Fright At The Museum
"Attention everyone! Attention! It is seven o'clock and we are about to open our doors in a few hours, so it is time for one final walkthrough of your designated sections," said the museum's curator Doctor Zander Orshack as he stepped into the breakroom, a middle-aged zebra. Tonight, was a big night for him and the Natural History Museum. "I have for you a list of new guidelines visitors must follow and you must enforce and I'm aware that a few of you are new here but I have the utmost confidence that you will keep things in order." He stepped to the side and let a rather heavy-set cheetah in a police uniform enter the room carrying two boxes of donuts and a large thermos of coffee. "This is Officer Benjamin Clawhauser. He will be the officer on duty tonight. He's the best police officer… Police Chief Bogo was willing to let us borrow for tonight." Benjamin shot an annoyed look at the doctor before turning to see the room full of guards with a happy yet very tired grin.
"Hey everyone, nice to meet you all… yawn." Benjamin let out a small yawn while rubbing his left eye. "Sorry, I normally work the morning shift at the ZPD." he placed boxes of donuts on a nearby counter. "I brought us donuts." Every one of the guards cheered until he placed only one of the boxes in front of them.
"Uh… what about the other box of donuts and coffee?" asked one of the new guards named Honey Sharpclaw, a honey badger. Apparently, she had asked the question everyone else was wondering as there would only be enough for one donut each.
"Oh, those are mine." he said with a smile while hungrily looking at his box wondering if he should get one now. This caused a chorus of grumbling from the guards, except for one, a leopard, who had a smile on his face as he looked at the hungry cop licking his lips.
"Still have that sweet tooth don't you Ben?" Said the guard with a smile as he took a step towards a surprised Benjamin.
"Winston? Winston Zeddemore!" Officer Clawhauser couldn't believe his tired eyes, so he dropped the boxes and thermos on a nearby desk and rushed over and gave his long-lost friend a big hug and they laughed. The reuniting of these two friends made everyone in the room smile except for Dr. Orshack, who was impatiently tapping his hooves. Winston and Benjamin haven't seen each other since their time at Zootopia's Police Academy. "Oh my gosh, I've missed you!"
For Benjamin the Academy was especially rough, physical exercise and training was hard, lectures were difficult, instructors were especially rough, but what was the hardest part for him was not having any friends or even someone he could talk to or eat lunch with. Benjamin was ready to quit and just leave until he met Winston Zeddemore, Winston was the first friendly mammal he met at the Academy, they started to hang out during their lunch periods and helping each other with their classes, mainly Winston helped train Benjamin for the physical portions of their training. Finally, the two friends graduated together, but this is where they go their separate ways, Benjamin was accepted into the ZPD as their radio dispatcher while Winston on the other paw decides to enlist with the Marine Corps rather than joining the police force. The two had a bittersweet farewell, both were sad to see the other leave but happy they achieved their goals.
"Good to see you too Ben, how've you been?" Winston said, breaking away from the excited cheetah's hug.
"I'm doing great! I'm still the radio dispatcher for the ZPD and Chief Bogo assigned me the officer on duty tonight." Benjamin said, pointing proudly at his badge. "Normally the Chief would send one of the other officers, most of them out on different cases also I need the overtime."
"The police must be busy if they asked their radio dispatcher to work in the field, no offense." said Winston, hoping he didn't hurt his friend's feelings.
"None taken, I've never worked outside the station before except the times Chief Bogo asked me to speak at local elementary schools and to be Santa in the ZPD Christmas toy drive but enough about me, what are you doing here? I thought you joined the Marine Corps after graduation?"
"I was in the service for six years, but I decided it wasn't my calling anymore, so I decided to move back to Zootopia to start working on my doctorate." Winston explained. "I just moved back so when I heard the museum was hiring more security guards, so I applied for the job."
"You know if you still want to be a police officer I can always talk to the Chief and I'm sure he'll…"
"Ahem!" Benjamin was quickly cut off by an impatient curator. "While the reuniting of old friends is very heartwarming, may I remind you all that we are reopening in a few hours, you all need to perform a final walkthrough of your designated areas." Dr. Zander Orshack handed out maps to each guard. "Officer Clawhauser, Mr. Zeddemore, and Ms. Sharpclaw. You three will be inspecting the museum's newest wing and once you're done Officer... Officer?"
