“Hello there Jenkins, long time no see! How are you doing buddy!?”
Jenny turned to see a man briskly approaching with a broad smile on his face. She thought something about him seemed familiar, although it was hard to put a finger on exactly what it was.
“After all these years I barely recognise you” the man said with a sly chuckle. He leaned over the stall door and began softly stroking Jenny’s nose. “Well Jenny, or ‘Jen’ as you shall now be known, it’s going to be hard for me to think of you as a girl after all the years I’ve known you. Don’t worry though, you look wonderful ‘my dear.’”
‘Jen’ looked at the man closely for a few moments. Her eyes then lit up when she finally recognised who he was. He was Roger Stevens, an old work colleague from a past pharmaceutical job. She knew it wasn’t good that he was here, given their turbulent relationship.
“Yes that’s right you bastard,” the man said as his tone turned to one of anger, “now you know how it feels to lose everything! You took credit for my research while I was accused of plagiarism. You built a nice little career for yourself off the back of my hard work, while I was labelled as a cheat and a disgrace by my peers. Even my family has disowned me, after they gave up so much to make my career possible!”
Hearing this tirade caused Jen to panic. It was clear that the man utterly despised her, and the fact that he was paying her a visit was now starting to set off alarm bells in her head.
“But now,” Stevens continued, “it seems my fortunes have finally turned around. You pissing off the Zoo was the ticket I needed for success. They’ve since agreed to fund my research, grant me access to my own lab and, most importantly, put me in charge of your punishment!”
Jen pulled her head back and whinnied in horror. Surely he was lying. This was all some kind of cruel joke.
“Now then, girl” Stevens said in a mocking tone, “I think it’s time we took you to your new home. Then I shall look forward to incorporating you into my next ‘research project!’”
Stevens motioned for a couple of nearby stablehands to take Jen away, although she instinctively retreated to the corner of her stall and snorted angrily in defiance.
“Now, now,” Stevens said coldly, “misbehave and your punishment will only be more severe.”
Jen paused for a moment. She didn’t want to go with Stevens but what choice did she realistically have? Escaping was impossible and she wouldn’t be able to resist forever. Plus, who knew what that freak would do to her if he was given a good enough excuse?
Jen sighed as she bowed her head in reluctant acceptance. She allowed the attendants to fit a bridle to her head and to lead her out of the stable. She ended up standing in the back of a sinister black truck, shaking in fear as she imagined what cruel fate awaited her.
However, Jen was then shocked when she felt a sharp pain in her neck. She turned to see a small tranquilliser dart sticking out of her skin. She tried to reach around and pull it out, but it was impossible within the confined space.
And so, as the truck started to pull away, Jen began to feel woozy as the sedative took hold. Before long, she was knocked out cold as the truck took her to Stevens’ lab.
When Jen finally woke up, she was greeted by…