Marcy Tucker was in no rush to get back to her campus. After studying a grand total of six hours, she supposed she had earned the right to a leisure stroll. Besides, she wasn't exactly looking forward to spending another night with only instant noodles and her Botany text for company.
Was there anything more exciting than learning about how Jan Bapista Van Helmot first started experiments that would eventually lead to the discovery of photosynthesis? God she hoped so. Did she have a social life? Don't be silly, of course not. Did it bother her? Not at all. She wanted to go to college to plant roots(pun totally intended), to get settled in one place and make a nice, boring life for herself. She could do without the partying and mindless boozing; she had lived that life. She had no interest in repeating past mistakes.
The dull night in would soon turn out to be straight up horrifying, thus ruining her plans for Ramen and late night cable television.
With a book bag she was certain had to weigh at least twenty pounds slung over one dainty shoulder, she scowled. Marcy made a mental note to weigh it next time she went to the grocery store. That kind of weight couldn't be good for her back.
"Should've just left it in the library," she muttered to herself. With a grunt, she dropped it to the ground. Although small in stature, Marcy had always liked to think she was at least kind of in shape. Especially for someone who spent days on end in and out of green houses and could only afford to live off Ramen Noodles and Hot Pockets. Could she run a mile? No. Could she run from one end of campus to the other in under five minutes? Yes. Marcy may not have been made for heavy lifting, but she was sure that by the end of the semester she'd be ready to run a marathon if her alarm kept failing her.
A frown settled on her lips. She jumped as the campus' street lights flipped on. Her dark eyes darted suspiciously around her surroundings. Finding nothing out of the ordinary - a well-kept but lonely campus and the vague sounds of a party going on in the distance - she opened her bag. Thankfully, the extra light was right above her, making for an aid rather than a hindrance. Pushing aside a box of tampons(mother nature had a cruel sense of humor and had given Marcy her monthly gift, regardless of her total lack of any kind of sex life, every twenty eight days like clockwork since she hit the age of twelve), the young woman dug around the bag for some sustenance. Finding only a half eaten Poptart, she rolled her eyes, grabbed it and stood.
She would just have to wait until she got back to her dorm for some decent food.
Marcy had just lifted the knapsack off the ground when she heard it. A quiet growl. For a moment she assumed it was her stomach. When it got louder she supposed it was one of the campus' strays. No sweat. Don't bother it, it won't bother you, she told herself. The petite brunette squared her shoulders and slowly pulled the bag over a shoulder. Don't show fear, don't bother it, it won't-
Another growl. Closer this time. Stronger. A rustle in the bushes a few feet away set the girl on edge. Carefully, Marcy began to back up. Then it stepped out into the light.
A scream both rose and choked in Marcy's throat. That was no stray dog. Her lips parted. That was- that was- what was that? A bear? Were there bears in this part of California? Whatever it was, it was coming closer, and she had no intention of sticking around to find out.
Foolishly, she broke into a run. So did the animal. The young woman decided to cut through the court yard. It was deserted, with most of the students partying it up off campus. The creature seemed to get a better footing on the grass than it had on the cement. Another fierce roar cut the air and Marcy couldn't strangle the scream as claws dug into her back.
"Motherfucker!" Her hand wrapped around the strap of her bag, which had split from the contact of the nails now pawing at her back. The sound of shredding fabric filled the air and tears pricked the girl's eyes as claws sunk into pale, vulnerable flesh. Pain trickled down her back like liquid heat, burning and stinging as the creature pressed its weight down. After only managing a squeak, she screamed, "Get off of me!"
No one heard her.
A paw- was it a paw? She couldn't be sure, her vision was getting fuzzy, rolled her onto her back. Dirt ground itself into her fresh wounds as the beast panted above her. Marcy's eyes widened. That was no fucking bear. She couldn't say what it was and she couldn't tear her eyes from its massive teeth as it began to sniff her out. Drool dripped from its jaws; she cringed as it soaked through what little was left of her blouse. Its nose pressed against the material, pushing it up until the pale skin of her stomach was exposed. It inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of blood and fear.
