Chapter 1: Introduction
Elena Delgado had always been known for her ability to handle any situation with the poise and grace of a seasoned zookeeper. She could wrangle a crowd of unruly children with the same ease as she coaxed a cranky orangutan out of its enclosure. So, when the sleek, black envelope arrived on her desk that morning, she barely glanced at it before scribbling her signature at the bottom and tucking it into her filing cabinet. After all, it was just another form to sign.
Just another piece of paper in a mountain of admin that came with the job. Elena hardly gave it a second thought as she finished her lunch and made her way back to the primate house, greeting the chattering residents with a warm smile.
It wasn't until the end of her shift, as she was locking up her office, that the implications of the form began to dawn on her. A sharp knock at the door startled her, and she turned to find a pair of stern-faced security guards standing in the doorway.
"Elena Delgado?" the taller of the two asked, his eyes scanning the form in his hand.
"Uh, yeah, that's me," Elena replied, taking a step back as they entered her office. "What's this about?"
The guards exchanged a glance, and the shorter one cleared his throat. "We're here to escort you to the exhibition area. You've been assigned to... a new exhibit."
Elena's brows furrowed in confusion. "Exhibit? I'm a zookeeper. I take care of the animals, not the other way around. You must have the wrong person."
The taller guard shook his head. "No mistake, Ms. Delgado.
The paperwork is in order. We're to take you to the new exhibit immediately."
Elena's heart pounded in her chest as she processed their words. "New exhibit? What are you talking about? I've seen all the exhibits, and there's nothing new here."
The guards shared another look, and the shorter one shifted uncomfortably. "It's... a special exhibit. In the circular enclosure. By the main entrance."
Elena's stomach dropped as she realized what they were saying. "You can't be serious.
You're telling me they want to put me in an exhibit? Like an animal?" Elena's voice rose with disbelief, her green eyes flickering with a mix of shock and anger. She couldn't help but notice the guards avoided her gaze, their expressions unreadable.
"We're just following orders, Ms. Delgado," the taller guard said, his voice pitched low. "We're to escort you to the exhibition area and stay until you're... situated."
Elena's mind raced, trying to wrap her head around the absurdity of the situation.
She'd seen the circular enclosure when she'd first started working at the zoo, but it had always been empty, a peculiar anomaly amidst the more conventional exhibits. She'd assumed it was some sort of art installation gone awry.
She followed the guards in a daze, her footsteps echoing in the now-empty zoo. The sun had begun to set, casting long, eerie shadows through the towering glass panels that encircled the exhibition area. As they drew closer, Elena could see two glass cases, their interiors shrouded in darkness. A shiver ran down her spine.
She'd heard whispers among the staff about strange happenings in the enclosure, but she'd always dismissed them as mere gossip. Now, she wasn't so sure.
The guards led her to the door of the enclosure, and she hesitated, her hand hovering over the handle. She could feel their gazes on her, and she took a deep breath before pushing the door open.
The first thing that hit her was the oppressive heat. It was like stepping into a sauna, the air thick with humidity. The second was the scent—a cloying, sweet perfume that seemed to coat her tongue and fill her nostrils.