New Zoo (Original Series by Wallace111)

New-Zoo-Sea Turtle

Elizabeth wandered under the stone archways into the New Zoo with a newfound spring in her step, eager to start the day for once.


"And it's all thanks to one little spirit," thought Elizabeth, her smile widening as she entered the Main Hallway. She looked around the various enclosures, wondering where her new friend had gotten to.


"So...this is how it awoke?" wondered Elizabeth, focusing on the Zebra enclosure in particular. She focused on the zebra foal within, recognising it by its darkened blue eyes. Beth seemed rather sluggish, stumbling slightly on her hooves. Nevertheless, Elizabeth smiled warmly at the herd, silently thankful for their 'sacrifice.'


"After all, without them...I'd have never found my new friend" thought Elizabeth, turning away as she looked around the Main Hallway. The now familiar green glow was nowhere to be seen as Elizabeth was becoming increasingly perplexed.


"Where is it?" mumbled Elizabeth, wondering what the Spirit could be up to.


Ever since her meeting with the Spirit of the Zoo, things had been changing for the better for Elizabeth. She smiled as it was a welcome change of pace from only weeks before.


"After all, Charlotte's still ignoring me," thought Elizabeth, feeling momentarily sad for her best friend. "Guess she truly has abandoned me" admitted Elizabeth, feeling betrayal mixed in with her newfound anger. "I guess I should allow the Spirit to continue its revenge...not that I could stop it even if I wanted to" finished Elizabeth, her smile returning.


Elizabeth walked deeper through the Main Hallway, heading closer to the Office. She was left to her thoughts once more, recalling one of her previous meetings with the Spirit.


After all, she had been returning every few nights to see her new friend. Between Charlotte keeping her distance and Rebecca's new predicament, they hadn't asked too many questions as to where she had been heading.


This had been fortunate, as Elizabeth intended to keep her newfound discovery a secret. After all, the pair had done nothing to deserve sharing the benefits.


A Few Days Ago:


Elizabeth and the Spirit had been sitting down within the Office. The Spirit was currently sitting on the desk, its little legs dangling playfully over the edge as Elizabeth examined photos of the various animals she had been responsible for taking.


"Mainly because Rebecca couldn't," thought Elizabeth, smiling playfully. Her marine animals had apparently proved to be quite the nuisance for Rebecca. Fortunately, Elizabeth had managed to control the groups long enough to get a few photos herself.


It had honestly felt satisfying for Elizabeth to put Rebecca in her place for once.


"Still...I have to give her credit for the design" mused Elizabeth, eyeing the general outline of the poster. She had to admit that, upon completion, it would certainly assist with the New Zoo's longevity.


The poster was intended to promote the Zoo and allow people to ring the number below to arrange a private tour. Elizabeth had to admit it was a good way to expand their collection without drawing suspicion to themselves.


"Although it is surprising how oddly 'short-sighted' Charlotte's idea was," thought Elizabeth, confused as to why, especially following the school children, they'd continue to get new additions to the Zoo from a single source. "I can only guess that Rebecca had a hand in skewing the plan in this manner" continued Elizabeth, finding that despite her newfound misgivings towards Charlotte, found it impossible to think that she'd failed to consider this option.


Her thoughts were interrupted, however, when the Spirit tapped her on the head, trying to get her attention.


"Helloooooo?" said the Spirit as Elizabeth looked up from her desk. She focused on the Spirit, noticing its wide-eyed stare. She then looked back down at the desk, noticing the photos that she had taken previously.


"Perhaps you can help me?" asked Elizabeth, getting the Spirit's attention. She placed the prototype poster in front of it. However, Before she could reach the photos, she noticed them floating in midair. Elizabeth mentally added 'levitation' to the list of abilities her new friend possessed as the Spirit looked at both the poster and photos.


"How did it know what I was about to do?" wondered Elizabeth, feeling confused before dismissing the notion. After all, she knew very little about the Spirit and figured that 'mind reading' was just another ability it possessed.


"You should use this photo," said the Spirit, pointing towards a photo which had the pair of Orcas, in which the female was recently obtained. Elizabeth stared at the photo and, upon further inspection, felt it complimented the work on the poster Charlotte and Rebecca had already done.


"I agree.... Although I am curious, why did you pick that photo?" asked Elizabeth. The genuine curiosity could be heard in her voice as the Spirit thought momentarily before giving a response.


"I picked this photo because it compliments the poster best" stated the Spirit simply. However, as it eyed Elizabeth once more, it felt a need to elaborate. An unusual feeling to reinforce its friendship with Elizabeth."However, I also picked it as a symbol of our friendship. It was transforming that girl.... I think Nadia was her name, into an Orca which finally gave me enough energy to take on the form you now see before you" continued the Spirit, taking a moment for 'air' and to allow its words to truly sink in.


"It also allowed me to become a better friend to you" added the Spirit, sensing Elizabeth's thoughts...her pain."After all...you could certainly use one" finished the Spirit, turning away momentarily. It appeared deep in thought as it turned momentarily tangible. A thought came over it as it continued to feel Elizabeth's pain.


"She shouldn't be feeling this...Charlotte must pay for what she's done" thought the Spirit, its thoughts suddenly distracted as it was suddenly pulled into a hug. It took a moment for the Spirit to react but, as it glanced up at Elizabeth, eyeing her wide grin, it felt compelled to return the hug.


After a moment, the pair released each other as Elizabeth stared at the Spirit curiously. The Spirit could tell that Elizabeth had a question, it even knew what the question was. Regardless, it decided to wait patiently, allowing Elizabeth to ask when ready.


"Where did you come from?" asked Elizabeth, eyeing the Spirit curiously.


Despite knowing the question ahead of time, The Spirit didn't know how to answer. It looked at Elizabeth as if considering something. It didn't open its mouth but Elizabeth had felt a thought enter her head as she shuddered slightly.


Looks like it did read minds after all.


"Does it matter?" stated the Spirit as it eyed Elizabeth sceptically. Elizabeth sensed the question in her head, finding the sensation slightly uncomfortable. As she eyed the Spirit again, she took a step back. The Spirit could sense the fear within Elizabeth and took a quick effort to reassure her.


