Beyond The Cage - Complete

They say you never really know true misery until your freedom has been taken away.

For millennia, mankind thought they ruled the world. It wasn’t too long ago that they were still right. With the advent of a new species – the monsters, humanity found itself subjugated. Drastically outnumbered, human beings were declared an “endangered species”, and became a valuable commodity – especially human men. Treating them like property, the invaders saw no objection from their governments regarding the idea of holding human "specimen" in captivity for their own “safety.”

You were one of them.

For many years, you've been locked away in a cage, spending your days in solitude; sleeping, eating and existing. Your life had been reduced to that of an animal, watched by monsters of all ages, who visited this prison - the “zoo”, as they liked to call it - on a daily basis.

Coming into contact with monsters was nothing less than revolting, but you had to endure it. Children would point at you with curious smiles on their faces, asking their mothers questions about you, too young to fully understand the relationship between your species. Their answers usually implied you were either some kind of plaything, a prize to be taken, or just a "love dispenser", among other disgusting descriptions. Such revolting conversations would've driven you mad at this point, but you just couldn't bring yourself to care anymore.

A good night's sleep was a rare occurrence for you, as employees would sometimes remain in the zoo at night after its closure, seeking a little "midnight snack" from you. The frequency of these secret nighttime “visits” wore you out so much that the bags under your eyes became permanent; a clear sign that you had already gotten used to this life a long time ago. Weeks turned into months, months into years, and on your life continued; this painfully horrible life of yours...

. . .

One day, when the zoo was hardly active, you sat down on the ground, resting your back against the cold metal bars that held you hostage. You could hear the faint sound of voices echoing in the distance, as the few people in area walked about.

Strangely enough, for a moment, you thought you heard someone approaching your cage. You really hoped that wasn’t the case, because you weren’t in the mood. Much to your chagrin, however, you could hear soft steps coming up behind you. Slowly, they grew louder and closer, until they came to a sudden stop. Somebody was there, watching you.

With a sigh, you turned around expecting to see yet another random visitor. What you saw, however, was a horn touching your forehead. Confused, you froze in place, glancing at the pointy thing as it lightly poked into your skin for being too close, before shifting your focus to its owner.

You were met with a large eyeball, which calmly stared at you from the other side of the cage. It blinked innocently at you, as its dark blue iris glittering with a certain hint of curiosity. You couldn't tell exactly why, but something about it caught your attention. Staring at it for a few moments, you almost lost yourself in your own thoughts, had you not realized how dangerously close your face was to it.

Quickly pulling your head back in reflex as to distance yourself from it, you took a better look at the stranger, rubbing your forehead in surprise.

Crouching, the figure hugged her legs, gazing at you at eye level. Her bluish face was devoid of any extreme emotion, as her large, deep blue eye found itself still locked with yours. Her short blue hair covered her pointy ears almost completely, giving her face an exotic contrast. Her clothes matched the mild weather outside, covering most of her skin, but did little to hide the curves of her rather voluptuous body.

The figure before you was none other than a monster. A Cyclops, or at least you thought it was one, since it was the first thing that came to mind. She seemed to be a full grown one in your eyes, but looks could be deceiving, and you knew this well.

As your surprise vanished, you stared back at her in silence for a few moments, expecting her to say or do something. To your irritation, the monster proved to be quite skilled in neither showing any expression, nor speaking, and that bothered you a lot.

“...What?” You inquired, breaking the silence.

No response. This girl was starting to make you feel uneasy; you weren’t fond of being stared at so intensely, by some creepy mute, no less. You never got used to this kind of thing, regardless of how long you’ve been here. Frowning in impatience, you got back up on your feet, wiped the dust off your clothes and began to walk back to your makeshift bed at the other end of the cage, disregarding the girl’s presence. It's not like you had anything better to do.

“...You look sad.”

You stopped dead in your tracks as a soft, quiet voice reached your ears. Turning around as to face the blue skinned monster, you shot a skeptical glance at her. There she stood, back on her feet, as her gaze refused to leave you alone. Her height was the first thing to come to your attention; she seemed to be slightly taller than you, maybe by half a head. Pushing your initial observations aside, you continued to stare at her.

Sad, huh? What did she know about sadness anyway?

“Who cares?” You muttered, averting your eyes.

Your words were met with silence, but that mattered little. You were not expecting an answer anyway. You had a very good reason to be bitter. Nobody cared about how you felt. Nobody ever bothered to listen to what you had to say ever since you were put in this cage. Hell, not even the zoo’s employees cared if you were willing or not to cooperate whenever they decided to “visit” you at night. Why should you even—

“...Because...you never smile...” She spoke, interrupting your train of thought.

...Smile? What’s her deal?

“So what if I don’t?” You replied with a tone of irritation in your voice.

After yet another brief staring competition, what she asked next took you by surprise. It wasn’t a demand for you to entertain her like some kind of lowly animal, but rather, a simpler request. Something you didn’t expect to hear from a monster. In fact, she asked you something you’ve been meaning to ask someone for a long time now.

“...Want to talk?”

Quietly, you walked toward her. Her eye widened a little bit in reaction, blinking at you as you came closer. Keeping eye contact, you slowed down to a halt a few feet away from the bars, before answering her question with another.

“Why?”

“...Uh...I’m...I’m sorry...” She replied in an even quieter tone, almost whispering, as she tried to look away from you.

You glanced at her for a while longer before sighing in defeat. It didn’t like you had much of a choice, might as well just let her. Who knows what the zoo’s staff might do to you if they find out you’re being a bother to the visitors.

. . .

How long has it been since you’ve last had a normal conversation with someone else? You had no clue, but you did remember how it made you feel like you could actually relate with someone - Someone who would listen to what you had to say.

The fact that you were just sitting there, conversing with a Cyclops didn’t occur to you until you had already begun telling her about yourself. You told her your name, and how you ended up in this hellish place. Of course, you didn’t give her much detail, nor did you tell her much else, as you were not that comfortable talking to this random stranger, but it was...something.

What really caught your attention was that she listened to every word you said, occasionally nodding in acknowledgement as you spoke, yet never taking her eye off of yours. You couldn’t really tell what she was thinking, and you couldn’t figure out how the hell she managed to convince you to chat with her either, but she was quite the listener.

Time dragged as she got to know you. Her name was Nanna; unusual, but not necessarily a bad name. She told you about how she grew up watching your species be overrun by monsters, and how she despised the way they decided to take over by force rather than finding a peaceful solution.

With an unhurried and tender voice, she told you that she’s noticed how you had to bear with the hardships of being confined in this prison, being put on display like a lesser creature. You were surprised to realize that she actually was aware of it, especially the way she talked about it; her tone had a hint of disgust, as if your suffering was something bad. What hypocrisy? Is this not what these damned monsters wanted in the first place?

Her behavior was starting to confuse you a lot. As she talked, something tingled your memory. There was a certain odd feel about her, but you couldn’t quite point it out. Something about her felt different from any other monster you had ever interacted with, and, strangely enough, it did not feel inherently horrible to be near her for the time being. She did not seem to have any ill intentions at all.

...No. Not a chance. This must be some kind of sick trick you didn’t know about yet. You couldn’t let your guard down. There has to be some kind of catch here. You need to be extra cautious with the quiet ones.

Saving your skeptical thoughts to yourself, you kept playing along, and soon, the Sun began to set. You did not realize how much time had passed until you heard another voice nearby, interrupting the Cyclops’ speech. You froze the moment you realized whose voice it was.

“Excuse me.”

Glancing at the figure that approached your cage, you did your best to hide, or at least ease up the look of distaste that washed over your face as soon as you laid eyes on it.

Her bright feathers reflected the dim sunlight that shone in the landscape, displaying a shiny mix of light green and blue. Her hair was no different, as it not only had the same colors as her feathers, but also showed a third, strong shade of yellow, arranged into two spiky pigtails.

Sporting her zoo uniform, the Thunderbird walked in a prideful fashion, as if displaying her assertiveness. Her facade could fool anyone into thinking she was a manager or something similar, but you knew better. You knew who she was.

“I’m terribly sorry, miss, but we’re closing for today.” She continued, glancing at Nanna with a friendly smile on her face. The Cyclops glanced back at the rather short bird-woman for moment before complying and preparing to take her leave.

“...Okay. I understand.”

“Oh, don’t you worry, dear. He’ll still be here tomorrow.”

Nodding in agreement, Nanna shot one last glance at you before going. For a moment, you could have sworn you saw a hint of a smile forming at the edge of her lips. It was barely noticeable, but you were sure that you saw something. Must’ve been your imagination.

“...Bye, Anon.” She spoke softly, shyly waving you goodbye.

“Yeah, uh...see you.” You replied, quietly watching the tall, one-eyed girl turn around and walk away.

Something felt wrong. You were sure she was just luring you somehow. You knew she was plotting something, just like all the others, but she...didn’t actually do anything. Not a single attempt at reaching out to grab you or anything of the sort. Did a monster just...socialize with you? That was too out of place.

“So, our little Anon made a new friend, huh~?” The Thunderbird broke the silence with an unwanted remark.

“What do you want, Elin?” You turned to her with a sour look on your face.

“Gee hun, why so grumpy?” She said, crossing her arms and trying to play naïve, as always. “No need to be so harsh on me ~.”

You despised the way she always pretended to be innocent in public, especially in your presence. The truth was that Elin, the youngest of the group of zookeepers, loved to tease you endlessly whenever you were alone together– in a bad sense – whenever she could.

“What, are you feeling lonely now that she’s gone? I wouldn’t worry about that, sugar. I can keep you company tonight~.” She said, leaning forward, as if to showcase her firm breasts and her trademark smug. That’s the kind of woman Elin was.

This is going to be a long night.

. . .

("Hey...")

A voice echoed softly in the darkness, poking your consciousness awake.

("Anon...!...Wake up...!")

An exhausted grumble was the only thing you could muster in response, as your tired eyelids struggled to open.

"Ah, good morning, hun! Nap time's over~!"

The voice, now loud and clear, yanked you away from the safe haven you called sleep. The loudness of voice itself was enough to put you in a bad mood, and to make it worse, you were no stranger to it.

"Anooon. Don't make me go in there again~!"

God dammit.

Forcing your eyes open, you shot an annoyed glance at the nuisance that wouldn't leave you alone. On the other side of the bars stood the same old Thunderbird you wish weren’t there. You would rather be blind than see that woman's shit-eating grin every morning.

"What. Is it." You harshly asked, your tone being so dry it almost didn't sound like a question.

As you rubbed your eyes and tried to get up, you could feel your muscles twitch and tension at random, as if some kind of current lingered in your body.

"Hmm? Still feeling grumpy? And here I thought giving you a good time last night would lighten your mood..."

Sitting up from your makeshift bed, you narrowed your eyes, frowning at her. Much to your chagrin, she simply smiled back at you, as if disregarding your irritation. This bird was an expert at pissing you off.

"Ah, could it be you’re upset because you won't see me for a while? Don't worry, hun. I'll come back for you in a couple of days.” She continued. “Until then, you can always have your fun with the other girls. Of course, none of them know how to please my little Anon as well as I do~! Ah, it was so good, I think I blanked out. I can’t even remember what happened after that last round~."

You often asked yourself what you ever did to deserve this. As if having her way with you against your will wasn't enough, you still had to sit through her annoying insinuations all the time. You looked away in frustration, trying to think of something else, only to realize that your clothes were torn everywhere, rendering you mostly naked.

"Oh, right." Elin said, throwing something at you through the bars. "Here. Your new clothes, sugar. Hugs and kisses from Aunty Darcey. Try not to struggle so much next time if you want to keep them in better shape, though it only makes it all more...spicy~."

If only name-calling would get you anywhere, you’d be spouting everything known to humanity there and then, but alas, venting wasn’t worth your time, or your well-being. Last time you did that, you ended up being “visited” by more than one zookeeper in the same night as punishment for “being a bad boy”. That one almost got you killed.

“Get changed already, we’re opening soon.” The Thunderbird continued, a suggestive smile plastered on her face. “It wouldn’t be nice to leave my dear Anon walking around naked all day...or would it?”

Sighing in defeat, you quietly changed into the new set of clothes you’ve been given. Observing your every move with a satisfied look on her face, Elin giggled to herself whenever one of your muscles twitched. She loved to use you as some kind of stress relief toy, electrocuting you from head to toe with her discharges.

Needless to say, being immobilized, dominated and quite literally fried by a sadistic Thunderbird in the middle of the night was not something easy to get used to, especially when she goes over the line by paralyzing both of you during the act with a discharge so strong your muscles would keep jerking and shuddering until morning. She usually ended up falling asleep on top of you afterwards whenever that happened, and to make it worse, you would remain paralyzed until she’d let go of you. It goes without saying that her discharges were very painful, but you knew she didn’t care.

Once you were done changing, you threw your old, ripped clothes out of your cage.

“Cheer up, Anon, breakfast will be ready soon. Besides, you wouldn’t want your little friend to see you like this, would you?” She concluded, picking up the rags you threw out and preparing to take her leave. “Well, see you later~!”

As you watched the annoying bird-woman walk away, you thanked the Lord you didn’t have to see her every day. It was a sign that the people running this place were at least trying to keep their own staff from accidentally killing you.

Stretching your body and cracking some joints, you yawned tiredly. A new day had arrived.

The sound of cars and voices softly echoed in the distance, as the morning sunlight slowly washed over the city, coating the buildings with a bright shade of gold. To many, such warm and inviting rays told them that the time had come to leave the world of Morpheus, for they had a new, promising day ahead of them.

Your point of view was not as poetic, however. To you, it just meant that it was time to prepare for the worst, again.

Leaning against the cage’s cold metal bars, you stared blankly into the distance, wondering what horrors life had in store for you today. You could only wish for it to not to be too painful, as you were still recovering from Elin’s midnight mischief. Well, who were you to make choices around here, anyway? You didn’t even have the right to choose your own meals.

Your growling stomach, apparently unhappy with your remark, reminded you that you haven’t eaten anything since you woke up. Elin didn’t really tell you when or what you were going to have for breakfast today. Now that you think about it, she didn’t even tell you who would be bring it.

You usually didn’t care who would be looking after you as long as you managed to survive in this place each passing day, as the zookeepers had the habit of taking turns. Those monsters were quite organized when they actually worked together, especially when they had a mutual goal in mind; case in point being... well, you. Nonetheless, you could still feel a certain “tension” between some of them. The cause was not that hard to figure out.

Sometimes you wished you didn’t have to put up with their little quarrels, but then again, you were the sole reason for them to happen in the first place. You were both the object of dispute and the scapegoat. The situations you were usually dragged into were irritating all the same, some cases being more stressful than others.

Especially the ones involving a certain greedy, furred employee.

The very same employee that approached your cage just as you finished your silent rant. Speak of the devil.

Far from surprised, you glanced at the nearing figure with little emotion on your face as she walked straight towards you with something in her hands. Soon enough, the woman came to a halt, quietly staring down at you from beyond the bars.

Brown fur emerged from underneath her uniform’s hems, running down from her forearms and shins to her large paws. Her confident posture could easily earn her the respect of anyone at first glance, giving her a certain aura of authority. Her pointy ears poked upward from beneath her long, brown hair, twitching in reaction to the many sounds of the environment around her, ever-vigilant.

Her bright yellow eyes, reflecting the morning sunlight, emanated a powerful vibe of assertiveness. They would certainly look a bit more attractive, had she not been staring daggers at you with them.

Thankfully, you knew how to deal with her, to an extent. Your best bet would be not to ruin her mood, or at least try not to. Being a werewolf, and quite the jealous one at that, she would give you no peace once she realized that something was off. You shared glances with her for a couple of seconds, hoping--

“You have Elin’s scent on you.”

And you’re not off to a very good start.

Valerie had arrived, and she didn’t look happy.

“...Yeah, hi.” You replied, doing your best to hide the look of annoyance on your face.

The furred woman frowned at you, her stern gaze studying your person entirely, waiting for you to explain yourself. Just what kind of excuse was she expecting from you, anyway?

“...Look, I didn’t ask for it, alright?” You declared in your defense. “If you want answers, you’ll have to sort that out with her, not me.”

Locking her eyes into yours, she sighed in disapproval, as if you were the one to blame for a certain pesky Thunderbird’s antics.

“You’re always making things hard for both of us, Anon. I thought I made it clear that you’re not giving yourself to anybody unless I allow it. How many times will I have to repeat myself?”

