Leo and the Tiger

Leonardo Nazir found himself in the unusual position of being confronted with a tiger in a revolving door. It didn't occur to him to step out of the door, nor did it occur to him that the animal might step out of the door and wait for him to come around. Pursued in such a manner, ploddingly round and round by a zoo animal, Leo felt himself part of an absurd and unnerving carousel ride. The worst of it was his inability to reason a way out. He did not think to attract the attention of a passer-by, and had he thought of it, he would have flushed hot with embarrassment at his circumstances and been unable to explain their origin to the stranger. The stranger would have tried to help, and then would surely have been mauled and devoured by the ravenous beast. Leo didn't consciously imagine this scenario, but the fear of it bubbled in his veins and beneath his skin nonetheless. He felt distinctly isolated in this problem. Lacking any other way out, he ceased his forward shuffle and turned to face the creature.

"Why are you following me?"

The tiger's ears swiveled and his jungley gaze set itself on Leo, eyes burning through the glass door that separated him from his quarry.

"You," the tiger rumbled, "are following me."

Alternate Ending
"Why are you following me?"

The tiger's ears swiveled and his jungley gaze set itself on Leo, eyes burning through the glass door that separated him from his quarry.

"In the plague," the tiger rumbled, "our masters forgot us, and we ate them. They left us. We are famished."