jacket and draped it over her. "You're safe now."

Only then did Adeline clutch his jacket tightly, gazing up at him like someone who'd just narrowly escaped death.

Elias was taken aback for a moment, because the look on her face made it seem as if she still had feelings for him.

Before long, the helicopter hovered nearby, and a rope ladder was lowered. A rescue worker climbed down, took in the situation, and shook his head.

"The helicopter is packed with survivors we've already pulled off the mountain. We only have room for two more right now, so you'll have to decide among yourselves. It's best to send whoever's in the worst shape first."

Adeline froze for a moment, her gaze shifting between Elias and Ansel. In the end, her eyes settled on Ansel once again. "Elias, Ansel's really weak. Let him go first."

Elias's expression turned bitter. When danger struck, that man shoved Adeline out in front of himself, and she still chose him.

When Elias stayed silent, Adeline hesitated, then added, "Once Ansel and I are safe, I promise I'll have the rescue team come back for you!"

Elias had known all along that he would never be the one Adeline chose. But when she actually decided to leave him behind, a wave of grief still welled up inside him.

He watched helplessly as Adeline and Ansel walked toward the helicopter, which might have been his last chance at survival.

Adeline climbed up the rope ladder. Ansel hesitated behind her and said he'd forgotten something. He doubled back and crept up behind Elias, then picked up a rock and brought it down hard on Elias' head.