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❃.✮:▹ TWELVE! 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖙𝖗𝖚𝖙𝖍 ◃:✮.❃
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     ,,ᴡʜʏ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ɪ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴ ᴛᴏ?" ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ʜᴀɪʀᴇᴅ ɢɪʀʟ, sɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴀ ʙᴇɴᴄʜ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ʙʟᴏɴᴅs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɢᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴋʀᴜʟʟs. ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴏʀᴛᴇʀ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪғ sʜᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴀɴʏᴍᴏʀᴇ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ғɪɴᴅɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴜᴛᴇʀ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴜᴛɪɢᴇ ᴏғ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜɪs ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴅ ɪs ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ɪғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜ ɪᴛ.

    ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɢɪᴠᴇs ʜᴇʀ ʟᴀsᴛ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴍᴏɴɪᴄᴀ ᴘᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴇᴀʀᴘʟᴜɢs ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴇᴀʀs. ᴍᴀʀɪᴀ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴡᴀʟᴋs ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ, ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs.

     ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ sᴋɪɴɴᴇᴅ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ɢᴏᴇs ᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴜᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴏᴡᴇʀ, ᴘʟᴀᴄɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴅ ɪɴ ɪᴛ, ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴘʀᴇssɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ɪᴛ sᴄʀᴏʟʟ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ. ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴜᴛᴇʀ sᴄʀᴇᴇɴ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀ ᴀ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ, ʟᴏᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀᴘᴇ.

      ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ʙʟᴏɴᴅs ɴᴇxᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜ ɪɴ sɪʟᴇɴᴛ ᴀs ʟᴏᴀᴅɪɴɢ ʙᴀʀ ᴍᴏᴠᴇs sʟᴏᴡʟʏ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴄʀᴇᴇɴ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴀɪᴛᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙɪᴛ ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ ᴛᴏ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʀᴛʏ ʙʟᴏɴᴅs ʟᴏᴏᴋs ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ ᴄᴏɴғᴜsᴇᴅ. ,,ᴡʜᴀᴛ's ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ?" ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴄᴀʀᴏʟ, ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅ, ᴡʜʏ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪs ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ.

     ,,ɪᴛ's ʟᴏᴀᴅɪɴɢ." ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɢᴇɴᴛ, ᴅʀɪɴᴋ ɪɴ ʜɪs ʜᴀɴᴅs ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴍᴀɴᴅᴀ ғʀᴏᴡɴ.

     ,,ᴘᴜɴᴄʜ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴏʀᴅɪɴᴀᴛᴇs. 5229,. -47, 8.768, 0.2." sᴘᴏᴋᴇ ᴜᴘ ᴀ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀ sᴘᴇᴀᴋᴇʀ, ᴄᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴛʜᴇ sᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴇʀᴏ ᴅᴜᴏ ɢɪᴠᴇs ᴀ ʙɪɢ sɪɢʜ, ᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜɪɴɢ.

     ,,ᴄᴏᴘʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡᴇ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴄ?" sᴀɪᴅ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ. ᴛʜᴇɪʀ sᴛᴀʀᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʜᴀʀᴅ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʀᴇᴄᴏɢɴɪᴢᴇ ɪᴛ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʀᴛʏ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ's.

     ,,ᴍʏ ʟᴀʙᴏʀᴀᴛᴏʀʏ." ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀᴇᴅ ʟᴀᴡsᴏɴ.

     ,,ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟᴀʙᴏʀᴀᴛᴏʀʏ?" sᴀɪᴅ ᴀ ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴛɪɴᴜᴍ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ's ʟɪᴘs ᴘᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ, ᴡʜᴇɴ sʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ. ,,ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴇᴀɴ?" sʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ.

     ,,ᴏʜ ɴᴏ." sᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ, ᴀ ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇʀɴ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ.

     ,,ɪs ᴛʜᴀᴛ...ᴡᴀɪᴛ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴛʜᴀᴛ?" ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪʟᴏᴛ. ,,ɪᴛ's ɴᴏᴛ sʜᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴅᴀʀ."

     ,,ɢᴏ ᴄᴀʀᴏʟ. ғʟʏ!"

