It only took Zach about twenty-five minutes to get into the cage. The following two-and-a-half hours must have been hellish for everyone else in the cottage as they were forced to endure his verbal abuse of his employee. He eventually settled down, mumbling under his breath as he turned invisible pages and scribbled on invisible parchment.
At 5pm, just as Dominique flew in the direction of the cottage, Zach finally snapped out of his silent and diligent imaginary work. His return to reality was announced by shouts, cage-rattling and demands to be released immediately. If anyone told him to shut up, he would have shouted right back at them to mind their own business.
That is, until the mantis-like creature stepped into the kitchen and relieved him of his left leg, right at the knee. With a last loud, shrill scream, Zach watched as the creature cauterized his wounded, and promptly fainted.