Then it jammed its head between her legs. Yelping, Marcy shoved it away, senses returning to her quickly. Shock and pain were easy to compartmentalize, but being sexually assaulted by a bear- dog- thing, was a completely different story.
It growled at her and buried its fangs in the soft flesh of her thigh. Marcy's eyes widened as pain washed over her in a flood of panicked emotion. It hit hard and fast, almost knocking her out as the animal moved to lap at the mark with a rough tongue. It nuzzled her thigh and whimpered softly, too focused on the blood to notice her hand move toward her bag.
A howl bellowed from its throat as she forced the corner of a rather thick science textbook into its neck. Marcy brought the book down again and again on its head, neck and shoulders until it backed off. It only gave her an inch, but she was willing to risk it for a mile. Kicking the animal in the chest, the young woman took off. Her bag swung behind her, and the searing pain in her thigh was almost blinding, but she had managed to throw the beast off its game, if only for a moment.
That was all she needed to get to the campus doors. Slamming her blood covered fists against the glass window, Marcy began shouting for anyone who would listen. "Please! Someone! Stray dog! Stray dog!"
A few seconds later a tired looking young woman opened the door. Her green eyes widened at the sight of Marcy, or rather the state she was in. "What-"
"Move!" Shoving the girl back, Marcy slammed the door shut just in time. A startled yelp slipped from her lips when the thick metal lurched as something big collided with it. The redhead quickly threw her weight against it, earning a growl from the creature. She did it once, twice, three times before the animal backed off and she was able to shut the door completely. Her gaze flickered over to Marcy, wide and frightened before she turned to look back out on to the campus. It was deserted. When she looked back, the brunette was slowly sinking to the floor, where a pool of blood had puddled at their feet.
"Oh my god, are you okay?" The redhead caught her before she could reach it. "What is that thing?"
Marcy sighed and rubbed her fluttering eyes. The stench of her own blood, mixed with soil and something horribly feral is enough to make her gag. Bile rose even higher in her throat when she realized that it was coming from her own skin.
"I have no idea," she answered. The tone in her voice was disturbingly numb as was her gaze. Her blue eyes rose to the stranger's green ones. Marcy carefully took the young woman's hand that was wrapped around her waist and gave it a squeeze. "Thank you."
"No problem. Come on-" The pair jumped as the creature outside howled and rammed the door. "Come on," the woman repeated, a twinge of fear in her voice. She held Marcy's hand tightly and gave it a gentle tug. "Let's get you cleaned up."
"Yeah." Marcy cast one last frightened glance at the door before following her. She barely noticed the other student all but carry her to a dorm. Once she was seated carefully on the bed, the redhead went off to fetch some warm water and some bandages. Marcy stayed rooted to the spot, staring helplessly at an Offspring poster that hung on the wall. She had been attacked. By a wild animal. For no reason. Maybe it really was a bear. Were bears known for attacking people? Maybe that's what it was. Marcy blinked heavily. Her mind was starting to drift, she was conscious enough to realize that. A really mean, kind of puny bear.
"Here."
A warm cloth was pressed to her soiled cheek, and Marcy looked up in surprise. The girl is only a few inches away from her, a frown knitting her brows together. "Thanks, um…"
"Lisa."
"Lisa," she echoed. Taking the damp rag from her, she wiped her face with crude intent. All she really managed to do was spread the mess around.
"Uh, are you okay? I mean…" The redhead swallowed nervously. She took the cloth from the brunette's hand and took over the task of cleaning her face. "That's an awful lotta blood."
"I… I think so." Marcy shifted and sucked in a gasp through her teeth. Her hands clutched her leg and she let out a pant. Lisa pushed Marcy's hands away and gently pulled the torn jeans back. The wound was but a gaping hole on her upper thigh. As if sensing its visibility, the wound began to gush, staining Lisa's favorite pink blanket with blood.
"Oh my god."
"It fucking bit me." A few tears slicked down the brunette's rapidly paling face as pain finally began to register. "It held me down and bit me. What kind of bear does that?!"