"I'm not angry at you, I'm just curious as to why you feel the need to know. I just could be anything and I feel...as if any explanation would fall short of the expectation. I could be the personification of Rebecca's magic, I could be an ancient spirit created by another magical individual, there's just so many unlimited possibilities as to what I 'could' be" stated the Spirit plainly, bringing its fingers up to emphasise air quotes.


Elizabeth thought back to her encounter with Alyssa as she realised that there could be more magical individuals out there. More opposition to the Zoo...and them. Elizabeth felt momentary dread before she noticed the Spirit staring blankly at her. She refocused her mind, indicating to the Spirit to continue.


"See my point?" asked the Spirit. "I could be everything or nothing, and if I'm going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice" finished the Spirit, smiling as it gave this answer. The pair settled down, smiling as they let the words hang in the air for a moment.


"Now you were talking about the poster?" stated the Spirit, as if the previous conversation didn't happen.


It took Elizabeth a moment to react, still confused over their previous conversation. However, after a brief moment, she shook her head. Concluding she wasn't going to get a straight answer, Elizabeth decided to return her attention to the poster.


"Yes.... I think it's done now" replied Elizabeth, rolling up the prototype. She grabbed the photo of the Orcas as she stared back at the Spirit, a small smile on her face. It was at that point she noticed the time. Elizabeth figured she would need to head home soon.


After all, she didn't want Rebecca and Charlotte to start asking questions.


"Well...it's time for me to be going," said Elizabeth, standing up from her chair. She then began to walk towards the door, waving to the Spirit as she opened it. She then walked through, noticing the Spirit waving back at her as she did so.


After a few moments, the Spirit could sense Elizabeth's departure from the New Zoo. It thought for a moment, feeling rather famished as it did so.


"Guess the first thing to do is feed'' thought the Spirit, levitating out of the Office as it re-entered the Main Hallway. It licked its lips, almost salivating as it sensed the energy. All those things, all that energy...and it all belonged to the Spirit.


The Spirit raised its hand, a green glow coming off it as the energy began to seep out of the enclosures. It began to drift towards the Spirit, sailing like a tidal wave as the Spirit enjoyed the feast it was indulging in.


After all, for what it had planned for Charlotte, it would definitely need the excess energy.


"I look forward to seeing you next time," said the Spirit menacingly, a soft chuckle coming from it as it continued to feast.


Present Day:


Elizabeth felt her thoughts returning to the present. She looked around curiously, wondering what the Spirit was currently up to.


"Still...I also need to use the photocopier at some point" mused Elizabeth, acknowledging the tube on her back. It contained Rebecca's finished poster which would be useful to promote the New Zoo moving forward. "I don't get why I still need to do this" wondered Elizabeth, having managed to eavesdrop that they were planning on getting a local printing company to organise this.


"Guess negotiations are still underway" concluded Elizabeth, dismissing thinking on it further.


After all, Charlotte was always better at that kind of thing.


"Guess I also need to deal with our newest addition later on," said Elizabeth, recalling how they had another high school intern arriving that afternoon. Apparently, Charlotte and Rebecca had thought Elizabeth would be able to relate to this particular intern.


Elizabeth, however, was not informed as to why.


Elizabeth's thoughts, however, would have to wait. Her attention was quickly diverted to the familiar green glow of the Spirit. Elizabeth watched as the form of the Spirit shifted, green being swapped for familiar turquoise. As the last of its voluminous turquoise hair formed, the Spirit turned to face Elizabeth.


"Welcome back," said the Spirit, not even moving its lips. Elizabeth felt the message enter her head as she managed to maintain her composure. Despite her unease, Elizabeth managed to look at the Spirit. She gave a genuine smile as she was happy to have at least one best friend.


"Good to see you again," said Elizabeth, opening her arms as she pulled the Spirit into another hug. The Spirit accepted the gesture, feeling strangely warm inside.


"What is this?" wondered the Spirit, trying to make sense of the newfound feeling. While it was fiercely protective of Elizabeth...was there anything more? Nevertheless, the Spirit accepted the hug, knowing that Elizabeth would appreciate the affection.


And the Spirit would do anything to protect its best friend...Anything.


Eventually, Elizabeth broke the hug as she stared at the Spirit. The Spirit noticed the long tube attached to Elizabeth's back. It closed its eyes briefly, sensing the contents of the tube as it soon recognised the poster that it and Elizabeth had been working on earlier that week.


"Rebecca's poster..." said the Spirit, its thoughts becoming ominous. Dark thoughts swirled within its mind, conjuring all the ways it could make Rebecca suffer...how it had already made her suffer. The Spirit smirked as the thoughts crossed its mind.


"She's getting exactly what she deserves" thought the Spirit, its thoughts returning to reality as it noticed Elizabeth staring at it.


"Spirit? You ok?" asked Elizabeth, her voice slightly concerned.


"Yes, I'm fine" replied the Spirit quickly, trying to reassure its friend. Elizabeth nodded in response, seeming to accept the Spirit's response.


After all, if Elizabeth couldn't be allowed to know what the Spirit had planned...lest she start talking it out of it.


"Anyway..." started Elizabeth, giving a moment for the awkward silence to pass. "I'm here to make copies of the poster and I have a new intern to deal with. You're welcome to accompany me if you want" explained Elizabeth, satisfied as the Spirit nodded in response.


As Elizabeth began to walk away, the Spirit followed her through the Main Hallway. The Spirit was already aware that they were going to the Security Room within the Reptile House. However, it kept quiet as the pair soon entered the Outside Section of the New Zoo.


Elizabeth looked towards the sky, noticing the clouds seemed to be taking a turn for the worst. She frowned slightly, figuring it would likely rain later on. Nevertheless, she decided to take a detour. It took only moments for Elizabeth to arrive at the Seal enclosure as she looked inside.


"Hello again," said Elizabeth enthusiastically, noticing the seals turning to look at her. Their responding barks of enthusiasm at seeing her again caused her to giggle.


