-CATHRYN-

    Fate has always fancied playing with me. Experiencing countless series of misfortune that I've already grown used to it. But this time around, it was the most serious yet.

First, I caught a traffic violater that isn't wearing a protective mask. But instead of stopping, he drove headlong away from me. I tried to follow him, but the patrol car I was using ran out of gas. What great timing.

Second, just after that event, while I was at the gasoline station, a citizen rushed at me asking for help because the pig that they were transporting escaped their Tora-Tora. Causing ruckus throughout the streets, so I had no other choice but to cooperate with them to catch the enormous and stinky animal. Later that day, I ended up smelling repugnant, which was very irritating indeed.

Assuming that that will be the last memorable event in line, the worst was still yet to happen. I was pulling up the patrol car at the station's parking lot, but I accidentally crashed it on a tree behind. The left car's tail light broke. It only has small damage, but repairing a car is considerably expensive, and I will get scolded too! Whoever planted that Mango tree, may he suffer from indigestion!

I proceeded inside the station and hurriedly ran to the female's locker room to get changed as soon as I came. I am disrupted because of it, okay?

Wearing a yellow hoodie with a 'New Thangs' phrase printed on it, I returned to my desk to write my report for the day. Remembering all the unfortunate events that just happened earlier drives me mad. Just how many sins did I commit in my past life to deserve all these difficulties?!

"I think you need this PO3 Navarro."

PO3 stands for Police Officer 3

A man in front of me chuckled as he hands me a bottle of cologne. "Woah. You really smell, go and take it already." He jerks covering his nose with a disgusted look. Giving him a pissed look, I promptly took the cologne and sprayed it all over my body.

His name is Chris Lopez. A rank two police officer. I'm one year older than him. He's the closest officer to me at the station. He's always my partner whenever I'm patrolling, well, except for today. I admit he's a good-looking man, but he's not my type. Speaking of ideal man, I'm not interested in love. I have no time for such a relationship.

Chris gave me an inquisitive look. "Where were you patrolling? Why did you end up like that? And what happened to the car, by the way?" He exclaimed. Raining queries on me.

Wait, OH CRAP! How did he find out?!

I nervously glanced at him, "I-I don't know what're you saying. W-why? What's the problem?" I answered, tripping at my words.

He gave me a 'seriously?' look for a good five seconds and then giggled, "Trying to deny it? It's so obvious, Cathryn. You're too clumsy for an officer."

This man is getting on my nerves as always. Can't he tell that I just had a very bad day today? How annoying.

"If you don't have anything else to say, you can leave, you know? I'm not in the mood for shams." I coldly retorted as I open the desktop in front of me.

"Geez, I'm sorry, sorry. I'm here to tell you something."

"If it's only nonsense, no thank you."

"No, no. I heard this earlier. A wanted criminal was recently spotted in the next neighborhood, do you want to check it out? I can go and ask permission if you want to." He explained.

I rolled my eyes. "Chris, can't you see I still have to do my report? I also have to go to a repair shop later to fix the patrol car."

"So you're now admitting. You did that?"

"N-no? W-what did I say?" I can't believe my tongue just betrayed me.

"Nevermind. But you told me before that you were from that neighborhood, right? And there's a man you've been looking so desperately. Are you sure you don't want to come? I heard he was spotted lurking in an abandoned apartment building there. Who knows? It could be the same guy, you know." He explained.

His words convinced me a bit. But, it will only be a waste of time if that isn't him. Damn, I still have to finish my reports. Plus, it'll take several minutes before we reach the location, which means it's already dark when we get there.

"So, what now? You wouldn't know the chances if you try. It won't hurt to take a peak." Chris tempted me.

I hurriedly took my bull cap and the keys to the desk. "Chris, let's go. I'll drive." I responded as I wear back the mask I was wearing earlier.

"What? But we still have to go and ask permission first!"

"Don't worry. Leave the rest to me."

-ꜱʜᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ʟɪᴠᴇꜱ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪɴꜱᴏᴍɴɪᴀ-

The world has become crueler as years pass by. Murdering, stealing, corrupting, manipulating, deceiving, and so on. One day, every single human on this earth will turn to darkness, and the light will never be reached again.

I grew up believing that I would not be able to find hope if I don't take the first step and so I decided to join the Police Department. By doing so, I was somehow eligible to help bits of light to people by stopping crimes at my best.

However, there was this lingering feeling that had bothered me. I never wanted to be a heroine to only show light to its people. What I always yearned for is revenge.

If there would be a genie to appear in front of me and ask for my three greatest wishes, it will be; to know, to find, and to catch the person behind the brutal killing of my cherished family back then...

Just as I predicted, the dusk grew more as soon as we arrived at our destination. I suddenly felt sorry for Chris. For dragging him in this parsimonious act of mine.

The whole area was quiet. They were probably frightened when they heard a most wanted criminal is wandering among them.

"Chris, where did they spot him again?" I asked him to confirm.

"There, at that building. It's abandoned so no electricity." I looked at the infrastructure where Chris pointed. An abandoned four leveled story apartment. It was obscured from any light. What if he's still hiding there? It'll be difficult for us to look for him.

"Here's a flashlight. I only got one at the station; you'll go first since you're the one who brought me here." He annoyingly said. His words made me laugh inside my head.

"Wow, excuse you. You were the one who convinced me to come here." I answered back.

"Anyway. The offender's alias, Ron. Male, suspected to be in his thirties. Standing 5.6 feet tall. His distinct features are all the sick tattoos he has all over his body."