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     ,,ᴛʜᴀᴛ's ɴᴏ ᴍɪɢ, ʟᴀᴡsᴏɴ. ᴡʜᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇʟʟ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ?" ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴs ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴘɪʟᴏᴛ, ɢʟᴀɴᴄɪɴɢ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ɪs ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇ. ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ sᴇᴇɴ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴛɪɴᴜᴍ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ɪɴ sᴘᴀᴄᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sʜᴇ ɪs ɴᴏᴡ, ɪᴛ's ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴅᴍɪʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛʏ.

     ,,ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴅ ɢᴜʏs." ᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʟᴅᴇʀ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ, ғʀᴏᴍ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ᴀᴍᴀɴᴅᴀ. ,,ғʟʏ ғᴀsᴛᴇʀ, ɴᴏᴡ." sʜᴇ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀs. 

     ,,ʏᴇs, ᴍᴀ'ᴀᴍ." sᴀɪᴅ ᴄᴀʀᴏʟ, ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴘᴜsʜɪɴɢ ᴀ ʟᴇᴠᴇʀ ғᴏʀᴡᴀʀᴅ, ᴄᴀᴜsɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴘᴇᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ʀᴏʟʟᴇᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴀɴᴋғᴜʟʟʏ ᴍɪssɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴏᴛs ғɪʀᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴛɪɴᴜᴍ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ sᴇᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ, ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅs ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʜᴏᴍᴇ.

     ,,ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴀɴᴛ?" ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀsᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴅʀɪɢᴜᴇᴢ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ. sʜᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅs ᴄʟᴏsᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs, ᴀs sʜᴇ sᴇᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴇᴇɴ ғɪʀᴇ, ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʟᴏsᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ.

     ,,ᴍᴇ. ᴍʏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ. ɪ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙʀᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟᴏɴɢ." sʜᴇ sʜᴀᴋᴇs ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʀᴛʏ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴅɪᴅ ᴀ sʜᴀʀᴘ ᴛᴜʀɴ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇғᴛ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ɢʀᴀʙ ʜᴀʀᴅᴇʀ ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ sᴇᴀᴛ.

     ,,ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ sᴏᴍᴇ ɢ's." ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛs ʜᴇʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ. ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀᴛᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ sʜᴇ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ʜᴇʀ ʙʀᴏᴡɴ ᴇʏᴇs ᴀɢᴀɪɴ, ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʜᴇʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʟʟᴇʀ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴘᴜʟʟs ᴀ ʟᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴀᴄᴋᴡᴀʀᴅs, ᴄᴀᴜsɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ғʟɪᴘ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴛɪɴᴜᴍ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴄʟᴏsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴏᴠᴇʀ.

      ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴏᴠᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴛɪsᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ɴᴏᴡ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪᴍ ғɪɴᴅs ɪᴛ's ᴛʀᴀɢᴇᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ғɪʀᴇ, ɪᴛ ғɪʀᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋᴡᴀʀᴅs. ,,ᴛʜᴇʏ'ʀᴇ ғɪʀɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴄᴋᴡᴀʀᴅ. ʜᴏʟᴅ ᴏɴ!" ᴄᴀʀᴏʟ ᴘᴜsʜᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇᴠᴇʀ sɪᴅᴇᴡᴀʏs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇ ᴛɪʟᴛs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʀᴇᴠᴏʟᴜᴛɪᴏɴ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴇᴍʏ ғɪʀᴇs ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ʜɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ᴀᴍᴀɴᴅᴀ's ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴀᴛ ғᴀsᴛᴇʀ ᴀs ʜᴇʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇs ᴛᴏ ʀᴇɢᴀɪɴ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇ.

     ,,ʙᴀɪʟ ᴏᴜᴛ! ʙᴀɪʟ ᴏᴜᴛ! ʙᴀɪʟ ᴏᴜᴛ!" sʜᴇ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴊᴇᴄᴛs ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴄᴋᴘɪᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ғᴀɪʟᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴛɪɴᴜᴍ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋs sᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴄʟᴏsᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʟᴏsᴇʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʀᴛʏ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇs ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇɢᴀɪɴ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄʀᴀsʜᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʀᴇᴇs, ʙᴜᴛ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄʀᴀsʜᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪʟᴏᴛ sᴜᴄᴄᴇssғᴜʟʟʏ ᴀʟɪɢɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴀʟʟᴇʟʟʏ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ʟᴀɴᴅ.

     ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴡᴀs ᴠᴇʀʏ sᴄᴀʀʏ. ʟᴏᴏsɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇ, ᴏɴʟʏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴀsʜ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴘᴀɪɴғᴜʟ. ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴏʀᴛᴇsᴛ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ ʜɪᴛs ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏʀᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴀsʜ ᴄᴀɴ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴀ ᴄᴜᴛ ᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴄʜᴇᴇᴋ.

     ᴀs ᴛʜᴇʏ ʟᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴀ ʙᴇᴀᴄʜ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇ sɪɴᴋᴇᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ɪɴ sᴀɴᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴛɪsᴛ sʜᴀᴋɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ, ᴡʜᴇɴ sʜᴇ sᴇᴇs ᴅᴏᴜʙʟᴇ. ,,ᴅᴀɴᴠᴇʀs, ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴘʏ?" ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ᴍᴀʀɪᴀ, ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ʙʟɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪʀᴇᴅɴᴇss.

     ,,ʏᴇᴀʜ, ɪ ᴄᴏᴘʏ." ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴏғ ʜᴇʀ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ. ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ ʟᴇᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ sᴍᴀʟʟ sɪɢʜ ᴏғ ʀᴇʟɪᴇғ. 

     ,,ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ." ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʀᴛʏ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ.

     ,,ᴄᴀɴ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴍᴇ?"

     ,,ʏᴇᴀʜ, ɪ ᴄᴏᴘʏ." ʀᴇᴀᴘᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪʟᴏᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴏғғ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇʟᴍᴇᴛ. sʜᴇ ᴄʟɪᴍʙs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇ, ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴛ ᴀᴍᴀɴᴅᴀ ғɪʀsᴛ.

     ,,ᴍᴀɴᴅʏ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʟ ʀɪɢʜᴛ?" sʜᴇ ɢʀᴀʙʙᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ғᴀᴄᴇ, ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ɪғ sʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀɴʏ ʙɪɢ ɪɴᴊᴜʀɪᴇs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴛɪɴᴜᴍ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ɴᴏᴅᴅs ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ, ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ sᴇᴀᴛ. ɢᴀᴢɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀ, ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ɢᴏᴇs ᴡɪᴅᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sɪɢɴᴛ.

     ,,ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ..." ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟ sᴀɪᴅ, ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ғᴜʟʟʏ ᴛᴏ ʟᴀᴡsᴏɴ, ʜᴇʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ ғᴜʀʀᴏᴡs ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇʙʀᴏᴡs ɪɴ ᴄᴏɴғᴜsɪᴏɴ, sᴇᴇɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏᴏ. ,,...ɪᴛ's ʙʟᴜᴇ." ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ᴘᴜʟʟs ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ's ʜᴇʟᴍᴇᴛ, ᴇʏᴇɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ.

     ,,ʏᴇᴀʜ, ʙᴜᴛ, ᴜʜ...ʜᴏᴡ's ᴍʏ ʜᴀɪʀ?" ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟs ᴄʀᴀᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴀ sᴍɪʟᴇs ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀᴛᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ, ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴡʜᴀᴛ sɪᴛᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀʀᴇ ɪɴ. ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴊᴜʀᴇᴅ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ ɢʀᴏᴀɴs ɪɴ ᴘᴀɪɴ, ᴄʟᴏsɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ. ,,ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴍᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ, ᴡɪʟʟ ʏᴀ?" ᴄᴀʀᴏʟ ɴᴏᴅᴅs, ᴜɴʙᴜᴄᴋʟɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ sᴇᴀᴛʙᴇʟᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʟᴘɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇ.

     ,,ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴏʏ ɪᴛ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ɢᴇᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ." ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴀᴡsᴏɴ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅɪᴅ ᴀ ғᴇᴡ sᴛᴇᴘ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ɢʀɪᴘ ᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ ʟᴏᴏsᴇɴ ᴜᴘ ᴀs sʜᴇ ғᴀʟʟs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴜᴏ ʟᴇᴀɴᴇᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ʜᴇʀ, ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇʀɴ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʜᴇʀ sᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ, ʙᴜᴛ sʜᴇ ʀᴇғᴜsᴇs.

     ,,ᴡʜᴀᴛ? ʟᴀᴡsᴏɴ?" ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪʟᴏᴛ, ʜᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ.

     ,,ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪ sᴀɪᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ʜᴇʀᴇ? ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ's ғᴏʀ?"

     ,,ᴛᴏ ᴇɴᴅ ᴡᴀʀs?" ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʀᴛʏ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ.

