The two detectives drove through the quiet morning streets, the hum of the engine the only sound between them. Alex sat in the passenger seat, his gaze lost in the passing scenery outside the window.
"What are you hungry for?" Mark asked, glancing over.
"I don't know," Alex replied, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "Maybe... pancakes? Haven't had them in a while." He forced a laugh, then turned the question back on Mark. "What about you?"
"First, a hot coffee—it's essential—"
Mark's words were cut off by Alex's interruption. "You haven't had coffee yet?"
"Nope. Have you?"
"Of course! I'd be struggling to stay awake without it. How are you even functioning?"
Mark chuckled. "I'm not dependent on it like some people."
"Hilarious. You should've been a comedian."
"Think so?"
"Yeah, yeah," Alex said, waving him off with a grin. "So, what'll you have?"
"Coffee for sure, and maybe some eggs and bacon. Oh, and I'm stopping by the store later to grab some cookies."
"Wow, you really know how to treat yourself," Alex teased.
"Breakfast is the most important meal, right? Gotta do it right."
They both laughed, the lighthearted banter a brief respite from the heaviness of their case.
As their laughter faded, Alex turned back to the window, his mind racing with thoughts about the killer. "He's definitely local," Alex muttered to himself. "Strong, healthy—someone who blends in easily."
But then, something strange caught his eye. A flicker of movement. He squinted, trying to make sense of it. Were those... fish? At first, he dismissed it, thinking he must have mistaken a bird for a fish. But then he saw them clearly—fish, swimming through the air as if caught in an invisible current.
His heart started to pound. The sky outside the window darkened, and suddenly, it felt like they were underwater, trapped in some nightmarish tsunami.
"M-Mark," Alex stammered, his voice laced with panic. "We need to get out... before we drown."
Mark frowned, concerned. "Drown? Alex, are you okay?"
Alex's breath quickened as he realized what was happening. The hallucination was getting worse, the imagined water rising around them. He could feel the panic tightening in his chest, but he knew he had to stay calm. His hands trembled as he reached for his meds, swallowing them with a gulp of water.
For a few agonizing minutes, Alex sat there, eyes closed, focusing on his breathing. Slowly, the hallucination began to fade. The water receded, the fish disappeared, and the light returned to the sky. He opened his eyes, meeting Mark's worried gaze.
"I'm okay," Alex managed, though his voice was shaky. "Thanks."
Mark's face was pale, his concern evident. "What happened? Are you ok?"
Alex took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I'll explain later. Let's just keep going."