Gifts, abilities, powers - whatever you want to call them.

The zoo was what a zoo always was in the daytime – alive. Most of the noise didn't come from the animals, but the visitors. Kids screamed, adults yelled to quieten them, and the animals watched.

Alexander had come with his friend, Lizzie, and the two explored until they had seen enough thieving monkeys to appease them. They sought other entertainment as their adventure took them to the underground aquarium. The area was silent. It appeared no one was visiting.

Maybe the fish bore them, thought Alexander. They were never exciting to watch when he was a child. But now he thought they were the star attraction. Their pretty colours dazzled the water and each fish had its own characteristics.

The two of them walked over the bubbling-shadowed floor, the ground reflecting the luminous water, lighting the dark room blue.

“So,” said Lizzie, “any of the animals say anything interesting?”

“Not really,” Alexander replied.

Lizzie danced around, her arms extended as though this was her bedroom. “What about the fish? Anything good here?”

Alexander glanced at the water tanks. They curved around against an impassable wall, each tank holding a unique array of fish. Up ahead was a walkway surrounded by humongous water tanks on either side with a ceiling of fish-filled blue arcing overhead.

“I haven't tried,” he said quietly.

Lizzie didn't press. Instead, she continued her strange sauntering, the reflection of the water dancing on her face as she did.

She was pretty but Alexander wasn't interested in an affectionate relationship. Not with her, anyway, and he was sure she felt the same. They had become friends for one reason . . .

“Oh, look at that one,” Lizzie said, pointing.

Alexander gazed over. His eyes locked with the sharp teeth on the predator.

“It's just a shark,” he said.

“Doesn't make it any less exciting.”

The shark swam and Alexander watched. A gentle frown met his face as the shark's swimming ability became apparent. It was struggling.

“I think it's hurt,” Alexander noted.

Lizzie stared intently at the beast. “Are you sure?” she asked. “Did you hear it calling out?”

“No, I could tell." Alexander watched it for a little longer, the melancholy overtaking him. “We should let someone know, in case they’re unaware.”

They walked farther down the aquarium walkway until they came across a member of staff lounging idly in a chair.

“Hi, excuse me,” said Alexander, his voice sounding bored but polite. “One of your sharks is injured.”

“One of the sharks? Do you mind showing me which one?”

Alexander led the employee with Lizzie following closely behind. They stopped at the correct tank and Alexander pointed. “That one right there.”

The employee looked closely, enough to get his face against the glass. “Are you sure that's the right one, kid?”

“Positive.”

“Only . . . it doesn’t look injured.”

“I am positive that is the one.”

“Look, I don't wish to sound condescending–”

Alexander could hear the ‘but’ approaching a mile away.

“–but I think you should leave the injured fish to the fish-experts.”

He wasn't even trained enough to say Ichthyologists, thought Alexander.

The staff member patted him on the shoulder and, with a brief smile, left the two of them alone.

“I knew he wasn't going to be much help,” Lizzie stated.

“As did I.” Alexander stared at the shark. “But I needed to do that in order to find the resolve.”

He placed his hands on the tank and listened. Many voices came to him. He had to sieve through to find the correct one. Like a needle in a haystack, he thought. A saying he wasn’t too keen on, but it wasn’t far off.

“Any luck?” Lizzie asked.

Alexander, his lugubrious face resting against the glass, his blond hair pressed against his forehead, inhaled silently. The shark was in pain and he wanted nothing more than to relive it.

He found it. The shark cried out. Something was bothering it.

“Lizzie, do you think you can cause a distraction?” Alexander asked.

“Please, who do you think you're talking to?” She held up her hand in a claw-like fashion and the blue sparks bridged between her fingers.

“Do not hurt any of the animals,” Alexander intoned.

“I didn’t plan on it. I'm sure their internal screams would rupture your ears.” She smiled. “What do you plan to do?”

“I plan to enter the tank,” he said defiantly.

“Are you sure that’s wise?”

“Yes. They must have an entrance, or a lid, somewhere.”

“You're crazy,” Lizzie noted casually. “Don’t get eaten,” she added before strolling away.

“Do you mind using your power to break the code on the door?” Alexander called to her.

