The next morning, a loud banging knock raged on the front door jeering both Ashton and Jamil from their sleep. They had both fallen asleep under the creaking wooden bed frame while standing guard from underneath the bed.
As they got out from underneath the bed, the wooden frame finally collapsed to the floor hitting Ashton's left foot like it was mad at him. Ashton groaned in pain leaning against the wall beside him to prevent him from falling. He limped at the excruciating pain and his face gave out ugly features as he wretched in pain.
Jamil quickly muffled a 'sorry' at Ashton as he went ahead to open the door for whoever was banging on the door that much early in the morning. What exactly could bring a person from his house early in the morning to disturb the peaceful sleep of others?
Jamil opened the door and before him stood some policemen. His eyes darted to count everyone of them but he got interrupted by the commanding officer who approached the door with a baton playing in his hands.
'Why are the police here?' Jamil thought to himself. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Ashton still wallowing in pain. Then, a thought struck him. 'Ashton might have stolen the silver coins from these policemen'
It made sense why the had come to their house this early. Jamil's eyebrows furrowed in anger. Ashton had lied to him again. With those thoughts racing through his mind, he finally spoke up asking the commanding officer why he was at their home.
"And to what do we owe you a surprise visit?" Jamil asked, with great enthusiasm.
"Learn some manners boy. A 'good morning greeting' would not kill you." The commanding police officer scorned showing his dirty teeth in a faint smile. "Jamil?" He asked.
Everything felt wrong at the mention of Jamil's name. How in the world did a policeman know his name? Not just an ordinary policeman, a commanding officer at that. Jamil reluctantly nodded.
"Yes, that is me"
The commanding officer looked over Jamil's shadow to take a peak look inside the room but Jamil's shoulder frame was totally blocking the view.
"And.., where is Ashton?" The man said, his voice laced with desperation.
'That fucker!' Jamil cursed at Ashton in his thoughts.
He let out a faint smile trying to wade off the commanding police officer. He had to be sure everything was going to be fine before he sold out the sucker he lives with "Why are you….."
Ashton intruded, cutting Jamil's words short with his own reply.
"Yes, I am Ashton." He replied from inside the room now limping towards the door. He paved his face over Jamil's shoulder and stood behind Jamil. "And…who are you people?"
He stopped resonating how stupid he must have sounded with his question. It was obvious the people in their front door were police officers and he blurted out a stupid question about their identity. He tried to rephrase his words again. "Why are you here, officers? This early?"
The commanding officer nodded to the other policemen who had come with him. The policemen understood this signal and without warning, they hounded both boys and dragged them to their awaiting vehicle.
"What did we do?"
"Why are you forcefully taking us?"
"Where are you taking us too?" Were the questions they repeated as they struggled to set themselves free from the hard grip of the policemen.
They were both tossed into the vehicle aggressively and before they knew it, the police vehicle jerked back to life and drove off away from the slum they live in-their home.
The car was actually headed in the direction of the police department agency. When they arrived at the site, Ashton and Jamil were ushered out and led straight to the questioning room which seemed more like a torture room.
As the boys entered the room, they were struck by the feeling of dread that hung in the air. The light from the single bulb in the room was harsh and unforgiving, casting a stark light on the walls of the room. The room was empty except for the table, chairs and handcuffs hanging against the wall.
The walls were bare and stained with what looked like blood. They tried to hold back their fear, but it was impossible not to feel the terror that had been set ablaze in the air.
They were both offered seats. They refused the offer saying they preferred to stay standing.
The commanding officer sat down facing both with a menacing look. The trio were thrown into a staring frenzy and soon, the officer's cold gaze feltered. A smile hooked on his lips and he started to say,
"It's okay boys. You're in safe hands you can relax now."
"Relax?" Ashton started, "how can we relax behind these dreadful walls?"
The man smiled again and made his real intent for bringing both boys all the way from their home to the police station. It was concerning the attack of the mutant.
"You see," the man started again, "Geremy, the other boy who survived the raze with you came here last night to file a report….."
And so, the investigation continued. After Ashton and Jamil had told the policeman their side of the story which they had witnessed, they were both served their breakfast and the boys were left alone to enjoy their meal.
After about an hour, the commanding officer came back again to check on them. It was Jamil who spoke up to ask the question that had been bothering him.
"When do we get to go back home? I'm sick of staying here already."
The man let out a sly grin over his face then gave Jamil an answer to his question. "What do you mean home? You cannot go back there son."
Ashton shrugged, finding those words a bit odd and disturbing. Why could they not return to their home? Even after the witness interrogation? He laced his gaze over the commanding officer and said.
"And why is that? Why can we not go back to our home?"
"Do you not watch the news? Or hear the street gossip?" The man asked, pressing his weight against his hand on the table.
"Ashton, Jamil, you both saw the mutant and so did the mutant see your faces. You both are in danger now!"