The Vaga by S. A. Carter Page A

and scramble forward, quickly hiding behind a black bear standing nearly seven metres tall. I peer underneath the bear’s large arm and see a creature stalk silently into the room. It lifts its ugly snout into the air and inhales, its low-set ears twitching as it searches the darkness around it.
    It takes a few quiet steps, moving off to the other side of the exhibit and I tremble as I look upon its odd and distorted features. Its body is a mix between a dog and a hyena, with its long tail and large head in disproportion to the rest of its body. Its striped fur glistens as it moves, and as it stalks further into the room I look down at its cloven hooves lined with razor sharp claws. This creature looks like it was coughed up from hell.
    Dread washes over me, panic clutching at my chest.
    I have to get out of here
.
    I have only two options—run for the exit and hope I make it to the storage room in one piece, or take a risk by jumping through the glass windows. Either way, I have a feeling I’m screwed.

Chapter 8
    I move back further into the shadows, trying to get up enough guts to make a decision, when I hear Uncle Jo’s voice calling my name.
    ‘Ellie? Ellie, are you here?’ he whispers.
    Uncle Jo
?
    ‘Ellie?’
    I have to warn him. He has to get out of here. I take a step towards his voice and am suddenly pulled back by strong arms that are looped tightly around my waist. My scream is stifled by a large hand, but before I head butt whoever it is in the face he speaks.
    ‘Do not move,’ he whispers into my ear.
    Julian
?!
    ‘That was
not
your uncle talking.’
    Where did he come from? And what did he mean that wasn’t Uncle Jo? I heard his voice myself and it sounded just like him…didn’t it? Uncertainty creeps its way into my subconscious. If it wasn’t him, then something is trying to lure me out in the open by using Uncle Jo’s voice.
It must be the creature
. What sort of beast would be capable of doing that?
    I nod reluctantly and he slowly releases his hand, the smell of his skin still lingering under my nose. He then loosens his grip from around my waist and a feeling of disappointment runs through me as I feel the heat of his body move back from mine.
    Get it together
,
Ellie
.
Psycho creature on the loose remember
?
    I turn my head to look at him and my breath catches in my throat as his eyes pierce mine. There is a moment between us that cannot be denied. Warning and desire course through me, and my emotions are going haywire as we stare at each other. Even in this light I can see his features clearly, and if I ever had any doubt that my feelings for him were real, this moment has only confirmed it for me.
    I swallow the lump in my throat, and as his eyes travel down to my mouth I see his jaw clench. He breaks the connection first and presses his finger to his lips before pointing towards the exit. I shake my head and point towards the glass windows. He scowls and points to the exit. I scowl back and point to the windows. He rolls his eyes and I force back a smug smirk.
    ‘Ellie?’ I hear my name again.
    My head whips towards the sound—it’s edging closer, coming from the area in front of the windows. I look back at Julian, whose gaze reminds me that it’s not my uncle talking. He then jerks his head towards the exit door and I can’t do anything but follow him now that my awesome crashing-through-the-window-stunt has been foiled by the voice imitator blocking my path.
    As we make our way silently towards the doorway, weaving in and out of the animals, I can’t help but wonder what sort of creature possesses the power to imitate a human voice? And how did it know Uncle Jo’s? The creepy feeling surrounding this whole thing disturbs me, and I focus only on what I need to do now—getting out of here alive.
    Julian moves forward, his eyes roaming the room with calculative precision while his body is hard and on edge. I try and avoid looking at his muscled legs, but even through his pants I