"Huh?" Benjamin was busy eyeing the boxes of fresh glazed donuts before his attention turned to a very steamed zebra.
You Officer! You will be standing guard by our museum's latest exhibit, Artifacts of Chernabog while you two will be standing guard by the wing's exits, now that you have your assignments I suggest you all head to your locations now, and remember we reopen our doors soon, so please hurry." Dr. Orshack said sternly. "And remember we have record attendance tonight so keep your eyes open for any rule violations." He turned to leave but before he went out the door he stopped. "This is a very important night for the museum but more importantly for ME! So, if there are any problems… ahem... YOU'RE ALL FIRED!" And with that the good doctor turned on his hooves and left them a door slam. His tone and words sent shivers down everyone's spine except for Winston, during his time with the Marine Corps Winston was trained by some of the toughest drill sergeants but his first lesson he would never forget, never lose your cool under any situation and always maintain a level head. He turned to his fellow coworkers who were still shivering in their pelts.
"I'm sure he's bluffing but we probably should get going before the good doctor gets back." With that the security guards grabbed each a donut, cup of coffee, and began their walkthroughs before heading to their posts. "Looks like we're working together again." Said Winston high fiving a happy cheetah who then quickly turned to high five Honey, she was still a bit miffed about the donuts, but still high fived Benjamin to be polite.
The atmosphere outside the Natural History Museum was a buzz as eager mammals lined up in front of the massive building, cubs and foals laughing of sleepy mammals grumbling, and of course the sing song calls of vendors selling carrot and cicada dogs, sodas, pretzels, and other vendors selling less than authentic museum merchandise and a few bootleg DVDs but despite the chattering, howling, and braying of impatient mammals outside, the inside of the museum was dead silent. In the wing of Early Century Civilizations and Mythology the only sounds that could be heard were the humming of special nocturnal diming lights, the rattling of two elderly vending machines, and finally the pitter patterning of paws and claws of three mammals who've just completed their final walkthrough.
"Now that the fun parts over time to get to work." Said Winston as he stopped to survey his surroundings.
"Fun this place is boring…," said Honey, her attention turned to a near by
as she shuddered. "Not to mention creepy."
"I don't know, I think some of these exhibits are pretty fascinating." Said Winston admiring the hall was filled with exhibits on ancient mammal civilizations, their cultures, and myths. He always loved the museum as a cub, as the group walked by Winston admired the preserved mammoth cave paintings of an ancient sun deity as well as the rare collections of stone tablets of jackal hieroglyphics depicting Bastet the lion goddess. Winston smiled knowing he was going to love this job until he and the others got to the Artifacts of Chernabog exhibit hall. Winston looked around it was filled to the celling with occult and possibly cursed artifacts. The small group was surrounded by dozens of lifeless mannequins of cultist and ancient statues and carvings of horrifying demons of civilizations past. "On second thought you may have a point there, Ms. Sharpclaw."
"You boys can call me Honey, before you say anything I know honey badger named Honey, my folks were never creative." She said with a deadpanned expression.
"I think Honey is a great name." said Winston with a friendly smile which cheered her up.
The trio stared at a glass case containing robes that belonged to the Architects the criminal cult ofChernabog worshipers but unbeknownst to him and the others the mannequins in nearby exhibits were turning their heads to following the three mammals as crossed the hall.
"Well, it's time to get to our designated posts." Winston pulled out the map he was given. "Dr. Orshack has me at the hall's entrance and Honey your post is the south exit and Ben you got the most important post, there." He pointed at the hall's main exhibit, the display which contained the artifacts used by Polabian Slavic shaman in their rituals to worship Chernabog the god of bad fate. The four wooden staves, large obsidian crystal gargoyle-like figure of Chernabog, and the four stone pillars of Slavic runes were all contained in giant display case with walls of two-inch thick plexiglass for protection. After the attempted burglary at the Louvre the Natural History Museum and Dr. Orshack weren't taking any chances however the donut loving cop was still afraid but not about theft. The very sight of the crystal gargoyle turned Benjamin's blood to ice.
"Oh… goody." He said quietly as he slowly walked towards the ghastly displays.