“I...yeah, I know that, but you’re driving me into a corner here. I told you this was Elin’s doing.”

A displeased expression washed over her face as she heard your words. Talking some sense into the werewolf was no easy task, but you had to try. Apart from the higher-ups and you, she’s been here longer than anybody else, but for someone who’s well-respected for her experience and overall prudent behavior, however, Valerie was selfish around you.

“The sheer thought of having to...“share” you with the others here is already difficult enough as it is, Anon. I’m sure you’re aware of that, aren't you?” She said, emphasizing the word “share” with a slight tone of disgust in her voice.

You knew how big of a deal things like loyalty were to werewolves, you just didn’t know how she was expecting you to be “loyal” to her in a place like this, or at all, given your hatred for monsters. Sometimes you could only wonder what she saw in you that made her so obsessed.

Strangely enough, Valerie’s possessiveness had its merits, as she was the one in charge of keeping the other women at bay...mostly. She was the one who decided when her coworkers could and could not “have their fun” with you, and how often it would happen, which, thanks to her immense jealously, wasn’t every damn day. You were somewhat grateful for that.

“...Fine. I'll have to question Elin about this later, that meddling bird loves to bend the rules.” She replied. At least she had the courtesy to actually listen to you once in a while.

But alas, everything had its drawbacks. The days on which the furred woman had the opportunity to dedicate her full attention to you were the most exhausting to get by. Having her take care of you for a day usually meant having your every meal carefully selected according to what she believed was ideal for your health – or to just keep you alive – regardless of your taste in food.

She would often insist in personally supervising your baths, completely disregarding your privacy. Having to deal with this habit of hers was always a gamble, as she would sometimes decide to actually take part in them, claiming that it was her “duty” to “make sure you’re cleaning yourself correctly”.

You already lost count of how many times she used that same half-assed excuse to assault you when you were most vulnerable. This monster was a true predator, and she knew when to strike.

“Once you’re done with your breakfast, I’m giving you a bath.”

Of course, when you do so much as think about it...

“I, uh...I’m fine, really. You don’t really need to—“

“I’m getting Elin’s scent off of you myself, Anon. It's for your own good. Please, don't question me.”

Today was going to be one of those days.

“Alright, alright. Whatever you say.” You gave in, sighing in defeat. There was not much you could do when she made up her mind.

Valerie seemed to be pleased with your compliance, as you could now see her long, fluffy tail gently wagging left and right behind her. It looked like her mood was finally brightening. Unfortunately, you couldn’t say the same about yours.

"I'm glad you understand." She spoke softly, as a faint smile crept up on her face, replacing her usual judging expression. "Here, you must be really hungry by now, right?"

The abrupt change in her manner of speech would’ve caught you be surprise, had you not already been used to her “swings”. She would sometimes show you a hidden motherly side out of the blue, completely overwriting whatever mood she was previously in at random. It was unnatural and out of place, especially for a serious monster like her.

Her words reminded you that she had something in her hands. You were so busy trying to calm her down that you forgot she had brought you food. After using a key to unlock the door, Valerie gave you a small bowl with a spoon in it, along with a glass of milk.

Oatmeal, dried fruit and nuts. The exact same breakfast you’ve been eating for God knows how long. You eventually came to hate the way it tasted after eating so much of it, but it filled your stomach in the mornings, so you were in no place to refuse. At least the milk was nice; maybe even the best part of the meal. It was probably the only reason why your bones – and your pelvis - were still in one piece. The stuff might've saved your life more times than you knew.

“Make sure to eat all of it, dear.” She said as you quietly began to chew on your food.

True to her habits, she patiently watched you eat your breakfast like she always did, a tranquil smile adorning her face. You didn’t like being stared at when eating; it felt like she was sizing you up. Once you were done, you took your final gulp of milk before handing the empty glass over through the bars, trying to evade her creepy stare by looking away.

Unfortunately, your brief moment of carelessness was met with a sudden firm grip on your wrist. You felt a paw get a hold of you through the bars while another took the glass from your hand. Widening your eyes in surprise, you glanced back at Valerie, who used this opportunity to pull you closer and closer, leaving your face dangerously close to hers.

"What’s the problem, Anon? You look so...tense..."

Her grasp felt tight and unwavering, like a certain Danuki getting hold of her daily profit. She had enough strength to break your wrist with ease, but she didn’t. The feel of her sharp claws on your skin could tear it open like cardboard, and yet, she refrained from even scratching it. All she did was hold you tight. She was somewhat blunt, but at the same time, collected, in an eerie way. It was one of the very few times where you were damn glad the bars were there to separate you both.

“Please, don’t hide anything from me, Anon. I only want what’s best for us. If I weren’t so caring, I don’t think I’d be able to love you as much as I do. You know that, don’t you?” She whispered softly while caressing your arm with her paws, as her bright golden eyes stared deeply into yours.

You could feel the obscure, pent up lust emanating from within her serene expression as she shared glances with you for a while longer, before gently letting you go. This wasn’t a good sign. It was never a good sign.

“Elin must've stressed you out, right? That just won't do. I'll go get your bath ready. I'm sure you're looking forward to it, hm?"

You didn’t even dare open your mouth at this point. Sometimes your only option was to go with the flow for the sake of not making things worse. Without pause, Valerie turned her back to you and began to walk away, her long brown tail swinging ever so gently with every step. She had a knack for being unpredictable. You could only wonder what she’s going to do to you when she comes back.

It’s only been a couple of hours since you woke up, and suffering was already on your doorstep. Your grandfather was right; the only easy day was yesterday.

. . .

"Hey, Livia, check this out! They really do keep one of them in here!"

"Oh, wow. What do you think they jailed him for?"

"He probably rejected someone who tried to claim him. Must’ve been an Oomukade or something; those wimps really gotta grow some skin and stop calling the cops all the time.”

“Nah, he’d be locked up somewhere else for something like that. Maybe he tried to hold hands with someone else without permission."

"Oh my, that’s public indecency right there! That’s pretty bold."

This is ridiculous.

"Oh look, he’s ignoring us. Looks like someone’s in a bad mood.”

"I know, right? I love it when they play hard-to-get.”

Grandpa couldn’t be any more right.

Much to your annoyance, life had cursed you with yet more unwanted noise; this time, in the form of a rather loud pair of monsters, who apparently found great joy in pestering you with their shameless implications. Little did they know that compared to what you had to endure on a daily basis, their childish teasing was pointless. If they were trying to get on your nerves, they were going to have to do better than that.

“Still, this is strange. Why do they keep them in cages like this anyhow? Doesn’t make much sense to me...”

“Let’s see if he knows. Hey, cutie!” Said the sharp-toothed one, sporting a curious grin. “Care to tell us how you ended up in there?”

You tried to pay them no mind, averting your eyes and pretending they weren’t there. Hopefully, they would give up and leave.

“Huh. Seems like he doesn’t feel like talking, Garnet. He’s a stubborn one.” The Oni stated, stroking her chin with an intrigued expression on her face.

“He looks so grumpy, it almost makes wanna jump in there and squish him all over. That oughta put a smile on his face!” Her shark friend added, leaning closer to the bars, staring at you all the while.

Tolerance was never really your greatest strength, and thanks to the lack thereof, you had to learn many things the hard way, including some of the worst experiences you had in your life. Some of them involved none other than Valerie, of course, especially when she was feeling “needy”. You were already drained and hurt from the not-so-relaxing “service” she gave you not so long ago.

You still remembered the good old days where you could just unwind and get lost in your own thoughts under the shower without having worry about crazed monsters breaking your door down. It was at moments like these that you realized that there was really no place like home. Too bad there’s no home to go back to anymore. Those peaceful days are long gone, replaced by a life of entrapment, enforced by a certain intrusive werewolf who didn't seem to know the meaning of "personal space."

Weirdly enough, the zoo’s administration actually built a separate bathroom, complete with a shower – which looked more like a prison shower - made specifically for you. At least they had the decency to let you keep a fraction of your dignity, instead of treating you like an animal in every sense of the word by using a hose or something equally degrading.

But of course, everything has a price.

Valerie escorted you to said bathroom, which had been built as a separate chamber for security purposes. She didn’t bother restraining you in any way, nor did she even need to; you knew better than trying to run away from her. Once there, she made sure nobody else was around, before going feral on you, pouncing the first chance she got.

Content that you were finally alone together, the wolf pulled you into her arms and started to slowly, yet forcefully undress you entirely before moving on with her...“business.”  With your clothing out of the way, she began to wash your body, running her paws over your skin, firmly feeling you all over, especially your groin area.

“All for my precious Anon,” so she said, among many other delusional love whispers, which you sure as hell didn’t reciprocate. It was obvious that your baths were nothing more than molesting sessions whenever Valerie was involved.

Claiming to be “just making sure you remained pure and free of unwanted scents,” she assaulted you thoroughly regardless of how much you resisted her abuse. The time eventually came when the furred woman could no longer hold herself back, deciding to undress herself and join you in the shower. You’d rather not remember the indecencies that followed, and of course, it goes without saying that the aftermath of this maltreatment was a big mess, with her indulging herself in a world of pleasure while you were thrown into one of pain and discomfort.

Once satisfied, Valerie clung onto you for a little bit longer, greedily caressing your hair while murmuring inaudible things to herself while you were both still lying on the floor, naked. She held you tightly, as if you were some kind of valued possession she couldn’t afford to lose, but you could barely feel any real affection from her embrace.

If that wasn’t true horror, then you don’t know what is. You were sure she had some screws loose, you just weren’t sure how many.

“Hey, boy. Are you just gonna ignore us all day?”

And now you’ve got some smart-ass Blue Oni and an annoying shark taunting you non-stop. You didn’t want to deal with any of this right now, but you had to force yourself to be a patient man.

“A little love bite or two should put him in line, don’tcha think?”

A very patient man.

“Does everything have to have something to do with biting to you?” The Oni inquired, glancing at the fish girl, not amused in the slightest.

“...Well...yeah?” Replied her carnivorous friend, looking somewhat puzzled.

“...You really gotta work on controlling those instincts, Garnet.”

“Aw, come on now, Livia. I mean, look at him! Wouldn’t you just eat him up if you could? I know I would.”

These monsters were starting to become a real bother, and ignoring their annoying remarks was getting more difficult by the minute. For a brief moment, you thought about telling them to buzz off and mind their own business, but then again...


“I’m sorry, I’m afraid I cannot allow that.”


“Who the— Gyah!!”

“Huh? Wh--”

Someone else was about to do just that in your stead.

The duo, too busy trying to get your attention, did not notice Valerie coming up behind them. Too bad.

“...W-When did you—“

“Miss, I’ll have to ask you not to stay too close to the bars, please.” The wolf woman sternly requested, interrupting the shark mid-speech.

“Y-Yeah, sorry.” The fish monster complied, spooked out of her scales.

“Thank you. Now, is there anything I can help you with?”

“Uh...not really...?” Said the Oni, still surprised by the werewolf’s sudden appearance.

“I see. If that’s the case, may I interest you in visiting the tiger’s den? I must say that they’re quite active today.” Valerie suggested.

“...Y-You guys keep Jinkos locked up in here too?” Asked the sharp-toothed girl. She didn’t seem very bright.

“Shut up, Garnet.”

“I’m sorry, I’m afraid we don’t. They’re normal tigers. The animal type. If you’d please follow me, I’d gladly take you there.”

“Uh, thanks ma’am, but we don’t really—“ Livia tried to refuse the offer, only to be interrupted by Valerie’s piercing gaze, as she glanced back at the Oni in apparent displeasure.

“Please, I insist. The tigers are usually very calm around here; watching them exercise would surely be quite entertaining.”

You could only sit still and watch the situation unfold as the wolf stared deep into Livia’s eyes, patiently waiting for the Oni to give her an answer, or give in to pressure and leave. Whichever came first.

“...Well...I guess it wouldn’t be a bad idea...right, Garnet?”

“...Huh? O-Oh, yeah, sure. Let’s go see the J— the tigers, then...”

“Good, I’m happy you’ve changed your mind. This way, please. (Hopefully, you’ll leave and stay gone.)” Valerie whispered under her breath.

“...I’m sorry, what?”

“Hopefully, you’ll be able to see the tigers playing with each other before they get tired!”

You were no stranger to Valerie’s weird behavior, but she knew how to be scary when she wanted to. Shooting you a quick smile before turning around and leaving, she politely signaled the duo of monsters to come with her. The shark girl reluctantly followed suit, but the Oni stood her ground for a little bit longer. Confused and worried, she stared at you with a “Is this woman for real?” look on her face, to which you simply responded with a tired and unimpressed expression. It took her a second, but she got the message.

Glancing back at the werewolf as she walked away, Livia sighed before going after her friend, finally leaving you alone. You could have warned them, but Valerie didn’t really like it when you talked to other monsters, and you didn’t need that clingy woman jumping your bones against your will twice on the same day, either.

Ah, well.

. . .

Sometimes you just couldn’t tell which side of these damned bars is worse.

It was hard to cope with reality, but if there was something that got on your nerves, it was the people in this city. Everywhere you looked, you saw the worst it had to offer.

As per usual, monsters would walk by, eye-raping you like they always do. Lamia would lick their teeth at the sight of you, trying to reach out and grab you with their tails with clear malicious intent in their eyes. Elves would look down on you, spouting their cookie-cutter speeches of superiority over the human race you’ve heard a million times before.

Some monsters would whisper their delusions to you, describing the most insane fantasies they wanted to do to you. Others just laughed at your situation, as if you were some kind of living, walking joke. Most would just smugly stare you down, giggling at whatever dirty thoughts they had in their minds - until Valerie came around to put them in line or send them away, that is.

The worst usually happened when she was needed elsewhere. Pixies would fly into your cage and try to rip your clothes off, escaping before you could swat them out of the air. Aggressive monsters such as Manticores would play their little sick “games” with you, shooting their venomous darts near your feet, forcing you to evade however you could as to not get poisoned. To you, it was survival, but in their eyes, it was merely “entertainment”. This was the everyday hell you had to endure.

Families would come by for a tour around the place, stopping by your cage at the request of their children. They looked at you in wonder, as if you were some kind of rare species. Not too far from the truth, really. Their parents would laugh at their silly questions, patting their heads as they made up stupid excuses and blatant lies as reasons to why you were imprisoned.

What irritated you the most was the presence of their fathers. Most of them would look at you as if they were having a jolly day. They had the audacity to laugh in your face, pretending the sight of one of their own, trapped like a lesser creature, was nothing out of the ordinary. These men had given in, deserting to the other side like the cowards they were, leaving their species to be dominated. Disgusting.

You hated these people, but you knew better. You could tell the opportunists from real brethren, and you wish you couldn’t.

Among droves of traitors who would parade their wives and kids around town, some men would just glance at you as they passed by. Their weak smiles would fade the moment they saw you, the glint in their eyes long gone, replaced by nothing but emptiness. These men were different; they would barely talk, and when they did, they would always be monosyllabic responses to their wives, almost as if they were zombies.

You knew what had happened to them, and to this day, you still shudder at the thought.

Mindbreak.

You felt sorry for those people. Those were the ones who resisted; the ones who fought to the end. Poor souls.

To think you could end up like one of them one day only fueled your fear. To break an unwilling man’s will - to break his soul - all for what? A husband? A daughter? Whatever warped vision of “happiness” these wicked monsters shared was beyond you.

If life was already this horrible for them, you dreaded to imagine what had happened to the human women, who you could’ve sworn had all vanished without a trace. All you could do now was watch, as these “men” and their “families” walked away without looking back. It’s not like they had a choice either way...

...Family, huh? If only you could see yours again...

You were only five years old when they first arrived. A time when the world was still going round and your life was free of worries.

You were there to witness people’s astonishment when the government revealed the existence of these unknown creatures years ago, and how amazed you were when you found out they possessed the same level of intellect as human beings. Rumors of magic portals connecting your world to a different, faraway universe spread like wildfire, told time and time again by those who met them. Their exact origins remained unknown to you however, as you've never witnessed such occurrences with your own eyes.

