Race Against Time

Over-BEAR-ing

"And you haven't had any more visions since the boy in the fire?" Bailey asked, not looking up from her computer. She tended to do that sometimes, getting so immersed in her task she forgot I was there.

I shook my head. "For the second time, no."

She glanced up just long enough to raise an unamused brow in my direction before looking back down at her computer.

I sighed and laid my head against the seat I was laying in. On top of completely zoning out in class and being clueless when Bailey asked me a question, my head felt like it was going to explode. I brought a hand to my temple absentmindedly. We still had two days until the mystery man would arrive again, and we still had no idea who he was or why he was here.

"You ok?" Bailey asked. "You look kind of tired."

I nodded. "Can I go to bed early, I think I'm coming down with something."

She shrugged. "I guess so. Just don't tell Carl I let you leave early."

I nodded, deftly removing the electrodes attached to my temple and chest.

The walk to my room would have been uneventful if not for Sam popping her head out of her door and asking me to help her with something. I just knew it wouldn't be a fun experience by the look on her face.

I shrugged and followed her as she led into her room. "Why so secretive?" I asked, taking note of the way she was looking over our shoulders not-so-discretely.

"I kind of did a thing," she whispered, "I sort of convinced a momma bear to let me see her cub, but now I can't find the mom and the cub is getting a little restless."

My mouth gaped open and she took a defensive stand. "I know it was a bad idea, but he was just so cute and he had stickers in his fur and-" I cut her off.

"So you basically kidnapped a baby bear and now you can't find the mom? What if the mom gets pissed and tries to eat us all for stealing her cub?" I hissed, trying to stay quiet. There was no telling how Carl or even Petunia would react if they found a wild animal in the house.

Sam didn't say anything.

There was a moment of silence.

"Alright, where's the bear?" I finally said, deciding to help the reckless red head.

She shot me a sheepish smile before leading me to her closet. The door swung wide wide open and I gasped at was inside. A small, brown, bear was sleeping atop a pile of dirty shirts at the bottom of the closet.

I wanted to get mad at her, but the cub really was quite cute.

Sam looked at me hopefully. "Do you know how to get him back home?"

I shrugged. "I don't know, but maybe if we just take him outside, then we can find his mom."

Sam nodded, then paused. "Wait, how are we going to get a bear through the house without anyone noticing?"

I glanced toward the window. "We climb, duh."

Sam's face paled. "Yeah, I don't think I'm going to be able to do that,"

"Why not?" I asked curiously.

"Me and heights don't mix."

I sighed. "Is the thing going to wake up if I climb outside with him?"

"Yeah, but he shouldn't want to hurt you. He'll want to play, though."

Great. Now I have to scale a four story building with a bear in my arms. I knew I should have faked being sick today.