Zoo Keeper

Jiang stirred awake, his body curled up on a bed of cold, smooth rocks. For a moment, he forgot where he was. The sewers, the chase, the blood—all of it felt distant. But as he blinked open his small, beady eyes, the world came into focus: he was surrounded by penguins. Real penguins. Dozens of them, waddling and honking around him, their sleek black-and-white forms milling about as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

For them, maybe it wasn't.

But I'm still stuck in this form, Jiang thought bitterly.

He shifted awkwardly, stretching his flippers. His body was stiff, sore from everything that had happened, and the cold environment wasn't helping. Around him, the other penguins shuffled and went about their day, completely oblivious to his inner turmoil. They didn't talk, didn't think like he did. For a brief moment, Jiang wished he could just be one of them—mindless and free of this absurd, dangerous reality.

But his moment of peace was shattered by a familiar sensation: the creeping feeling of being watched. Jiang's instincts flared, and he looked up, his small heart racing.

The shadowy figure.

It was back.

Jiang froze. The figure moved through the zoo, a dark, slithering presence that seemed to melt in and out of the shadows. Its glowing eyes scanned the penguin enclosure, searching… but not finding. Not yet.

It's looking for me, Jiang realized, his heart hammering. The creature was here, stalking him even in the safety of the zoo. But how? Why now?

He ducked his head low, trying to blend in with the other penguins. The creature prowled along the perimeter of the enclosure, its gaze sweeping back and forth, but it didn't seem to lock onto him. Maybe, just maybe, he could stay hidden.

Hours passed, and Jiang didn't dare move. He watched as the shadowy figure drifted away, disappearing into the deeper recesses of the zoo. Even when it was gone, the tension remained. He was far from safe.

By the time dusk settled over the zoo, Jiang had almost convinced himself he was in the clear. The other penguins were quieting down for the evening, settling into their routines, and Jiang's mind finally allowed him to think beyond survival.

The system, he thought. Why hasn't it said anything?

He had completed the mission. He had been rewarded with $25,000 and 30 minutes in human form. But since waking up in the zoo, there had been nothing. No new updates, no instructions, no signs that the system was even aware of what he was doing.

And then there was the money. What was I supposed to do with $25,000 as a penguin? The thought was absurd. He couldn't exactly waddle into a bank and make a withdrawal.

His mind wandered further. Was the system… testing him? Playing with him? The more he thought about it, the more he realized he had no control. He was just a pawn, moving through this strange, twisted game, hoping to stay alive long enough to figure out what the hell was happening.

Jiang's stomach growled, pulling him back to the present. The zoo staff had been kind enough to feed the penguins earlier, and despite his conflicted emotions, the fish had tasted incredible. It was one of the few things his penguin body enjoyed, and for a moment, eating the fish had made him feel a little more at peace. But now that peace was gone, replaced by a gnawing sense of paranoia.

The figure was still out there. Somewhere.

A soft voice broke through his thoughts. "Hey there, little guy. You look like you need some cleaning."

Jiang turned his head to see a zookeeper kneeling beside him. She had a gentle smile, her long hair tied back in a ponytail, and she held a soft brush in her hands. Jiang's heart skipped a beat. She was… pretty. Her soft touch made him blush—well, as much as a penguin could blush.

He flinched as she began to clean his feathers, carefully brushing away the grime and dirt that had clung to him during his time in the sewers. Her touch was warm, delicate, and Jiang felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him. I'm a human, he wanted to say. Not just some bird.

But all that came out was a soft honk.

"You're a cutie," she said, her voice soft as she worked. "Bet you've had a rough time, huh?"

Jiang wanted to melt into the ground. This was mortifying. But at the same time, there was something… nice about it. For a moment, he could pretend he wasn't trapped in this cursed body. For a moment, he could just be a penguin getting a little care from someone kind.

But reality had a way of ruining those moments.

As the evening passed into night, Jiang settled in with the other penguins. He tried to push aside his thoughts about the system and the shadowy figure, focusing instead on the simple pleasures of being clean, fed, and, for the first time in days, relatively safe.

But the safety didn't last.

The Mysterious Woman Returns

The next day dawned quietly in the zoo. The sun was high, casting a warm glow over the penguin enclosure as tourists wandered by, pointing and laughing at the birds. Jiang stayed near the back, avoiding attention, but his mind was still buzzing. Where was the system? Why had it been silent for so long?

And then he saw her.

The woman from the alley.

His blood ran cold.

She was walking through the zoo, dressed in plain jeans and a black hoodie, her face mostly hidden beneath the hood. If he hadn't been paying attention, he might not have noticed her at all. But there was no mistaking it—it was her.

Jiang's first instinct was to call out, to demand answers, but something held him back. No, play it smart. Watch her.

She moved through the zoo with purpose, though she didn't seem to draw attention from anyone else. Jiang's eyes locked onto her as she made her way to each of the enclosures, spending time in each one before moving on. But it wasn't random—she was using something. A compass.

The compass hung from a chain around her neck, and every time she stopped near an animal exhibit, it would light up red. Jiang's heart pounded as he watched her move, his mind racing. What is she doing? Was she… looking for him?

She spent a good deal of time near the lion's den, watching the animals with an intensity that made Jiang's feathers stand on end. But then she moved on, heading toward the penguin enclosure.

Jiang's heart skipped a beat. She was coming.

And that's when the system finally spoke.

"New mission: Stay undetected. Punishment for failure: Loss of smell for 24 hours."

Jiang's pulse raced. The system was back, and it was giving him a clear directive: do not let her find you.

Panic surged through him as he glanced around. There wasn't much time. She was coming closer. If she scanned the penguin area with that compass and it lit up red… he was done for.

Desperate, Jiang made a decision. He waddled toward the back of the enclosure, away from the prying eyes of the tourists and the woman, and did his best to fake being sick. He slumped over, his body shaking as he let out pitiful honks. If he could convince the zookeepers that something was wrong, maybe they'd take him out for care. Maybe then he could avoid being detected.

It worked.

"Hey!" one of the zoo workers shouted, rushing over. "I think something's wrong with this one!"

Moments later, Jiang was scooped up and taken out of the main enclosure, away from the woman's path. His heart pounded in his chest as he was brought to the care center. He had bought himself some time.

As the zookeeper tended to him, Jiang's mind raced. He had managed to stay out of sight, but for how long? He could only hope that the woman would pass by without noticing anything.

Mission Failed

The day stretched on, and dusk began to settle over the zoo. Jiang had been in the care center for hours, pretending to be ill while the zookeepers monitored him. Eventually, one of the workers smiled at him, her voice soft and soothing.

"You're good to go, darling," she said, stroking his feathers. "You sure frightened us. We still need to get you tagged in case you get out again somehow."

Jiang let out a relieved honk, preparing to return to the enclosure. But as they reached the door, his blood ran cold.

The woman from the alley stood at the door, her hood still pulled low, her eyes gleaming from the shadows.

And then the system's cold voice echoed in his mind.

"Mission failed. You have been found."

Jiang's heart stopped as the woman stepped forward, her presence radiating a sense of power and dread. He tried to move, but his body wouldn't respond. He was trapped, cornered, and there was no escaping her now.

The woman smiled, a slow, knowing smile.

"I've been looking for you."