The red and blue lights lit up the room like a silent warning. Alex stepped back from the unconscious man, hands up slightly—not in surrender, but in caution. Sue bit her lip and tucked her phone away as the sounds of doors slamming and boots on pavement grew louder.
Seconds later, the paramedics burst in.
"Step back!" one of them ordered, already crouching by the guy's side, checking his vitals with rapid precision.
A police officer followed behind, hand resting near his holster. His eyes swept the room—blood on the floor, the unconscious man, Alex and Sue hovering nearby.
"You two—don't move," the cop barked.
"We're not the ones you want," Alex said, trying to keep calm. "He's the reason you were called."
The officer didn't relax. "Start talking. Who is he?"
"Name's Sam, I think," Sue answered, stepping forward slightly. Her voice trembled but she steadied herself. "He… he's a drug dealer. And he—he tried to attack him." She nodded toward Alex. "But something happened. He got knocked out."
"By what?" the officer asked.
Alex hesitated. He couldn't exactly say, 'Oh, a Demon I've bonded with shot him in the head with a dart.' So instead, he just gestured to the table.
"He tripped. Hit the edge," he lied smoothly. "We stopped the bleeding, then called you."
The paramedic looked up and nodded. "Pulse is steady. Still breathing. He'll live."
The officer eyed Alex carefully. "And the blood? You sure you didn't hit him?"
Alex shook his head. "I didn't touch him. I was trying to defuse the situation. He rushed me and... well, gravity did the rest."
The officer didn't look convinced but said nothing else. Instead, he turned toward Sue.
"You said he's a dealer?"
"I... think so," Sue replied.
"You think so?" the officer asked, frowning.
"I—I mean, he had some white stuff in his pocket," she added quickly.
The officer turned and gestured to a second officer who was searching Sam's body. That officer pulled out a small pouch filled with white powder.
"What about you, kid?" the first officer asked, turning to Alex. "You look like a druggie to me. You both look like the stereotype. Are you trying to tell me neither of you hit him and those drugs weren't for the two of you?"
Alex stared at him, jaw tight. "Check his phone. You'll find I'm not one of his clients—I was his next target."
The officer studied him for a long moment, silent.
Alex didn't look away. He felt Cypher's presence behind him, quiet but alert. Even without showing himself, the shadow Fury seemed ready to strike if things went sideways.
More officers entered the apartment, one speaking into a radio, the other preparing to bag the drugs as evidence.
"Fine," the officer muttered. "We'll check everything."
He turned toward Sue. "You too. Don't leave town—or even this house. You're both under house arrest until we find evidence proving whether you're innocent or guilty. You'll be hearing from us soon."
Sue's eyes widened. "House arrest? We called you for help!"
The officer didn't budge. "Which is noted. But you were found at the scene with an unconscious man, blood, and illegal substances. Until forensics clears things up, you're not going anywhere."
Alex clenched his jaw. "We didn't even touch the drugs—he did."
"You can explain that in your official statement." The officer handed each of them a slip of paper. "Temporary detainment order. Stay inside. If you try to leave, GPS tracking will be activated, and we'll know."
Alex looked down at the slip—his name scribbled hastily, along with the words 'Under surveillance until further notice.'
Sue sat down heavily on the armrest of the couch. "Great. Just great."
The officers finished securing the scene, and within minutes, the apartment was quiet again, save for the sound of Sam being wheeled out on a stretcher, still unconscious.
Alex turned toward Sue. "Well… we're prisoners now."
Sue laughed bitterly. "We didn't even do anything."
"We're still suspects."
Alex paced the room, running a hand through his hair, glancing at the key on the floor. It was still there—unnoticed by the cops. He quickly walked over, picked it up, and slipped it into his hoodie pocket before Sue could say anything.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"We're stuck here," Alex replied. "But once this lockdown ends... I'm going to his house. I'll find the proof. Clear my name."
"You sure that's a good idea?"
Alex glanced toward the window, where the sirens were fading in the distance.
"No. But it's the only one I've got."
"Haa..." Sue sighed as she sank into the couch, rubbing her nose and glancing around the messy room. "What is this place?"
"How can anyone even live here?" she muttered, scoffing.
Alex let out a dry laugh and rolled his eyes. "And it was you who came with Sam here, wasn't it?"
Sue shot him a look but didn't argue.
Alex looked at her for a moment, his expression softening slightly. "I get it. You're angry. You're scared. I am too. But right now, we need to stay smart. As soon as this house arrest lifts, I'm going after the truth."
Sue leaned back and stared at the ceiling. "You'd better be right. If we're risking this much, there better be something worth finding in that bastard's house."
Alex nodded. "There is. I can feel it."
Hearing him, Sue snorted and gave him a sideways look. "What are you, a mage now?"
She said it half-sarcastic, half-genuine, eyeing Alex like she was still trying to figure out what exactly he was. Alex looked at her—very much tempted to say he was a demonic mage or some kind of fantasy reject—but he just exhaled through his nose and turned away, walking slowly toward the back of the room.
"What's with that door?" Sue asked, standing up as she noticed him staring.
There, almost hidden behind a tattered curtain and a broken coat rack, was a narrow stairwell leading downward.
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