Everyone's Running, But the Zoo Is Locked

"Ahhh!"

A piercing scream shattered the lively atmosphere of the zoo. Immediately after, a woman covered in blood rushed out from the crowd. Her face was filled with panic as she ran toward the exit of the zoo. Everyone stopped in their tracks, looking around in confusion.

"What happened?"

"What's going on?"

The woman's screams continued. "A tiger is eating someone! Run!"

I was stunned.

Wasn't this place known for its tame animals? How could there be a man-eater?

As if to confirm the woman's words, a deafening roar of a tiger came from the nearby beast park. In that instant, chills ran down my spine and I shivered involuntarily.

Realizing something was terribly wrong, the visitors began to follow the woman, rushing towards the exit. After all, no one knew who the tiger's next target might be. The scene was utter chaos.

Driven by some inexplicable force, I moved in the opposite direction of the crowd towards the beast park. A strong smell of blood hit my nose. Through the crowd, I saw a tiger, so emaciated that only skin and bones remained, tearing at its prey beneath its paws. Around its neck was a blood-stained collar with a broken chain that clinked as it moved.

I knew this tiger. Its name was Hana. I saw it just half an hour ago. Hana had been rescued from a circus and was very fearful of humans. The internet was flooded with promotions about how, under the careful care of zookeepers, it had let down its guard against humans. Many visitors came specifically to see it. To allow visitors to get close to the tiger, the zoo had not kept Hana in a cage but had instead chained it and fitted it with a muzzle designed for ferocious animals.

But now, looking at the savage beast before them, people realized a truth. A beast was always a beast, and its bloodthirsty nature could never be changed.