“Now’s your chance!” Sebastian screamed, throwing open the gate. “Get out!”

Sebastian stopped moving. Only Baruch crept forward, his breath coming quickly as panic set in. He turned the corner and spotted the lion crouched beside the carcass of a half-eaten deer. Baruch froze.

“Take the bucket of food!” Sebastian hissed behind him.

Baruch moved backward, never taking his eyes off the giant beast. He reached out behind him and felt Sebastian putting the heavy bucket into his sweaty palm. He walked forward again, stopping a safe distance from the lion. Slowly, he kneeled and placed the bucket on the floor. As the metal bucket met the hard ground there was a clanking noise, and the lion jerked its head up.

The lion’s yellow eyes bored into Baruch, sizing him up from head to toe. Its long tongue licked its chops.

“Throw the meat. Do it! Now!”

Baruch crouched, eyes still locked on the lion, grabbed the meat, and tossed it in front of the lion.

The lion glanced at the meat, then its eyes flickered back to Baruch.

“Good, now get out!”

Sebastian and Baruch began walking toward the gate.

Suddenly, the lion let out an ear-splitting roar and leaped to its feet. Sebastian screamed and threw himself past the gate, but Baruch tripped over something on the floor and flew headfirst into the bars. He crumpled to the floor, dazed.

Through the haze floating before his eyes, Baruch could see the lion approaching at a fast pace. He heard the gate just inches away clang shut with dreadful finality.

Baruch forced himself to his feet, ignoring the throbbing in his head.

“Open the gate, Sebastian!”