(Laura Ercilia)
*(Sounds of metal tools clinking)*
"Uncle Alonso? Uncle?" Laura's voice echoed through the empty garage.
She stepped inside, the silence amplifying her concern. The garage door was open, and his car was parked outside. Where could he be?
Suddenly, a voice came from beneath the car. "I'm here," Uncle Alonso called out, sliding out from under the vehicle. He removed his gloves and stood up, brushing off the dust. "I heard you needed to talk to me about something?"
Alonso Alguacil, 32 years old, a deputy at the Shrine County Sheriff's Office, stood at 5'8 with black hair. He led Laura into the house, offering her a cup of water. "Is everyone doing okay?"
Laura hesitated. "Yeah..."
"So, what did you want to talk about?" he asked, sensing her unease.
"It's about my visions again," Laura admitted.
Alonso's eyebrows raised as he took a sip of his water. "What did you see this time?"
Laura described the visions she had seen a couple of days ago. Alonso listened intently. "Do you remember what they looked like?"
Laura nodded and pulled out some sketches she had drawn. Sketching was second nature to her, and the details were chillingly precise.
Alonso scanned the drawings, his face growing serious. Just then, Laura handed him an ID. "I picked this up during the incident."
Alonso reassured her, "I'll handle the rest. You should go home and rest."
---
**Shrine County Sheriff's Office**
"Alonso? You on duty today?" Mike Anderson, a fellow officer and longtime friend, asked as Alonso walked in.
Alonso shook his head. "Just here to get something." Before heading into his office, he turned back to Mike. "I need to see you for a sec."
Mike followed him, curiosity piqued. "What's up?"
Alonso laid the sketches and ID on his desk. "Can you run a background check on these? I need to confirm something."
Mike took the items and headed to his desk. As Alonso waited, he pondered Laura's words. Since the traumatic incident, Laura had developed these strange visions, often leading to incredible but disturbing insights.
This was only the second time her visions had pointed to a criminal activity. The first time was when she was just 13, during a heartbreaking kidnapping and homicide case involving a little girl named Lexie.
Laura had somehow identified the perpetrator at Lexie's funeral. Despite his initial disbelief, Alonso had followed her lead and eventually caught the culprit, Kevin Jefferson, Lexie's mother's ex-boyfriend.
Alonso sighed, leaning back in his chair. He hoped this time, Laura's vision was just a misinterpretation.
*(Knock, knock)*
Mike entered with a file. "The ID belongs to an 18-year-old named Tyron Woodward, a high school dropout with a record of theft and shoplifting. The sketches didn't lead to much, but one of the portraits resembles Klaire Woodward, his legal guardian. She's been reported to CPS a few times for abuse, but nothing substantial came of it."
Alonso scanned the files and nodded. "Her visions are telling the truth again."
Mike looked puzzled. "Who?"
"Laura," Alonso replied, standing up quickly. "Thanks, Mike. I'll need your help later." He rushed out of the office.
---
**New Grove Park**
Laura sat quietly on a bench, watching the people pass by. The hum of laughter and conversation filled the air, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside her. The park was lively, children running around, parents chatting, and couples strolling hand in hand. But Laura's mind was elsewhere, replaying the haunting images from her vision.
"Laura!" Uncle Alonso's voice broke through the noise. He had come as quickly as he could, the park being just a couple of miles from his house. He took a seat next to her, catching his breath. "You were right."
Laura's gaze dropped to her hands. She knew it was right, but a part of her had desperately wished it wasn't.
"Will they be safe?" she asked, her voice tinged with discouragement.
Alonso placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Thanks to you, those kids will be okay. I promise I'll do my best to bring them justice. I just need a little more time to collect the necessary evidence."
Laura looked at her uncle, her eyes reflecting a mix of relief and lingering sadness. She remembered the first time her visions had proven true, the horror of the Lexie case, and how it had changed her life forever. She had hoped her visions were just nightmares, figments of an overactive imagination. But they were real, and they demanded action.
Alonso sighed, understanding her turmoil. "I know this is hard on you, Laura. But you're making a difference. Those kids will owe their lives to you."
Laura nodded slowly, trying to absorb his words. She had always wanted to help people, but not like this. The weight of her visions was a heavy burden, one she had to carry alone, except for Uncle Alonso's support.
"Let's take a walk," Alonso suggested. "Clear our heads."
They walked along the park's winding paths, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the ground. Alonso recounted stories from his early days as a deputy, trying to lighten the mood. Laura listened, a faint smile forming on her lips as she appreciated his effort.
As they neared a quiet corner of the park, Alonso turned serious again. "Laura, I need you to promise me something. If you ever have another vision, you come to me right away. We'll figure it out together, like we always do."
Laura looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. "I promise, Uncle Alonso."