I hit the ground, lang on all fours, then a SLAM and a CLICK. The door is locked.

I'm thrown into a room not at all as I expect. It was a cute, fancy room, much like my room in my castle. It feels like home, but why? Why are these animals doing this?

Confused, I curl up in the corner of the room, trying my best to hold my tears. I recall a while ago, when I was with Emma. I didn't understand what was going on because she wouldn't tell me. But she hid under the table in her room when I crawled under there with her only to see her crying.

"Some things can't be helped," she told me. "But whatever happens, never cry in public. It'll make it seem like you're trying to gain someone's sympathy. It'll make you look weak and helpless, which is not suitable for a future queen!"

She was mainly trying to cheer herself up, but I took heed to her words. I'll never cry in public, even if I never become a queen.

I look up to view my surroundings, why did I have to come to this "zoo"? Should I have just went another mile for a proper house to stay in? Why me? Why did I have to become ts domino? Should I just give in and become their hero?

My introspective thoughts is disturbed by a knock at my window, scaring me half to death.

Mr. Hyena's POV

At the moment, her majesty, Mrs. Lion, gave that ridiculously long speech, I felt something tragic was going to happen to our new friend. Nothing good ever happens when you're at the zoo.

When she looked me with those cute beady puppy-dog eyes, I was frozen. I didn't know how to feel. With all these emotions mixing around in me, I don't know what I'm feeling.

I can't bear to watch her get dragged away and stuck on the feeling of not knowing wherever they may take her and whatever might happen next. As it'd be utterly foolish and against my persona to react immediately to my feelings. I can't let all the blood, sweat, and tears I've shed to raise my trust and get to the top go to waste.

I need a plan first.

I steal a glance at her majesty. "I thought you'd be happy to see your 'Domino' in your hands?"

"Quit trying to read my feelings, you scum! I'm glorified. If only his highness could see me now," she walks away.

It seems she finally misses his highness, Mr. Lion. But he went on a journey to another zoo and won't be back for another week.

But I don't care about such nonsense. Just the fact that she trusts me so much. That alone assures my plan will definitely work.

MC's POV

Mr. Hyena is knocking at my window. There is a hill at the window, giving him a boost to reach the small, high window. Immediately, I stand to open it for him. Upon doing so, he crawls inside.

"Mr. Hyena, you scared me! You had to come through the window?"

"I could've broken the window..." He fixes the cuff of his sleek, black glove. "Were you crying?" He asks upon seeing the droplets at my eyes, which I've failed to wipe.

"I... I'm sorry," I wipe what's left of my tears.

"Don't tell me you were just going to cry your life away and wait to be saved..."

"Am not!" I retort. "I have a plan! I'll become the Domino for them."

Based on his expression, those words probably hit him hard.

"What? Is it that horrendous?" I ask.

"... That plan-" He sighs, resetting his expression. "You have a lot to learn, Princess."

"And I'm willing!" I sit on the ground.

"If you let this happen, they'll kill, sacrificing you for their freedom. It'll be a tragic death."

"Ok, then, what other plans do we have?"

"Look around, Princess, they treat you with respect, kindness. They even put you in a room much like your home. I'd even think twice about ever suspecting you of anything."

"What about you?"

He snickers. "I have this strange relationship with the animals. I know they adore me, so much they hate it. Some things I do just tick them off. But I pretend to be their little pet for the sake of it. So, what I'm saying is, play with their kindness until they least expect it, then run away."

"I can't do something so cruel!"

For a while, we started thinking. I look at the opened window. Mr. Hyena looks the same direction.

"Maybe...-"

"No," he interrupts me. "They will find you."

"Not if I take a bus."

"When does it arrive?"

"12:00 PM."

"Just at opening time..."

"Opening time?"

"When the zookeepers come and every animal has to be in their stations," he goes toward the window. "Come on, you'll miss the bus."

He gives me a leg-up through the window.

"Come with me," I hold out my hand down toward him. "What if they catch you?"

"Princess..."

"I'm headed to my parents' place. I want you to meet them."

"Fine," he takes my hand and I help him go through the window. But in the process, his mask falls off. WAIT! He wore a mask, a hyena mask.

"Mr. Hyena, you're a Labrador... A Labrador Retriever!" I squeal.

Defeated, he didn't try to lie. "Nigel," he says.

"Precious." 

"I like it, Princess Precious."

Finally, I was outside again, it was still gloomy, but at least it stopped raining. We spot the road just ahead. We make a run for. 12:00 PM, the bus pulls up. I step inside, but before Nigel can go inside, he's grabbed by a long black figure with its face covered with a beekeeper-like mask and a long cloak.

The bus doors close.

"Nigel!" I look at him through the back window.

"Don't worry about me, Princess," then he vanishes.

The figure stands and watches as the bus drives away.

After the zoo was a dot on the horizon. I slump in my seat and break into tears.