     ,,ʏᴇᴀʜ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀs ᴀʀᴇ ʙɪɢɢᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ." ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴛʜᴇɴ ɢʀᴏᴡ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇʀɴ, ᴡʜᴇɴ sʜᴇ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ, ᴏɴʟʏ ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀsᴇʟғ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴘᴀɪɴ. ,,ᴅᴀᴍɴ ɪᴛ!" sʜᴇ ᴄᴜʀsᴇᴅ, ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ғᴀʟʟ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ,,ᴍʏ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ʟᴀᴡsᴏɴ. ᴍʏ ʀᴇᴀʟ ɴᴀᴍᴇ, ɪs ᴍᴀʀ-ᴠᴇʟʟ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇᴛ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ʜᴀʟᴀ." ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟs ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴀʏ ɪᴛ ɪs ᴀ ᴊᴏᴋᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴀᴡ, ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ.

     ,,ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴇʟᴜsɪᴏɴᴀʟ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɢᴏᴛ sʜᴏᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ʙʏ ᴀ sᴘᴀᴄᴇsʜɪᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ɪs ʙʟᴜᴇ." ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀɪɴᴛᴇʀ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴏ.

     ,,ʟɪsᴛᴇɴ," ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ, ʜᴇʀ sᴍɪʟᴇ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ. ,,ɪ sᴘᴇɴᴛ ʜᴀʟғ ᴍʏ ʟɪғᴇ ғɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ ᴀ sʜᴀᴍᴇғᴜʟ ᴡᴀʀ, ɴᴏᴡ sᴋᴇᴅᴀᴅᴅʟᴇ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴀɴʏ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʀᴇɢʀᴇᴛs. ᴊᴜsᴛ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴏʀᴅɪɴᴀᴛᴇs, ᴏᴋᴀʏ? ʏᴏᴜ'ᴠᴇ ɢᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ sᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴍᴇ." ᴛʜᴇʏ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏɴғᴜsᴇᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ.

     ,,sᴀᴠᴇ ᴡʜᴏ? ʜᴏᴡ?" ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴜᴏ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ sʜᴇ ɪɢɴᴏʀᴇs ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴘᴜʟʟᴇᴅ ᴀ ɢᴜɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ᴊᴀᴄᴋᴇᴛ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄᴏɴғᴜsᴇᴅ. ɪғ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ.

     ,,ɪ'ᴠᴇ ɢᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜɪs ᴇɴɢɪɴᴇ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ғɪɴᴅ ɪᴛ." ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ. sɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ʀᴀɪsᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ, ᴀɪᴍɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢɪɴᴇ.

     ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ, ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴜɴᴛ ᴀᴍᴀɴᴅᴀ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍs. ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ᴡᴀs ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴛᴏ sʜᴏᴛ, ᴀ sʜᴏᴛ ᴡᴀs ғɪʀᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ, ᴘɪᴇʀᴄɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴏʀᴛᴇʀ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ᴄʀɪᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ, ʙᴀᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴏᴡ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ʙᴏᴅʏ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ʜᴏʀʀɪʙʟᴇ sɪɢɴᴛ  ᴛʜᴀᴛ sʜᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛ.

     ʜᴇʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ ɢᴜɴ, ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ʀᴀɪsɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴏᴛ ᴡᴀs ғɪʀᴇᴅ. sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs sᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ ɴᴏᴡ ᴛᴏᴏ, sᴇᴇɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ ᴅɪᴇ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ʙʀᴏᴋᴇ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ.

     sʜᴇ ʙʟᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴏᴅʏ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ɢʀᴀʙ ɪɴᴛᴏ ʜᴇʀ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅᴇʀ, sᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴏғ ʜᴇʀ ʟɪғᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴛɪɴᴜᴍ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʀᴇᴘᴇᴀᴛ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴏɴʟʏ ᴀ ʙᴀᴅ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ. ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴏɴʟʏ ᴀ ʙᴀᴅ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ. ʙᴀᴅ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ.

     ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴏɴᴅs ᴡᴀɪᴛᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ʟᴏɴɢ. ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ sᴍᴏᴋᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀsʜᴇs ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ʙʀᴏᴡɴ ʜᴀɪʀ, ʏᴇʟʟᴏᴡ ᴇʏᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴅʀᴇssᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴇᴇɴ sᴜɪᴛ.
,,ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴏ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴇsᴛ ɪɴ ʜᴜʀᴛɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ." ʜᴇ sᴘᴏᴋᴇ ᴜᴘ, ɢᴀᴢɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ᴀᴍᴀɴᴅᴀ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɴᴇʀᴠᴏᴜs ᴏғ ʜɪs ɢᴀᴢᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴘɪᴇʀᴄᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ sᴏᴜʟs.

     ,,ɴᴏ?!" sᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀᴏᴡɴ ᴇʏᴇᴅ ᴘɪʟᴏᴛ, ʀᴀɪsɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ. ʜᴇʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ sᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴛᴏᴏ, ʙᴜᴛ sʜᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ ʜɪᴅᴇ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴏᴅʏ. ,,ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴏᴏᴛɪɴɢ ᴋɪɴᴅᴀ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʀᴏɴɢ ɪᴍᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ!"

     ,,ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ ᴄᴏʀᴇ, ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ɪᴛ?" ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀʟᴇ ɪɢɴᴏʀᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴏᴜᴛʙᴜʀsᴛ, ᴀsᴋɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢ, ʜᴇ's ʜᴇʀᴇ ғᴏʀ.

     ,,ᴘᴀʀᴀʀᴇsᴄᴜᴇ's ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ, ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ sᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ." ʀᴇᴍᴀʀᴋs ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀɴᴠᴇʀs ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ, ʜᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ɢᴜɴ ᴛɪɢʜᴛᴇʀ.

     ,,ᴛʜᴇɴ ɪ sᴇᴇ ɴᴏ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏʟᴏɴɢ ᴛʜɪs ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀsᴀᴛɪᴏɴ." ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴅʀᴀᴡ ʜɪs ɢᴜɴ ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴛɪɴᴜᴍ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ's ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ʀᴀᴄᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ғᴀsᴛᴇʀ. sʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴏsᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏᴏ. sᴏ sʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢ sʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴏғ.

     ,,ᴡᴀɪᴛ!" ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ sᴘᴇᴀᴋs, ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ, sᴏ ʜᴇ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴀɪᴍɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ ᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋғᴜʟʟʏ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ, ʜɪs ғɪɴɢᴇʀ ʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀɪɢɢᴇʀ. ʜᴇ ᴇʏᴇs ʜᴇʀ, ᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ.

     ʜᴇʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ ғᴇᴇʟs ʜᴇʀ sǫᴜᴇᴇᴢᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ ʜᴀɴᴅ. ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴡʜᴀᴛ sʜᴇ's ᴜᴘ ᴛᴏᴏ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʀᴛʏ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ғɪɴɢᴇʀs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ. ,,ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ ᴄᴏʀᴇ?" ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪʟᴏᴛ ɢᴇsᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ, ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ʀᴀᴄɪɴɢ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀʟᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋs ᴀᴛ, ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ʜɪs ɢᴀᴢᴇ ғᴀʟʟ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ.

     ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ's ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴋᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ. ғᴏʀᴇᴠᴇʀ. ,,ɴᴏ!" ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴛᴏᴏ ʟᴀᴛᴇ. ᴄᴀʀᴏʟ ᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢɪɴᴇ, ᴘʀᴇssɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀɪɢᴇʀ.

     ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢɪɴᴇ ᴇxᴘʟᴏᴅᴇᴅ. ɪᴛ ʙᴜʀsᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ʙʟᴜᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴅ ᴏʀᴀɴɢᴇ ғʟᴀᴍᴇs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏᴜʀ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪxᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ᴀ ᴠɪʙʀᴀɴᴛ ᴘᴜʀᴘʟᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴀʏ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴜᴏ ᴡᴀs ᴛʀᴏᴡɴ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏʀᴄᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʟᴏsᴇ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ɢʀɪᴘ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʜᴀɴᴅs.

     ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɪɴᴅᴇsᴄʀɪʙᴀʙʟᴇ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡɪʟʟ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴇᴜᴘʜᴏʀɪᴄ ɪɴ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴡᴀʏ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʙᴏᴅɪᴇs ᴀʙsᴏʀʙ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ. ᴀᴍᴀɴᴅᴀ's ғɪɴɢᴇʀs ᴛɪɴɢʟᴇ ᴀs sʜᴇ sᴀᴡ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴘᴜʀᴘʟᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴠɪsɪᴏɴ. sʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ғᴇᴇʟ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ sʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs. ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɢʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ.

