Chapter Sixteen

Jack paced back and forth rubbing at his forearms compulsively. He had not noticed if the orange alien had returned or not because he was far too busy worrying about the fact that Sam had not been returned. He had been able to tell himself everything was fine until the sky had turned blood red with sunset. There was no moon out tonight so the jungle cage had been slowly engulfed in a thick darkness. Even blind Jack contiuned his swift pacing.

"Ser'in!" Jack roared. "Va'lo!"

Throwing his shoulder against the stone wall that held the door Jack snarled in rage. He had been calling out for the dragons for hours. No one had answered the cries, they hadn't even dared to bring him anything to eat today. Not that he would have touched it anyway. At this point he decided that it was a wise move on their part because he was not about to let a little vertigo keep him from killing the next reptile he got his hands on.

"Ser'in!"

Jack's voice was raw and hoarse from demanding attention. Exhausted Jack sat down and pulled his knees up to his chest. Resting his chin on his knees Jack stared sullenly at the door that blended in so well with the large stone. He couldn't even think, his thoughts were just stumbling over one another.

When the sunrise broke Jack was still staring sightlessly at the stone wall. He had never fallen asleep, but he had slipped into a trance that was only disturbed by the warm morning sun striking his face. Forcing himself to his feet Jack paced the worn track in the moss for a while. Jack suddenly had the thought that they were afraid of him since the last attack and were waiting for him to move away before opening the door.

"A watched kettle never boils."

Pleased to have a theory and a set course of action Jack wandered away and down to the edge of the pool. He wanted to continue his pacing on the large flat stone by the water but his energy was starting to fail him. Sitting down he bowed his head and pinched at the bridge of his nose. It didn't help, he found himself hyperventilating from the stress of not knowing what was going on.

There was a sudden quick flash of light that caused Jack to jerk violently. He looked over at the energy field and discovered a large crowd. It was the 'weekend' again and the curious visitors were pouring in to stare at the oddity. There was another flash as someone else stole a picture.

Suddenly blinded with fury Jack jumped to his feet and threw his shoulder into the barrier. The aliens outside backed away from the aggressive display slightly, but in general they seemed amused. Jack barred his teeth at them and slammed into the hard barrier again. He battered himself against the immovable field until he was physically too exhausted to continue.

Jack raked his bloodied hands through his hair and screamed as separation anxiety and sleep deprivation started to steal what was left of his sanity. He sat down cross legged on the stone facing the crowd. Their initial curiosity had turned to a kind of shared uneasiness. As a staff member came to usher them away a pale blue alien slipped away from the pack and knelt down in front of Jack.

Staring at the floor Jack didn't notice the dragon. She tapped on the glass several times before he looked up at her. He furrowed his brow in confusion while looking at her. Her skin wasn't a colour he recognized, but her eyes were very familiar. She was wearing a long sleeved outfit and when she saw that he was looking at her she put her palms on the 'glass'. When Jack saw that her hands were pink he scrambled to his knees and pressed his hands against hers.

"Ser'in!" Jack cried. "Ser'in, what's happening? Where is she?! Where's Samantha?!"

Tears slipped down Ser'in's blue face and washed off some of the paint on her scales causing bright pink streaks to show on her face. She reached into her breast pocket and pulled out a piece of folded paper. Unfolding it she pressed it against the glass. Jack scanned it quickly, he didn't understand any of the writing but there was a large picture in the middle that looked like the gates of a zoo, with various creatures sculpted into the shiny metal.

"I don't understand...wait...is that...is that a different zoo?" Jack asked in horror. "No, no, no please tell me Va'lo didn't sell her! Ser'in, Ser'in help us!"

Neither Jack nor Ser'in noticed that two security staff members that were approaching. Ser'in cried out and dropped the paper as they took her by the arms. Although he couldn't hear anything through the barrier when Ser'in was hauled to her feet he could see that she had started shouting. The stunned crowd backed away, staring at her as though she was insane. As she fought to free herself Jack battled once again with the invisible wall.

"Let her go!" Jack screamed. "You can't do this to us! Is Ser'in the only one among you with a heart?!"

No one could hear Jack's cries. In fact the alien crowd was far more interested in the scene Ser'in was making. Like onlookers at a car accident they were fascinated by her arrest. Still on his knees with his palms against the clear wall Jack bowed his head in frustrated defeat.

"I'd rather starve to death together than live alone." Jack whimpered. "Even if you see us as animals...can't you understand that we need each other?"

With his eyes closed tight against the tears that still managed to escape Jack didn't see that there was one set of eyes glued to him. In the commotion the orange alien with the leather necklace stepped up to the piece of paper that Ser'in had dropped. Although Jack didn't notice the green eyed alien kissed his own hand and then briefly pressed it against the 'glass'.

Slipping the forgotten page into his book the fire coloured dragon turned around and disappeared into the crowd.