A Prey Among Predators

Tucked in the quiet corner of the city’s downtown is a cute, colorful building: The roof is in the shape of a child’s drawing of waves; different types of sea life-shaped sculptures from seahorses to coral hold up the jutting roof. Below the waves are the words “City Aquarium.”

On the brick sidewalk in front of the aquarium, Carter guides Nolan by the hand under the shadows of the roof.

Wonder fills Carter’s eyes as he opens the glass door and steps into a dim room. “What do you think of this?” He holds his hands out in front of him as a smile stretches across his face.

Behind him, Nolan gazes around the scene, clutching onto the edges of his jacket over his hoodie.

The room is massive, seeming to be never-ending due to its dim and pastel lighting. The walls on both sides are made up of spacious tanks of teal-colored water. Scattered around the room are pillar-shaped tanks. All the tanks are filled with colorful fish, coral, and other sorts of sea life.

Nolan follows Carter as he steps up to the glass to the left.

“After a hard day’s work as a senior league goalie,” he hears Carter exclaim, “you need a way to relax! And the perfect way is by going to the aquarium!”

The two stop in front of the glass. Nolan gazes out with growing curiosity.

The multi-colored fish drift by so peacefully along with the serene light of the water dancing around. Peace begins to fill him unconsciously as his mind becomes lost in the soothing motions.

Suddenly, a bug-eyed fish zips up to the glass and snaps its sharp fangs at Nolan. Nolan yelps and speeds away from it before he is halted in place.

Holding onto his wrist, Carter exclaims, “Come over here!”

He guides Nolan down the room and to the right. They enter a spacious tunnel with a conveyor belt as the flooring.

“Isn’t this so cool?”

Nolan perks out from behind Carter and gazes around.

The tunnel’s curved walls are entirely made out of glass with teal waters sparkle through it. Gliding over the tunnel are wide, large sharks; their teeth protrude from their mouths with their eyes glaring downward from the ceiling.

Nolan freezes.

“But you know what my favourite part is?”

The belt slides the two into the adjacent room. The room is like the main room, except it is smaller with more exotic sea life.

Carter holds his hands out from his sides. “This.”

Nolan gazes at the vibrant colors from the sea life sparkling in the bright water. He passes by Carter and approaches the tank in front of him.

His eyes twinkle, bedazzled, as he places his palms on the glass. “It’s...beautiful…”

Carter peers behind his shoulder. “I know right? Because look at all this fish!”

He slips up to the glass, on Nolan’s left. His eyes begin to glimmer as he drools. “Doesn’t it make you...hungry…?”

Confusion pops onto Nolan’s face as he keeps his eyes on the sea scenery.

“Look at how plump they are…,” he hears Carter moan. “Oh man, I can only imagine how they taste like…”

Fear creeps up in Nolan, stiffening him.

Carter gasps, regaining his composure. “You know what?” He whips his head to him and exclaims, “We should go have sushi!” He leans back and pumps his fist. “Oh yes! I can taste the fish in my mouth.” He straightens up and looks at Nolan. “Can you?”

Nolan stares at him and nods.

Carter shoots him a grin. “Yes! Let’s go!” He grabs his wrist and drags him to the right, down the room, and lets go of him to open the door. The two emerge to the outside, and stroll down the walkway.

They pass by an outdoor exhibit.

Carter halts in his tracks as a haughty, mischievous look comes across his face. “Hoh, hoh, hoh…!” He steps backwards and stops to be in front of the exhibit. He approaches it and gazes over its glass panels.

Nolan follows his actions stands to his right to look at the exhibit.

On levels of smooth slabs of rocks are penguins. Some are waddling around or standing. Others are dipping into the water laid out in front of the largest slab of rock. The rest are consuming small, silver-colored fish.

Carter points at one of the penguins gobbling up a fish. “That fish looks tasty too.” He then cups his hands over his mouth and bellows, “Hey, penguins! Better eat all that fish before I come down there and take it from you!”

Nolan freezes at the threat with a frown of disapproval. He eyes the penguins as they continue to go about their activities without a care about Carter’s threat.

Carter chuckles at their ignorance, his arms now folded on the railing above the glass panels. “I love to pick on them. They’re ferals, but they still are living...the...life…”

His voice fades as he senses a presence next to him. The person giving off the heavy sensation of the presence clears his throat.

Carter shuffles in place to face left as Nolan turns his head toward that direction.

Standing at the corner of the exhibit with arms crossed and cocked eyebrow paired with a frown is Zachary Lauzon. Behind him are three other young men with the same aura. The four men, or penginmimis, each have a sleek, black tail slipping out from underneath the hem of their shirts.

“You think that’s funny?” Zach spits out.

Carter pushes out a chuckle as his face grows red. “Oh, uh, well, um—”

Zachary storms up to him. “Those are our friends and family stuck in this hellhole because they couldn’t get a grip of themselves. And if you” —He throws his pointer finger at him— “keep picking on them, then they actually might come and” —He jabs pointer finger at his chest— “get you.”

He pulls away. “And with that, YOU might become feral. And how would that feel if people mocked you because you can’t comprehend the simple concept of free will and intellect? Hm?”

Carter shrugs. “It wouldn’t even matter because I wouldn’t even know what they are saying.” He chortles.

Zachary crosses his arms again. “Well then, I hope you become a feral one day and see for yourself.”

Connor Hall, one of the three men behind Zach, pipes in, “Should we...come back here later?”

Zachary peers at him from behind his shoulder. “Of course.” He throws a scowl at Carter. “After this horrible boar leaves.”

With that, Zachary tosses his head up and brushes past the goalie. His three friends follow after him with the same aura.

Carter whirls around to face them, his hands out from his sides. “I’m a BEAR!”

They continue walking away with their black, flat tails waving to their motions.

Carter sighs and turns to face Nolan. “Sorry about them.” He then peeks at penguins in the exhibit. “Let’s get outta here before I actually take their fish.”

He shuffles away. Nolan gives the penguins a look of concern before following him.

Notes