(flashback)
(still in rewind)
LORELEI POV
Yesterday was different.
I was treated differently than I ever have. It was fun and I was comfortable. More comfortable than I thought I would be.
Maybe I should be grateful that Kennedy and Cole left that day without me.
I wonder if they are looking for me at all.
I actually hope they aren't.
ROYCE POV
The day had come.
The day that decides a lot of things for something that may or may not be something to worry about.
(I know I have been speaking in riddles) quite often more than necessary.
It's not like I'm trying to hide anything, it's just kinda embarrassing that even though I am quite a reputed officer, I'm still scared of handling anything related to 'them'.
I also currently have a lot on my plate.
My wife is not talking to me because I told her I was too busy to accompany her on her visit to her mother's house which happens to be too far and going that far during times like these are not in my best interest.
I would love to go with her as it would be like i'm on vacation but if I don't send this little girl off to her family as soon as possible, I'll have to start preparing for my own funeral myself.
I am also questioning my entire existence and my life decisions and oh also my career everyday as soon as I wake up in the morning lately, and the situation I'm in is not helping my mental health.
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From the day I turned thirteen, on the very day of my birthday I wanted to become a special unit officer to deal with crimes bigger than the unexpected horrors human species create for each other.
No, I did not want to build my career over an action movie that I watched with my friends but yes it played a small role too but the real reason is a story for another time.
Actually hold on, since I'm quite workless right now thinking about my life I will honor you with the greatest story you have probably ever heard.
Not a very good story teller so I will start with my family.
My mother was dead on the day I was born.
(Let that sink in)
My father was a special unit officer for a unit that went on dangerous missions more than they had to because the other units were not as competent which left him often unprepared and exhausted for every new mission.
He's only human after all and his chances of death were high.
Don't get me wrong, my mother did not die while giving birth to me or because of me in any way, she actually died seven hours after my birth due to a heart attack, also why seven is now my unlucky number, has been since I was born.
My father couldn't take the pain of losing his beloved wife and decided to completely busy himself with work, forgetting and neglecting me in the process.
He only looked at me happy and loving a few minutes after I was born.
After that he became a depressed but very busy man.
The irony is my wife's pregnancy was delayed seven whole hours which was physically painful for her and mentally draining and stressful for the both of us which makes it even more the reason for seven to be my whole bloodline's and my, unlucky number.
Anyway, my father was busy as I mentioned before, and left me in the care of his sister's family who were not nice at all.
They never physically abused me till I turned eleven atleast but the mental torture they gave me till then was enough for a little bit of trauma that my loving wife erased over the years and blessed me with two sons of our own.
My aunt had two sons and three daughters, the daughters were the only nice ones in the house.
Their father, my uncle, was a drunkard who was a small police constable, maybe that's why he hated me so much.
The inferiority complex over my father was the obvious reason and when I finally turned eleven the physical abuse started with beating me with a belt if I spoke up.
But by then I had already become mentally quite firm that gave me enough strength to fight the physical abuse without breaking down.
Your will power always plays a big role in everything you do in life.
Yes it hurt terribly, with lots of bleeding often and the bruises always becoming a scar.
I would not do anything wrong as far as I know, if I just so much as looked into his eyes for too long or tried to speak up,he would hurt me, he probably wanted to control me for the rest of my life which luckily didn't last long.
My aunt would just sit and watch with her sons laughing every time the belt landed on me sometimes on the same already wounded place, their daughters would cry and ask in a small voice to stop which ended with them being scolded and running away to lock themselves in their rooms skipping dinner preparations that got them screamed at again in the morning by their pathetic father who would be wasted early in the morning.
One of those girls is Leah, who escaped that hellhole with me and her sisters and now works on my team as the 'secret lady agent'.
Pun intended.
On the outside she just looks like a single cop mom having two daughters who are actually her sisters, which is being used to the advantage for a lot of missions she gets sent on.
Again we have diverted from the topic on hand, I will just get to the point, I did not choose to follow my dad, I chose to follow a secret agent on a mission who was the one who saved me risking his life and the mission for me a little pathetic stranger kid who was just barely strong enough to survive in a house like that.
At that time he told me something that stuck with me for the rest of my life and something I tell anyone who looks like they might need a few words of hope in this harsh world.
He said "I know it was hard but im proud of you for staying strong and surviving, you don't know me but that's what makes our encounter so much more special, I hope you help someone in need in the future as well and I hope you have faith in yourself the most, trust and depend on yourself only until you truly find your own person or people" and that was enough to make me cry in front of him with snot all over my face but after I had a good much needed cry I had calmed down and was now inspired to be just like him when I grew up.
He died on the mission he had temporarily not prioritised to save me but he will always be remembered by everyone he helped purely out of the kindness of his heart.
There, my tragic sob story ends here.
I quickly sober up from my 'trying to be inspirational to others with a sad backstory' type of thoughts and give Leah a quick call.
She doesn't pick up on the first ring or the second which gives me more anxiety but indicates that she's probably on the way here. Hopefully.
I looked at the wall clock and as expected working hours had started so the obvious answer is she is on the way. Hopefully. Again.
I wait quite impatiently for about twenty minutes before I hear her greeting everyone who arrived at the office and she walks into my cabinet alone.
Wait, where is Lorelei?!