Chapter 28: The Great Ape Escape

As Ace, Melissa, Will, and Milo pulled up to the Edge City Zoo, chaos had already erupted. Monkeys, chimpanzees, and gorillas were making a mad dash for freedom, leaping over fences, swinging from trees, and stampeding past terrified zoo staff. Some keepers dove out of the way while others desperately tried to contain the situation, wielding nets and tranquilizer darts with little success.

"Holy Monkey Monday," Ace blurted out, watching as an orangutan rode out of the zoo on a stolen bicycle.

"Holy Simian Sunday," Melissa followed, ducking as a baboon launched a piece of fruit in their direction.

"It's the Great Ape Escape," Will added, shaking his head at the sheer madness unfolding before them.

Milo gave the group a deadpan look and let out a single, unimpressed "Ruff!"

Melissa turned to Will. "Where do you think they're heading now?"

Will surveyed the apes as they bolted toward the outskirts of the city. "Edgewood Forest," he said grimly.

Melissa's face fell. "Oh no… isn't there a military base near there?"

"Yes," Will confirmed. "And there's a mean Colonel named J. Wesley McCullough who—coincidentally—looks a lot like Woody Harrelson. He won't take too kindly to a bunch of apes trespassing on his turf."

Ace scratched his chin in thought. "Then we're gonna need backup."

Melissa gave him a puzzled look. "What kind of backup?"

Ace turned to her, his expression serious. "I'm going to need you to get me my mask."

"Your mask?" Melissa echoed, even more confused. "This is no time for Halloween dress-up!"

"For the last time, it's not a Halloween mask," Ace grumbled, rolling his eyes. "You'll see what I mean."

Melissa still looked skeptical, but with the apes disappearing into the distance, there was no time to argue. "Fine," she relented, jumping into the car and speeding off toward her house.

Meanwhile, Ace, Will, and Milo took off on foot, following the trail of escaped apes straight into the unknown.

Minutes later, Melissa jumped out of Ace's convertible, ready to head inside and grab his mask. However, as soon as she turned toward her house, she stopped dead in her tracks. Standing on her front porch, waiting for her, was none other than her ex-boyfriend, George Taylor—a rugged, square-jawed man who bore an uncanny resemblance to a younger Charlton Heston.

"George?" Melissa asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

George walked toward her slowly, his movements controlled and deliberate, almost like he was walking on the moon. Melissa figured it was from all his training for space missions.

"I was hoping we could talk," George said, his voice calm yet firm.

"Talk about what?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"I think we should get back together," he replied without hesitation.

Melissa let out a dry chuckle. "I might be seeing someone."

George scoffed. "It's not that damned Pet Dick, is it?" he asked snidely.

Melissa narrowed her eyes. "How did you know I was talking to him again?"

"Because," George said, his jaw tightening, "I went to visit you at work yesterday, and I saw you with him. It didn't look like you guys were getting back together—looked more like a bickering match than anything else."

Melissa shook her head. "I can't talk about this right now," she said, unlocking her door and stepping inside.

George followed her to the doorway. "What's the big hurry?"

"I have an ape crisis on my hands," Melissa replied, grabbing Ace's mask and shoving it into her purse.

George frowned. "Ape crisis? What ape crisis?"

Melissa sighed, already heading back to the car. "I can't really explain it right now. All I can say is… the apes have gotten smarter."

George blinked. "Smarter?" He laughed. "Melissa, we deal with monkeys all the time at work. They're not very bright—maybe a bit dirty, but not smart."

She wasn't in the mood to explain, but before she could get into the car, George stepped in front of it. "Let me go with you," he insisted.

"What?" Melissa looked at him impatiently.

"We handle monkeys at work," George said. "I know how to talk to them." He hesitated before adding, "Not that they're actually talking back, of course."

Melissa sighed. She didn't have time for an argument. "Fine! Get in!"

With that, George jumped into the passenger seat, and they sped off toward Edgewood Forest.

Meanwhile, Colonel J. Wesley McCullough had received reports of chaos unfolding on the bridge. Eyewitnesses claimed that apes were running wild, leaping from car to car, and terrifying civilians. With a hardened glare, McCullough turned to his elite special unit.

"Lock and load, boys," he commanded. "We're putting an end to this monkey madness."

As the Colonel's team prepared for battle, Melissa's car screeched to a halt near the bridge. She spotted Ace in the middle of the madness, dodging panicked civilians and evading apes swinging wildly through the air. She clutched the mask in her hands and rushed toward him.

"Ace! I got it!" she shouted.

But just as she was a few feet away, an ape swung by and accidentally smacked the mask out of her hands.

"No!" she gasped, watching it spiral through the air.

Ace lunged for it, but another ape kicked it mid-air, sending it skidding across the pavement. The mask tumbled from one car hood to another, knocked around like a supernatural game of hot potato, until it finally landed at George Taylor's feet.

George bent down and picked it up, his eyes immediately drawn to its strange, mystical gleam. There was something hypnotic about it, as if it called to him. Slowly, he lifted it toward his face—

Ace's eyes widened. "DON'T GET TOO CURIOUS, GEORGE!" he shouted.

But just before George could put it on, a large, furry hand grabbed his arm.

"Noooo!"

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The voice was deep, commanding—intelligent.

George's head snapped toward the speaker, his mouth falling open in shock.

It was Caesar.

The other apes paused, their chaos momentarily halted by the mere presence of their leader.

George struggled against Caesar's grip. "Take your stinking paw off me, you damn dirty ape!" he growled.

Caesar's expression hardened. His grip tightened—then, with one swift motion, he ripped the mask from George's grasp.

For a moment, Caesar simply stared at it. The green glow reflected in his sharp, calculating eyes. His fingers traced the contours of its surface, as if deciphering some hidden power within.

Before he could act further, gunfire rang out.

"OPEN FIRE!" Colonel McCullough bellowed.

Bullets whizzed through the air, shattering glass, ricocheting off cars, and sending civilians into a renewed frenzy.

Despite being closest to Melissa, George ran off in a different direction, leaving her defenseless to the chaos. Ace recognized her imposition and rushed over to her side and helped her make it to safety behind a bigger truck.

Will tried to make it to cover, but he tripped and hit his head, leaving him dazed and confused. "Ruh-roh!" Milo said clearly, as he tugged on Will's collar, getting him to safety. Will was amazed when he heard Milo speak. He figured he was imagining things due to the fact that he bumped his head.

"There's the main ape!" McCullough shouted, pointing his rifle straight at Caesar. "Take him down!"

Caesar let out a loud, guttural hiss. His gaze flicked from the Colonel to the mask in his hands.

And then—without hesitation—he put it on.

To be continued...