Chapter 2: SJSHDFJ Calling for Backup
“At first, it wasn’t so bad. She just clung to a doll her sister gave her and wouldn’t speak. We all thought she was just heartbroken, but…” The director sighed deeply. “Later, Bubbles started talking to herself, sometimes even sneaking out into the courtyard in the middle of the night.”
“Oh? What does she say? And why does she sneak out at night? I thought you said Bubbles was a good kid, Director?” The man, now naturally leading the questioning, asked curiously.
“Bubbles is a good kid.” The director affirmed, “She would never have done such things before.”
He led the way, reminiscing, “When we asked her why, she just said she was going to play with her friend. When she talks to herself in her room, she’s talking to this ‘friend.’”
“But officer, none of us have ever seen this ‘friend’ Bubbles speaks of.” As if to add credibility to his words, the director looked back at the others.
Everyone nodded in agreement. “Never seen them.”
“There’s no way. I know every child here. There can’t be a friend Bubbles’s talking about.”
“They don’t exist.”
“Impossible.”
“If that was all, we wouldn’t have troubled you, officers. But… see for yourselves.” The director stepped aside, allowing the two officers a clear view of the courtyard.
The man, no longer paying attention to the incorrect title, stared at the blooming flowers in the courtyard, a look of bewilderment on his face.
Violets, tulips, black roses, jasmine, lilies, sunflowers… before him lay a sea of flowers, blooming out of season, defying nature’s laws.
His initial shock gave way to a chilling realization.
Some of these flowers were familiar, some unknown. It wasn’t just that this dilapidated orphanage lacked the resources to maintain such a vibrant garden, but the very existence of these flowers defied the natural order.
Aya looked up at the sky, snowflakes falling gently. Her eyes scanned the sea of flowers once more, and her face turned pale.
“Officers, look.” The director frowned. “We haven’t had the funds to hire a gardener for years. We just do what we can, pulling weeds when we have the time.”
“But…”
“When did this happen?”
“About three days ago. This place was practically barren before, but overnight…”
“Why wasn’t this detailed in the report?” Aya’s voice sharpened as she interrupted the director, her eyes fixed on him.
“It… it was.” The elderly director looked confused. “It said that flowers suddenly bloomed in the courtyard a few days ago.”
“…” The man tugged at the corner of his lips, silencing his partner with a look.
“Director, this isn’t something you can just brush off as ‘flowers suddenly blooming.’ Depending on the circumstances, we… forget it.” Seeing the director’s bewildered expression, he sighed.
The man took out his phone. “Headquarters, headquarters, this is SJSHDFJ requesting backup.”
“Repeat, this is SJSHDFJ requesting backup. We suspect the presence of a Chaotic entity.”
“Click”
“Headquarters received. SJSHDFJ, please maintain communication. You are granted temporary Level 3 authority. You are authorized to terminate the Polluter and any Chaotic entities on sight, if necessary.”
“Roger.”
The man’s face was expressionless as he put away his phone. He knew they were in deep trouble now.
‘No retreat, maintain communication at all times?’
‘Temporary authority, terminate on sight?’
‘They’re sending me to my death!’
A commotion broke out amongst the onlookers, many realizing that something was wrong with these ‘police officers.’
“Officer, what’s going on? Backup? Why do you need backup?”
“Chaotic entity? Oh god, this has to be a joke.”
“Officer, say something!”
The man pulled out his gun and fired a shot into the air.
‘Peace and quiet at last.’
Ignoring the terrified faces around him, he licked his lips.
“I’ll lead the way. Director, you’re with me. Aya, you’re in the rear.” He gestured with his gun. “Please cooperate, everyone. This is a serious matter.”
“Now, let’s go meet the lovely Bubbles. I have a lot of questions for her.”
……………………………………………………..
The air crackled with tension, the earlier lightheartedness completely gone. The man felt his heart pounding in his chest. They hadn’t walked far, but it felt like an eternity.
Was this loyalty to his duty or simply resignation to his fate?
He couldn’t tell what he was thinking anymore. One ‘veteran,’ one rookie, two handguns, and a group of old people and children. If a Chaotic entity did appear, they were all done for.
Despite the pessimism, the despair, he knew he had to face it. There was no escape if the worst happened. In that case… he might as well face it head-on.
As if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, the man’s pace quickened.
They stopped in front of a wooden door on the second floor. The man gestured for the director to stay back. After a moment of hesitation, he hid his gun-wielding hand behind his back.
“Knock, knock.”
“Who is it?” A small voice came from behind the door.
Silence. The man took a deep breath and made up his mind. “It’s the police, open up.”
“…The director said I can’t open the door to strangers. Not even the police.” The tiny voice responded.
“Uh…” The man was taken aback. He looked at the director.
“Bubbles, come open the door. This officer has some important questions for you.” The director understood and quickly said.
“Okay.”
The door creaked open slightly, and a small head peeked out.
Seeing the group of people staring at her, the little girl jumped back in fright, slamming the door shut.
“Director, please take everyone downstairs. Aya, stay here.”
“Senior!” Meeting the man’s stern gaze, Aya reluctantly agreed. “Fine.”
Once everyone else was gone, the man spoke softly, “Bubbles, I have some very important questions to ask you. Don’t be afraid, I’ve asked everyone else to leave. Can you open the door now?”
After a moment, the door creaked open again, and the little head peeked out once more.
Bubbles looked around, seeing only the unfamiliar man and the woman from before. A relieved expression appeared on her face.
“There were too many people. Bubbles got scared.” The little girl giggled sheepishly, finally opening the door completely.
The man quickly scanned the room. A small bed, a chair, the cramped space held neither terrifying monsters nor gruesome corpses.
He turned his attention to the little girl before him. Six or seven years old, with bright blue eyes, chubby cheeks, and soft blonde hair tied into two cute pigtails… she didn’t look like a severely polluted individual at all.
He heard a sigh of relief from beside him. Glancing over, he saw that Aya seemed to have shed a heavy burden.
And wasn’t he the same?
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