The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick

outta my face!”
    â€œHey!” Ella cried. “How do you know who we are?”
    â€œKid,” the guard said, “ everyone knows who you are.”
    â€œWhat? Wait! What’s going on?”
    â€œWhere’s my sister!” Noah yelled. “I wanna—”
    But before he could finish his sentence, Tank scooped him up and slung him over his shoulder like a beach towel.
    â€œLet him down!” Ella demanded.
    She tried to pack a punch, but Tank reached out his enormous arm, seized her wrist, and proceeded to drag her behind him. He hauled his two captives out of the exhibit and down a path that led to a private exit behind the otter exhibit. Richie chased after them. When Tank reached the gates, he kicked one open and dropped Noah on the ground like a sack of laundry. Then, with a clean jerk of his arm, he flung Ella on top of Noah.
    Richie squatted beside his friends and yelled, “Hey! You can’t do that!”
    â€œQuiet!” Tank bellowed.
    â€œI’m gonna report—”
    â€œQUIET!” The booming thunder of the man’s voice made the scouts pull back as if they were dodging a punch.
    Tank lowered his voice to a whisper. “Is Charlie Red still behind me?”
    â€œWho?” Ella asked.
    â€œCharlie Red. The other guard.”
    Confused, Ella said, “N-n-no.”
    â€œGood. Listen! I gotta make this quick.” He glanced over his shoulder and added, “It looks like you kids are in this now. If the rumors are true, I guess we have Marlo and Blizzard and Mr. Tall Tail to thank for that.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?” said Ella.
    â€œBe quiet and listen. Megan’s Inside. She’s in trouble. Some of us on the Inside want to help. Some are too afraid of—” Tank looked around nervously. “I shouldn’t even be saying this. He could be anywhere. He lives in the shadows. Heck, he is the shadows.”
    â€œWho?” Noah said. “Who are you talking about?”
    â€œNo time for questions. This has gotta be crazy for you guys, but there’s too much to explain. I’ll just say this: Do not draw attention to yourselves the way you did today! That was a big mistake. The more people that know about this, the more dangerous things will get.”
    â€œKnow about what?” Richie asked. “Who’s in danger?”
    â€œEveryone,” Tank said. “The whole world.”
    â€œWhat? You’re not making any sense!” Ella said.
    â€œThat’s it. I can’t talk anymore. Charlie’s watching, and he…well, he ain’t rooting for you, if you know what I’m saying.” Tank stepped backward. “Tell nobody. And I mean nobody ! We’ll work through this, I promise you.I’ll see that you guys make it to the Inside.”
    â€œThe inside of what?” Noah demanded.
    â€œThe Inside .” Tank paused as if he was considering something. He turned to walk off and suddenly swung back around. “Listen, they’re really gonna try to stop you now, so we need to speed this up. Noah, I need you to do something for me.”
    â€œWhat? How do you know my name? How do—”
    â€œCheck your mailbox.”
    â€œMy mailbox? Tomorrow?”
    â€œNo. Tonight. At midnight. Exactly midnight. Not a second later.”
    â€œWha—?”
    â€œNo more questions,” Tank said. “Let’s just say I suddenly had an idea.”
    â€œWait!” Noah said.
    â€œGotta go. Remember, beware of the shadows. They listen and they see. And keep this quiet. I promise it will make sense soon. Come back when…well…” Tank smiled and winked. “Come back when you can stay awhile.”
    â€œTank! Hold on!” Noah called out. “I don’t understand!”
    But Tank slammed the gate shut and bolted it. The scouts watched in silence as he ran back into the zoo. In a matter of seconds, he disappeared deep into its