"Yikes, I'm heading to my post bye boys." The honey badger turning on her claws and hurried to her post far away from the hall of beasts. Winston on the other hand followed his scared friend.
"It's okay Ben you have nothing to worry about." He said trying to comfort a nervous Benjamin. "These are just a bunch of harmless inanimate objects."
"You wouldn't say that if you read the files on these exhibits like I have." Benjamin stared at the obsidian statue and pillars remembering the reports Chef Bogo had handed him a days earlier. While the main reports discussed the trio of thieves stopped by Interpol other reports on the exhibits were written by former security guards of the Louvre who have claimed to have seen unsettling things, mannequins moving, objects floating, strange apparitions, and strange chanting. "I'm pretty sure these things are haunted."
"Come on man, there are no such things as ghosts or ghouls and especially some moldy old Slavic demon." Winston pointed at the statue of Chernabog. "Cheer up Ben, I'll see you later during our break, soda and snacks on me." Winston patted the cowardly cheetah on the back and headed to his post by the north exit. Benjamin took a deep breath he knew his Winston was right just like his other friends at the ZPD, Officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, they both told him the same thing though Nick and a few other officers poked fun at him for believing the reports of superstitious museum guards working late into the night shift.
"Their right, its just a bunch of dusty old junk and a bunch of ghost stories, nothing to worry about." Listening to his friend's words Benjamin pushed his fears aside and stood at attention… and pulling out a donut for a quick snack. However unbeknownst to him a pair of mannequins glowing unworldly eyes were watching him from the shadow.
"Gurgle… Chernabog." Benjamin's ears perked up and his fears returned, he spun around to see what made that noise.
"Hello? Did someone just whisper?" No one was there but above his head the air conditioner turned on with a low rumbling sound. "It's just the A.C. keep it together Ben, why the A.C. its fall." Once again Benjamin listened to his friends' words and shook off his fears and returned to standing at attention but not before he noticed something in the corner of his eye. On the floor there was what look like a weird puddle of slime. He couldn't tell did someone spill their drink or did they just sneeze? "Eww! Gross! The janitors here are terrible." He pulled out the napkins he got from the Big Donut and cleaned up the strange mess. "Nasty!"
"What's he doing?" From the distance Honey could see Benjamin on his knees trying to clean up something on the floor. "Probably spilled his donut jelly on the floor. Ah jeez, I'm still hungry thanks to that greedy cop." She grumbled as she looked at her watch. "I wonder if they finished putting in new vending machines in the next hall." Honey leaves her post making her way down the next hall to the machines she suddenly stops, Dr. Orshack slowly enters the hall though a door on the side of the wall, but something about him wasn't right, his body was trembling as he entered the room. Honey gasped as she rushed over to the poor zebra, the doctor was a mess his clothes were torn, his mane was a mess, and his strives were visibly dull and grey. "Dr. Orshack! Are you alright?!" The doctor slowly lowered his head to look at the Honey who had to step back. His face was frozen in shock and terror with his eye open wide and his pupils were dilated.
"I… I…" He stuttered as he blankly stared at her.
"Yes Doctor." She said grabbing one of his hooved hands.
"I… I… think… I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree…YAY!" He finally said with an eerie high pitch voice falling to his knees.
"What?"
"AAAAH! THE GOD OF BAD FATE APPROCHES HE WILL UNLEASH AN ARMY OF THE DEAD AND DEMONS! BRING CHAOS AND DESTRUCTION TO ALL CIVILIZATIONS! MADNESS! MADNESS!" Dr. Orshack screamed out before falling face down unconscious.
"DR. ORSHACK!" HELP! SOMEONE! HELP!" Honey screamed almost as loud as the doctor.
"Hold On! We're On Our Way!" Benjamin called out even though he was on the heavy side as a cheetah he was fast and close enough to get there first.
"HURRY!" Honey helped the curator sit up he was shivering violently his body was as cold as ice.
"Madness…" The unconscious zebra mumbled. "…madness…" Honey gently pated his shoulder.
"Shh, shh, you're going to okay Dr. Orshack help is on the way."
"Gasp! I'm… here. Gasp… what's the… Gasp … situation?" Officer Clawhauser was the first to arrive on the scene though the short run had taken a lot out of him as he leaned against a nearby wall.
