The Zoo

I am cow. Hear me moo. I weigh twice as much as you.

The Zoo

 

  Adelaide awoke to another chilling day. It was not chilling because of the weather, but because of the every day humiliation she had to endure. The weather, of course, was freezing too on this new planet she had been locked away on. There was once a fire that lit up the cage and managed to keep her and her only companion warm on the outside; but the people outside the bars were still as frozen as always. The fire died more and more along with her spirit. To this day, the fire had yet to be lit once more. A plant similar to hay was placed below her for bedding. Adelaide would only leave this small building when the crowd had disappeared. This hiding was pointless, though. A camera had been placed into the shelter so the people could watch her every movement. There was no privacy. They could see when she slept, ate, and urinated. Every move she made was sold of entertainment. As was her hope and happiness.

  It was just four months ago that NASA had announced that life had been found on another planet. They said it was to be kept top secret, but their top astronauts would be lucky enough to travel to the Ice Planet. They were to gather information, and possibly a specimen for the scientists to study back home. The human race wanted to know how these creatures managed to live when their bodies were made solely of ice. However, the moment the creatures saw them, they were astounded by our species. We were locked away in a strange facility where we were tested on for a month. Finally, we were let loose... only to be caged.

  Adelaide peaked outside the small wooden shelter which was the only luxury the two people were given. Her only friend, Paul, was standing in front of the large group of cold creatures that gawked at him. Paul was skinny like Adelaide, not nearly enough nutrition was given up to them since they had been on the Ice Planet. He lifted his arm and presented his middle finger to the crowd.

  A loud, "Aw!" emerged from the group who obviously did not know what it meant. None of these creatures knew our human language. Paul and I knew the language because as we were prepped to arrive on this planet, we are also prepped on the tongue these creatures spoke. As we arrived in our first town the small people that looked to be carved of ice captured the three of us. Amy, our third companion was killed for experimentation. After all, they only needed two people of the opposing gender to continue on the species. As if we would actually make love in front of all the gawking eyes.

  Finally, the sky had turned from black to bright and the crowds were all hustled away back to their homes. To their loving families like the one Adelaide used to have. She finally felt safe enough to emerge from the shelter and approach her only companion.

  "I can't take this anymore," his brown eyes swelled with tears. Just another thing the creatures on this planet found cute. "The humiliation... I need to get out of here."

   "How are you going to do that?" she asked. The bars were tall and tight; he would never be able to slip through or jump over.

   "Just watch," he told her.

   Adelaide stared intently while he ran up to the bars. Paul's hands grabbed two of them tightly as he pulled himself up. His feet would press between the metal, giving him the strength to continue his climbing. Eventually he made it to the top and Adelaide wondered to herself if he was going to slide down one of the poles before he rapidly leaped from the top. His body slammed itself into the icy ground and his leg bone dislodge itself and pop out of his skin. Adelaide averted her eyes and the horrid sight.

   He screamed as loud as Amy did when they took her away. Adelaide forced herself to bring herself to her friend. She gasped and ran to his side. Well, as close as she could get to his side before the bars intercepted my path.

   The building doors began to open up and the creatures yelled for his capture before grabbing nets and racing to the injured animal. Paul's eyes widened with panic. Still screaming, he began to run, as well as fall, to freedom. Whichever way that was, he did not know.

   "He is running! Get the guns!" A creature yelled as another one pounced on him with a net.

   "Hell, no!" Paul yelped as he shoved the man off.

   He pulled himself to his feet again until the creature grabbed onto his shin to pull him back down. Paul looked down at him with hate and lifted his arm to strike.

   "Look out!" A creature screamed.

  With that, a large explosion sounded in the distance to be followed by a large explosion of blood as a bullet the size of an apple shredded itself through my friends skull. The commotion began to die down outside the bars, while inside all Adelaide could do was let the tears stream down her face like a waterfall. A pit took its official place in Adelaide's throat. Now she was truly alone. It would not be a second later when she would become just as cold as the ice men outside.

  "The bloodthirsty animal," one of the creatures helped the one by Paul's dead body off the ground.

  "It did not have to come to this..." he looked down with sorrow.

  The ice man placed his hand on his co-workers shoulder, "Do not feel bad. They are not like us. They have no consciousness. This was not quite the loss that you would be if we did not shoot."

  

  Adelaide did not sleep that night. She was a zombie in the walls of the tiny shelter she was so sick of looking at. When commotion stirred outside the exhibit she felt the pull at her heart once again. This was the first day Paul was not there to flip the people off. No one had even gotten to bury him, but there was one thing Adelaide could do for his memory. For the first time, she forced herself to her feet and trudged outside the small wooden shelter. Her head hung low as she approached the people gathering around the bars. The people who had ripped her away from everything she loved. Had taken away her only companions, and all her self-respect. And maybe, just like they wanted, her consciousness was ready to be taken away too. Like Paul the day before, I lifted my finger to these people. To the world. To life.

  "Awe!" The people yelled as she glared at them.

  A small ice child outside the enclosure pulled on the dress of his mother.

  "Is it happy in there, mommy?" It asked.

  "Of course. Look at this one saying hello to us," she patted his head. "She will live twice as long here where we can watch her than she would in the wild."

   To this notion, all Adelaide could think was... why would I want to be alive when there lacked a purpose for living?

Author's Note

This was written quick so my apologies for the mistakes. It's been an idea I had since I was very little. It was why, as a kid, I hated zoos.

Reviews

[Avinash]

This story completely stirred me. It is a brilliant peace of writing and is quite hits the nail against every notion of superiority of mankind. We have no right to cage animals as we can not see ourselves in the same position. Gives a tight slap on the face of readers. I am a big fan of such turn table writing. I am going to share this with some of my friends.

[Skai Rain]

Aw. thank you for your kind words! I was worried I would get a lot of backlash for this story but I am happy that some people see my point :)

[Ankit Mahar]

This is such a beautiful story. It made me realize how the animals in zoo would feel like. How can a person display so much in such few words. Hats off to you for writing such amazing story.
Thanks for sharing it with me. I hop you keep writing stories like this.
- your friend.

[Skai Rain]

Aw, you're so kind! Thank you very much. You keep up the great work, yourself!

[Ankit Mahar]

Yeah I will. And you're most welcome

[Chris]

An interesting story line... SciFi and yet perhaps a glimpse from the other side.

[Skai Rain]

Thanks for reading

[Chris]

I usually choose three to begin...

and yes this had a few flaws, and the story has been tried within numerous stories, TV shows, and a movie or ten. But you were imaginative and the bite felt real.

[Skai Rain]

Yes, I've heard it had been tried many times. That was part of the reason I took to long to write it. However, I wanted to upload something to hold some of my readers over. It also was a bit rushed and I regret that. I may re-write it sometime soon. I am glad the belt felt right to you.

[Chris]

Bite... your writing gave the characterization teeth and then you used them - hence bite.

[Skai Rain]

That is what I meant. I was writing a little quickly.