     ɪᴛ ᴀʟʟ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ɪɴ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ғᴇᴇʟ ɪᴛ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ sᴇɴsᴇs. ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴄʟᴏsᴇᴅ, ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʀᴏᴡɴ ʙᴀᴄᴋᴡᴀʀᴅs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇss. ᴛʜᴇʏ ʟᴀʏᴇᴅ ʙᴇsɪᴅᴇ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡɪɴɢ ʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴛʜɪs ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ɪᴍᴘᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ.

     ᴛʜᴇ ғʟᴀᴍᴇs ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ғᴀsᴛ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ, ʟᴇᴀᴠɪɴɢ ʏᴏɴ-ʀᴏɢɢ, ᴄᴏɴғᴜsᴇᴅ. ʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴀɴs, ʀᴏʟʟɪɴɢ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴏ sɪᴛ ᴜᴘ. sɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ, ʜᴇ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀᴜsᴇs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇxᴘʟᴏsɪᴏɴ. ʜɪs ʏᴇʟʟᴏᴡ ᴇʏᴇs sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇs, ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʜᴇ ʟᴀsᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs ᴀɢᴏ, ʙᴜᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ.

     ʟᴀʏɪɴɢ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʀᴛʏ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ's sᴋɪɴ ɢʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴀ ʟᴀᴄɪɴɢ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴡᴀs sᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴏᴅʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴛɪɴᴜᴍ ʙʟᴏɴᴅᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ. sʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ɢʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ sᴋɪɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ ғᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇs ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ sᴇᴇɴ ᴀ ᴄʀᴀᴄᴋs, ɢʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴠɪʙʀᴀɴᴛ ᴘᴜʀᴘʟᴇ ᴀs ʟɪɢʜᴛɴɪɴɢ sᴛʀɪᴋᴇs sᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴏᴅʏ, ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴇʟᴇᴄᴛʀɪᴄɪᴛʏ ᴘᴏʟᴇ.

     ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀᴜɴᴇᴛᴛᴇ's ᴇʏᴇʙʀᴏᴡs ғᴜʀʀᴏᴡᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴄᴏɴғᴜsᴇᴅ, ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ғᴏᴏᴛsᴛᴇᴘs ᴇᴄʜᴏᴇᴅ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ʜɪᴍ, ʜɪs ᴇᴀʀs ᴘᴇʀᴄᴋs ᴜᴘ,ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ,,ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴀɴᴅᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇʏ'ʀᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ ᴍᴏᴠɪɴɢ. ᴘᴇʀᴍɪssɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ғɪʀᴇ?" sᴘᴏᴋᴇ ᴜᴘ ᴀ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ, ᴀɪᴍɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇs.

     ,,ʜᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғɪʀᴇ." ʜᴇ ʀᴀɪsᴇᴅ ʜɪs ʜᴀɴᴅ ғᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴏᴘ. ᴍɪɴɴ-ᴇʀᴠᴀ ғᴜʟғɪʟʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴀɴᴅ, ᴘᴜʟʟɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ.

     ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. ,,ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ's ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʟᴇғᴛ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʀᴇ ʜᴀs ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴏʏᴇᴅ." ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ. ʏᴏɴ-ʀᴏɢɢ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴅᴜᴏ, ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʀᴛ.

     ᴋɴᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ʜᴇ ᴜɴᴇᴀʀᴛʜᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴅᴏɢ-ᴛᴀɢ. ғᴜʀʀᴏᴡɪɴɢ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇʙʀᴏᴡs, ʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ʙʀᴜsʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪʀᴛ ᴏғ ɪᴛ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴏɴʟʏ ᴀ ʜᴀʟғ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀɢ, sᴇᴇɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ɪɴsᴄʀɪʙᴇᴅ ᴠᴇʀs ᴏɴ ɪᴛ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏ ᴅᴏᴘᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴘɪʟᴏᴛ.

     ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs ᴛʜᴇɴ ғᴀʟʟs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ. ,,ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʙsᴏʀʙᴇᴅ ɪᴛs ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ,  ᴛʜᴇʏ'ʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴜs." ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴀʀᴋs.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE

i feel like this chapter sucks but whatever
it's my birthday today so i want to be with my family but i feel like i could write a quick chapter so here it is XD

-αυ∂яєу_нσℓℓαи∂
[2019]