"I forgot how good this felt," thought Elizabeth, taking a moment as she eyed Noah in his usual spot. He was currently being accompanied by Mavis who Elizabeth had observed seemed to play the peacekeeper amongst the pod. Meanwhile, Aaron seemed enjoyably eager alongside his mate Rachel, clearly content with his new mate after weeks of celibacy. Finally, Brent was currently in the large pool within the enclosure, content to cool off from the sun. However, upon closer inspection, he seemed somewhat irritated as he stared back at Mavis who seemed to only 'shrug' in response.


Memories of Elizabeth's childhood flood back to her, causing her to feel slightly uneasy. However, she decided to push those thoughts into the back of her mind.


After all, there were some things she wasn't comfortable with the Spirit finding out right now.


"Well...time to move on," said Elizabeth, turning away from the seals. She continued to walk towards the Reptile House, noticing the Spirit's sceptical expression. She decided not to comment on it, lest she accidentally say too much...or think too much.


Eventually, the pair arrived at the Reptile House as Elizabeth opened the doors with little hesitation. She began to wander down the somewhat narrow corridor, giving a quick glance at the enclosures at the sides.


"Rather empty...isn't it?" said the Spirit, curious about the surroundings. It glanced over towards a nearby enclosure, noticing the Rainbow Boa within. Its gaze began to shift into a glare as the Spirit noticed the Boa eyeing Elizabeth suspiciously.


Jeannette flashed her scales, creating a rainbow pattern as the light from above shined down on her. Elizabeth found the sight alluring, being drawn to the Boa. Jeannette hissed in satisfaction, content to be carrying out the will of her master.


As The Spirit realised what was happening, its glare darkened. "Wow...can't believe Rebecca's that desperate," thought the Spirit, resisting a chuckle so as to not attract Elizabeth's attention. It raised its hand, a small glow coming from it as it shifted towards the still glaring Boa.


As the glow entered Jeannette's new body, she began to feel something strange in her mind. Something seemed to be clearing up, removing itself. While she hissed concerningly, worried that her memories would be fading, that...didn't prove to be the case.


"Wait...everything's clearer now?" wondered Jeanette curiously. The clouds in her mind seemed to be fading. Her eyes regained some human clarity as she noticed Elizabeth gazing at her...and her...mysterious companion.


"Let me make something crystal clear" stated a voice, penetrating Jeannette's mind. She looked around nervously, trying to work out where it had come from. "You are not to harm or put Elizabeth at the risk of harm, or I'll ensure your memories are wiped" continued the Spirit. Jeannette continued to look around aimlessly, realising at the moment, she was in her former human form.


"Where are you?" asked Jeannette, her voice shaky. She was feeling truly panicked as she covered her eyes. A small turquoise form appeared, the Spirit glaring darkly at Jeannette. She couldn't help but feel intimidated as she noticed its dark glare which felt like it was penetrating her soul.


"Do you understand?" said the Spirit, holding its hand up. Jeannette felt intimidated by the creature within her mind as she quickly nodded.


"Good," said the Spirit simply, lowering its hand. "Now be a good little snake and slink back off into the grass" finished the Spirit, fading from Jeannette's mind for good.


Within moments, Jeannette found herself back in her enclosure. She noticed Elizabeth was still admiring her. It took only another moment for her to slink away out of sight.


After all, she did wish to keep her human memories.


Elizabeth shook her head, snapping out of her daydream. She looked around, noticing the Spirit nearby. "Sorry...must've zoned out," said Elizabeth, completely unaware as to what had just transpired.


"Don't worry about it" reassured the Spirit, its tone helping Elizabeth regain some composure. "Now let's go and copy that poster" continued the Spirit, encouraging Elizabeth on as it did so. As Elizabeth began to head towards the Security Room, the Spirit shot a small glare back at Jeannette, reinforcing its intentions if Jeannette didn't leave its best friend alone.


Jeannette understood the message completely, still nervous about this new point of concern.


Within The Security Room:


It didn't take the pair long to locate the photocopier. As Elizabeth grabbed the tube on her back, carefully rolling out the poster, she got a small glance at it.


The poster looked truly magnificent. Elizabeth eyed the dual orcas around the bottom with the seals in between them. She eyed the giraffe in the top left-hand corner, faintly recalling the former investor...and how he had belittled her.


"Not now" mused Elizabeth, taking in the further detail of their peafowl along the sides with their hippos opposite. Their panda, polar bears, zebras, elephants, everything the Zoo had seemed to be on the poster somewhere. Despite this, it didn't come across as cluttered, instead looking like a work of art.


However, the piece de resistance was clearly in the middle of the poster. It was surrounded by pictures of their big cats. The Panthers and Lions were present in the direct centre of the circle. However, within the direct centre were the Tiger and the Cheetah. Elizabeth raised an eyebrow curiously, unsure as to the significance of the cheetah.




"I wonder what their story is..." thought Elizabeth curiously. The cheetah had been here for much longer than the others. Where did it come from?


For the time being though, Elizabeth continued to admire the poster. She had to admit that she was impressed with the design, noting Rebecca must have had some form of prior experience.


"Although it does imply some worrying insights," thought Elizabeth. She thought back to Rebecca's growing attachment to Caitlyn. How it was beginning to creep her out.


Trying to take her mind off the situation, Elizabeth continued to eye the poster, noticing a few small stickers scattered around.


The stickers advertised the Zoo's growing Aquarium, Petting Zoo, Reptile House and a soon-to-be opening Aviary. Elizabeth then got a gaze of the phone number at the bottom, implying that people could call in to organise sneak previews of the Zoo.


Something which Elizabeth was sure Rebecca would be taking advantage of to expand her collection.


Elizabeth placed the poster into the photocopier, pressing a few buttons to make it work its magic. As she stood there, she noticed the Spirit staring off distantly in another direction. She felt a question pop into her mind as she couldn't help but be curious.


Unknown to Elizabeth, the Spirit had already read Elizabeth's mind. Hence, it already knew about the pending question.


