The chimp quickly led Jessie away from the hospital and into the woods. The sense of urgency grew stronger around them, making every leaf rustle and distant owl hoot feel more intense. The moonlight added a mysterious, slightly spooky feeling to the forest. Jessie felt she had to trust the chimp, even though everything was becoming more mysterious and a bit scary.
With trembling fingers, Jessie pulled out her phone and dialed David’s number, a friendly animal expert. When David answered, his voice was a reassuring presence in the middle of all the uncertainty. “Jessie, what’s going on?” he asked, genuine concern in his tone.