Jennifer's Lion

After a few yards, Jen had to stop. She panted. The heat was unbearable. Her throat was parched and she was hungry as hell. Suddenly the surroundings turned silent. Uh-oh. Not good. Even the noisy birds had stopped chirping. Goosebumps broke out over her flesh. The hair on her nape stood. A low growl reverberated behind her. Her heart froze in her chest.

Oh, god, no. Jen scrambled up to run. She only managed a dozen steps when her strength left her. She crashed back to the earth, placing her much too close to her living nightmare.

A giant lion appeared before her. His majestic, golden mane was gently blown by the dry, hot breeze. A golden-eyed gaze raked over her body, calculating. The lion swished his tail. Another growl erupted from his throat.

“Good kitty,” Jen whispered. She scooted backward. “Don’t eat me. I don’t taste good.”

For a moment, she thought she heard the lion chuckle. Impossible. Snorted? Nah. Couldn’t be.

She scurried to a nearby bush as the lion inched closer, ready to pounce. Her gaze was transfixed on the lion’s huge paws. They were bigger than dinner plates. Oh, god. I’m doomed.

Jen’s eyes widened in terror when a second lion stalked out from the dense underbrush.

I’m dead. I’m freaking dead. They’re going to eat me alive.

She squealed when the first lion put his paw on her chest and sniffed and then darkness engulfed her.