Naturally, humans were very skeptical of them. The countless heated political debates dragged on for a long time before the otherworldly beings were granted their own rights and given a chance to live alongside mankind, much to people’s dismay. Once settled in, their population began to grow over the years, eventually outweighing humanity’s, as human birth rate decreased steadily. Tension between the species grew day after day as the newfound abilities of these creatures surpassed those of humans, and their advantages over your kin rendered the common man less efficient, if not outright "obsolete", in various fields. No one seemed happy about the way things were going, and sooner or later, someone would throw the first stone.

“Monsters”, as they came to be known, would always be talked about on TV in some form or another, as news broadcasts would constantly show the population protesting against them. In response to the xenophobic movements, the monsters expanded their influence as they grew in number, eventually approaching people in positions of power.

Years later, you still weren’t exactly sure why things were turning dark. Why couldn’t everyone just get along? Hell, you even got to know some of these so called “monster girls” in your high school days, so what was all the fuss about?

You still remember how concerned your father looked whenever he opened the newspaper every morning, reading articles about how the monsters were being granted more and more rights, while humans were becoming more and more disempowered. Cases of home invasions and kidnappings began to make the headlines, always followed by pictures of distressed people on the streets, forming militias and anti-monster movements. The world was on fire, and yet, nobody knew who started it.

Troubled, you grew up watching on as things happened out there. Your job paid well enough for you to be able to help your parents move out. It was for their sake that they left first; your way of thanking them for everything they gave you. At first, they hesitated, but after a few days of persuasion, they were convinced that it was indeed the best option. Eventually, you had just enough money to safely send them away to live with your grandparents, but not before promising them that you’d follow suit. You just had to hold on a while longer. Surely, everything would be fine...

...Until they came for you.

Mere days before you were ready and able to reunite with your family, somebody knocked on your apartment’s door one fateful night, demanding it to be opened. Well aware of what awaited outside, you refused, telling them to leave you be. Annoyed, they broke the door down, not fond of having a “no” for an answer. The monsters were after your father, claiming he was theirs to take.

Thankfully, they were too late to get him, but you were still in grave danger. They might not have found what they were looking for, but they weren’t willing to go home empty-handed, setting their eyes on you. Without a second thought, you confronted the invaders. You couldn’t go back on a promise, and you sure as hell weren’t going to go down without a fight.

That night was a living nightmare. A twenty-one year old man, all alone, fighting tooth and nail to protect himself from monsters. Overconfident as they were, they did not expect much resistance from you. You were quick to prove them wrong, catching them by surprise. Lost in the fight that followed, you accidentally pushed one of them off your apartment’s window, from the third floor. The realization of what you had done didn’t hit you until the others pinned you down.

Taken away against your will, you were deprived of your freedom. Your fate was not decided fairly, and a brief debate behind closed doors put you where you are now, stripped of your rights, as punishment for defending yourself – or how they saw it in their own twisted vision: “attacking a helpless monster girl”.

It’s been five years since; your precious time and youth wasted away as you remained a hostage in a zoo, where you remained to this day. To think those innocent little monster girls you made friends with when you were younger would grow up to capture and trap you in this foreign place was revolting. Still, anger was not the worst thing you felt. The worst, perhaps, was the fact that you could not fulfill the promise you’ve made with your parents. You had failed them, and now, you were fated to spend the rest of your life in solitude, away from them.

Deep in thought, you ran your fingers down a scar you had on the nape of your neck, reminiscent from the night you fought for your freedom, many years ago. Even if you forget, these marks will always remind you of your past, and your failure. After all, what stopped these monsters from taking what they wanted by force? Such horrible memories did little more than strengthen your contempt for them.

Your stubbornness wouldn’t let you believe otherwise, but these memories often made you wonder if surviving in this hell was even worth the effort anymore. You could feel your sanity being slowly chipped away each passing day, what were you even waiting for? You needed something to keep you sound. Maybe you should just think about something else. Maybe you just needed some rest from all this madness.

Maybe you just needed...someone to talk to...?

You hated to admit it, but talking to that Cyclops you met not too long ago was the closest thing you’ve ever been to normality, even though she was one of “them”. What were her intentions anyway? Was she really just trying to get to know you?

...What was her name again? Nina? Nadia?

“Hello, Anon.” A quiet, soft voice reached your ears, bringing you back to reality.

Turning around, you saw a familiar monoeye looking at you.

“Er...hi. Uh...Nanna, was it?” You asked, receiving a meek nod in response. “You’re...back.”

“Y-Yes. I, uh...” She said, shyly averting her gaze for a moment.

“...You want to talk to me again or something?”

“Yes!...I-I mean, only if you want to, that is...”

It wasn’t too hard to guess what she wanted. You weren’t really expecting her to show up, but you didn’t have the will to send her away either. The torment you’ve been through earlier left you drained. You could only hope she wouldn’t bother you for too long.

“...Fine. I guess.” You said, sitting down on the ground.

. . .

At first, she seemed rather reserved, asking things such as your age. Might as well tell her, it’s not like it mattered much anyway. Oddly enough, she was actually younger than you; 6 years younger to be exact. She had completed 20 years of age just a few months ago, even though she looked older than that.

Her questions were mundane, maybe even a bit silly, but you didn’t care much either way. Still, that nagging feeling in your mind came back as you talked to her. Something felt off, but you just couldn’t find out what. You could only keep on listening to the Cyclops as she continued to chat with you. Just like the first time, she didn’t seem to be preying on you. She just stood there, sharing mere words with you. Any other monster would’ve tried something fishy by now; why wasn’t she doing anything?

Slowly, she began to switch over to more personal things, such as the whereabouts of your family. That question made you pause for a moment; why is she asking you this about this sort of thing all of a sudden? You just came back from a wave of bad memories, and you didn’t feel like revisiting them. Waving your hand in dismissal, you told her you didn’t want to talk about it. It was none of her business. You were exhausted, your throat was dry, and you wanted to save the little energy you had left for more important things.

Noticing your fatigue, Nanna asked you something that caught you off-guard.

“You look...tired. Are you thirsty?”

Confused, you stared at her as she withdrew a bottle of water from her bag and offered it to you.

“H-Here, I—“

“...!!”

You immediately backed off in reaction. What the hell was she doing?! You knew the dangers of interacting with monsters, especially when they tried to lure you. You knew she was planning something!

Her eye widened at your sudden movement. She looked startled by the way you reacted, pulling away from you. Regaining your composure, you stared at her with a deathly gaze, quietly expecting her to come out with it. She almost had you there, but thankfully, you were quick enough to realize it - quicker than her. How could you be so careless?

“E-Eh? N-No, it’s...it’s not what you think! This bottle, I...I just bought it on the way over, and...”

Stuttering like a schoolgirl, she struggled to find the right words as she hastily tried to explain herself. You could tell she was worried by the way she acted – or at least looked like it. It was a facade. You knew it was. A damn good one, because the Cyclops looked genuinely panicked. Surely if she had some kind of trick up in her sleeve, she would have to come out with it eventually.

Soon enough, she finished her “explanation”, not a hint of suspicion in her face. She was taking way too long.

“Drop the act already.” You coldly said.

“...W-What?”

“I know what you’re trying to do. It ain’t gonna work.”

Confused, she blinked in reaction, as if not comprehending what you were getting at. She sure was trying hard to keep up this jest.

“...I-I don’t understand. You think I’m...acting? But...”

Any second now.

“Just stop pretending to be innocent and be done with it.”

No answer. Looking at the ground in silence, the girl’s face showed a mix of apprehension and sadness. What the hell was up with her?! Why didn’t she give up yet?! You already saw through her, you had no time for this.

“...I’m sorry I made you mad.” She spoke, her voice almost inaudible. “I just...wanted to help...”

Finally, she had given up and...apologized? She just tried to drug you, why would she apologize? You’ve never had any monster spend as much time around you as she did without eventually revealing their true intentions, but...a monster? Saying she was “sorry”? Saying she just wanted to “help”? You had no idea what was going on anymore. Was she trying to make you lower your guard? Was she trying to play mind games with you?

...Or maybe...she was really just...trying to...?

...No. You couldn’t trust her. You couldn’t trust any of them. Not now, not ever. You can’t let her get into your head. “Help”...how ridiculous. When has a monster ever “helped” you? All they ever did was bring you pain and despair, and you knew she was no different. They were all the same.

“I don’t need your help.”

“...I see. I guess I’ll just...go away, then...” She said, disheartened.

Stuffing the item back in her bag, she apologized once again for bothering you, and without a word, she turned her back to you and took her leave, hanging her head in apparent sadness, as if she had done something terribly wrong. Leaning on the cage’s bars, you watched her as she walked away.

Something about this sight seemed to have gotten to you. She looked like she had taken your word personally, but you did the right thing. Yeah. You were thirsty and tired, but not stupid. You couldn’t afford to take any more risks than you already did. You had to survive on your own. How absurd; a monster pretending to be nice to you. Unheard of. No such thing could ever happen...right? Of course not!

...God dammit, what is wrong with you? She was a liar! She couldn’t be any more fake if she tried! You knew you couldn’t trust them. You could never trust them; any of them! You couldn’t...

...

...

...Ah, what the hell.

“...Wait!” You called to her, making her stop in her tracks.

Turning around, she hesitantly approached your cage once again, quietly looking at you with slight confusion. Why did you call her back? What the fuck were you doing? Was it because you were thirsty? Yeah, that’s right.

You couldn’t believe what you were about to do, but with great reluctance, you spoke.

“...That water you offered...is it really not spiked?”

For a brief moment, you could’ve sworn you saw a sparkle in her eye as you asked her that. It widened in bewilderment as her expression showed a hint of surprise. Quietly, she kept staring at you for a few more moments, her eye shining all the while...and...were her cheeks getting red?

Eventually snapping back to reality, she looked into her bag right away. Not a second after, however, she stops, glancing back at you.

“...But...you said you didn’t...?”

“...Nevermind that.” You sighed. “I just...really need something to drink, that’s all.”

“...I see.”

Pulling out the water bottle she had, the Cyclops shyly handed it to you. Carefully reaching over to it, you paid close attention to her in case she made any sudden movements. You couldn’t believe you were doing this. You hated the way this was going, but basic needs could make one do crazy things.

Too focused on not getting caught by surprise, you accidentally touched her fingers as you took hold of the item, making you both flinch a little bit. Something was off about this girl; she looked like she couldn’t hurt a fly.

You looked down at the bottle in your hand, reconsidering the possibility of you being wrong about her. What were you hoping to achieve here? Were you going mad? Will you ever learn your lesson? Probably not, but you didn’t have much of a choice at this point. Opening the bottle, you took a few gulps, silently praying you hadn’t made a monumentally terrible mistake. Here goes nothing.

It was...water. Just...water. Not spiked, not enchanted...didn’t even taste funny. It hydrated you too, but most importantly, she was...actually telling the truth. You had just accepted something from a monster, and it didn’t do you any harm. Your mind was at a complete loss. What in the world--

“...I-I hope it feels better now...” She said, fidgeting a little bit.

“It...did.” You replied, glancing at her.

Her cheeks got a bit redder as you expressed your gratitude. Her eye darted all over the place, almost as if she were unsure if she should look at you, or look away. Was she...embarrassed?

Eventually managing to control herself, she looked at you as you drank a bit more. The shy Cyclops still seemed curious. She wanted to ask you something, and so she did, but the question she asked made you freeze.

“...H-Have you ever thought about...being free...?”

Free? You would be lying if you said you never thought about it, but after spending so many years locked away, you eventually gave up. Freedom was but a dream – one that could never become true, as evidenced by your failed escape attempts, which were all foiled by...

“...!”

You almost choked on the water. Looking up at the sky, your eyes widened in surprise as realization hit you. How could you be so careless? Using some of the water to wash the hand that came in contact with her fingers, you quickly handed the bottle back to her.

“You have to leave! Now!” You told her all of a sudden, scaring the girl.

“E-Eh...?” She jumped, blinking in confusion. “What d—“

“Don’t ask why, just go! There’s no time!”

“O-Okay, I-I’ll go...! B-Bye!”

Without further ado, Nanna did as you said and left, taking one last glance at you as she hurriedly gained her distance, eventually disappearing at the zoo’s main gate.

Wiping your soaked hand on the back of your shirt, you sat down on the ground. The Sun was setting, and that was not a good time for anyone to be anywhere near your cell. Minutes passed by as the remaining visitors emptied the zoo, until it finally closed down for the night.

The lights were turned on as the Sun slowly faded away behind the city buildings in the distance, and thus, the zoo went quiet. All you could do now was wait.

You could feel her presence long before the sound of her steps reached your ears. Ominous as always, the wolf woman marched up to your cage, looking down at you in her “usual” humorless expression. You kept your mouth shut, quietly hoping she wouldn’t notice anything.

She observed you for a while, her golden eyes scanning your cage, before locking back with yours. She was looking for something. Slowly turning her head, she gazed into the darkening horizon for a moment, before turning back to you, squinting in apparent suspicion.

Shit.

“...What?” You asked, breaking the silence.

After a moment of silence, Valerie sighed, as her expression changed to one of weariness.

“Oh, my dear Anon...it’s been a long day for us both, hasn’t it?”

“...”

“Be as it may, the it is over now. Those disgusting hounds won’t bother you anymore for the time being...” She continued, walking around your cage at an unhurried pace, as her thick brown tail gently swished back and forth.

“...But alas,” She stopped in front of the cage’s door, turning to you, “that is not enough. It’s never enough.”

You remained silent, opting to listen to yet another one of her monologues. You had a faint idea of what she was trying to get to, and you weren’t liking it.

“I wish I could stay and spend the night with you, but I am not allowed to.”

Please don’t say it is who you think it is.

“It’s very painful for me to do this, Anon. You know how much I despise leaving you alone, and how much I hate letting other women near you, but we must bear these hardships together...”

Valerie breathed in deeply before continuing, her annoyance clear in her voice.

“...Isana has been pestering me to let her have a night with you lately. She’s gotten impatient. If I don’t let her have you for a while, she might try to convince Ada to change my duties and keep me away from you, and that would mean less time for us to be together. I wouldn’t be able to endure such a punishment...”

Your shoulders slump in defeat. You had long lost the energy to express your animosity; all that remained was your displeasure, as you closed your eyes and sighed deeply.

“...I’m sorry, Anon. If only Ada would get rid of the others...If only I could get rid of them myself...to have you all for me...I swear to you, I would be the only one in your whole life.”

Her smooth-talk didn’t make you feel any better. You heard enough of it for one lifetime. Opening the door to your cage, she slipped a small tray with your dinner inside before locking it away.

“Please be strong, Anon. For both of us.” She says, looking at you with cheerless eyes.

Valerie had her ways of leashing others around, but sometimes she had no option but to concede, such as when her boss told her how to do things “properly”, and when she did, you were usually the one who took the flak one way or another.

Troubled, the furred woman stared at you for a while longer before turning her back to you and promptly leaving.

“Good night, my love.” She whispered, walking away.

Approaching the tray, you took your meal, watching Valerie as she departed the zoo. Somehow, she hadn’t picked up Nanna’s scent, and that made you feel at ease...for some unknown reason. It wasn’t like you were too worried, though. You just...felt like warning the girl of the danger as gratitude for the water, is all.

Dismissing your thoughts, you tried to concentrate on more pressing matters. Munching on your dinner, you mentally prepared yourself for what was coming next.

The food tasted worse than it should. It had been spiked with something, which you were damn sure wasn’t seasoning. It was some kind of magical substance they usually put in your food, especially when Isana was feeling needy, which wasn’t often, but irritating nonetheless. You despised the taste, but what choice did you have? It was either this, or being force-fed.

Soon after you finished eating, you felt a surge of stamina growing in your body. Your heart started pumping a little bit faster and some of your exhaustion faded away. Whatever this was and what were the side effects of consuming it was beyond you, but it wasn’t natural.

Your senses slowed down as your spatial awareness escaped you. Taking a moment to adapt to it, you reminded yourself why you so much hated this...whatever it was that they fed you. Slowly, the feeling of double vision began to disappear, just in time for you to notice a distant silhouette that moved in the dark.

It seemed to grow in size as it came closer, being nearly one head taller than you. Focusing on the figure as it approached your cage, you instantly realized who it was, and it was not a good sight.

“Heh.” it chuckled, proudly displaying its sharp grin as it stepped into the light.

A light shade of green covered her muscly body, adorned by various tattoos of different shapes and sizes that disappeared into the hems of her uniform. Her long, white hair reached down to her waist, disheveled like a wild bush. A pair of green eyes hungrily sized you up, as looking forward to having you for dinner, and two horns protruded from under her messy hair, bedecking her forehead like a cow.