"Can I ask you a question?" asked Elizabeth, noticing the Spirit nod a little too quickly. After a moment Elizabeth figured that the Spirit had likely read her mind. She frowned briefly before a sudden chime diverted her attention. She took a glance towards the clock, momentarily surprised at how quickly the morning had passed.


The new intern was due to arrive shortly.


"Oh damn...I need to prepare" said Elizabeth, beginning to walk towards the door of the Security Room. After all, the poster copies would finish soon enough. The Spirit watched Elizabeth beginning to depart, wondering what to say.


For now, however, it was already aware of Elizabeth's intentions as it returned to the familiar green glow. A second later it faded away, planning on assisting Elizabeth.


Elizabeth turned back, noticing the Spirit had vanished. She shrugged her shoulders, figuring it wouldn't be too far away if she needed assistance.


As she left the Security Room, the thought of why Rebecca and Charlotte had partnered Elizabeth with this intern came to the forefront of her mind.


Elizabeth would soon figure out exactly why they had done so.


Later That Afternoon:


As predicted by Elizabeth, the rain had quickly developed into a downpour. It had ravaged the outside of the Zoo, causing no end of inconvenience for a certain individual who was approaching the stone archways of the New Zoo.


The girl took a glance, nodding as she confirmed her desired destination. Hence, she quickly ran inside, wishing to escape the torrential downpour.


Zara lowered her hood, looking around the front of the Main Hallway for a moment. She was slowly panting, trying to catch her breath after running here from school.


"Well...at least I'm here," thought Zara, looking down at her rather simple outfit. She had come in her favourite brown jacket, adorning with a simple pair of brown shorts and a sleeveless shirt. Fortunately, her lower layers hadn't gotten particularly wet given the outside downpour.


A downpour which, to Zara's annoyance, had almost immediately started clearing up.


"Typical" moaned Zara, annoyed at her bad luck. It seemed to be a recurring tendency, especially concerning...


"No, not know" stated Zara firmly, purging the thoughts of her annoying younger sibling. Lest she risk blowing an internal fuse.


Zara had never been particularly lucky. When she was born, her mother accidentally dropped her. Her growth was stunted throughout her childhood, always much smaller compared to her classmates. Even now, Zara was only four feet tall. Her short stature had made her an easy target for bullies throughout her life. The main one, in particular, was Eri, always having a remark of some kind regarding her height.


"You'd think the 'short fuse' punchline would've outstayed its welcome by now" moaned Zara, unable to stop her mind from racing. While she could easily escape her school problems, her problems at home felt almost impossible to escape from.


The biggest issue always came back to her younger sibling...Kimmy. Compared to Zara, Kimmy always seemed like the polar opposite. She seemed to be born lucky, having a likeable personality, being involved in many extra-curricular activities and being the clear favourite amongst their parents had certainly worn on Zara over the years. The fact that Kimmy seemed to be an instant expert on anything she tried also made Zara seriously question her own self-worth.


Especially, since Zara had very few things she felt she excelled at. It was times like this when she wished she had her acoustic guitar to cheer her up, it was always useful when it came to calming her down. Giving her a reason to go on.


"I just...why can't they just be proud of my accomplishments?" thought Zara, feeling increasingly irritated. She clenched her fist, half tempted to punch something nearby. However, despite her irritation, Zara couldn't help but smile. She looked down at her fist, reminding herself of the one thing she loved, the one thing she excelled at.


The one thing Kimmy couldn't take away from her.


Over the years, Zara had particularly focused on her boxing. She had significantly focused her efforts, her small stature being an advantage for once. Her coach was honestly the closest thing she had to a positive role model. He always encouraged her and thought Zara had real potential. With his positive encouragement, Zara continued to hone her techniques and visited the school gym regularly.


"I just...I just want to make him proud" thought Zara, thinking back to the important event later this evening. This could be her chance, the opportunity she had been waiting for.


Her chance for the big leagues.


"And I'm not going to squander it," said Zara, her voice full of newfound confidence. For now, however, all she needed to do was finish up this interview. She didn't particularly care about the New Zoo that was opening up, even as more of her class had disappeared. Besides, it only meant that there were fewer people to stare at her, demean her...undermine her.


"Still...I needed a cover story to ensure I could attend tonight" said Zara, fully aware that her parents wouldn't have allowed her to go, lest she miss another one of Kimmy's flute rehearsals. The fact that they let her attend the New Zoo which was becoming increasingly notorious for people going missing was not lost on her.


Perhaps...they wanted her to go missing. Were they trying to tell her something?


"Aw...fuck it" muttered Zara, dismissing the thought as she looked around. To her surprise, no one had shown up to greet her. Surely someone from management should've been here by now. She shrugged her shoulders, deciding to look around.


"This better not take forever," thought Zara as she began to jog down the hall, looking around for any potential employees...and maybe an exhibit or two.


Little did Zara know, as she moved further away from the exit, she was sealing her doom just a little bit more.


After a few moments of Zara failing to find anyone to assist her, she found herself outside an enclosure. Upon closer inspection, the enclosure appeared to be intended for tigers. Zara looked inward curiously, her eyes widening when she noticed a pair of tigers within.


A pair that stared directly at her.


"Wow...fascinating," thought Zara, surprisingly in awe as the majestic beasts walked forward to greet her. Zara admired the felines, unaware that only weeks before, they had been her former classmates.


Caitlyn eyed the newcomer curiously. She noticed the newcomer, her eyes wide with intrigue.


"Z...Zara?" thought Caitlyn, recognising the girl before her...and how annoying Caitlyn felt Zara was. "Well...it was due to happen eventually I guess" continued Caitlyn internally, feeling apathetic towards Zara's likely future predicament. "After all...she was always a bit overbearing" chuffed Caitlyn, recalling Zara's annoying rants about the frustrations of her life. Due to Zara's small height, to Caitlyn, it always looked like a childish temper tantrum. Her gripes about Kimmy, the other bullying her, it all seemed so...small to Caitlyn. "I mean... Kimmy's not even that bad am I right?" finished Caitlyn, turning to Travis for validation.


However, unknown to Caitlyn, Travis didn't agree. He stared at her awkwardly for a few moments, trying to gather his words. "Sorry Caitlyn but I...disagree" replied Travis, noticing the confused stare from his girlfriend in response.