After hearing all of it, I knew that the description does fit the man that I've been looking for.

But we need to make a plan first. We didn't bring anything that could use to defend ourselves. What if he's holding a dangerous weapon? Like a gun, a sword, or a bomb?! It'll be the end of us! I didn't even think before we got here. We really should've asked for permission first so that we could have borrowed guns or had back-ups.

"Hey! Cathryn!" Chris shouted in gritted teeth as he nudges my back to get my attention.

"What? Can't you just stay quiet?!"

"Shhh, look up. There's someone up there." He hushed me as he points up.

I swerved my head and looked at where my partner was directing his finger. Looking at the fourth floor of the building. There's a dim light that could be seen moving around. That was suspicious. First of all, we didn't see any patrol cars in the building's parking area. Second, the apartment building was a restricted area. No one was allowed to enter that place. Reasons that it could collapse at any time.

"Hey Chris, you stay put and I'll go there alone. If something bad happens, go and call back-up immediately." I said as I ran quietly to enter the vicinity.

"What? What are you doing?! Come back here!" Chris shouted in whispers again. But his voice started slowly fading away as I go farther from where he is.

Without even thinking, I hurriedly go up the stairs carefully so I wouldn't alarm any entity who could be inside the establishment. The more I approach the fourth floor where we found the ambiguous light, the more I walk slowly. By the time I'm only meters away from the designated floor, I started to hear little sounds of footsteps from far a distance. This only means that someone is wandering here around.

As soon as I reached the fourth floor, my heart started to beat fast. I stopped and hid on a corner of a wall just adjacent to the silhouette moving in and on the corridor with its flashlight. From what I can see, I could easily identify that it's a man because of his manly stature, he's proximately five feet tall just as Chris has informed me. I also couldn't verify whether or not he's handling a weapon. But, for now, I'm sure he is somewhat looking for something.

I scanned around to look for anything that I would be able to use to defend myself if ever that man is planning something dangerous.

And for the first time in my life, luck was on my side. I found something!

I found several rusty iron bars stored beside a withering plant at a reachable distance from my position. Quietly, so I wouldn't make unnecessary sounds, I grabbed one of the bars. Once I've discerned that the man had turned his back, I slowly took a few steps closer to him. I gripped tightly the iron bar I was holding. I hold my breath. This intense feeling makes my heart pound a thousand times faster than before.

If he's not just a wandering criminal, and he's the man I've been looking for all these years, my messed up life will be finally put in peace once I've taken revenge and caught him with my own hands.

I'm only a few strides apart from him where I could finally arrest him with the handcuffs I have. But, the Fates hates me so much. Not noticing where I will take my next move, I accidentally stepped on something I was not aware of that made a loud snap which made the man in front of me turn his back and lights its flashlight in my direction.

At that moment, my soul left my body.

Because I panicked, my whole body started to move on its own, I didn't know what happened after as I closed both of my eyes, but I heard a scream from the man. As soon as I regained vision, I saw the man rubbing his left arm trounced down on his knees. He probably got hit by me. But to my surprise, he's not the man I've been desperately looking for. Neither the wanted criminal that was told. He's just a complete...stranger.

"W-who are you? W-what are you doing in this place?" I asked him flustered.

He slowly stood up and faced me with a quizzical look. "Who are you too? Why'd you hit me?" He said in pain.

"I-I am a police officer. Answer me or else I'll have to arrest you for suspicious activity and entering a restricted area." I said bravely without even breathing.

"What? Suspicious activity? But, I didn't do anything!"

"Tell me what is your cause here. Or, I will arrest you."

"Okay, okay, chill! I was just passing by, but I saw someone entering this place. I know this place was restricted, that is why I followed that man to stop him."

"Your words aren't convincing, sir. But first of all, there was a wanted criminal spotted in this place. And secondly, you could be possibly a wandering delinquent waiting for someone to beat up." I took the handcuffs hanging behind my back and quickly grabbed both of his hands. "Just quietly come with us to the station and tell us everything there, okay?"

"Wait, why? But I didn't do anything." He continuously refuses.

"Cathryn! PO3 Navarro! Where are you??!" I heard Chris's voice echoing in the building.

I could hear loud footsteps coming in where we're currently right now. As soon as I locked the handcuff's on the lad's hands, a few police officers came running to us including Chris. Looks like Chris called back-up already.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt? What happened?" He constantly asked.

"Yeh, yeh, I'm fine. Don't mind me."

"Who is he? Why is he handcuffed? Was he the man you've been looking for?"

"No, he is someone I don't know. But, he could still be someone like Ron's ally or a dangerous adult. That's why I did that. Let's just go to the police station and we'll know."

A police officer came to me. "PO3 Navarro, SPO2 wants to see you too at the police station. He said, there are many things you have to explain."

SPO2 stands for Senior Police Officer

Hearing those words made my body shiver. I'm dead. a Senior officer found it out.

Still, that man gives me the thrill. I feel like there's something about him that I should know. And, if he was telling the truth that he saw someone entering this place, he could also be a witness.

Why is he making me think like this?

To be continued~

——————

•PO3/PO2/PO1- stands for Police Officer 3/2/1. A rank in PNP, the higher the number is, the superior.

•SPO3/SPO2/SPO1- stands for Senior Police 3/2/1. Senior police officers rank in PNP.

•Tora-tora - a tricycle with a cargo sidecar.