That night was... well, awful. Zhu left the café as soon as she grabbed her takeout boxes, her emotions a jumble of confusion and frustration. Or maybe it's not so confusing. It's him.Elias.
The weight of doubt presses heavily on my chest. Just what I need: the possibility that the guy I've been working with—no, trusting—is playing both sides. The thought alone threatens to unravel everything I've built—my team, my career, my future. Great. A potential career disaster.
Right when I was lining myself up for that promotion. Maybe the universe just loves messing with my "next commissioner" plans.
She hailed a cab, glancing back at the café. "I've got an emergency, sorry Mr. Smith," she'd told Elias, avoiding his eyes as she quickly left. He hadn't pressed, hadn't stopped her, but his presence lingered in her mind. Of course he didn't. Why would he, when he's the center of all this chaos?
As the cab sped through the streets of New Eridu, Zhu let out a long sigh. I can't go home. Not to my apartment... not after that. Her stomach twisted at the thought of it—how just the other day, they'd all met there. Elias, Qingyi, Seth. They had left, of course, but the space didn't feel the same anymore. It's like they left their mark on it. It's my safe place, and now I can't even sit on my own couch without feeling... invaded.
She tapped her fingers against her knee as the cab drove on. Maybe I should've gone straight home to deal with it head-on. Confront Elias. But what if I'm wrong? What if it's all just a misunderstanding, and I've let paranoia seep into my judgment? But that nagging thought wouldn't go away. Or what if I'm right? And Elias is playing me like a fiddle.
She tapped her fingers against her knee as the cab drove on. Maybe I should've gone straight home to deal with it head-on. But what if I'm wrong? What if it's all just a misunderstanding, and I've let paranoia seep into my judgment? Yet, that nagging thought wouldn't go away. Or what if I'm right? And Elias is playing me like a fiddle.
As her destination loomed closer, a sense of comfort washed over her. Mom and Dad's place. When you're caught between believing your partner might be a double agent and trusting your instincts, nothing beats parental comfort.
The cab pulled up in front of the familiar house, and before she even knocked, her mom greeted her at the door, the same warmth radiating from her smile as it had when she was a child. The embrace felt like a safety net, and the comforting scent of home-cooked food wrapped around her like a favorite blanket. "Dinner's ready, hun," her mom said, ushering her inside as if shielding her from the storm of emotions outside.
She removed and hung her coat by the couch, the fabric heavy with the weight of her doubts. Unfastening her collar just enough to breathe, she darted toward the table where her parents were waiting, her heart swelling with a mix of love and longing.
"Glad you made it to dinner!" Her mom reached for her hands, those wrinkled fingers still familiar, still the same ones that had cradled her through childhood. Memories flooded back—laughter shared, stories told, and the warmth of being cared for. Zhu smiled, feeling the ache of nostalgia tugging at her heart.
With her doubts momentarily cast aside, she smiled warmly and said, "I'll find ways!"
After sharing a few lighthearted stories over dinner, Zhu slipped into her old room. The small bed she grew up in was unchanged, a sanctuary frozen in time. The nostalgia hit her like a wave, bringing with it the smell of oranges, a scent that had always reminded her of lazy summer afternoons spent in the backyard. She let out a soft chuckle, a bittersweet laugh at the simplicity of it all. Nothing's changed, but everything feels different. Guess that's growing up.
She sat on the edge of the bed, letting her mind wander. The apartment, the café, the investigation, Elias... Elias. I couldn't stop the thought from creeping back in. If I let my guard down, if I trust him and he turns out to be the wolf, it'll be my fault. I'll be the one who cried "innocence" and missed the danger lurking right in front of me.
Reaching into an old drawer, her hand brushed against a worn comic book—The Boy Who Cried Wolf, her childhood doodles all over the cover. A smile tugged at her lips. "Hey there, you little rascal. I thought I lost you," she whispered, flipping it open. She thumbed through the pages, her old handwriting still there, messy but legible. Really? I was just thinking about this story.
The ending line caught her eye: "If you tell lies, people will not believe you when you tell the truth." Her heart sank as the words hit her harder than they ever had before. I bet that wolf didn't show up until after the boy stopped telling the truth. And here I am... Elias tells me he's innocent, but all I can think about is: what if this time, it's the real wolf?
She closed the comic, resting it on her lap as the weight of uncertainty settled even deeper. If Elias is lying...what happens when that wolf finally shows up? And worse—what happens if I'm the fool who didn't believe it?
