The Human Zoo (1)

Chapter 1 - Priya

13 Years Earlier

I sit in a corner. My knees touch my chin, and I pick at my fingernails. When they start to cry red, I stop. Benjy, my only friend, sits cross-legged next to me, staring at the floor. His fingers draw pictures against the rough cement. Today I'm five, I think. That is what the people in the blue clothes say when they come in and do tests on us. One at a time, we are being taken by the tall lady who has with a dark circle on her left cheek, short black hair, and green e yes. They call her Aerion. No one has come back, but they all go through the metal door that makes a whooshing sound like sucking in air. I watch as each kid grins at her, but I'm not smiling. I know she is bad.

The soft yellow of the room I call home makes my tummy flip. I breathe in through my nose, and out through my mouth. My tongue licks my lips. The metal door opens again and cold air rushes in. Aerion locks eyes with me. She doesn't come for me though. She reaches for Benjy, grabbing his arm, pulling him up to his feet.

Clinging to him, I pull him down by grabbing his arm. "3- 5- 6- 8- 5- 3, let go," Aerion says.

"Where are you taking him?" I ask. For a second, she looks confused.

"It's okay, Priya," Benjy says, patting my hand.

My head shakes "no" as he nods "yes."

He pulls me off his arm, and I look into his brown eyes.

"Come back?" I whisper.

"I promise," he says smiling.

He holds his hand up, his five fingers wide, and I place my hand against his.

"Bye, Priya!" he says walking away with Aerion. His brown, curly hair bounces as he giggles and jumps through the metal door. I rub my thumb over the number on my calf, 3- 5- 6- 8- 5- 3, thinking, my name is Priya. I sit for what feels like hours as those who remain are taken.

One hour. Two hours. Ten hours. No one comes for me.

"They don't want me." I start crying as wet tears slide down my face and into my mouth. Then she comes in.

"3- 5- 6- 8- 5- 3, it's time," Aerion says soft and sweet. My body freezes.

"Where are we going?" I ask as her green eyes squint at me.

"Somewhere better." She says looking at me, then slightly turning her gaze toward the black panel in the ceiling. She reaches for me, and I bite her with my teeth. She screams with her mouth open wide and eyebrows touching one another.

"You will mind," she yells slapping me across the face.

My fingers claw at her.

She kicks me in the stomach and grabs me by the hair, dragging me toward the door. My tiny hands can't reach hers as I scream wildly, pain shooting across my head. I kick out, twisting my body toward her. My foot hits her shin and she lets go. Scooting away, I huff out of my nose. My eyes dart around, looking for a way out. My heart beats against my chest so hard I look down to make sure it's not going to pop out.

"ANIMAL!" Aerion screams at me.

"I'm not an animal!" I scream back.

She presses behind her ear and says, "Guardians, do your job and get in here. Now!" A few seconds later two men dressed in all black enter.

Both of their faces have shiny black masks over them, showing only the straight lines of their mouths. The taller one stands by the door as the other guardian walks toward me, his short frame identical to his dark uniform. I keep scooting until my back touches the wall behind me. As the man gets closer to me, he stops and turns around, waving his hand at the other guardian. Then the man at the door comes and rests by him. Slowly, I stand, then run, hoping to squeeze into the space between their legs, but strong arms pick me up and toss me on the ground. The world looks upside down as I'm thrown over a shoulder. The metal door reaches out for me. I thrash and fling myself against the guardian's clothes.

Reaching out, I grip the edges of the door, straining to dig into the metal door. Effortlessly, my fingers are plucked off. I bite down, and my teeth clash with metal. The world is dark for a moment, and then I see the light. My eyes squeeze shut. We enter a long, glass hallway.

People stand on the other side of the glass with their teeth showing. I can hear them laughing. Bright flashes of light bounce off the glass and tiny faces like mine press up to it. I'm still—confused, scared—wondering why these people are on the other side. Why they are free?

"Help me! Please! They are taking me!" I try to shout, but it comes out as a whisper. I keep squirming, reaching my hands out, waiting for someone to help. No one comes. Warm tears fall down my face.

Out of the mass of people, a little boy appears and steps up to the glass. He has brown hair and bright blue eyes that stand out against his skin. His lips curl down into a frown. I watch as he raises his hand and places it against the glass, five fingers spread wide. Reaching my hand out, I copy him. He smiles at me and I stare at him until the guard takes me through another door. Then he's gone, and I am lost.