Unfortunately, however, it was no cow. It was Isana, the ogre security guard.

Being a member of one of the most violent subspecies of monsters, this woman was an odd case. Due to some cryptic mystery you could never even hope to understand, her sex drive wasn’t off the roof, unlike all the others. Her desire for violence, on the other hand, was absurd. She was more into fighting than fucking for some reason.

“Yo, Meat.” She called out to you by some stupid nickname, leaning onto the bars. ”Missed me? Hope you’re ready for tonight.”

Constantly annoyed at how she never got a raise at her job, she loved to take it out on you every now and then, because life just had to be worse than usual from time to time.

. . .

Your consciousness eventually came back to you, not by voices shaking you awake, but by pain. Physical pain.

You attempted sit up and rub your eyes, but your aching body refused to budge. Numbness and pain called dibs different parts of you, protesting as soon as you tried to move, especially around your groin and hip areas. Your head hurt, and your sight was blurry. Powerless for the time being, you could do little more than lie on the ground, waiting for the feeling of disorientation to subside.

As your dizziness slowly faded, you noticed that the Sun hadn’t come up yet. The early hours were quiet and cold, as faint hints of sunlight slowly crept up in the horizon. Your body ached so much, you could barely get a good night’s rest, let alone try to fall asleep once again. Your respite was over.

The previous night with Isana was a living hell; in other words, the usual. Forced to wrestle her one on one – “foreplay”, as she liked to call this madness – you could only last ten minutes in her ridiculous competition. As always, she pinned you down on the ground and began her assault as soon as she’s got a good hold of you. By some miracle, your bones weren’t fractured. Not yet, at least.

The unknown magical substance they put in your food prior to her arrival did little to help you, as all it did was increase your endurance and inhibit your fatigue so she wouldn’t end up crushing you to death by accident. Naturally, it didn’t give you any kind of perks to match her level of strength or speed, and its effects didn’t last that long, either. Soon, the pain and exhaustion it had suppressed came back to take their toll on your body, forcing you to stop fighting, lest the overexertion killed you.

Finally able to move gain, you rubbed your eyes, noticing the ogre woman as she approached your cage, stretching her arms as she yawned. Leaning on the bars, she looked down at you with a satisfied look on her face.

“Already up, huh? Looking for another round or something?” She scoffed.

“You already got what you wanted.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Y’know, that right hook of yours left my jaw a little bruised. You’re getting better.”

“Just leave me alone.”

You couldn’t care less for her rambling. As if getting pulverized by her wasn’t enough.

“Maybe I should come by in a few days for a rematch, eh? I can barely feed myself with the cash I get working here, but you can always cover that for me.”

“Of course they don’t pay you much, you’re just standing there bothering me instead of actually working.” You grunted.

“...Huh?”

What did you just say?

Isana’s smug expression suddenly turned into one of surprise as you told her off, soon becoming one of delighted defiance. She wasn’t expecting this kind of tone, and neither were you. Her reaction was alarming, but not as much as the way you talked back at her at that moment. Where the hell did that come from?! Were you trying to sign your own death warrant?!

“What’s with that sharp tongue all of a sudden?” The ogre responded in a threatening way, trying to intimidate you. “If you want me to go in there right now, you can just say it, because I will.”

Just as she finished her speech, a furred paw firmly grabbed the ogre’s shoulder, breaking her aggressive expression.

“No, you won’t, dear.” A familiar voice came from behind her, causing her to flinch.

“Wha- Oh.” She said, turning around to see who it was. “Er...hi, Valerie.”

“Your shift over, isn’t it, Isana? Why are you still here?” The wolf woman looked at her coworker with a calm, almost fake smile on her face. Talk about being blunt.

“Eh, just checking up on Anon over here, nothing much. I was on my way to talk to management before leaving anyway.”

“I see. Well, I’ll take it from here. You must be tired, right? You can go home now.”

The air got heavy as they both paused, staring at each other for a moment. The tension between those two was always high whenever it involved you, like two wild predators trying to assert their dominance. The fact that this analogy made a lot of sense worried you.

“...Yeah, I guess. See you later.” Isana said, walking past the werewolf.

“Likewise.” Valerie replied, waving at her for a while, then proceeding to stare daggers at the ogre’s back as soon as she looked away.

The following half-hour consisted of Valerie frantically examining your body, looking for any serious wounds Isana might’ve left on you. Forcefully, she invaded your personal space while you were still tired due to lack of sleep. To her relief, she found nothing on you, as that drug they spiked your food with had also reduced the swelling from your bruises. After yet another extremely uncomfortable morning with Valerie, you were “ready” for yet another “typical” day.

As was customary, regulars would come to your cage to prey on you in their own twisted ways. You were sure you were the only reason why most of these kinds of visitors would keep coming back. It wasn’t anything less than obvious that you were the main attraction, but the fact that you’d see the same faces almost every single day – or at least the ones Valerie hadn’t outright kicked out yet - almost put you on the verge of going insane. How many times were these monsters planning to keep returning anyhow? Were you the last unmarried man in this entire city or something?

Time dragged as you watched other, less interested visitors walk by, unconcerned. Passing conversations reached your ears as you sat idle; useless gossip about human men, life matters, human resistance, offspring, among other, more improper topics. Sometimes you caught a few words here and there, but you didn’t really care what they were talking about either way.

That was life as you knew it; whenever your days weren’t pure torment, they were merely a time of preparation for when said torment would return.

Dusk eventually arrived. The pain had at last subsided, but not the fatigue. You were tired enough to call it a day – or a week. Who knows how many years of lifespan you already lost due to sleep deprivation. You haven’t slept well in so long, you’d probably never wake up ever again if you had the chance. But alas, there was always something or someone that would stop you from doing so. Whatever, it’s not like you ever had dreams anymore.

Strangely enough, that Cyclops didn’t show up today. At first, you thought nothing of it, but maybe it was for the best that she stayed away for the time being. Who knows what Valerie would do to you if she found out about her...

Speaking of which, you haven’t seen the wolf woman in a while either. This was very strange, given most of her routine revolved around you. Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed Valerie walking out of a rather large housing on the other side of the zoo, making her way over to you.

Quietly, she walked up to your cage, not a single word escaping her mouth. You had no idea what she was up to, opting to remain silent as well. With a deep sigh, Valerie began to walk around your cage, running her paw over the metal bars as she looked down at the ground. Slowly circling around you with a blank look on her face, she seemed to be lost in thought, until she eventually came to a stop at the same spot where she initially was.

Grabbing the bars, she looked down at you. Her expression had a hint of tension, as her eyes locked with yours, unblinking. The way she stared at you creeped you out to such an extent that you froze in place, too worried to move, or even look away. There she stood for several minutes, just looking at you like some kind of zombie. Something was off.

“I won’t...them...away...me...” She murmured softly under her breath, her gaze unchanged. You could barely hear what she said.

“...What?”

The mood was eerie and the air was cold. Valerie continued to stare you down as the Sun slowly faded into the distance, giving way to something else to take its place, shining down on you.

...Oh, no.

Please, no. Not again.

Breaking eye contact for a moment, you reluctantly looked behind you. Chills went down your spine as soon as you laid your eyes on it. Shining brightly in the night, the pale shade of white it emanated was nothing in comparison to your face as you finally remembered why Valerie was acting weird.

It was Full Moon.

Suddenly, Valerie violently opened the cage’s door, almost ripping it off its hinges. With a passive, yet crazed smile creeping up on her face, the wolf woman pounced as soon as she stepped inside, grabbing you before you could even react.

And that was the reason why Valerie made you fear for your safety every single day of your life.

Your torment continued.

. . .

Sunlight washed over your eyes, forcing you awake. Annoyed, you tried to roll over to the side to protect your face from it, but you couldn’t. Something prevented you from moving, and it wasn’t just pain this time.

Squinting, you tried to get a better idea of what hindered you. Unsurprisingly, it was none other than Valerie. Resting her head on your chest, she was sound asleep, as her naked body lied on top of you. The fact that you couldn’t move was not due to her weigh, however, but because she was latched onto you with a death grip.

You found yourself having difficulties breathing while in her grasp, and your body ached even more than the day before. Still somewhat groggy, you felt her bear-like hug tightening ever-so-slowly. You could only endure so much until she started to puncture your back with her claws.

“Agh...hey...” You murmured, mustering the little strength you had in an attempt to push her off you. Your muscles, however, gave away easily.

If there was something worse than Elin’s electrocutions, worse than Isana’s mauling sessions, maybe even worse than death, it was Valerie under a Full Moon. There’s just nothing you could do to stop her when she’s in that state. She was already a force to reckon with on an average day, but when the Full Moon arrived, hell would break loose.

The things she would do to you whenever it happened were nigh unspeakable. Holding onto you with an iron grip, she would pin you down and have her way with you with unwavering animalistic desire until you both passed out, holding onto you with almost enough strength to break your bones.

Preferring not to dwell into the nightmare you’ve just been through, you tried to focus on not dying, as Valerie’s assault made you too exhausted to even live. To her, the thought of you being touched, let alone breathed on by anyone else was akin to torture, and yet, the clawing and bites she would give you were merely “love marks”, according to her insane logic.

With enough effort, you shook her awake, feeling a lot of pain in the process. Slightly confused, the wolf woman looked up at you with lazy eyes. A smile adorned her face as her awareness slowly came back to her, and she tightened her grasp even more.

“Ack...! Stop! Stop! That’s enough!” you grunted, trying to break free from her embrace.

“Don’t move too much now, dear. I want to enjoy this a little bit longer...” She said, putting her head to your chest once again.

“Don’t you have work to do?! It’s already morning!”

She froze, still holding onto you like glue. A serious expression washed over her face as she stared into the distance.

“Would you...get off me already?!”

After a little while longer, Valerie finally let go, sitting on top of you. Sliding her paws over your body, she looked at you, sighing deeply as the morning Sun showered her body with a bright shade of gold.

“...They did it, Anon.”

“...Huh?”

“They want to pull you away from me.”

“...What are you talking about?”

“Ada said I should take some time off to ‘cool down and rest’. She thinks I’ve been working too hard lately...”

Valerie looked down at your chest, running her finger over an old scar you had on your side.

“...’Working too hard’...” She murmured.

“...”

“...What a load of nonsense. Of course I work hard. I do everything within my power to make sure people stay in line.” She said, locking her eyes with yours. “I am the one who chooses your meals, I am the one who stops ill-intended visitors from hurting you, and I am the one who protects you from the others.”

Lying down on top of you once again, Valerie got up close, staring right into your eyes. Face-to-face, she gently wiped some dust off your cheek with her paw, speaking with a soft voice once again.

“...And I do all of this just for you, Anon. I am the one who cares. I am the only one who really cares, and what do they do? They send me away...” The longer she talked, the more her voice changed to a stronger tone.

"They say that ‘if you love something, you must learn to let it go’. What a blatant lie. If you love something, you must never let go.” She continued, holding your cheeks with her paws rather firmly. “You must treasure it, protect it. Keep it all for yourself and nobody else. Letting go of the one you love only shows how weak and fake your feelings really are."

After one last kiss, the wolf woman stood up, gathered her clothes and dressed herself.

“I must go now, but don’t you worry, my love. I’ll be back, like I always do.”

Locking the cage’s door, she shot one last glance at you before finally taking her leave. At last, you were left alone, free from her deranged “love talk” for the time being.

Psyching up for the struggles that were to come, you attempted to get on your feet, forcing your tired body to rise. You had just enough energy to get on one knee, grunting in exhaustion.

Looking around, you tried to find your clothes, but all you found were their shredded remains strewn on the ground around you, violently torn off your body by Valerie’s claws the night before.

As the Sun emerged in the horizon and the distant city sounds began to grow louder, you opted to just sit down on the ground, wondering how long you could still endure. Things seemed to be getting worse by the day, and you could feel the pain taking its toll on your body each passing night. Well, at least you won’t see Valerie for a good while.

Suddenly, something soft hit the back of your head, interrupting your train of thought. Turning around in bewilderment, you found intact clothes lying on the ground behind you. Something else drew your attention away from the clothes as you looked behind you, catching the glimpse of two black, scaly, clawed legs standing outside your cage.

“Wake up, hun. I’m up here.”

Looking up, you were met with a hateful, toothy smug.

“Guess who’s back~.”

Elin stood before you with her arms crossed, looking condescending as always. Much to your chagrin, she had returned. You had a feeling things were getting too quiet.

“So, my little Anon told on me to the big bad wolf. That was a very mean thing to do, you know...” She said, grabbing one of the metal bars with her wing’s thumb.

“...Yeah. So what?”

Suddenly, the entire cage was electrified, with so much energy flowing through the bars that you could hear buzzing and electric crackling sounds all around you. You felt nothing, however, as the ground you sat on was insulated.

“The scolding she gave me wasn’t nice. I did not like that.”

Elin’s shit-eating grin, despite being permanently plastered on her face, could convey more than one emotion; this time, you could see a hint of irritation through her smile, as the corner of her mouth twitched a little.

“I’d love to get in there and teach you a little lesson right now, but...” She continued, letting go of the bars. “...I’d rather save my energy for now. I'm gonna remember this when...oh, never mind."

Remember...?

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh nothing, Dear. I’ll let you off the hook this time around. You’d better behave, because there might not be a second chance. I gotta go back to work now. See you later, hun~.”

Wearing the new clothes you had, you frowned at her as she turned her back to you, walking away. This bird bitch, always with her stupid mind games.

Your strength eventually returned, and you were able to stand up again, albeit with a certain feeling of rustiness in your joints. Stretching your back and cracking some bones you normally shouldn’t be able to, you yawned. On your life continued.

Unsurprisingly, the day was not at all different from the norm; same old visitors, same old harassment, same old humiliation. You weren’t in the mood to care, however, as you were busy thinking about something else. The more you suffered, the more you dwelled in the question that Cyclops asked you, and soon enough, you were lost in thought, losing track of time in the process.

“To be free again”...Why would she ask you something like that? The answer was obvious. You dreamed of it so much in the past, it eventually began to grind your patience away. You had to come to terms with the fact that such a fantasy was unattainable, lest you ended up losing your mind for good. You were done dreaming a long time ago.

"A-Anon...?" A soft voice reached your ears.

Surprisingly, Nanna came around during the evening - and at a good time too, showing up when Elin was away.

She looked a little bit worried, asking you if it was safe for her to come by. To her relief, you gave her the answer she wanted to hear. You told her why you sent her away last time she was here, explaining the whole deal with a certain crazy werewolf. You spared her the details, as the general view you described was enough to disturb her.

Visibly concerned, she asked if you were still hurt anywhere. Such a question was to be expected, but you weren’t in the mood to think about it, telling her that you were "fine". Not convinced, the Cyclops pouted at you. You tried to tell her not to worry about it, but, tired as you were, her apprehensive glance was “persuasive” enough for you to spill the beans. Sure it took less effort to just come out with it, but even then, what was she so concerned about?

You told her how much your wasted body ached every day, how sleep was the only good thing in from your life, and of course, the many reasons behind your many problems. By the time you finished telling her the things they’d do to you in the zoo on a daily basis, she was crestfallen. Maybe you said a bit too much.

Trying to take her mind off of it, you decided to change the focus to her, asking a few questions of your own. You inquired how she even found you in the first place. As redundant as the question was, you actually got an answer. A rather timid one.

Nanna’s cheeks became a little red as she began to explain. Being born a country child, she grew up away from the big cities, and thankfully, away from all the madness. She told you about the monster-human couples back home who shared her views; people who greatly disagreed with the outcome of the conflict between humans and monsters, and still held on to the old ways of coexistence between the species. Naturally, you were quick to doubt that possibility at first, but if someone like her could exist, then maybe...she was not the only one?

Things got even more surprising as she continued. Turns out she’s actually been to the zoo with her parents when she was younger, and the first thing that caught her attention was...you. Ever since she first saw you, she kept coming back from time to time to see if you were still there. As a teenager, she was way too shy to come too close to your cage, even more so than she currently was. Years passed by, until she finally grew the courage to talk to you. At least that explained why she always looked a little nervous whenever she came to see you.

Now that you think about it, you did have faint memories of a certain youngling watching you from a distance from time to time, a long time ago. Could it be? Was that the memory that poked your mind whenever you saw her? You knew there was something strangely familiar about her when you first met each other.

