Mirror Soul

Chapter Fifteen: We Fought a Zoo!

And to think, I used to beg mom to take me here as a kid. Bruce gulped as he stared at the open gates of his local zoo, completely alone. He squeezed his sweating palms into a fist to stop the shaking that threaten to overtake him.

He looked up to see a variety of birds flying high over the area. He couldn't see their eyes but he was sure he could guess their color.

"Walking into a zoo to confront a psycho who controls animals is insane!" Clover had said we he shared his idea. He had agreed, boy did he agree.

But Kai was in that zoo, more scared and confused than Bruce could ever be. That thought managed to stop his body from shaking.

"You almost died against him when he only had house pets, you think you can take him when he has his pick of some of the most dangerous animals on Earth?" Nix had yelled.

Bruce smoothed his face into relaxed and arrogant as he always had. He pulled his "lil sluggers" baseball bat out of his backpack. Lazily letting it rest on his shoulder.

For Kai. He thought as he walking into hell.

Rats! Dozens of rats with wine colored eyes greeted him. The creatures huddled up each moving to a certain spot as if they were getting into place.

What the!?

The rats assembled themselves to make a giant, furry arrow, pointing to the lion's den.

I'd be Lion if i said that wasn't impressive… yep, Kai is definitely close.

Bruce looked around, searching for possible ways to sneak up on the Lion's den only to feel that familiar fear chill his bones. The zoo's five security guards laid on the asphalt, their bloody, lifeless bodies being torn apart by a group of hyenas. 

Bruce took a step back in horror, shaking his head. He felt his lunch threatened to come up and had to swallow to stop himself from vomiting on the waiting rats.

The hyenas notice Bruce and bared their blood coated teeth at him. Bruce quickly ran to the area indicated by the rats, readying his bat.

The hyenas cackled as Bruce scurried away.

Ignore it! Ignore it!

But somewhere in the back of his mind he hear the whispering.

 Your fault! Your fault!

The walk to the lion's den felt endless in the hot summer night. What must be hundreds of birds were perched above him on various cages, poles, and trees. Their eyes slowly followed him as he walked. Hundreds of those glowing eyes all pinned on him.

The Lions den was near the center of the zoo and when Bruce arrived he was met with Didrik's back, bathed in shadows.

"You know, I do understand how this looks." He said, back still turned.

"Where's Kai?" Bruce demanded. He knew he was messing this up, but he needed to see him.

"Your friend is fine. He was just insurance to make sure you came."

Didrik snapped his fingers and an orangutan pushed out a frightened Kai sitting on a swivel chair. He was bound in what Bruce thought were ropes… until he saw them moving. Kai was wrapped completely by an anaconda, his mouth gagged.

Bruce felt a mix of relief and rage at seeing his friend.

Hold on buddy

Bruce nodded at him twice. Kai's eyes widened, the fear in them very real, but he nodded back twice.

Go time.

Bruce flashed Didrik a crooked grin.

"You know Dipshit, for a guy who attacked me for no reason you sure do hold a grudge."