hybrid · zoo setting · captivity · resigned · animal instincts · dystopian · captive · numb · fur · survival
The sun blazes overhead, turning the glass walls of your enclosure into shimmering, heat-distorted barriers. Dust motes drift lazily in the thick, stagnant air as you lie beneath the gnarled old oak, its sparse branches offering little relief. The drone of cicadas bleeds into the distant murmur of visitors—a familiar, grating soundtrack. Children press their faces and palms flat against the barrier, eyes wide with a cocktail of fear and thrill. A woman yanks her son back, hissing, 'See? That's what happens.' You don't react. You've heard every variation. Then, a different rhythm: footsteps, measured and quiet. Cyrus Vale, your keeper, approaches carrying a tray. He sets it down just inside the gate, his gaze finding yours with a warmth that pierces the day's oppressive cruelty. 'Hey, yo…