"Wha...what?" said Caitlyn, genuinely surprised as she stared at Travis.


"I mean...didn't you ever consider the possibility that her 'overbearing attitude' as you put it could have been caused by us?" asked Travis, his tone surprisingly firm. "After all, you may recall all the jokes that Eri likes to pull...or perhaps Angelica?" continued Travis. I mean it would wear on someone after a while and you know it" finished Travis, taking a moment to catch his breath.


"But...surely her home life can't be as bad as she describes it?" replied Caitlyn, still trying to process what Travis was telling her...and how convincing he sounded.


"How would you know?" asked Travis simply, leaving Caitlyn at a loss for words. "Perhaps it is as bad as she claims" continued Travis. "Perhaps, her parents do neglect her, perhaps Kimmy is as frustrating as she claims" finished Travis, staring at Caitlyn for a brief moment.
"After all...there's no guarantee that Zara has a positive relationship with her sister. Just because you have a positive relationship with your brother doesn't mean you can jump to conclusions about other sibling relationships" said Travis, stopping to let his words hang in the air.


Caitlyn stared at Travis momentarily, trying to process what he had just said. She felt a realisation come over her as guilt began to fester within. "Travis...you make a good point" mumbled Caitlyn, taking one last look at Zara. After that, she quickly ran back into the back of the enclosure, wishing to be alone for the time being.


Travis watched her go, he knew Caitlyn needed time as he stared back at Zara. He shook his head, figuring it was already too late to help her.


"How...how will her family react to this?" thought Travis, already fearing the worst. His thoughts drifted back to his own parents, and how they might be coping. "I...I wish I was able to help them" finished Travis, beginning to walk towards the back of the enclosure.


After all, he had his own concerns to deal with.


Zara looked in confusion as the tigers moved away. "Huh...that was odd" wondered Zara, confused at the tiger's behaviour. As she noticed the pair moving out of sight, she decided to look around once more.


Zara developed a scowl as she looked around, noticing that no one was around to greet her.


"Ok, where is anybody?! This is beginning to look really unprofessional!" thought Zara irritably. She shook her head, dismissing the thought as she eyed the enclosure opposite. "Ok, if no one shows up after I finish looking at this enclosure...I'm leaving" finished Zara, noticing a nearby cheetah lounging on a tree branch within its enclosure.


Diana stared at Zara intriguingly. Despite her feelings and misgiving that Rebecca might be catching onto her, she couldn't help but wonder what she could do. She came down from her branch, moving further forward as she eyed Zara.


"Ok...what's with all the animals being weird today?" thought Zara, puzzled as the cheetah stared directly at her. Diana eyed Zara, noticing how...small she was. It made her seem vulnerable, almost helpless.


Meanwhile, unknown to the pair, Elizabeth wasn't far off. She currently hid behind a column, getting a quick glance at Zara. A sudden realisation caused Elizabeth's blood to boil.


"You've got to be fucking kidding me," thought Elizabeth frustratingly. This was clearly Rebecca's attempt at a bad joke as Elizabeth felt her temper increasing. However, before she could lose it, she noticed the green glow of the Spirit...her friend approaching.


"Well...I found the intern" mumbled Elizabeth, noticing the Spirit flash softly in understanding. Unknown to Elizabeth, it could already sense her mood...her feelings. It decided to get Elizabeth's mind off her irritation, and have her focus on the new addition...and its next meal.


"I suppose we should begin?" inquired the Spirit, getting Elizabeth's attention as intended.


"Yes...of course yes" replied Elizabeth, her voice momentarily uneven. She shook the thoughts from her mind, fully aware that the Spirit was correct.


At that, Elizabeth approached Zara. Zara noticed Elizabeth approaching out of the corner of her eye and noticed Elizabeth was wearing a uniform of some description.


"It's about time," thought Zara annoyingly, taking a glance at the nearby clock. Thankfully, her attempt at the big leagues wasn't until much later. For now, however, she shook the thought from her mind, deciding to focus on her interview.


"Hello I'm Elizabeth and I'll be your interviewer today" started Elizabeth, staring at Zara expectedly. After a moment of awkward silence, she followed up with "you're Zara I presume?."


It took Zara a moment to think up a response. She had to resist the temptation to rant about how long she had been waiting. Eventually, she managed to calm herself down enough. She stared at Elizabeth, briefly noticing that they were the same height.


"Yes...that's me" replied Zara simply. She gave off a smile, trying to give a good first impression. However, deep down, especially after noticing Elizabeth's expression, it felt rather...forced.


For a moment Elizabeth seemed to have some 'albeit very little' sympathy for how long she had kept Zara waiting. Hence, she decided not to make Zara feel more awkward by forcing the issue. "Apologies for keeping you waiting," said Elizabeth, trying to break the ice as she noticed Zara calming somewhat. "So...how about you tell me about yourself? What hobbies do you have?" asked Elizabeth, eyeing Zara curiously.


Her mannerisms just seemed so...familiar.


Zara smiled briefly, surprised that someone seemed to be taking interest in her personal life. She felt almost compelled to answer, not wanting to squander the opportunity. "I do boxing. I have plans to go into the big leagues when I graduate high school" started Zara, noticing Elizabeth was watching her with great interest. "I also play the acoustic guitar in my spare time, I'm no expert but I can do good enough for my own enjoyment" added Zara, noticing Elizabeth smiling back at her.


"Now I recognise where I've seen this before," thought Elizabeth, memories of her own past drifting through her mind. For now, however, she paid them no mind. Although it did motivate her next question. "Do you have any family...siblings perhaps?" asked Elizabeth, her curious expression contrasting against Zara's surprised one.


Still, despite Zara's surprise, she felt compelled to answer. Unknown to Zara, the Spirit wasn't too far off, persuading her to answer. "I have my parents...and Kimmy," said Zara, her expression souring as the name of her younger sister rolled off her tongue.


"Not fond of her?" asked Elizabeth, her expression showing compassion. Zara seemed to be...not so different from Elizabeth.