The evening flew by as you spent time with her. Thanks to Valerie's terrifying presence, nobody stuck around your cage past a certain time of the evening; a "curfew" she had established long ago prevented visitors from bothering you for too long. Nanna, however, didn't seem to know about it until you told her, but it was okay for her to stick around a while longer. She was - dared you say it - nice to have around.

Be it to get to know you better or just to hear your voice, the Cyclops seemed to be enjoying herself. If you were to be honest with yourself at least once in your life, you kind of were too, but you didn't show it. Eventually warming up to her, you told her about the zookeeper's shifts and the best hours of the day for her to come by without being seen. You decided to help her stay safe; a small token of apology and gratitude for the water she gave you last time you met, and for being truthful, which she humbly waved off as a minor favor.

What impressed you most though was the fact that, for the first time in years, you were in a presence of a monster...that you didn’t hate. You had absolutely no clue of how she managed that, but you didn’t think too hard about it.

On you continued, appreciating the little time you had, until dusk finally arrived. Noticing that the Sun was setting, you advised her to go home for the day, lest someone saw her with you. Following your advice, Nanna thanked you for being so nice to her, bidding her farewells before leaving. This time, you were sure you saw a smile on her face. A smile that made you feel a certain tingling; not in your head, but in your chest.

...How strange, when did the pain stop?

. . .

You didn’t know if it was something you said, but you started seeing Nanna a lot more often since the last time you met. You’d see her almost every day after your customary hardships. You were usually spent and tired whenever she’d show up, but you always managed to muster enough energy to talk to her. She’d always be there at the end of the day with a meek smile on her face. Nanna seemed to be quite skilled at being quiet and sneaky, as she explained how she always managed to get her admissions without catching anyone’s attention, essentially passing by the entrance without ever being noticed as a regular.

She worked a part-time job as a locksmith's assistant, inspired by her grandfather's occupation in the same field, to support her parents who lived in the countryside. Quite an odd job for a girl like her, but at least it wasn’t anything dangerous, unlike her friends’, so she said. You supposed someone would be working with that kind of stuff anyway. Hell, you used to work at a coffee shop yourself. She would giggle at the stories you told her about how you would work overtime with the help of caffeine for a little extra money, and how you would sometimes end up falling asleep on the counter the next day as a result.

She liked seeing you whenever she could, but caution was still important. Even in Valerie’s absence, the Cyclops still had to look out for the other staff and leave before they saw her with you. She would occasionally lose track of time, and it was up to you to remind her whenever the Sun began to set.

After talking to you for so long, the look of surprise she’d give you whenever you reminded her it was time to go was somewhat...endearing. She’d give you a look that told you she didn’t want to go just yet, but thanking you nonetheless, and hastily make her escape before the zookeepers came around. Looking out for her felt...different. You had forgotten what this feeling meant. Perhaps you were just worried for her safety.

Nanna’s visits kind of helped take your mind off the reality you lived in. Being awake felt less miserable, and the prospect of having someone out there you could call trustworthy was mildly inspiring, in a way. Life became a little more bearable each passing day, and you put more effort into enduring, as your mentality slowly changed from “hoping to be dead by the next morning” to “wondering when she was gonna come by again”.

Eventually, she began to bring you things. Well aware that you hated the food they gave you at the zoo, she would bring homemade sandwiches for you both to eat together. You reluctantly accepted one at first, but you trusted her just enough to take her offer. You already did it once, anyway. To your surprise, it tasted better than anything you’ve ever been given in this damned prison. You had forgotten how great normal food actually tasted.

Even after so much time spent with her, you still couldn't believe it; She, a monster, was being considerate to you. The mere thought of it was almost surreal, but could you, perhaps, call her...a friend?

Unfortunately, your problems had not disappeared. Life was still difficult to soldier through, and you saw little change in the bad aspects of it. Except the pain; the pain got worse. Without Valerie to hold the other staff back, Isana had the opportunity to grind you up as much as she wanted every night, coming over almost as often as Nanna would, but to ruin your day instead.

The abusive ogre woman pissed you off. You could take her on for a day, but not four damn days in a row. Your body could barely keep up, and the drugs she gave you to survive the beating made you feel like dying. You’d end up so wasted, you would pass out from the pain until morning.

After hearing about it from you, Nanna’s worry for your well-being eventually peaked into something you honestly did not expect. Fearing for your well-being, she would bring you medicine to ease your pain and counteract the side effects of the drugs they’d spike your food with. You never knew someone could be this caring and motherly. The effort she put into nourishing you back to health at the end of each day was astounding, and the smile she would always give you when you told her you felt better with her help was more than enough to make you forget about the pain.

Her kindness was genuine, but also one-sided. She did so much for you, and yet, you've never really repaid her in any way. You regretted being unable to give her anything in return, save for words. You told her you wished you could return her favors somehow, but her response changed you forever.

She did not seek any kind of repayment. All she wanted was...to be with you.

It was then that you decided it was time to improve yourself. To become stronger, to become better. To survive...for her.

Thanks to Nanna's support, your body felt lighter, and your mind, focused. You began to train your muscles however you could, determined to return to form. Push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups on the cage's ceiling bars, anything you could exercise with. The old, doused flame inside you had been sparked alight once again; hopefully you still had some "young man pique" left to carry you through.

Day after day, you could feel your body becoming stronger, if slowly. You continued to defend yourself against Isana whenever she came for you, enduring the punishment a little bit longer each passing night. Obviously, you were far from winning a fight against the brutish ogre, but you still had to soldier on. The medicine Nanna gave you helped you resist Elin's sadistic tendencies as well. Like Isana, she made “good” use of the time she had in Valerie’s absence, giving you more shock therapy sessions than she normally would. It was agonizing, but if she wanted to break you, she would have to try harder.

It's been so long since you lost everything you cared about, you'd be better off dead by now. Nonetheless, you held onto your sanity long enough to find something to live for, and now that you’ve found it, you weren't going to let go.

. . .

It's been about two weeks, and there was still no sign of Valerie. You were torn between glad and concerned about her absence, unsure of when she was going to return. You could deal with the daily hounding from visitors, as you were already used to it, but protecting Nanna from the wolf woman could be very difficult, as she could show up at any moment.

Eventually realizing that the jealous werewolf wasn't around, visitors began to come by more often. Naturally, you held fast against the influx of monsters, standing up to them whenever they tried anything. Fortunately, some of them weren’t expecting the change in your behavior, and through some miracle, you managed to drive some of them away.

“Anon.”

You hoped they wouldn’t return anytime soon, but you knew they would either way. They always do, but you wouldn’t let it get to you this time. You finally had something to look forward to, and they weren’t going to stop you.

“Anon, I am talking to you.”

Either way, your safety was not paramount. After all, you still had to look after Nanna. It would be more difficult for her to come see you with the change of pace around the zoo. It was just a matter of time before--

“Hm.”

Suddenly, something pointy poked the top of your head, startling you. The sudden stinging pain you felt on your scalp made you slap it away on instinct.

“Ack! What the f—“

Rubbing your head, you stopped yourself mid-curse, unsure of what just happened. Looking up in confusion, you felt your heart sink as you realized what it was.

Eight large legs spread over you, hooked onto the cage’s ceiling. The appendages emerged from an oval abdomen, which blotted out the Sun from your view with its sheer size. Her entire lower body, covered in a blackish carapace, creepily transitioned into a slim humanoid torso. Highlighted by her pale skin, four pairs of deep crimson eyes looked down at you with displeasure. Her long silver hair, tied into a ponytail, hanged upside down, almost reaching down to your face. Too close for comfort.

Spooked beyond belief, you immediately backed away in reaction, only to feel something touch to your back, preventing you from going too far. You could tell it wasn’t the cage’s bars, as it stuck to your body and clothes like glue, but you dared not take your eyes off her even for a moment. Slowly, she shifted her gaze to look at something to her side. Following her eyes, you noticed her slender arm, stretched out a few inches away from her, almost as if someone had just...slapped it away.

“How rude.” She calmly spoke, slowly closing and opening her hand, lightly swinging it back and forth as to shake off the soreness from your slap.

A bone-chilling skitter reached your ears as she came down from the cage's ceiling, getting closer and closer, until you were finally cornered.

"D-...!?" You blurted out, but her finger silenced your lips faster than you could speak.

"Quiet."

You tried moving away, but you couldn't. Something kept you stuck in place. With a nonchalant swipe of her palm, your mouth was closed shut with something, and before you knew it, you were caught in her web, completely immobilized.

Standing before you was none other than Darcelle; the zoo’s admission manager, second-in-command, and the one who wove your clothes.

"I thought I had taught you better than this." She continued, reaching out to firmly grab your jaw.

Your initial surprise soon changed into annoyance as she tightened her grip on your cheeks, puncturing your skin with her nails. You held a special kind of resentment towards this woman, and for a good reason.

Years ago, when you were first brought to this prison, you were still a rebellious man who refused to accept his fate. You cursed at the ones who trapped you, threatening them in defiance. You would sooner choose hunger than eat anything they'd give you, pushing them away whenever they got too close. Of course, all of this used to happen before Darcelle came around, and it didn’t last too long after her arrival.

She was the one who demoralized you, and she did it in every conceivable way. Back when she was the one in charge of the zookeeper duty before Valerie was hired, she'd tie you up in her web whenever you got too rowdy, keeping you bounded for hours on end, and taking advantage of you as much as she wanted, until you finally settled down. Rape was a rare occurrence, but when she felt like it, her poisonous bite would give you just as much agony as it'd give her pleasure, and her venom did everything she wanted it to do. You've never really grown immune to it, but you learned how to endure it, so it wouldn't rot your mind away.

Cold as ice and crueler that anyone else you've ever met, the arachne would derive pleasure from terrorizing you. Her abuse would continue on until you realized that rebelling would always warrant you pain - by her hands, specifically.

"What you did was disrespectful, Anon. Will I need to educate you again?" She asked, forcibly raising your head to make you look at her. You grunted in response, trying to escape her grip.

"I am not liking your attitude. You do know what happens when you misbehave, don't you?"

You attempted to speak, but your muffled voice was indiscernible under the silk she put on your mouth. Unsmiling, she tugged an invisible thread with her free hand, somehow stretching your arms out to your sides.

"I've heard that you've been quite...bothersome to our customers lately." She said, running her sharp fingers down your neck. "This is not what I've expected from you."

Without any warning, the arachne pushed her index finger into your chest, digging into your skin with her nail. The sudden stinging pain made you tense your muscles in an attempt to grab her hand and push it away. She responded by tugging her thread with more effort, spreading your arms again.

Her stoic, deep red eyes looked back at you. Gritting your teeth, you stared back at her with anger. She might've silenced you, but you were going to make it clear what you were thinking.

"...Even after so long, you still haven't learned to obey. How can you be so persistent?"

Looking to her side, Darcelle pulled her hand away, observing her surroundings for a moment. A passing glance at what she was looking at showed you a somber sight. There were other monsters standing outside your cage, intently observing your punishment. Some looked curious, some quietly watched the scene, and others were blushing and even salivating at what they were witnessing. The damned freaks were enjoying the show.

Seemingly unamused, the spider woman then turned to you.

“I was hoping you would be more...docile at this point, but I’m well aware that I cannot rush this sort of thing. You humans can be resilient, but...”

You could feel her finger slowly going down to your stomach, as a light shade of red appeared on her cheeks. You could barely resist the pain as her nail scraped your skin through your clothes, and she was savoring it like the psychopath she was.

“...that will be dealt with, in time.”

With a swift move of her hands, the webbing that held you still was cut down, and you fell on your knees. Darcelle quietly stared down at you, as if you were nothing more than a worm. Your pained grunting was incomprehensible, as the web she had wrapped over your mouth was kept intact.

"You’ll remain like this until I choose otherwise, as a lesson.” She continued, reeling in the remains of her web from the ground and weaving them around her fingers like a rope. “Remember that you're in no place to complain. You're only punished when you ask for it."

Wasting no more time with you, the spider woman locked you up and took her leave, ignoring the spectators' requests to continue the “spectacle”. Still sore from the harsh treatment, you watched on as the monsters slowly dispersed, one by one, until you were finally left alone.

Rubbing the nasty bruise on your chest, you stood back up, quietly mumbling profanities at the arachne as she disappeared in the distance. You were no stranger to her psychopathic mannerisms, save for her tendency to show up when you least expected her. Years of practicing on you made her a professional at torture. She knew how to push you over the edge, just short of making you bleed. What worried you, however, was not what she did, but what she said.

“...Anon...?”

You were sure they were planning something. Whatever it was that awaited you, it was more than obvious that it was going to be something horrible. Rule of thumb was to always brace for the next day, but your gut told you this wouldn’t work forever. You had no idea what to expect, all you knew was that your life could very well be in serious danger; or worse, Nanna's.

Wounded and irritated, you tried your hardest to remove the gag from your mouth, but to no avail. Darcelle’s web was impossible to get rid of, and she was probably the only one who could remove them.

“Anon, are you okay?”

Disgruntled, you turned to look at who was bothering you this time. You anger vanished as you realized who it was. As per usual, Nanna had arrived when things were quiet, allowing her some time to be with you.

"...What is that on your mouth?" She asked, looking very confused.

Unable to answer her question with words, you were forced you to resort to gestures to tell her what it was.

"You're...gagged? Someone wrapped it around your mouth...? A-An arachne? I-Is that her web?"

With enough effort, Nanna managed to decipher your silent explanation. She looked kind of cute while at it too, fretting over your situation as soon as she put all the pieces together. Thankfully, she didn't sound like she was around to witness Darcelle's abuse. You didn't want her to see that anyway.

"W-What did she do? Did she hurt you?" The Cyclops asked, worried as always.

Still rubbing your chest from Darcelle's assault, you shrugged in response, as if asking her if she expected anything else to happen. Naturally, she did not like it in the least, and neither did you.

"...Um...Could I...take a look at it...? J-Just to see if it isn't...anything too serious..."

Huh?

You froze. Confused, you glanced at the girl, who quickly found herself shifting her gaze away, trying not to look nervous. She failed, however, as the blush on cheeks gave her away on the spot.

"...I-I'm sorry, just...n-never mind what I s-- !!"

Surprised, Nanna fell silent as you took a step forward, approaching the metal bars. Silently, you gazed at her, not with suspicion, but in thought, until she grew the courage to look into yours. Even after so much time you spent together, she still looked just as reluctant as she did back when you first met.

...

With a tired sigh, you reached down to the base of your shirt, pulling it up for her to see your bruises. Her expression oscillated between perplexed and horrified as you revealed your torso and chest, her eye widening in shock upon noticing the myriad of scars you had hidden under your clothing. Visibly shaken, Nanna stared blankly at the markings on your skin as if it were some sort of horror show. You couldn't blame her, really; it's what it looked like anyway.

The Cyclops glanced at you, surprised at your sudden gesture. Taking it as a "yes", she slowly raised her arm as to reach out to your body. You felt a soft touch on your skin, her face becoming a little redder as she watched her own fingertips hesitantly come in contact with it. After a brief pause, her hand began to move, carefully running down the recent marks left by Darcelle. Her expression of disbelief quickly became one of worry, as she gazed at you with a look that asked what sort of thinks they've done to you in the past. In return, yours told her that it’d be best if she didn’t know.

Gently, Nanna rested her palm on your chest. At first, your instincts warned you to step away from her, but something else told you not to. You were still at a loss as to why you were doing this, but somehow, you felt...fine. Her skin was warm and her touch was soft, wildly different from anything you've ever felt. It wasn’t a puncturing nail, but a delicate palm, carefully laid over your chest, feeling your heartbeat. You had no words, but there was no need for any.

"...How did you...survive all this...?" She whispered, apprehension clear in her voice.

You did not answer. Instead, you slowly reached for her wrist. Unlike before, Nanna didn't flinch at your touch this time, allowing you to hold it without any sign of fear. After a deep breath, you gently pulled her away from your chest as your shirt lazily draped over your body, hiding your wounds once again.

Letting go of her, you leaned on the cage’s metal bars, grabbing onto them as you looked down at the ground in thought.

You couldn’t help but worry about the future. Something bad was going to happen, and you were sure of it, but what about her? You did not know what kind of torment awaited you, nor did you know if you could survive it, but you couldn’t afford to see her stay and bear witness to it. Knowing her demeanor, she would be crestfallen, maybe even scarred for life. Perhaps it would it be best to send her away, but you feared such a decision would not spare her the sadness either. There seemed to be no way out of this.

