Sergeant Sarin stepped out of his vehicle and approached a gathering of police officers and security personnel. At the entrance of the opulent restaurant, a stark contrast to the surrounding chaos, yellow "crime scene" tapes marked the area, sealing it off from the rest of the area. Two black-clad agents dressed in black maneuvered a body bag on a stretcher toward an awaiting ambulance. Even from a distance, it was evident that the bag contained a living, writhing entity.
"Be cautious! We've yet to fully comprehend how the infection spreads," Sarin cautioned them.
They nodded, shouldering the burden with care, and continued their journey.
Inside the restaurant's dining hall, the captured crew members sat, handcuffed, on benches. Sarin spotted the commanding officer, his voice resonating through the room as he issued orders. "Everyone must undergo immediate examination at the medical center!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Hello, Officer Yerah."
The commander turned, and his voice softened upon recognizing his old friend, Sergeant Sarin. "Ah, my dear Sarin! You've finally arrived!"
Sarin shook his hand but swiftly delved into the matter at hand. "Where is the girl?"
"This way."
Commander Yerah and Sergeant Sarin traversed a narrow corridor, the former studying his stoic comrade. Sarin's reticence was nothing new; he had always been a man of few words.
"She was apprehended while pilfering from the dining tables. It was just bread, but the restaurant manager insisted on compensation."
Yerah glanced at Sarin but received no response. He continued, "From what I gathered, she has no living relatives. During her interrogation, she mentioned being aided by an officer once. She couldn't recall your name, but it seemed to be linked to an operation a few nights ago in Area Number 3."
The commander chuckled, "When she described the officer as tall, with bushy eyebrows, and a perpetual frown, I instantly thought of you, my friend!"
Sergeant Sarin remained silent, his demeanor inscrutable. As they entered the kitchen, Nika sat on a chair, handcuffed, her gaze fixed on the worn tiles.
Officer Yerah barked at her in a stern tone, "Hey! Lift your head and look here!"
Nika complied, her eyes falling upon Sarin, whose features defied her expectations. He was a handsome man, his countenance marked by an unwavering seriousness.
Amidst Sarin's silent contemplation, Nika pleaded with innocence in her voice, "I'm sorry for getting you involved, but they insisted on someone vouching for me! I had no one else to turn to. I don't want to go to jail!"
Sarin's silence left Nika uncertain about his thoughts, yet she continued her desperate entreaty, "If you help me once more, I promise to disappear from your life forever. You helped me before, remember? Could you..."
"Where is the restaurant manager?" Sarin interrupted.
The commanding officer responded, "This way, Sarin. Our men are questioning him."
"Show me."
As the two officers departed, Nika took a deep breath. She watched their conversation from a distance but couldn't decipher their words. Sarin reached into his wallet and exchanged words with the manager. A few minutes later, a guard approached and released her from her restraints. As she rubbed her wrists, she thanked Sergeant Sarin, who had just concluded his conversation with the restaurant manager.
"I truly appreciate your assistance! I promise this will be the last time..."
"Oh, come on! I had to park my car in a bad spot!"
"What? What do you mean?" Nika inquired, perplexed.
Sarin took hold of Nika's wrist and declared, "You're still far too young to fend for yourself. Until I find a suitable guardian for you, you'll remain under my care."
"But I'm not a child!"
"Is that so? Do you prefer to face adult consequences, like jail time for shoplifting?"
Nika fell silent, unable to muster a response. She bit her lip and reluctantly followed behind the stern officer, their fates now intertwined once more.
P.S:
Hello everyone, I’m a writer and a manga artist, and this is a piece that I’m working on. Later on, I’m going to put my art as well, piece by piece, for everyone to enjoy. I’ll welcome critiques, but plz don’t be too harsh.
Here is the link to the picture comic (manga) I'm currently creating, feel free to visit and leave a comment, subscribe, etc.
