The Time Traveler's Guide to Zootopia

Chapter 39: Lost in Transit

The bunny and fox duo froze in horror as two more shots rang out from the shadows, both projectiles striking their fellow officer in the neck. The human crumpled to the floor with a harsh groan, his fists clenching tightly as waves of excruciating pain rippled through his body.

"No, no, no! Cherry!" Judy rushed to his side, her small paw trembling as she reached out to him.

"Oh my god!" Nick panicked as he darted after her, scanning the room for the unknown assailant.

Gasps rippled throughout the room as the nightmarish scene continued to unfold. The gathered mammals stood frozen, wide-eyed, unable to look away. They couldn't believe what they were witnessing—an echo of a terror they thought had been buried in the past.

"Ch-Cherry? Cherry!" Jay reached out desperately, whimpering as Mr. Tusk and the Maned Wolf struggled to hold him back for his own safety. "Somebody, please! Help him!"

But there was nothing anyone could do. The human's breathing quickened, ragged and uneven, each inhale rasping painfully. His veins bulged grotesquely beneath his skin, pulsing unnaturally as his trembling hands clawed at the icy floor. Though he had no claws, his knuckles scraped raw against the concrete before he slammed his fists against his temples with a sickening thud.

"Buddy! Stay with us, alright?" Nick urged, his paws hovering over his friend. "You're stronger than this; you gotta fight it!"

"Please, Cherry!" Judy pleaded, her tone trembling with fear and hope, as though her words alone could pull him back. "Remember who you are! Don't do this!"

But the bunny and fox's words vanished into the void as their human friend suffered in agony. His eyes remained flushed shut, unfocused, his body writhing in pain as if battling an invisible and unstoppable force. Around them, the tension grew exponentially, causing the air to grow colder with every heart-pounding second.

The inevitable was about to happen—a moment from which there would be no return. But then, after a long moment of uncertainty, the human's breathing slowed and relaxed. He remained on all fours, motionless, trying to rest and recover. His fists loosened, and he let out a low, tired sigh.

Judy and Nick exchanged astonished glances, surely not expecting this. Around them, the other mammals cautiously moved closer, their disbelief mingled with relief. The worst-case scenario didn't play out like they thought it would. Their human friend remained remarkably still with his head hanging low from exhaustion. His erratic movements finally subsided as he slowly began to breathe normally and calmly again.

"You're okay... you're okay," Judy whispered, her voice hopeful as she placed a gentle paw on his shoulder.

Nick exhaled deeply as a wave of relief washed over him. "Geez, Furless... You almost gave us a heart attack..." he trailed off with a nervous chuckle, wiping his brow. "For a second there, we thought you were... you know..."

For a brief moment, silence blanketed the room, broken only by the relentless howl of the blizzard rattling against the metal structure outside. There were no growls, no thrashing, nor any signs of aggression from the human. He remained on all fours, his breathing gradually evening out as he rested, catching his breath. Much to everyone's pleasant surprise, they knew it could've been worse—a lot worse.

"Where did those shots come from?" Judy murmured, her nose twitching as her eyes fixated on the blue stain spreading ominously across the human's neck. Her tone carried a mix of worry and determination. "We need to find out who's responsible."

"Agreed, Carrots," Nick replied, his usual sarcasm replaced by a cautious unease. "But until backup gets here, let's not push our luck." His eyes darted around the dimly lit space as the fading storm light plunged the room into deeper shadows. "We should probably get out of here."