"I don't know! He came though that doorway all shaky and started to scream about demons and madness and then he just fell down unconscious." The put her paw on Orshack's head checking foe a fever but instead the curator was as cold as ice. "This is terrible, you need to help him, Call Someone!" Benjamin kneeled and began checking the zebra's vitals.
"He's fine, he just fainted we need medical help though. I'll call the paramedics and the ZPD!" Benjamin grabbed the police radio on his chest. "Hello this is Officer Clawhauser at the Natural History Museum calling a 10-52, I repeat we need medical assistance right away!"
"Clawhauser! What's going on over there!?" Yelled a booming voice over the radio, Benjamin smiled it was Bogo. "Thank goodness." He thought.
"Chief Bogo! It's the museum's curator, Dr. Zander Orshack has collapsed! I've taken his vitals, everything appears to be normal though his body temperature is low, witness states that Orshack was very disoriented before collapsing." While Benjamin spoke the footsteps of the others could be heard getting louder. "We need an ambulance sent over now…"
"The paramedics are on their way along with Officers Hopps and Wilde. Continue watching over the curator's condition in the meantime and tell the other guards secure the museum's exits!" Ordered the Chief. "And Clawhauser be careful."
"Yes Sir." Benjamin placed his paw over Orshack forehead, his body temperature was returning to normal, yet he was still muttering about madness and monsters.
"Chernabog… Zootopia… the dead rise… Zootopia all gone…" He quietly muttered, Honey continued to gently pat the traumatized zebra worrying about her boss's wellbeing and possibly considering a new choice of career. Suddenly Orshack stood up and turned to face Benjamin, his dilated eyes turned cloudy and began to glow like hot coals.
"Dr… Dr. Orshack are you alright?" Stammered Benjamin as he stared with horror into the curator's now flaming eyes
"THIS CIVILIZATION AND ALL ITS INHABITANCE SHALL BE DESTROYED, AND THEIR BONES BROKEN DOWN AND REBUILT AS A TEMPLE OF THE GOD CHERNABOG!" Orshack said in an unholy monotoned voice that was not his own. "ARMIES OF THE DEAD SHALL RISE TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE AGE OF BAD FATE AND THE IMMORTAL WHO WILL RULE IT." Orshack closed his eyes and once again collapsed lifeless on the floor living the two mammals stunted at what they had just witnessed. With a loud crack all the museum's florescent lights burst at once plunging the whole building into total darkness. Honey and Benjamin along with the rest of the security guards screamed in fear even the patrons outside were startled by the quick disappearance of lights, all except Winston who kept his cool. He grabbed his flashlight and continued to make his way down the halls get to them. Honey and Benjamin quickly grabbed their own flashlights to survey the area, though they almost dropped they noticed someone was missing, Dr. Orshack unconscious body vanished.
"Where's Dr. Orshack!" The frightened security guard franticly spun around looking for the missing injured curator. "DR. ORSHACK! DR. ZANDER ORSHACK, WHERE ARE YOU?!" Just then the duo was hit with five beams of light, Winston along with four other guards arrived on the scene.
"Ben, Honey?! Are You Both Alright?" Asked Winston Honey ran to her coworkers.
"He's Gone!" Honey shouted.
"Dr. Orshack's eyes were glowing he began talking crazy and then passed out and when the lights exploded Orshack … just disappeared." Explained the scared cop, the pair were still shaking from what they had just witnessed.
"Glowing eyes, are you saying he was possessed?" Winston was a bit confused from what they just said, but he quickly turned to his old friend with a serious expression. "Benjamin, you need to radio the police and tell them the situation."
"Don't worry Winston their already on their way with the paramedics I called them earlier, but I'll let them know what's going on." Benjamin grabbed the radio on his chest and pushed its button. "Hello! This is Officer Clawhauser! The situation has changed."
"Benjamin, it's me and Nick, we've just arrived with the paramedics tell us your location!" Said a voice from his radio. "Why are all the lights off?"
"Judy, me and a few of the guards are located in the Early Century Civilizations and Mythology wing, but Judy the lights aren't off!" He said shining his flashlight on the broken glass at his paws. "They All Exploded!"