What should you do?...What could you do?

“...Anon...”

Suddenly, something warm touched your hands as you held onto the bars, bringing you back to reality. Looking up in bewilderment, you saw a pair of hands shyly cupping yours. You stared at them for a brief moment, before your attention shifted to her. Tenderly caressing your hands, she continued.

“...I know you don’t like my ‘kind’ very much, but...there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you for a long time now, and I think I might not have a better chance to tell you this...”

You couldn’t tear your gaze away from her eye, lost in its serene shade of blue as it glinted in the sunlight. Your mind was clouded with worry, but her presence somehow rid you of your troubles. You were so alone in this world, and yet, being with her put you at ease. The tingling in your chest had returned, stronger than ever.

“...You might not feel the same way, and I’ll understand if you don’t, but even so...”

What was this feeling? Why couldn’t you look away?

“...I just...I just want you to know that I’ll always be here for you. No matter what.”

You felt her grip on your hands tighten a little bit. Breathing deeply, the Cyclops looked into your eyes with passion, her cheeks redder than the dusky sky. You couldn’t explain how, but you knew she was being sincere. In all these years, out of all people you’ve met, she was the only one whose words were true, and you were certain of it.

...How odd. You’ve never realized how beautiful she actually was.

For a moment, you wanted to stop her, but you couldn’t. Not because of her, but because you just couldn’t let her go down this path. You didn’t want to make any promises you wouldn’t be able to fulfill. She was...dared you say it...precious. Too precious to disappoint, but also too precious to lie to. With a heart full of doubt, you lowered your head, closing your eyes. You were at a complete loss. You really wanted her to stay, but that would mean jeopardizing her emotions. If only you had met under different circumstances. If only she had found somebody else.

“...”

You felt something touch your forehead. Something warm and inviting, much like her touch, but at the same time...different. It felt softer and more delicate, almost as if telling you that everything was going to be okay. It almost felt like...

...a kiss.

Your eyes widened in realization as Nanna showed you a level of intimacy you've never seen before. It felt overwhelming, but this time, you didn't shy away. Time seemed to slow down as she gently pressed her lips against your forehead for what felt like an eternity; one you didn't want to end. Coyly, she kept her kiss for a while longer, the world around you growing quieter and quieter as you lost yourself in her soothing touch. In that moment, nothing else mattered to you; nothing but...her.

Just as gently as she kissed, Nanna pulled away, the after touch of her love still lingering on your skin for a few more moments before finally vanishing. You couldn't remember the last time you felt this...good. So good, you were ashamed for wanting more, as you were never a selfish man. Why were you being selfish now? What exactly was it that you craved so much?

...Was it really selfishness?

You could see the nervousness through her entranced expression as you looked into each other’s eyes. Her beauty was ensnaring, as her affectionate gaze hypnotized you like a swirl. If Nanna wanted to prove she really meant her words, there was no better way of showing it. You believed her.

She looked mesmerized. Her heart must've been racing; well, so was yours. You didn’t need any more words to know how she felt, but you wished you voulf give her a proper answer. A few moments of silent contemplation were more than enough for you to make your decision.

The timing couldn't have been a worse for you to be gagged, but there was always a way. Nanna showed slight confusion as you let go of the bars, pulling your hands away from hers. Spreading your fingers, you reached out to her palms again, gently interlacing them together.

Her pupil expanded in awe. If you couldn’t reciprocate her affection in the same way she showed hers, a humble coupling of hands would have to do. At last, you finally understood the reason for your desperation back when you called to her; what you sought was not just help, but something more. Maybe it was about time you were honest; if not with yourself, then at least with her.

The Cyclops couldn’t tear her gaze away from your hands, seemingly dazed - almost alarmed - at your response. The poor girl was probably not expecting something like this. Assuming that she was still enjoying the moment, you patiently waited for her to let it sink in, as she continued to stare, unmoving. Red-faced, she stared, and stared, and stared; almost as if she was stuck in some kind of trance, lost in her feelings just like you were lost in her kiss.

Without a word, she stared...for quite a while now, actually. Was holding her hand that big of a deal? Be as it may, if she was happy, you were happy. Even when surprised, she still looked cute...

...Well, this time you were sure you were starting to lose your mind. You could've sworn you saw a faint hint of a shape in her eye. It almost looked like...a heart? No, that would be silly. You were seeing things; maybe you just needed some rest...

...Is that steam coming out of her ears?

"...!"

Worried, you shook her a little bit, trying to get her attention. Thankfully, she eventually snapped back to reality, glancing at you in confusion for a moment as she came to her senses.

"...? A-Ah! I-I'm sorry Anon, I just kind of...lost myself in it for a second..." She said, embarrassed.

Damn it, she had no right to be this cute. Sending her away was going to be difficult, but there was no use hiding it from her. Her coy smile made it clear that she was more than happy to be with you, as she gently held onto your hands. Perhaps you should just treasure your time together while you still could, rather than wasting it dwelling in worry.

...wait, how long have you be--

"Weeell, what do we have here~?"

"...Eh?"

Caught by surprise, you immediately pulled away from each other at the sight of Elin. She was standing right there for God knows how long, with a mile-wide shit-eating grin on her face. You didn’t even see her coming; were you so lost in the moment that you lost your awareness? How could you be so careless?

"Aw, how cute. Anon's already picking favorites for his first day. Don't forget about me~."

First day...?

"I-I'm sorry ma'am," Nanna tried to explain herself, fearing for the worst. "I didn't--"

"Relax, dear." The Thunderbird cut her off. "You can ogle him all you want. Besides, you’ll have plenty of time to have your fun soon enough; after me, of course.”

At this point, you were staring daggers at the bird woman. What was she on about?

"...What?"

"Oh, I don't wanna spoil it for you honey. Tell you what, just come back next week. We'll have something a bit more..." Elin paused, shooting a mocking glance at you. "...appetizing waiting for you. You're gonna love it~."

Nanna had no idea what the Thunderbird was talking about, but her expression made it clear that she didn’t like what she was hearing, as she looked at you with doubt for a moment. Yours wasn’t any different.

"But until then, you'll just have to wait. Come on now; shoo, shoo. We're almost closing."

"...Y-Yes, ma'am." Nanna complied with a nod, turning her back to Elin.

She looked at you one last time out of the corner of her eye as she took her leave. The joy you saw in her face moments ago was gone, replaced by worry. Soon after her departure, the bird woman turned to you, arms crossed.

"So, what was that about, eh? You're gonna have to introduce me to that little friend of yours sooner or later, Anon."

You were silent, glaring at her as you always did. The anger you felt whenever she was around was like some kind of involuntary natural response, but you had to remain calm.

"Handholding, huh. How lewd! Did she do some kind of magic spell to make you all gentle like that? Why do you never do that sorta thing with me, hun~? I feel so...left out!"

Getting no response from you, she brought her wrist to her chin, as her smug face changed into one of fake naivety. She knew damn well what she saw, but she kept beating around the bush, trying to get something out of you.

"Hmmm. Well, if you’re not telling, maybe I should just ask her myself instead. Can I?"

Just stay calm. Just...

"Or better yet, what if I told Ada about her? I bet the others would love to meet her!"

...

"Especially Val. Now that would be quite something."

You clenched your fists in reaction, struggling not to show your annoyance as she giggled away with a mocking smile like the devil she was. You were not a brutal man; never were, but not even you knew what you’d do if she dragged Nanna into this.

"Don't worry, Anon. If she becomes a regular, I promise I won't tell. Everything’s gonna be just fine...eventually." She said, walking away. "I’m off. Sweet dreams~."

And thus, you were alone once again, with only silence to keep you company. The Sun, gone into the horizon, gave way for a cold night to take over. For others, it was time to sleep, but not for you. Worry and paranoia plagued your mind, keeping you awake well into the night, leaving you unable to have a good rest.

You wondered if Nanna would be safe. Hopefully, you'd survive long enough to convince her to move on. You feared for the future, but you were glad to have met her. Giving her a chance was the biggest gamble of your life, and yet, she never did you any harm. She was the first good thing to happen in your life since you were locked up, and now, they wanted to take it away.

The best things in life really are fleeting...

. . .

You woke up with a startle. Still tired due to little sleep, you got up on your feet with a bit of a struggle, rubbing your eyes. As abnormal as it looked, nobody came to disturb you today. You just woke up at random; not surprising, given your body clock got fubar a long time ago. Confused, you looked around, but found nobody. There was not a single soul in sight. Was the zoo closed?

Left without much choice, you sat down and waited for something to happen, as the Sun slid unhurriedly across the sky. Time dragged on, and there you sat, waiting, but nobody ever came. The silence eventually began to feel unnerving. The fact that you weren’t being tormented from the moment you woke up was enough to put you off. It was a well-established routine, part of your daily Circadian rhythm, and yet, there you were, all alone.

The day was uneventful. The distant sounds of the city life slowly died out as the sunlight vanished from the sky. Of all the things you’ve been through, you’ve never this happen. Change was a dreadful concept in your eyes, and this kind of change made you feel all but relaxed. If your guess was right, you were living through the calm before the storm. Sighing, you looked up at the night sky, gazing at the stars above. It felt dark and uninviting, and the Moon was nowhere to be seen, your memory of its phases lost to time. Now, its absence was better known to you as the time where Valerie was at her weakest.

...Footsteps.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the silence. Countless, skittery footsteps. With a deep breath, you turned towards the source of the sound, only to have your eyes meet with eight beady red orbs that shined in the darkness. A clang of metal opened your cage’s door, granting a way out of it. But alas, all you saw on the other side was an arachne.

“Outside.” She commanded.

Hesitation begged you not to go, but you had no choice. Quietly, you complied, stepping out of your prison. Wasting no time, Darcelle grabbed your wrists, wrapping them in her web and binding you in the blink of an eye.

“Go. That way.” She said, pointing at a familiar building at the other side of the zoo.

Glancing back at the spider woman out of the corner of your eye, you began your march, being closely followed by her as she escorted you away. You held your breath as you entered the building. Approaching the door at the end of the corridor, every step felt heavier and harder to take, as if you were a dead man walking towards his gallows. Darcelle, noticing your reluctance, pushed her finger into your back, painfully pressing you to quicken your pace. A few more steps brought you to a door. Its wooden carvings, rich in detail, emanated an aura of wealth. A golden plaque adorned it, nailed to the wood. Conveniently placed at eye-level, it proudly displayed an engraving you could only describe as terrorizing.

'Administration'.

You paused, staring at the door. The fear was overwhelming, and your senses were sharp; so much that you started hearing voices. Voices coming from the other side.

("This makes no sense. Why can't I go see him now?")

("Relax. You'll see him soon enough. We've been...discussing...")

("Discussing...? Discussing what?")

Reaching around you, Darcelle grabbed the doorknob. Your sweat got cold as she slowly turned it, opening the door with a clack.

The voices stopped.

"Inside."

Breathing heavily, you stepped forward, pushing the door out of your way as you walked inside.

"Ah, there he is. Just in time."

It was then that you realized you had just entered the gates of hell.

. . .

Chills ran down your spine as you entered the room. A wide crimson carpet, strewn across the cold floor, muffled your steps as you walked inside. Numerous paintings, some even framed in gold, hung on the white walls that surrounded you, highlighted by carefully placed lamps that illuminated the room like some kind of royal chamber.

"My, he looks well-rested."

Most shocking, however, was whose presence you found yourself in in that room. To your right was a cocky Thunderbird, eyeing you up with an expectant look on her face. To your left was a rather bored-looking Ogre, a smile creeping up her face as she noticed your arrival. A third figure stood before you, who turned around just in time for your eyes to meet. You could see bags under hers, a sign that she had little rest.

"Huh...?"

Genuinely confused with your presence, a frown adorned the werewolf face as she noticed the webbing that kept your mouth shut, well aware of who had put it there. Her imposing demeanor was absent, however, replaced by an apprehensive demeanor.

"Hello, Anon." A voice coming from behind her addressed you, making her ears twitch.

Glancing back at the source of the voice, the werewolf stepped aside, revealing who had just called you.

Behind a wide, polished wooden table sat a slim figure, dressed in what seemed to be an expensive-looking green kimono. Two round, furry ears emerged from her dark brown bobcut, adorned with a single leaf, laid on top of her head. Her short bangs cast an ominous shadow over her green eyes as she gazed at you with a sinister smile, resting her elbows on her desk. Your memory did not fail you, but were you to forget her name, an engraved golden plate sat on her table to remind you who she was.

The de facto 'ruler' of the zoo. The one who bought your life.

Ada.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" She asked in an unhurried tone.

"...What is he doing here?" The werewolf chimed in, seeking an explanation.

"You see, Valerie, our dear Anon has been roping in a lot of fans since his arrival. Our visitors seem to be quite attached to him. He's our...'golden egg', so to speak.”

Leaving her seat, Ada calmly walked out from behind her desk, her bushy striped brown tail following close behind. Her height was not something worthy of note however; she could barely reach your shoulders as she approached you.

"This has been going for a while now. Perhaps it was time we changed things a little bit, hm?"

"In what way?" Asked Valerie, as confused as you were.

"He brought me much profit over the years, but he's still in his prime. To be spending it the way he is now is such a pity. It’s a waste of his potential. I believe we should give him something better, lest our visitors grow...bored."

The werewolf's ears perked up in skepticism as Ada shared shady glances with the other women in the room.

"Do you know what else I've noticed? We've had an increase in visitors in the past few days. It wasn't hard to figure out what they were after, but there was something rather peculiar about it...” She continued, walking over to her desk. “This sudden spike in activity happened while you were away. Odd, isn't it?”

Valerie’s tail froze still. Squinting in suspicion, she remained silent, attentively listening to her superior’s every word. You knew what she was getting to and you did not like it.

"I’ve been too busy to follow the activity around the zoo myself, but judging from what I’ve been told, they sure are very devoted to Anon. So much that it pains me to see them try so hard to get a little taste. So I thought; why not give them what they want?"

"...What?" Valerie muttered, alarmed.

"We're planning to expand his services to be a bit more...'hands-on'."

"...You want to make him a--"

"Yes, exactly. We’ll let them have the taste they crave so much."

Valerie flinched, as if she had just been told the most outrageous thing in her life. Her shock, however, paled in comparison to yours. Sweating bullets, you felt your heart begin to race as Ada laid her eyes on you.

"It may have cost me a fortune to acquire full ownership of him, but I’m certain he’ll more than make up for it. If he's been this ‘cost-effective’ just by being on display, who knows how popular he'll be after we start our little project. You can thank Elin for this wonderful suggestion."

You couldn't believe what you were hearing. Even after leaving you with nothing, they still wanted more. They wanted to take away the little protection you had left and throw you to the beasts.

"That's right~. Anon is always so lonely, he could use a bit more love!" The Thunderbird added. "It really was a good idea, wasn't it, Darcey?"

“Yes indeed, dear.” The arachne patted her head, like a sadistic mother to her sadistic child.

"Wh-- but Ada, you can’t just...!"

The Danuki stopped for a moment, silencing the wolf woman with her cold stare.

"Can't. What."

"..."

“I think you’ve forgotten a few things, Valerie. Do you remember who brought him here in the first place?"

"You, ma'am."

"And who does Anon legally belong to now?"

The werewolf tightened her fists, looking down at the ground in silence, as if hesitating to answer.

"Valerie."

"...You. Ma'am."

"Good. I'm glad you still remember." Ada said, turning to grab a small box on her desk. "Never forget who's in charge here."

The tension was off the roof. Your eyes, unblinking, darted across the room, searching for something to defend yourself with or a means of escape, but to no avail. You were surrounded and out of options.

"Now then, let's go straight to business. Anon must've gotten tired of all this talking by now."

Ada turned to look at you, a somber gaze visible through her relaxed smile.

"Poor Anon. Always so tired, but what would I do without you? Don't you worry, though..."

Opening the box, Ada reached in, retrieving something from it. It looked like some sort of mushroom, covered in veins that pulsated with a bluish glow. You didn't know what the hell it was, and you didn't want know what it was for, either.

"These should give you all the energy you need to get by. Custom made, just for you." She said, coming closer.