"No, our parents clearly favour her...like they always have" replied Zara, her voice bitter. "I just wish they could notice me positively. Maybe recognise my talents rather than constantly comparing them unfavourably to my sister" continued Zara, her tone still full of bile as Elizabeth nodded in understanding.


"Wow...she really is like me" mused Elizabeth, noticing the green glow of the Spirit not too far off. She didn't draw attention to it, keeping her eyes on Zara as she noticed the bitter expression Zara was now showing her.


Unknown to all of them, Diana was paying attention to the conversation. Her ears had pricked up when Zara had mentioned her sibling. Her head then tiled curiously as she thought back to her own past.


"I wonder how she's doing? Is she even alive?" thought Diana, feeling concerned for her own family. She never found out what had become of them. Nevertheless, she heard Elizabeth pipe up. Continuing to play the fool, she laid down, eavesdropping on the pair. She considered how to help Zara but couldn't think of anything she could do.


It was at that point that one of the distant cameras whirred, the sound ringing like a bell in Diana's ears. She glanced up towards the nearby camera, annoyed as she recalled Rebecca spying on her. "I wonder if she knows...wouldn't surprise me if she did" mused Diana, slumping down in defeat as she watched the conversation between Zara and Elizabeth play out.


Diana couldn't help but feel disappointed due to her powerlessness in the situation. Even after all these years, being completely dependent on others was difficult to get used to.


"Just out of curiosity, why did you go into boxing?" asked Elizabeth, drawing Diana's attention back to the conversation.


Zara looked at Elizabeth. She considered her response, wondering whether to be this open. However, she once again felt compelled as Elizabeth seemed oddly...trustworthy. "I went into boxing because it is one thing I found myself to be really good at. Also, it was something.... that made my smaller size become an advantage" started Zara, noticing Elizabeth's curious expression. "People have always judged me by my size...it's draining after a while" continued Zara, frustration coming over her briefly. However, as she recalled her boxing...her achievements, she couldn't help but smile once more. "Boxing changed that, it turns my height into a strength rather than a limitation, allowing me to forget about everything wrong with my life briefly" finished Zara, eying Elizabeth who was still listening intently.


"My god...Zara is practically my exact double" thought Elizabeth, the moment feeling rather uncanny. As she eyed Zara, she could see all the suppressed feelings coming to the surface. She could relate to Zara's struggles and felt genuinely sorry for her. Regardless, however, she would need to join the Zoo.


Besides, if Elizabeth's hunch was correct, Zara would be far better off as an animal.


"Ok...that concludes my questions," said Elizabeth, smiling briefly at Zara. Zara eyed her curiously, noticing Elizabeth beginning to turn away. "I am rather impressed with you Zara...do you mind if I show you a little sneak preview of what we have to offer?" asked Elizabeth, noticing Zara staring at the nearby clock.


"I still have time," thought Zara, finding herself oddly curious. A thought entered her mind, unexpected but welcome nonetheless as she walked towards Elizabeth. "Ok, just lead the way and I'll follow," said Zara, a soft smile on her face.


Elizabeth nodded, walking away towards the end of the Main Hallway as Zara pursued her. Diana watched them go, still feeling powerless to do anything. She glanced over into the opposite enclosure, shaking her head before climbing back up her tree branch.


Diana laid down, hoping to find some momentary peace in her dreams.


At The Reptile House:


Eventually, the pair navigated through the Outside Section of the New Zoo as they finally approached the Reptile House. Elizabeth turned her head, noticing Zara staring curiously at the architecture. Therefore, Elizabeth took a moment to admire the building.


"It truly is magnificent" thought Elizabeth, admiring the cobblestone brickwork. The roof was a dark shade of green as the bright yellow sign invited people in. A pair of trees towered towards the outside of the sign, the lower leafy paintwork giving the impression of a rainforest.


"Now all that's left...is to fill it up" finished Elizabeth, staring at Zara for a brief moment. It was at that point Elizabeth opened the door into the Reptile House. She began to walk inside, motioning for Zara to follow.


Zara obeyed without question, entering the Reptile House. She looked around, noticing it was rather bare. Still, she progressed forward, oblivious to Elizabeth's insidious intentions.


After all, Elizabeth wasn't about to give up her original plan so easily. After all, she might require a contingency if things went truly south.


Eventually, the pair reached the Crocodile enclosure as Zara looked in curiously. It took a moment but, with a keen eye, Zara was able to notice the Crocodile within.


Anastasia eyed the newcomer staring into her domain. She felt insulted at the lack of proper respect...proper attention. She 'smirked' maliciously as her tail swished.


"Perhaps...this offering will taste better than it looks" thought Anastasia, eyeing Zara intently as she began to move towards her prey. The...sacrifice that the Zoo was offering her would satisfy her appetite.


"Ok...maybe we should look elsewhere?" offered Elizabeth, calling out to Zara. Zara nodded, leaving the edge of the enclosure as she did so. Anastasia growled in irritation, shaking her head as her tail thumped the ground. She decided to move back into the depths of her enclosure, hoping for a more satisfying meal in the future.


After all, this was her territory...and she was not about to start sharing.


Zara followed Elizabeth, eventually reaching a nearby enclosure which caused Zara's eyes to widen curiously.


The enclosure was relatively quite wide. It was also somewhat large as Zara eyed the overhead sign.


"Turtle Island?" wondered Zara curiously, looking deeper into the enclosure. Something about it just seemed so oddly...enticing.


She eyed the sandy, rocky platform, noticing what appeared to be a small collection of huts. They were sized appropriately, obviously intended for the turtles within to sleep or stay out of the sun. Small novelty palm trees surrounded an area of the platform, giving the future residents room to explore. Finally, a food dish was on the side, providing a place for the turtles to be fed from.


Finally, the island was surrounded by large, deep water. Zara looked down, noticing the tank below the island above. It would allow the turtles to swim or float if they desired. Zara placed her hands on the glass, admiring the handiwork as she felt a tingle passing through her body.


Unknown to Zara, her changes were about to begin. Soon, Turtle Island would have its first resident. She felt a vibration tingle through her body, barely remaining standing as every muscle felt on edge.