“Sure, sure.”

“And don't hurt any people, either,” Alexander added.

Lizzie put on a feigned expression of pain and then laughed as she zapped the dial adjacent to the ‘staff only’ door and went up the stairs.

Alexander didn't wait for the chaos to start. He barged through the staff door leading to the rear of the aquarium and peered around. No one was there. Either Lizzie worked fast or they were short staffed that day.

Alexander continued looking around. He saw a movable ladder on wheels, along with waterproof suits, goggles and flippers. He located the rear of the tank in question and rolled the stairs over and climbed up. There was a sealed lid that had to be slid across in order to gain access. The water sloshed and shone as he embraced it with his eyes.

He returned to the floor and dawned the suitable diving get-up before stepping up to the peak of the stairs again. Closing his eyes, he fell inside.

The tank was smaller than he originally thought. Not enough room for a shark. He saw it farther ahead through his visor and gently swam towards it.

The shark wasn’t bothered by his presence. Alexander was able to place his hands on the beast and gently caress its skin.

The sharks snapped at the water. It hurts, it hurts, it cried, the words reaching Alexander's head.

Please, calm down, Alexander spoke through his mind. Where does it hurt?

Inside, the shark informed him.

Not an internal injury? thought Alexander. He shuddered.

The mouth, the shark continued. It opened its jaws and showed the contents inside.

Alexander looked around through his goggles for any signs of damage. Where, precisely, does it hurt? His mind asked.

Left. The left.

Alexander saw it. The tiny hook embedded into its skin on the inside. It was deep and it would take a bit tugging to relieve.

Okay, Alexander said, I'm going to reach in a pull the hook out. Is that understood?

Yes, the shark said rapidly, opening its jaws as wide as it could. Please, hurry.

Alexander looked at the gaping maw and, without hesitation, reached inside.

He felt the hook almost immediately. He ran his fingers across to feel where it was stuck. Upon locating what he thought was the point, he pulled. The shark cried out in his head and its jaws shifted closer to his arm.

I'm sorry, Alexander said calmly. Just bear with it. He pulled again, trying to be as gentle as he could. But he realised that wouldn't be enough to free it; he needed to give it a great tug to get it out.

His mind was never trained for a situation like this, but he despised the thought of animals in pain . . . And that was all he needed.

He braced himself . . . and pulled.

The shark's teeth snapped down as Alexander's arm safely left the vicinity of its mouth. It shook its head, as if testing its new found freedom from pain.

How does it feel? Alexander asked.

Better. Much better. Thank you.

Alexander smiled though his visor and swam back to the container's lid. He wasn’t sure if someone had already discovered his entrance, or if Lizzie’s distraction had ceased. But he needed to move fast. He briefly wondered what the punishment would be if he were found, but soon realised he didn’t actually care.

At the lid, he floated in the water and looked around. Still no one. He made a mental note to thank Lizzie later. He pushed himself out, sealed the top, and removed his gear. He didn’t think he put it on properly, as his clothes underneath were dark with damp. He was grateful he hadn’t brought his phone. Lizzie’s . . . ‘gift’ – if that’s what it can be called – tended not to work well with electronics, and it had cost him one phone already.

He left the staff area and sat on the watery floor, his back leaning against the tank. Lizzie joined him only after a few minutes of waiting.

“What did you do?” Alexander asked, his eyelids growing cumbersome.

“I like to keep it a secret,” Lizzie said, her face also showing drowsiness. She sat down beside him and looked over his clothes and hair. “You really went in there, then? Did you succeed?”

He nodded.

“The shark thank you?”

He nodded again.

Lizzie smiled and leaned over. Alexander leaned back. But he soon realised his mistake. Being wet, electricity has a certain effect. He leaped back, his body flipping as he did, and he stumbled around with miffed arms and angry legs.

“Why did I do that?” he moaned.

“Am I not cute enough to warrant a ‘lean on’ moment?” Lizzie asked, feigning innocence.

“The only thing you’re good for is creating havoc.”

“You’re the one that fell for it,” she noted heavily and stood up.

Alexander groaned, his face towards to the ceiling. “At least I’m not tired anymore.” He looked at Lizzie through a sideways glance. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”