"What?!" Came a different a voice on Benjamin's radio. "What do you mean exploded?!" asked a confused Officer Wilde.
"There was a loud noise and all the lights burst at the same time and now Dr. Orshack is gone!"
"Benjamin, slow down, what do you mean he's gone?" Asked Judy.
"When Orshack was found he was disoriented before he fell unconscious but after I radioed the Chief the curator woke up." The worried cheetah explained. "He was still disoriented and started rambling about the Chernabog exhibit and the dead rising from the grave before collapsing on the floor again but, when the lights exploded Orshack must have been startled and ran off!"
"Okay right now we have a lost zebra most likely still in the building who's confused and injured." Said Officer Hopps. "Nick call for backup we need to shut this event down, Clawhauser, we're on our way inside, I need you and the other guards to cover the museum's exits, don't let anyone in or out!" Judy instructed. "The paramedics will be stationed the front entrance."
"Got it, see you guys inside!" Benjamin placed the radio back on his chest. He took in a deep breath before turning to Winston and the other guards and picked up the museum's radio he was to speak to the guards that weren't there. "Remember say what the Chief say." He thought to himself. "Attention Everyone! I need you all to spread out into teams of two to cover every doorway in this place from the side exits to the loading bay, use your maps, If You Encounter Dr. Orshack's Do Not Engage Him!" He ordered with an attempted commanding voice. "The doctor is not of sound mind right now use your walkies to radio in if you see him! Now, umm… Dismissed?"
"You heard him, Fall Out!" Ordered Winston, with that the four guards turned on their various tails and took off to cover the nearest exits in the building leaving him, Benjamin, and Honey behind. "Since we're here let's stay and cover the south exit."
"Sorry Winston, but you the two of you need to stay here while I go check out Orshack's office, maybe he retreated there." Just as Benjamin was about to leave Winston stopped by putting his paw on his shoulder.
"Hold on Ben this is dangerous." Said Winston in a serious tone. "From what Honey described Dr. Orshack is unstable and unpredictable for all we know he could be hopped up on night howlers like those predators a few years back and not only that but all the lights in this place exploded at the exact same time doesn't that seem a little unsettling?"
"I… I… Your right I have no idea what I'm doing here!" Benjamin started panicking but as he paced back and forth as Winston and Honey exchanged concerned looks. "What Should I Do?!" Winston stopped the terrified donut loving cop in his tracks as he grabbed his shoulder.
"Woah their Ben! Panicking won't solve anything, if you're going out there then you're not going alone, I'm coming with you."
"Really… wait no you have to stay here there has to be two people guarding the south exit."
"True but what if you encounter the Doctor in his current state and… well no offence but…"
"I love donuts too much. Don't worry no offence taken I know I'm not the strongest or… ahem… the fastest cheetah alive." He said his worried expression turning into a slight smile before immediately changing back.
"But what about Honey? We can't just leave her to guard the exit alone."
"Excuse Me!" Said an offended honey badger angrily tapping one of her paws. "You're looking at an expert in mixed martial arts not to mention a former contestant on Zootopia's Ultimate Fighter I think I can handle myself just fine."
"Okay, just try not to hurt the good doctor, Killer." Said Winston smiling. "By the way I caught your match with Nell Sydney from Outback Island District, nice job."
"Thanks!" Beamed Honey remembering one of her best wins. "But seriously please hurry find Dr. Orshack I know he's a grouch but he's not a bad boss he's just on edge ever since those creepy artifacts arrived."
"Don't worry we'll find him." Winston quickly turned to the still nervous officer. "Ben I'm with you, we need to find Orshack he needs of serious medical attention now!" Benjamin smiled feeling relived that his friend was there to back him up, but the smile was short lived remembering their situation.
"Let's Go!" Benjamin nodded and followed Winston down the pitch-black halls with only their flashlights leading the way.
"Careful you two." Said Honey as she watched the pair, and their flashlights disappear after turning a corner. "I have a bad feeling that what Orshack said wasn't just paranoid gibberish." As Honey returned to back to her post at the exit her ears perked up as she heard what she could assume was faint eerie chanting of mammals in the distance. The chanting she heard was strange, it spoken in an unknown possibly dead dialect the only word she could make out was…
"...CHERNABOG!"