"W-Wait...!" Valerie protested, only to be grabbed and immobilized by Isana, who prevented her from interfering any further. Too weak to break free, she could only watch as the Danuki turned to scold her.

“I don’t want to hear another word from you, Valerie. You are dismissed.”

Fearing for your life, you took a step back as Ada came closer to you. With no chance of escaping, you felt your back bump into something. A pair of hands creepily reached around your body, firmly wrapping themselves around your body, as two pedipalps wrapped around your hips to hold you in place.

"Going somewhere?" Darcelle whispered into your ear, gently running a nail down the side of your head.

“You look so stressed, Anon. You must have a lot in your mind. No matter; there’s no use fretting over things now.” Ada said. “Now, open wide.”

With a quick motion of her hand, Darcelle ripped the webbing off of your mouth, grabbing your jaw as to keep it open. In a sudden burst of anger, you thrashed around in an attempt to escape, but the spider woman held you still. Powerless, you closed your eyes as Ada fed you the object she had in hand. Valerie watched in horror as Darcelle closed your mouth shut, with the Danuki helping her by stimulating your throat with her hands until you swallowed it.

“There’s no need to fight it, dear. Just...relax. You’ll forget all your worries very soon.”

Something grumbled inside you, and a tingling sensation washed over your skin. You could feel your senses escaping you as the pace of your heartbeat began to increase. Your body became warmer and warmer, adrenaline rushing through your veins, especially around your crotch. Your vision became nothing but a blurry mess, and your head went numb. Refusing to accept it, you struggled to resist its effects, until you were no longer in control of yourself.

You’ve longed for the suffering to end, but it never came. As the monsters began to surround you and remove your clothes, you clung on to the last thing you had - your memories. All you could think of were those you held dear, as your vision slowly faded away into the darkness of the abyss.

...Mother...father...

...Nanna...

...I’m sorry.

. . .

Sunlight burned your eyelids, telling you that you slept too much. Your body ached, your hearing was muffled, and your vision was still a blur, remnant of the punishment you've received the night before.

They said you’ve been getting too lazy, so you must’ve deserved it. Maybe you’ve done something you shouldn’t have to deserve such a thing. What were you thinking? They couldn't have been lying to you all this time, right? No, it was you who were wrong all along. Just thinking about it made you chuckle.

Maybe if you had listened from the start, this wouldn’t have happened...right? Of course, it was just like they said; all you had to do was obey. If you do, it’ll be fine. Everything is going to be just...fine. They knew what was best for you, after all, didn’t they? All they asked of you was to sit down and behave, and so you did. There you sat in your cage, perfectly still.

People watched you from afar, but you did not mind their presence. You could hear voices calling to you, calling you many names, but you did not respond, all for fear of doing something wrong again. You just stared blankly into the distance, waiting for Ada and the others to return. They said they were tired from the punishment they gave you. Surely, they’d be back soon, so they’ll see how much of a good boy you really were.

The Sun moved lazily across the sky, but you could not feel the passage of time. No matter, time wasn’t a worry to you anymore. This was where you were fated to remain all along...wasn’t it? How ridiculous; to think you once had a desire to escape...to have...a reason to resist...

...You had...a reason...what was it...?

“Anon...?”

That voice...familiar. A whisper you’ve heard in the past, intruding into your mind. Turning to see who it was, your eyes met with a big, deep blue iris. You saw not a smile, or a frown, but a look of worry in her face as she continued to talk to you.

"It's me! I came as soon as I could!" She whispered.

Something in your mind made you believe that you knew her, but you couldn’t quite remember from where. A faint memory told you that she gave you something; something important. Your memory failed you terribly, and yet, it told you that she was no stranger. Who was she? What did she want from you? Why couldn’t you...remember anything?

Confused, you grasped your head with your hands, grunting in pain. Your brain hurt from thinking so hard. Why was this happening to you? Why does the pain never stop?! Why does the torment never cease?! You never did anything wrong to deserve this! It wasn’t your fault! It was...HERS!

“A-Ack...!”

In a fit of anger, you lunged at her, grabbing hold of her neck through the bars. She was the one who convinced you to resist your fate! She was the one who caused all your suffering! If it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t have been punished for disobeying! SHE was the flaw! Not YOU!

Lost in madness, you held tight onto her neck as she gasped for air. You should have never let her get close. She betrayed you, deceived you! Now that you had figured it out, you were sure she was going to spill the beans and reveal her true intentions!

“...A...non...” She muttered with the little breath she had, putting her hands on your arms. “...it...hurts...”

She never should have come here! Why did she have to find you?! Why was she not confessing her crimes?! Why was she not...resisting?

“...P...Please...” She begged, sobbing in your grip.

You froze. You could tell she was in pain, as tears forming at the edge of her eye, but she didn’t move away. She didn’t try to escape, nor did she try to ask for help. She didn’t even...fight back. You thought she was guilty, but...why? What exactly did she do to you? What did you...want from her?

...By God, what were you doing to her?!

“...”

Noticing that she was nearly out of breath, you released her. Falling on her knees, the girl struggled to recover from your assault, coughing as she laid her hand on her neck. Speechless, you looked down at her, shocked at the state you left her in. Turning your back on her, you stared at your hands. Worn and withered, they trembled from the atrocity you had just committed.

"...Why did you come back?" You whispered.

Resting your back on the bars, you slid down to the ground. Defeated, you stared into the distance, for you couldn't bear to look her in the eye, lest you attacked her again.

"Why do you...keep coming back?"

Much to your chagrin, you could shed no tears, as your eyes had turned dry a long time ago. Nothing remained but the shell of a man who succumbed to madness. You didn't want to accept it, but they had finally won. They broke you, and you blamed it all on the one person who tried to help you. Why did it have to be her? Why were you so...lost?

"This is all your fault. Why are you still here? Just...go away. It's not...worth it anymore."

"..."

No response. A long, silent pause told you everything you needed to know. It shouldn't have ended this way, but it was done. You were done for; it’d be for the best that she left you behind. You could only wait and hope that she would understand.

You could hear the sound of movement behind you. She was preparing to take her leave. Not like you would blame her either way; she was better off finding someone else to care for. Someone better. Better than...whatever it was you had become.

It was then that you noticed a pair of arms shyly emerging from under your armpits, gently wrapping around your chest.

"...I can't." She said, hugging you from behind.

This touch. You remembered it. It was not the sadistic grasp of a Thunderbird, nor the greedy iron grip of a werewolf. It felt...different. Harmless. Affectionate. A soft, loving embrace brought you to your senses, its caring warmth surrounding your body, taking your mind off the pain.

"...Why...me?" You muttered under your breath, hanging your head in shame.

"...Because I...I don't think I could have ever loved anyone else."

Her answer brought your mind to a stop. Even in the worst time of your life - even after attacking her - she chose to stay. A man like you didn’t deserve someone as forgiving as her, and yet, she chose you. How could you have failed her?

"...I'm...sorry..."

“Don’t be.” She continued, tightening her hug a little bit more. “I know it was me who made things worse...”

At this point, you were the one who fell silent. The shame was too great for you to say anything else, and no amount of words would ever change anything, but in that moment, her words changed everything to you.

“I’ll get you out of here, Anon. I promise.” She declared, proving her determination with a kiss to the nape of your neck.

At last, you had finally remembered who she was, and what she gave you.

Hope.

. . .

Night had arrived. The zoo was empty, and the Moon ruled the skies, watching over the slumbering city below as it quietly waited for the next day to arrive. That night was not like the others, however.

The staff closed the zoo for the night to rest and prepare before coming back the next day. You told Nanna what they were planning to do to you when they returned, and of course, neither of you wanted that to happen. Naturally, she was very alarmed, and even more determined to do something about it. She was a rather naïve girl, so her decision made you worry more about her well-being than your own, but you still agreed on it. Whatever she had in mind, you just hoped it would work.

You reflected on the prospect of breaking out. What if it actually worked this time? What if it didn't? What if Nanna got in serious trouble for it? Should you even try? Attempting to escape by yourself never worked, not even once, but the mere thought of someone helping you do so - and actually succeeding - made your heart beat a little more strongly.

"Hey...!" A hushed voice called out to you in the night.

"...?"

A hooded figure dressed in black stood outside your cage. A familiar blue iris glinted under the hood, attentively looking at you.

"Nanna? Is that you?" You asked, hastily standing up.

"Yeah." She replied, pulling the hood down. "Are you ready?"

What she was doing could very well put her life on the line, and you didn't want to see that happen. You feared for her safety, and you could tell she felt the same for you, but it looked like she had already made her choice. It was about time you made yours. After a deep breath, you gave her your answer, gazing deeply into her eye.

"...I am."

Nodding in agreement, Nanna walked over to the cage's door, going straight for the lock. Not a moment later, you heard the brief fiddling of metal end with a familiar 'clack', and the door was swung open, revealing the Cyclops. Astonished, you glanced at the door, amazed by how fast she had unlocked it. Bringing your attention back to her, you paused, staring at each other for a second, before walking into each other's arms, sharing your first embrace without any metal bars to interfere. She felt so...comfortable.

"What was that? Lockpicking?" You asked.

"Well, not exactly..."

"How'd you do it, then?"

"With this." Nanna raised her hand to show you an odd-looking key. It seemed to be modified, as it was missing its serrated edge.

"Oh. It's a, uh...what's that?"

"I'll tell you later. Come on." She said, grabbing your hand and setting off.

"How did you know this would work?" You asked as you both made a break for the exit.

"I didn't." She said, smiling at you. "But I did make a promise."

You should have scolded her for her recklessness there and then, but you were too busy being amazed by this secret, bold side of hers. For a girl who you once thought to be naïve to actually do something like this...There really was more to her than met the eye. Most incredible, however, was the fact that she actually managed to sneak into the zoo undetected. If she got in, she could get out, and if she could get out...so could you. Suddenly, there was a chance.

"This way! We're almost there!" She told you, still holding onto your hand as she snuck around the zoo, being careful not to startle any of the animals awake as they slept in their pens.

The zoo was a fairly large place, with many turns and walking paths that branched out from the entrance. It wasn't really that easy to get lost in it, but sneaking about in it was different story. Thankfully, you had plenty of time, as security was rather lax that night. Not too long ago, you saw Isana leaving her post to go fuck about as she would occasionally do, given she doesn’t care that much about her job. Following Nanna's guidance, you ran to the second, less used entrance of the facility. There weren't many options of escape routes, as the walls were high, decorated with barbed wire to discourage you - or anyone - from trying to enter or leave the zoo if not through a proper entrance.

Nanna had proven her courage. Trespassing into the zoo without permission was a big gamble for monsters. Going over the walls was trivial to some of them, as their obsession over you was strong, stronger than a wall, but there was something stronger. Something they feared was always watching, stalking for intruders. Throughout the years, it kept them out just as effectively as it kept you in, preventing you from being abducted in the night. None of them ever dared try their luck, certain that it'd come for them if they did.

And then, it hit you. A sudden realization that took away your confidence just as fast as it came to you.

"Nanna, wait--"

You froze the moment you saw it, and so did she. After making one final turn, the zoo's exit came into view. There would be a smile on your face at that moment, had it not been for something else. The gate - the path to your freedom - was blocked.

"...You..."

Standing between you and the exit was a familiar silhouette. Clenching her furred fists, she raised her head just enough to glare at you both from beneath her lowered brows. Her yellow eyes, turned bloodshot, burned brightly in the dark with a rage you've never seen before, staring at you with a piercing, deathly gaze. Nanna took a step back, pulling you closer as the figure laid eyes on her.

"That scent...it was you..."

Your heart sank. Neither of you dared speak a word, still too shocked at her sudden appearance to say anything.

"What do you think you're doing?" She continued, muttering in a raspy, bitter tone. "You pest. You dare get in here and try to take what is not yours..."

"A-Anon...i-is that the woman you told me about...?" Nanna whispered, visibly scared.

"Yeah. It's her." You replied, focused on the threat ahead.

Valerie was back. Back for revenge.

"You all think you can just snatch him up and pretend he belongs to you. It’s never enough for you people, is it? No, you still want to steal what’s mine...” The wolf woman said, stepping towards you in a hostile manner. “...I will not stand for this any longer.”

The Cyclops, paralyzed by fear, flinched in reaction to the werewolf’s voice. It was far too late to back down now.

“Anon is mine, mine ONLY, and you will NOT TAKE HIM AWAY FROM ME!"

Valerie's march turned into a sprint, and so she attacked.

“I will throw YOU TO THE LIONS!”

Your heart was racing. Time seemed to slow down as the wolf woman rushed in the Cyclops' direction, baring her teeth and claws. Even in the face of death, all you could think of were the good times you had with Nanna. You thought of all the precious memories you made together, and how much she changed your life. You were trapped, chained, told what to do and how to live, all without rest, all without peace, but she saved you from it, and for that alone, you’d be forever in her debt.

Now, that life of oppression wanted you back. It wanted to destroy your hope once more.

No longer.

Blinded by rage, Valerie pounced, striking away like a feral animal. A yelp escaped Nanna’s lips, raising her arms in self-defense as the sound of tearing cloth and flesh filled the air. Sharp black claws, tainted by a dark shade of red, abruptly stopped midway through their slash, sinking into the wounds they had just opened as blood began to seep from them.

But it wasn't Nanna's blood.

"...E-Eh...?"

"...!!"

Standing in between both of them, you blocked Valerie’s path, preventing her from reaching the Cyclops. Across your chest was a vicious gash, cut open by werewolf's claws. A pained grunt showed your struggle to resist the pain as she stopped her assault the moment she realized who she had just attacked. Terror-stricken, Valerie froze in place, too frightened to move any further. Her attack tore through your skin, but it did not strike you down. If anyone's blood was to be shed that night, it would be yours.

"...N-No..." Valerie muttered, her eyes wide open from surprise and horror.

"A-Anon..." Nanna whispered in a fearful tone, petrified at what she had just witnessed.

Mustering all of your strength, you reached for Valerie's arm, grabbing it with a vice-like grip. You didn't succeed in sending Nanna away to a better life, and you may have failed to hide her from the werewolf's watchful eyes...

"...I...am a free man..."

...but you still had to protect her.

"...and you will not control me anymore."

Staring deep into Valerie's eyes, you removed her claws from your body. In a burst of anger, you fiercely pushed her away. You've had enough of her. You've had enough of it all.

Quaking under your hateful gaze, Valerie looked down at her bloodied paws, trying to understand what she had just done. Her trembling legs gave out, and her knees gently touched the ground.

"...N-No...no..." She mumbled in disbelief, unblinking.

Just like her body surrendered and slumped, so did yours. Nanna was quick to act, holding you before you fell to the ground, weakened by your wounds and exhaustion.

"C-Can you stand?" She asked, aghast at your situation.

"...Yeah...I can manage it." You told her, pressing your torn clothes against your chest as to hold off the bleeding.

"...O-Okay. Let's go."

Helping you stand back up, the Cyclops led you away, leaving the scarred werewolf behind as she stared at her paws, mumbling incomprehensible words to herself, as if broken. You hoped to God that was last time you’d ever see her.

A few steps further, you were at the entrance. Fortunately, it was unlocked, probably left unattended by Valerie when she arrived. You were glad you were not left back in there to find out what she came for. Isana was still nowhere in sight, granting you free passage to the outside. Wasting no time, you left the zoo, walking into the streets.

It was the first time you've stepped out of this prison since your arrival. You almost couldn't believe you made it out, but you knew you weren't safe just yet. Following Nanna's lead, you snuck around the city buildings, hiding in alleys as to not be seen by any passing cars. The streets were empty, not a single soul in sight amidst the silence. The city was asleep.

"Well...where do we-- agh!" You groaned, wincing in pain from your wounds.

"Anon...!"

"I’m fine! I'm...fine. Just...keep going."

"D-Don't give up, we're almost there!"

Your injuries were becoming more difficult to bear by the minute, and your body was starting to get tired from all the running, still drained from the torment you’ve been through back in Ada’s room. Panting, you kept pushing on nonetheless. This was the farthest you've ever been, there was no way you were going to stop now.

"Something's coming...! Through here!" Nanna said, pulling you into a random alley.

Not too long after, a police car slowly drove by, stopping by the alley. A light shone down the narrow path, illuminating the darkness. Having found nothing, the light eventually vanished, and the vehicle drove away. Peeking out from behind the dumpster you were both hiding behind, Nanna waited a few more moments in order to make sure the coast was clear.