Zhu leaned back, staring at the familiar ceiling, but her mind was miles away. Maybe I should rewrite the fable—The Officer Who Trusted the Wrong Partner. Bestseller material, right? She shook her head, trying to clear the fog of doubt. No, no more stories, Zhu. It's time to face reality.
Tomorrow, I have to figure out the truth, once and for all. No more hiding behind fairy tales.
But for tonight, at least, she could take comfort in the familiar warmth of her parents' home. Tomorrow, though... I'll be ready. I have to be. Because if Elias is the wolf, I'll be the one to take him down.
Zhu stood up and scanned her old stuff, finding a familiar sketchbook tucked in a drawer. She flipped through the pages, chuckling at the misspelled words, goofy illustrations, and random rant about a friend who borrowed her favorite hair clips and never returned them. Ah, middle school drama—the stuff of legends.
Sinking onto the couch, she heard her dad pipe up from across the room, "We thought you'd be an artist, Zhu." He was swiping through his laptop screen, oblivious to her situation as always.
"She's perfectly fine as an officer," her mom chimed in, giving her dad a playful nudge. Because, of course, every supportive mom knows how to switch into defense mode on a dime.
Zhu smirked, tossing the sketchbook onto the coffee table. "Well, I was actually planning to shift my career after seeing these masterpieces. Clearly, I missed my true calling."
Her dad gave a theatrical sigh, still glued to his laptop. "A shame, really. The art world just isn't the same without you."
Zhu chuckled but quickly sighed, the weight of the day creeping back in. Her mom, ever intuitive, slid over to the couch beside her, her expression softening. "Something bothering you, dear?"
Zhu laid her head in her mom's lap, just like she did when she was a kid. The memories of scraped knees and childhood meltdowns rushed back. Ah, the perks of having a mom who can spot a meltdown from a mile away.
"Yeah, you definitely have a problem," her mom teased, running her fingers through Zhu's hair like she was still eight. Great. Because when your mom doubles as your therapist, you know things are getting serious.
"I think I have some trust issues... probably?" Zhu muttered, glancing at her small sketchbook like it held the answers to all of life's questions. "It's work-related, but it feels... personal. And I'm confused!"
Her dad chimed in with a mock-serious tone, "Is this really a work issue? I mean, we're not officers, Zhu. You're asking the wrong people here." He leaned back, giving her an exaggerated shrug.
"Ugh, no! I don't know! I just wanted to ask, okay?" she shot back, exasperated. Her mom shot a playful glance at her dad, and Zhu caught it. "What was that look for?!"
"Is this a guy?" her dad asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief, as if he'd just uncovered a family secret worthy of HIA-level investigation.
Zhu froze for a split second. Well... yeah, technically. "Uhmm... yes, but I'm just helping him with a big case! I don't know if he's lying to me, though. The evidence seems... plausible, but..."
She stood up, channeling her inner Captain, her voice turning sharp as if she were addressing a squad of junior officers. Cue the dramatic courtroom monologue! "It just feels like he's playing me. I mean, I'm getting random desserts! And he's always smiling, always calm, like he's trying to lure me into some kind of trap. He just showed up out of nowhere!"
Her parents stared at her, a mix of concern and amusement on their faces. Her dad leaned in conspiratorially, "...Yeah, it's definitely a guy, Commander." He barely held back a grin as he exchanged a knowing look with her mom.
"If this is about your case," her mom said, drawing out the word dramatically, "we've already said—we're not officers. But if this is about the guy... and the random desserts from a secret admirer," she added with a wink, "well, you're an adult now, Zhu. Just follow your heart."
"Secret admirer?! Mom, please, no 'boyfriend' talk!" Zhu's face turned bright red, and she threw her hands up in defeat. Great. Just great.
Her mom laughed, clearly enjoying every moment. "Zhu, you're an adult! You haven't had a boyfriend since birth! That's probably why you're so confused!"
"Mom! No!" Zhu stomped her foot like a child throwing a tantrum. Her parents were way too invested in this.
Her mom smiled, completely unbothered. "We're just saying what you need to hear, dear. Unless... were you hoping for a different answer?"
Zhu groaned, collapsing back onto the couch. "Maybe I'm... tired?"
Her dad, ever the comedian, chuckled mischievously. "Then that's it. No need to ask us about it."