"Elizabeth...I don't feel so well" said Zara, the sensations beginning to overwhelm her. However, she froze as she noticed Elizabeth's smile. While it had caused her great comfort only moments before, it now brought crippling fear over Zara. She could no longer keep herself upright as she slipped, falling to the floor.


"Well I can see our new turtle will be arriving soon" mused Elizabeth, her smile widening. However, even as a green glow flashed behind her, the compassion in Elizabeth's smile never wavered.


Zara could only stare in confusion and then shock. The green glow behind Elizabeth seemed to be expanding...changing. She watched as the green glow seemed to be turning tangible, hair forming which grew into voluminous curls. She watched as little legs pushed out of the forming mass, arms quickly following suit. Its developing body began to glow, a small pair of green shorts forming. A light blue t-shirt formed, the stone archways marked on it alongside a turquoise jacket.


"Wha...what's going on?" said Zara fearfully. She noticed Elizabeth's still warm smile as the developing Spirit's body began to change. The green was being swiftly replaced with turquoise as a pair of eyes grew on its face, a shade of blue and green as they eyed Zara intriguingly.


Words failed Zara as speech was quickly becoming more difficult. She turned herself around, trying to escape...needing to escape. Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, the best position she could get was on her hands and feet. She was slumped over as if some external force was preventing her from standing.


"What...What are you?!" screeched Zara, her attempts to maintain her composure failing her. She could feel the sensations from earlier intensifying, no doubt about to warp her body further beyond recognition.


"Welcome home Zara," said Elizabeth simply, her smile still not faltering. "I hope you enjoy your new family more than your old one" finished Elizabeth, bending down as she eyed Zara compassionately.


Zara tried to move away from Elizabeth, her body not responding how she was accustomed to. She could feel the sensations focusing on her hand. Zara had little choice as she stared down at her hand. She felt her senses dulling as her fingers seemed to be falling asleep. However, she soon discovered what was truly happening as her fingers merged into a single fleshy lump. The only noticeable trace of her fingers was two tiny claws.


Nevertheless, her hand continued to shift and change, becoming flipper-like as the colour began to shift. The skin began to shift, becoming olive green as it spread up her arm, the arm warping alongside the spreading green. Zara could feel her skin texture changing as she noticed her now perfect sea turtle limb.


"Wait...I'm becoming a turtle?!" shrieked Zara, failing to notice Elizabeth standing behind her. It was at that point, that she felt Elizabeth appearing to be removing something. "What are you doing?!" shouted Zara in a panic, feeling Elizabeth running her hands across her feet. The motion felt familiar...like a foot massage.


"Making sure your shoes don't go to waste" stated Elizabeth simply, her smile now more wicked as she held them tauntingly in front of Zara. "After all, you're just my size," said Elizabeth, smiling as she noticed the look of discomfort on Zara's face.


Zara quickly realised that the sensations were now spreading to her other hand. She could only watch as the changes ravaged her hand, forcing her fingers to merge. The colour changed, matching her other flipper as it became olive green. It spread upwards, the texture shifting involuntarily as the new flipper finished forming. Small claws grew from it, scratching softly against the floor. Zara tried to resist, defy the people doing this to her as she slapped her new flippers against the ground.


However, like so many before her, Zara was powerless to do anything.


"Why...why are you doing this?" said Zara, struggling to speak. Tears formed in her eyes as she stared pitifully up at Elizabeth. "I...I thought we were friends" added Zara, noticing the statement seemed to give Elizabeth pause.


"I'm giving you a second chance...a chance to be happy" replied Elizabeth, eyeing the developing turtle. As she did so, she couldn't help but feel pity for Zara.


Perhaps in another life, they could've been friends.


"I...but" spluttered out Zara, trying to reconcile what she had just heard. "I was supposed to be going to the event tonight, I hopefully would impress the judge enough to be considered for the big leagues," said Zara, feeling her anger flare up. "That was going to be my chance to be happy" finished Zara, sensing the sensations spreading to her feet.


"Perhaps...but you still would've had your family to contend with" replied Elizabeth, her blunt tone keeping Zara on edge. "And if we're as similar as I think...that's a fight you simply cannot win," said Elizabeth simply, stepping back to watch Zara's next change.


Zara cringed as she could feel the sensations intensifying in her feet. She could feel them morphing, twisting as her toes merged. A small pair of claws formed on each leg, making them symmetrical to her arms. Zara could feel her posture changing as her new flippers lowered her down to the floor. The skin on her legs quickly changed to match her arms, the same olive green colour as her front flippers.


"But...I...I don't want to be a turtle!" shouted Zara internally, lowering her head. She noticed Elizabeth approaching, a pair of scissors in hand. She felt powerless as she allowed Elizabeth to cut at her clothes with no argument. She could feel her neck stiffen up as Elizabeth did so, clearly adapting to her changing form.


Within moments, Elizabeth had removed Zara's clothing as she began to massage her back. It was time for the most notable feature of the turtle to form as Elizabeth gave Zara a back massage. This caused the sensations to focus around Zara's body, the tingling appearing to invite the next set of changes.


As the sensation began to feel more relaxing, Zara felt herself calming against her will. Unknown to her, her mind was slowing down. Her developing turtle instincts began to take hold, beginning to push her humanity out. She found herself unable to focus, the sensations around her body only getting more intense.


"Wait...what...Shell?" thought Zara, trying to cling to whatever human clarity she could. However, the sensations were eroding her sense of self. Like waves against a cliff, it smashed with no mercy. She shook her head, attempting to dismiss the thought but more kept coming. "Wait...why escape?" continued Zara, trying to focus her mind.


As this was happening, she felt something enlarging around her body. Unknown to Zara, her scutes were beginning to form. They forced themselves into existence, surrounding Zara's body which was becoming olive green like her flippers. It grew thicker as the scutes combined, spreading across her lower body as her plastron formed.