"Okay, I think we can go now...Anon?"

"I'm...sorry. I'm really...trying." You said, breathing audibly. "These scratches hurt...more than I thought they would..."

Your sight was starting to blur, and you could feel your leg muscles weakening as you stood back up with Nanna's help. Scared, she held on to you for dear life, even more so than you. You didn’t show it, but you feared that if the wolf woman struck to kill, she might have actually succeeded.

"I-It's okay Anon, we'll--"

"Freeze."

“...!!”

Suddenly, a flash of blinding light washed over you both. Covering your eyes, you instinctively stepped in front of Nanna in an attempt to protect her. Looking behind herself, she checked the end of the alley you came from, seeking a means of escape. Her hopes were crushed, however, as a police car came into view in the distance, blocking it off. You’ve been found.

Nanna embraced you as the light began to come closer. She was shaking, but refused to let you go. You were surrounded, but you wouldn’t let go either. As the light closed the distance, something moist touched your shoulder, wetting your shirt. You did not need to turn and look to know they were her tears.

"I'm so sorry, Anon..." She sobbed.

The light stopped a few steps away from you, close enough for you to see a silhouette behind it. Taking a deep breath, you prepared yourself for the worst, as you always do. If fate itself wanted you to fail now, you wouldn’t go down without a fight. You defied it once, you could very well defy it again.

"...Nanna? Is that you?"

"...!?"

The light was lowered to the ground, giving your eyes a rest. Walking closer, the unknown figure became clearer and more defined. Your eyes were still strained, but you could make out a police uniform, a pair of horns and a bluish skin - stronger than Nanna's. It was another one of “them”, no wonder. Even in its presence, what struck you the most was the fact that you weren't a stranger to its face. Something about this sight poked your memory; where did you see it before...?

"L-Livia?!" Nanna said in a surprised tone.

"Yes, it's me!” She said in a tone of annoyance. “What the hell are you doing out here?!"

...Huh?

"...You...know her...?" A tired voice escaped your mouth.

"Y-Yeah, she--"

"You're not supposed to be out here this late." The woman cut in, shifting her attention to you. "And who is...is this the guy from the local zoo?!"

"Wait! I-I can explain it, but...w-we need help!"

"...Well, this is very awkwar-- agh!"

The pain cut you off mid-speech, and your legs lost their strength, letting you fall on a knee. Nanna held onto you, easing your fall, but wasn't strong enough to support your weigh. Watery-eyed from desperation, the Cyclops glanced at her supposed acquaintance with dwindling hope.

"Livia, please! He's hurt...!"

The policewoman seemed conflicted, quietly watching your miserable situation as you struggled to stay on your feet.

"...You broke him out of that zoo, didn’t you?” Livia asked; a soft, knowing tone in her voice.

“...I...yes.”

“You do know that what you did was against the law, right?"

“Y-Yes, ma’am...but--“

“I’m sorry, Nanna...” The Oni continued. “...I’m afraid I’ll have to take you away.”

The Cyclops froze, disbelief washing over her face as Livia made her decision. She tried to think of something to say, but a sad, understanding look from the officer discouraged her to even try. They seemed to know each other, but to meet a friend in these circumstances was nothing less than sorrowful.

"...So...is this how it ends? Fine..." You muttered, looking up at Livia.

“Huh?”

"Maybe it was a bad idea...for her to set me free..." You continued, albeit with difficulty in your breathing.

"Anon...?"

"...But...if you're going to do your job, at least...leave her out of it."

"What do you mean?" Livia inquired.

"Listen, just...let the girl go. She's young, and innocent. Tell them I...escaped by myself."

"A-Anon, no!" Nanna spoke up, tightening her embrace around you. "We...we’re in this together! We made a promise..."

Her plan had failed, and her life was in great danger, and yet, she still refused to give up. You didn't know how much time you had left, and the situation was beyond your control; all you could now is to bargain Nanna's way out of it. She was baffled by your words, but she had to understand that you couldn’t afford to have her life be ruined because of you.

"You're her...friend, right? Can you...spare her just this once?" You asked, much to the Cyclops's chagrin.

The Oni was silent, staring at you with a troubled expression. There was no telling what her answer would be, but you'd be a fool not to expect the worst from monster “law”. Unmoving, she stood there for what seemed like an eternity. Eventually, she let out a sigh, holstering her flashlight.

"...Come on, you two. Let’s go." Livia spoke, coming closer to bring you up.

As you thought, your words were not good enough to convince her. You would've tried harder to change her mind, had you any energy left to do so. Nanna hanged her head in sadness as she helped you walk back to the police car, with the officer following you both close behind.

"Get in." The officer said, opening the door and helping you onto your seat.

After closing it shut, the Oni quickly entered the front passenger seat, reaching over to press a button on some sort of device sitting on top of the dashboard.

"Hey, why'd you turn off the radio?" An unknown voice chimed in.

"I'll tell you later. Just start the car." Livia replied, taking a first-aid kit from the glove compartment.

Leaving the vehicle, the Oni went around it, joining you and Nanna in the back seat. After closing the door, she paused, glaring at you both for a moment, as if pensive about something. Confused, you stared back at her, unsure of what she was thinking. What was she even doing?

"Oh hey, it's Nanners!" The other voice spoke once again, addressing the Cyclops. "...Wait, what’s she doing here? And who's this guy?"

Sitting in the driver's seat was a rather familiar shark woman, looking back at you; one you remembered bothering you quite a lot a long time ago, back when you were still confined. Unaware of what was going on, she became as confused as you were upon hearing Livia’s response.

"...Take us to her apartment, Garnet. Be discreet."

"...What?"

"Just go!"

"Alright, alright! We're off!"

You didn't know what to think anymore, nor did you have the will to. The injuries were still hurting a lot, but complaining about it wouldn't do you any good now. Quickly reaching into the first-aid box she had in hand, the Oni turned to the Cyclops.

"I hope you got a damn good explanation for this, Nanna."

. . .

“...Alright, I’m done. Nanna, the bandages.” Livia said.

“H-Here. Is it too serious?”

“Eh, he’s a tough one. Bled quite a bit, but I think he might make it. He’s gonna need some rest if you want him to, though.”

“Y-Yes, of course.”

“I seriously hope this plan of yours works out. You two pulled some really dangerous stuff back here.”

"So, lil' Nannie broke her man free, and now we're helping them escape." Garnet concluded, turning a corner. "Well, ain’t that just lovely?"

“Hm. It’s not like we’ve been having any cases to deal with the past few months anyway. Besides, taking them back to the station would’ve been bad.”

"We're getting fired ten times over if the chief finds out about this, though."

"Then don't tell her about it, fishbrains."

“T-Thank you so much for helping us. I don’t know how I can ever repay you for this...” Nanna said, a shy smile adorning her face.

“Don’t worry about it. Consider it my thanks for all the math homework you lent me back in highschool.” Livia replied jokingly.

"And for all the pizza movie nights!" Garnet added.

“Oh, but those were nothing much...”

“No, really! If you ever need us for this sort of stuff again, ju—“

“We’re never doing this again, Garnet.” Livia cut in.

Their bonds with Nanna were impressive. They really looked like they were longtime friends. You thought most monsters to be corrupt savages, but you would’ve never guessed that some of them could be “corrupt” for a good cause. Even though you wanted to, you couldn’t muster the energy to thank them, a dry cough being the only thing to escape your mouth. Turning her attention to you, the Oni gave you a pat on the shoulder.

“You take it easy for now.” She said. “You’re lucky she likes you, buddy. We would’ve booked ya right away if it were anyone else.”

"Alright, we're here." Garnet said, slowing down.

The street was empty. Thankfully, the apartment Nanna lived in was one of those old buildings with no reception, so there was nobody around to see you.

"Pull over near that car over there." She told the shark woman.

Swiftly, Nanna stepped out of the vehicle and unlocked her car. With Livia's assistance, she brought you over to it, gently putting you in the front passenger seat. Not too long after, she was behind the wheel, and you were both strapped in, ready to leave.

"Hey..." The Oni called out to her from the police car as it rolled up next to hers. "...You know they're gonna be looking for you, right?"

"...Yeah. But I still wanna try.”

“Heh, never knew you had it in you. Are you sure you have everything you need?"

"Yes. I packed all my stuff in the car in advance."

“Right. So...’Anon’, was it? You said the zoo’s owner’s been drugging you, yeah?”

You nodded in response, too tired to speak.

“I see. I think we can actually start a case on her for that, can’t we, Garnet?” The Oni asked her fellow cop.

“I think so. That stuff is still outlawed if I remember right. They can have some real bad side effects.”

“Well, that oughta give her a good headache for a while. We’ll see what we can do.” Livia continued, turning to the Cyclops. “Take the East road out of the city; things are pretty calm around there. Stay hidden for a few months, and this might just blow over.”

“Alright. Thanks again for helping us. We’ll never forget it!”

“No worries, we’ll sort things out here. We're gonna take care of that werewolf nutjob, too. I don't like her face.” The shark woman said, her tone suddenly changing into a rather humorous one. “Still, color me surprised. Helping a couple make their romantic escape...I didn’t know you were such a strong believer of Eros, Livia. Is it because of the hus--”

“Shut up, Garnet. Let’s just go before the chief realizes we’re not back at the station yet. Good luck out there, Nanna.”

"Hehe, bye Nanny-o. Take care."

"You too." The Cyclops replied, waving at her friends as they took off, turning a corner and disappearing into the city.

Starting her car, Nanna followed suit, driving away. After a few minutes, you were finally out of the city, on the road to God-knows-where.

"We're safe now, Anon. It's gonna be alright." She said.

Opening your tired eyes, you looked into the wing mirror. Through it, you saw a distant city, shrinking away in the horizon as the car drove away. Your thoughts were scattered, and your mind, overwhelmed. You couldn't think straight; this time, not from being drugged, but from something else. A feeling you had long forgotten.

This feeling...placid...peaceful. Is this...freedom?

"...Nanna..." You whispered, gazing into the distance that lied before you, as the morning Sun slowly emerged over the hills, showering you in its warm light.

"Yes...?"

"...thank...you..."

You didn't turn to look, but you knew she was smiling, and that was good enough for you. A deep sigh escaped your mouth, and before long, you drifted off to sleep. Time felt like a flash, as each time you opened your eyes, you were in a different place. One blink, and you were leaving the highway. Another blink, and you were on a worn dirt road. By the third time you’ve opened your eyes, the car had already stopped.

"We're here." Nanna said, leaving the vehicle to help you out of your seat.

Before you stood a modest wooden house. A cottage, built among the quiet plains. Its neighbors were distant, and its surroundings were but beautiful fields of green and gold, rustling peacefully in the wind. This scenery felt...familiar.

Holding you up with your arm over her shoulder, Nanna began to approach the house. Something caught your eye in the distance as you raised your head. You saw two people come out through the front door, as if trying to get a better look at you both. Noticing the Cyclops raise her arm to wave at them, the couple stepped down from the porch, coming towards you. The sunlight blurred your sight, preventing you from seeing their faces. Funny; you knew they were her parents, but for a moment, you could've sworn you saw mom and dad...

Hastily taking hold of you, they began to help Nanna bring you in. Your eyelids felt heavy, and without protest, you spared yourself the light. Their muffled voices slowly faded away into silence as darkness took over once again.

. . .

Your consciousness had returned, and so did your disorientation. Your senses, scrambled, found no familiarity with the place you were in – Your ears, used to distant sounds of city streets, deranged sweet-talking, endless teasing and sour insults, could only hear the faint chirping of birds. Your stiff body, used to the harshness of feeble cardboard, rested upon something soft and silky, covered by a large, warm piece of cloth. It felt so...pleasant. You didn’t recall the ground being this comfortable.

Your sight had recovered, but your eyes saw no horror. No monsters. No torment. No blur. Instead, you saw...a window. The dusky sunlight shone down upon you, finding its way in through its white curtains as they moved gently with the wind. You saw a carpet instead of dirt, and a ceiling instead of the dark night sky. Most startling however, was the fact that you saw no metal bars. The cold prison you once thought to be your fate was nowhere to be found, being instead replaced by walls. White walls, adorned with pictures of people – human and monster alike – together, almost like...a family?

The quiet, it felt so good, but at the same time, so alien. Were you in a dream? You hadn't dreamed in a long time. Is this what it feels like? Or was this...death?

Something warm moved across your chest. Confused, you looked down, only to find an arm laid over your body. Its fingers softly caressed your side over the bandages, as if holding you close. Almost like...a certain werewolf...

"...!"

You flinched. Your heart wrenched at the thought of her. No...no, it can’t be! Did she find you? Were you captured? Where is—

“Hmm...”

A soft groan interrupted your panicked thoughts. Your mind was clouded, but as soon as they came, your fearful memories vanished the moment you laid your eyes upon her, relieved to know it was no werewolf.

The sunlight shone down upon her figure under the covers, as if blessing her as she slept by your side. Her breathing was soothing and calm, much like her voice. For a man of few words like yourself, no amount of them could ever describe how gorgeous she looked. You couldn’t think of any; all you could think of was...her.

Raising your hand, you pushed a few strands of hair away from her face. Delicate like a flower, she was awoken by your gesture. Even when dreaming, she was still beautiful; so beautiful that you felt bad for waking her up. Slowly, her eye blinked open as she returned from the world of dreams, smiling as soon as she noticed you were awake.

“Anon...” She whispered, caressing your chest. “...feeling better?”

Even though you bore such vicious wounds, somehow, you felt no pain. The agony from your injuries was gone, replaced by her warm, docile touch; a touch you hoped would never leave you. Gazing deeply into her eye, it took you a few moments to break your trance before you could answer.

“...Yeah...I do...”

A sigh of satisfaction escaped her lips. Her delight was almost palpable.

“...Where...are we...?” You asked, still somewhat confused.

“It’s my old bedroom. I used to live here with my parents before I moved.”

“Your...bedroom...”

“Don’t worry. We’re safe now.”

“I see...” You said, resting your hand on top of hers. “...But...your parents...aren’t they upset...?”

“It’s okay. Dad let us stay for as long as we need.” She answered.

“...Really? How considerate of them...”

“Yeah...they’re the best parents I could’ve ever asked for...”

“I agree...but...”

“Hm?”

“Your dad...you said he does farm work, right?”

“Oh? Well...he does. Why?”

“I want to repay their kindness somehow...”

“Is that so...” She said, a slight blush adorning her cheeks as she pulled herself closer to you, resting her cheek on your shoulder. “I guess he could use the help, but it’s not very easy...”

“It’s fine, really. I’m no stranger to it. I used to help grandpa at his farm all the time when I was a kid. After all...”

Reaching down, you took her hand, gently caressing it with your thumb as you looked her in the eye.

“...You saved me, and I owe you my life for that. I promise you I’ll make it worth it.”

Nanna’s smile was radiant. It had finally lost its shyness, and the red in her cheeks grew more intense than ever. Lord help you if you were wrong, but in that moment, she looked like the happiest girl in the world. And in the moment, too, you swore to yourself that you’d keep it that way.

“Hehehe...” She giggled, looking at you.

“...Hm? What is it?”

“You’re smiling.”

“...Smiling?”

She nodded happily in response, as if she had just achieved her life's goal. Surprised, you felt a strong tingling in your chest as she looked up at you, her beautiful blue iris gleaming in the sunlight.

This tingling...it’s been so long, you forgot what it was. It made you feel at peace. Feelings that had been locked away since the day you were captured, left behind ever since you last saw mom and dad - the ones who taught you what it really meant. It reminded you of them, and that they were still out there, waiting for your return. Wherever they were now, you hoped they were safe, until you were ready to reunite with them once again, someday. After all, you still had a promise to fulfill. That, however, will be a story for another time.

Letting out a chuckle, you pulled Nanna into a kiss. Holding you close, she brought your head to her chest, tenderly embracing you.

“I guess I am.”

There was much ahead of you, and it wouldn’t be easy. Life would be challenging from now on; you’ll probably be on the run forever, but you still wanted to see what it had to offer. You wanted to see what lied beyond the pain and the fear. But for now, it could wait, if only for a little while. You had to catch up on many things, starting with something you’ve always wanted. Your one true wish.

Closing your eyes, you drifted off to the peaceful rest you’ve always yearned for, safe in the arms of your love.

So this is what happiness feels like. This time, you won't forget it.

															The End