He gave his wife a gentle nudge, both of them exchanging a nostalgic look. "You're just walking down a path you don't know yet. We've been there, Zhu, and we're guiding you. Just remember, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. And don't pick the most convenient answer for yourself either."
Zhu looked at them, amused yet stubbornly unwilling to admit they might have a point. Seriously? Life advice from the people who still think wearing sunglasses indoors is peak coolness?
Her dad added, "And just so you know—random desserts? That's not a case, sweetheart. That's flirting."
Zhu threw a pillow at him. "Dad, stop! You're not helping!"
Prepping for bed, she tried to shake off the remnants of her earlier nightmare. She took a peek out the window; the night was peaceful, almost serene.
Finally sinking on her bed, Zhu replayed her parents' words from earlier, trying to find clarity amidst the confusion. Suddenly, she snapped out of it, remembering the Exploding Bangboo case they needed to resolve. "Should we tell Elias about our progress?" Her voice trailed off, the thought barely finished before sleep swept her away, the weight of the day finally catching up.
As the night deepened, the comforting warmth of her parents' home enveloped Zhu. After a night filled with laughter and playful banter on the couch, she felt an unexpected heaviness in her eyelids, a whisper of sleep tugging at her. She stood up, stretching her limbs like a cat, the echoes of the evening's joy fading as she retreated to her childhood room.
But that peace shattered in an instant.
"Captain!"
The voice ripped through the darkness, dragging her from sleep with a violent jolt. A thunderous crash resounded, sending her heart racing like it had just been caffeinated. Instinct kicked in: Mom! Dad! The thought blared in her mind, urgency propelling her from the bed. She reached for her service firearm, but chaos erupted around her. Above her loomed a monstrous, swirling red-black hole, pulsating ominously, as if it had just feasted on her worst fears.
Is that a Hollow sphere? But it feels... different.
Driven by sheer adrenaline, she bolted toward her parents' room, but each step felt like wading through molasses, an invisible force pulling her back. "Mom?! Dad?!" Panic twisted her voice as she flung the door open. The sight that greeted her froze her in place: her parents huddled together; terror etched on their faces.
"Zhu Yuan! my daughter, please save us." her mother cried, their face distorted by the void but before she could reach them, the room shook violently. The gaping hole above expanded, drawing in everything—debris, air, and her parents. They floated helplessly, weightless against the dark force, inching toward the abyss.
"NO! PLEASE, NOT MY PARENTS!" The scream tore from her throat, echoing futilely against the roar of chaos. She lunged forward, but the weight of the world pressed her down, each step a struggle against the encroaching doom. "DON'T GO!" she pleaded, but her voice was swallowed by the tempest. The house around her crumbled, the pull of the black hole intensifying, dragging her back to her bedroom as darkness consumed her entirely.
Zhu shot awake, heart racing, tears streaming down her face. The room was eerily silent except for the relentless ticking of the clock. Disoriented, she wiped her eyes and let out a shaky breath. Just ten minutes? she thought, groaning. A nightmare? Seriously? This mattress must be cursed—it's practically a haunted house for my emotions!
A gentle knock broke the stillness. "Dear, are you okay? We heard you screaming. Do you have someone over?" Her mom's teasing voice called from the hallway, infused with a blend of maternal concern and a sprinkle of mischief.
"Mom, no! It's not like that!" Zhu's face flushed crimson, hotter than the swirling void from her dream. She could almost hear her mother's internal monologue: Oh, finally! My daughter's dating! Should I prepare the wedding banquet?
"Really? Because you know, if you do have a boyfriend, you might want to tell him about your... nightly scream fests—could be a dealbreaker!" Her mom quipped, humor lacing her tone like a cheeky seasoning on a bland dish.
"Mom, I'm fine! It's just... a bad dream!" Zhu sighed, longing for a secret exit to escape this parental interrogation, which was infinitely more terrifying than her nightmare.
"Just checking in! If you need any tips on how to handle a man, I'm your expert," her mom continued, laughter bubbling in her voice as if she were discussing how to fix a leaky faucet instead of her daughter's romantic prospects.
"Great, thanks, Mom. Just what I need: a manual on 'man' management while I'm dealing with my nightmare!" Zhu muttered, rolling her eyes in a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Finally, she settled back onto her bed, the remnants of her nightmare swirling in her mind. Yet, despite the haunting echoes of her dream, the absurdity of her mom's teasing coaxed a reluctant smile from her lips. At least I know one thing for sure: I'm definitely awake now.