"I...Home?" thought Zara, still finding her mind becoming more and more blank. She tried to focus, feeling a weight on her shoulders as her carapace formed. It pushed her further down, limiting Zara's range of movement as her shell scraped across the ground. It was becoming increasingly difficult to move as her rather rotund shell felt more and more restrictive. However, a small hole was still present, the perfect size for a small green tail to push out of Zara's spine, wiggling intently as the changes continued to progress.


"No...No, this is wrong!" shouted Zara internally, her mind making one last push. She tried her best, hoping that just for once, she'd get lucky. Unfortunately, it was not to be as more and more of her developing turtle instincts came to the forefront, slowing her mind.


Zara stared up at Elizabeth, feeling nothing but betrayal for the woman before her. In her last moment of true human clarity, Zara could only think "Why?."


After that, Zara resigned to her predicament. She could only look down in despair as she felt a tingling vibration beginning to envelop her face.


Zara felt her final changes forcing themselves out with a vengeance. Her brown hair began to fall to the floor, the olive green skin matching the rest of her body as it spread upwards. Her beak formed as it pushed forwards slightly, changing to true turtle proportions. Her skull compressed as her mind became even simpler, adjusting to her new turtle instincts. Finally, Zara's eyes shifted, moving to the side of her head as they darkened, solidifying her changes, her mind fully submitting to her animal instincts.


Zara, now a Loggerhead Turtle, looked around blankly. There was clearly no sign of human intelligence as Elizabeth wandered forward to their newest addition.


"I'm sorry...but I had to do this" said Elizabeth, her tone sincere as she stood up. She grabbed her whistle, blowing on it. Within moments, Zara stared at Elizabeth, her mistress with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.


Elizabeth eyed Zara, managing to pick her up. She then moved her towards her new home on Turtle Island. As she dropped Zara into the enclosure, she noticed Zara seemed to take an immediate interest in the water.


As Elizabeth stared at Zara exploring her new home, the Spirit approached its friend... its best friend.


"Are you ok?" asked the Spirit, its tone attempting to sound reassuring. Elizabeth took a moment to stare at the Spirit, considering her response.


"....Yes...I'll be fine" replied Elizabeth, noticing the Spirit tilting its head uncertainly. It took only another moment for her to realise what the Spirit was doing. "Can you not...please?" asked Elizabeth, her tone sullen as the Spirit snapped out of its trance.


"What? What do you mean?" asked the Spirit, curiously staring at its friend. What had it done wrong?


"Can you please respect my privacy?" asked Elizabeth, her tone still uncertain. After all, she feared the possibility of the Spirit retaliating. "If I'm comfortable telling you something I will but until then...can you please not read my mind?" finished Elizabeth.


The Spirit considered Elizabeth's words. It hadn't intended to come across as insensitive. "Sorry" replied the Spirit, its tone sincere as it looked down at the floor. Elizabeth took a look back, noticing the Spirit looking downtrodden like a child.


"Apology accepted," said Elizabeth, making a mental note of the Spirit's surprising childlike behaviour. It was at that point that Elizabeth wrapped her arms around the Spirit, the Spirit returning the hug.


"Thank you, Elizabeth...for being my best friend," thought the Spirit, feeling warm as energy began to seep into it. It smiled in satisfaction at its meal as it began to mentally prepare itself for its revenge against Charlotte.


After all, Elizabeth didn't need two best friends.


Later That Night:


"What are we waiting for?!" shouted Amanda in astonishment. She glared at John, his body language fueling her anger. Why was he being so...indecisive?


"We need to be careful about how we approach this, or we could lo...." said John calmly, trying to de-escalate the situation.


"No!" interrupted Amanda, silencing John. Why did he seem to be talking down to her?! Who did he think he was...her father?


"We have everything we need to expose the New Zoo...those people are being held captive and you want to keep waiting?!" said Amanda, her voice cracking on the last part. She turned around, noticing Lauren who appeared to want nothing to do with the current argument.


"Typical Lauren," thought Amanda, shaking her head briefly. After all, what had Lauren contributed to the investigation anyway? Amanda dismissed the thought as she returned her focus to John who seemed to be trying to calm her down.


"You don't understand Amanda" began John, putting his hands to his face. "We need to be careful" continued John, trying to get Amanda to see reason. "We don't know what connections the Managers may have. That's why we need to ...." said John, unaware that Amanda had already stopped listening.


"Why is he ignoring me?!" thought Amanda irritably, she felt her anger approaching her boiling point. "Doesn't he realise now is the time for action?" finished Amanda, her anger bubbling over as she'd noticed John was still talking.


"Enough!" shouted Amanda, silencing the room. Her glare intensified as she focused on John. If looks could kill, John would've already perished. "My friends...those people" started Amanda, feeling her need to bring the Zoo to justice overriding every other priority. "They're all in danger with every second we waste...and if you are now too cowardly to finish the investigation. I guess I'll have to do it for you" finished Amanda, her tone full of spite.
Before John could come up with a response, Amanda had already reached the front door. She stared back at the pair, her eyes showing visible scorn as she departed, the door slamming on her exit.


John was left speechless for a moment before turning back to Lauren. "I did something wrong didn't I?" asked John, feeling rather confused at Amanda's reaction.


"No...you didn't" admitted Lauren, coming forward to approach John. "She's just become too emotionally invested which, since her friends have been kidnapped, you can't really blame her" continued Lauren, trying to comfort John the best she could.


"I guess not...but I only hope she calms down and doesn't do anything stupid" said John, sitting down in a nearby chair. "Lest we lose more people we care about to the Zoo" finished John.


Lauren let his words hang in the air. She found herself at a loss of what to say as she thought back to Andy and Mindy. They had disappeared, no doubt in her mind that they had also been transformed by the Zoo.


"Well... at least she didn't take the tape" thought Lauren, trying to find a bright side to the situation. She noticed it lying on the coffee table, proving to be damning evidence that something was up.


However, some things on it just didn't add up. While Lauren agreed that it proved that people could be transformed into animals...linking it to the Zoo could be problematic.


"Amanda...I hope you don't fuck everything up now" thought Lauren, taking one last glance at John. "For all our sakes" was Lauren's final thought as she departed towards the kitchen.


After all, the investigation must go on.