Yet another monkey, with surprising skill, snuck into a backpack and twisted off a water bottle cap before taking a long drink.
The crowd gasped as the monkey, clearly pleased with itself, tossed the bottle and scampered off.
Tom was lost in the fun of it all. He took shot after shot, entranced by the monkeys’ antics. Meanwhile, Mimi found a sunny spot nearby and began grooming herself, completely at ease.
But when Tom finally lowered his camera, the laughter in his chest vanished. Mimi was gone. His heart stopped. He looked around, eyes scanning frantically—but there was no sign of her.
He called her name, his voice catching. Panic bloomed in his chest. The forest that moments ago had felt magical now felt menacing. He raced to tourists, asking if they’d seen a kitten. No one had.
A cold fear crept in. Something was wrong—deeply wrong. Then, movement caught his eye. A monkey emerged from the trees, cradling something squirming in its arms. Tom’s blood ran cold.
It was Mimi. The monkey had her.
Terror surged through him. Without a second’s hesitation, Tom sprinted after the monkey, crashing through the underbrush, branches clawing at his clothes. All he could think was I can’t lose her.
The chase had begun—but the truth behind the monkey’s actions would be even more unexpected than Tom could ever imagine…
Seeing his tiny, helpless kitten being dragged off by the monkey sent a jolt of dread through Tom’s entire body. His mind raced, struggling to make sense of it. Where is it taking her? he wondered, panic swelling in his chest. Monkeys weren’t carnivorous—he knew that. But then why steal a living creature?