The police stormed the place, surrounding Bololo, who looked at them with a wicked smile and a sickly glint in his eyes. In a calm, sarcastic tone, he said:
What is the way to the Great Kingdom of Algeria?
One of the cops snapped at him angrily:
Shut up! You have no right to speak. You'd better talk to your lawyer.
Bololo smirked and replied mockingly:
Alright, where can I find this lawyer? I need to ask him to guide me to the path of the Great Kingdom of Algeria.
The officer turned to a rookie officer with a puzzled expression and asked:
What the hell is he talking about?
The rookie shrugged and said:
I don't know, but I've heard of Algeria. It's not a kingdom; it's a republic.
The inspector raised an eyebrow.
I know that, but it's far from here. Why is he asking about it?
The rookie hesitated before asking:
Can I speak to him?
The inspector waved dismissively:
Sure, but tell him to put his clothes on. I'm tired of seeing too many naked bodies today.
The inspector chuckled lightly as the rookie began dressing bololo, like a small child. Suddenly, the rookie looked at the officer and said mockingly:
You should stop cheating on your wife.
The inspector smirked and replied sarcastically:
I'll stop cheating on her when the Arabs unite. Then, I'll be faithful.
The rookie laughed and said:
Well, enjoy your cheating because they'll never unite. And if they do, it'll be the end of us.
Suddenly, Bololo interrupted:
Are we in the land of the Arabs or Andalusia? I haven't visited since Granada fell.
The rookie smiled innocently while helping him walk and said :
Come with me. I'll get you some coffee.
Bololo tilted his head, confused.
I don't know what that means, but I agree—on one condition: tell me what century we're in. And is Dey Hussein still the ruler of the Great Kingdom of Algeria?
The rookie grinned and replied:
Of course, I'll tell you everything.
Bololo and the rookie walked out of the room without cuffs, allowing Bololo to feel at ease.
The inspector surveyed the chaotic scene with sharp eyes and ordered his team:
Start collecting fingerprints and evidence. I don't want anything useful to slip through.
An officer approached and asked:
What about the bodies?
The inspector replied sternly:
Thorough examination of everything. Send a detailed report to the lab. I want no loopholes in this case. Handle the bodies carefully, and document everything before moving them.
As the team followed his instructions, the inspector took a deep breath and gave the bloodstained room one last look. Though confusion gripped him, he kept it hidden from his men.
The café
The traditional café was simple in design yet bustling with life. The old metallic tables were scattered randomly, some covered with faded cloth. The air was thick with the aroma of boiling tea and the sound of chairs scraping against the stone floor. The waiter, with his modest appearance, moved briskly between the customers, carrying a tray full of small tea glasses.
Sarah sat in the corner of the café, observing the place with her light brown eyes, which carried a hint of worry. Her long black hair fell freely over her shoulders, gleaming faintly under the dim café lights. She was petite, dressed in a plain white shirt and simple jeans, reflecting her straightforward personality.
Holding a glass of tea between her hands, she took a deep breath and muttered to herself in a low voice:
Where is he? He's late.
She had barely finished her words when George entered the café. He was tall, with strikingly handsome and captivating features. His blue eyes radiated confidence, and his short brown hair was neatly styled. He wore a crisp white shirt paired with sleek black trousers, exuding an air of elegance. His charming smile turned heads as he walked in, but his focus was solely on reaching Sarah's table.
He approached her with a small smile and said:
Hello, sorry for being late.
Sarah looked at him with a mixture of worry and annoyance:
I've been waiting a long time, George. Is everything alright?
He sat across from her and took a deep breath before saying:
I'm fine, and you? How have you been these past days?
She responded, trying to conceal her frustration:
I'm fine, as you can see... just trying to enjoy some time away from stress.
George smiled faintly and said:
That's good... but there's something I need to discuss with you.
She looked at him suspiciously and said:
What is it? You seem serious.
George sighed, lowering his gaze for a moment before speaking:
Sarah, our relationship has been nice, but... I think we need to end it.
Sarah gasped in shock:
What? Why?!
George replied in a cold tone, avoiding direct eye contact:
I need a partner who suits me. You're just... not attractive enough. I have to think about my reputation.
Sarah froze for a moment, then stood up in anger and slapped him hard across the face. George looked at her in shock as she grabbed the juice glass from the table and poured it over his head.
With a trembling voice full of rage, she said:
You're a despicable man with not an ounce of decency!
She stormed out of the café, her steps furious, leaving George drenched and the focus of everyone's disapproving stares.
Sarah was walking quietly along the pavement, surrounded by the dim streetlights and the bustling crowd. Suddenly, a man sprinted past her, glancing nervously over his shoulder as if someone was chasing him.
Everyone froze for a moment, but Sarah barely noticed Zaki, who appeared from behind, chasing the man while shouting angrily:
Stop, you bastard! I'll kill you!
Zaki was a young man with slightly handsome features, his appearance a mix of Arab and Amazigh heritage. His olive-toned skin and dark, piercing eyes radiated strength and seriousness. He had a commanding presence, reminiscent of someone from northern Morocco.
The fleeing man dashed past Sarah, forcing her to sidestep to avoid him. As Zaki approached, she tried to greet him kindly, but he rudely shoved her aside, saying:
Get out of my way!
Sarah fell to the ground, her expression quickly shifting to fury. She got up and shouted:
I'll kill you, you rude jerk!
She started running after him, picking up small stones from the ground and hurling them at him. One struck his head, but Zaki didn't stop, and neither did she.
Sarah (angrily):
How dare you shove me like that? You'll pay for this, you rude man!
Zaki (glancing back while running):
Get away from me, you crazy woman! I don't have time for this!
Sarah:
No time? You have time to push people to the ground, but not to apologise? Do you think the world revolves around you?
Zaki (yelling):
I told you, leave me alone! I've got more important things to do than deal with your petty complaints!
Sarah (shouting while throwing another stone at him):
More important? More important than apologising to someone you shoved rudely? I don't think so!
Zaki (angrily):
If you don't want trouble, stop following me! I'm not saying it again!
Sarah (defiantly):
And I'm not saying it again: you'll pay for this! I won't stop until I teach you some manners!
Zaki (raising his voice):
My name's Zaki, and I'm not in the mood for lessons right now, so back off!
Sarah (mockingly):
Oh, Zaki? The name doesn't make your behaviour any less rude. Get ready, because I'm not letting this slide!
Sarah, burning with anger, quickly took off her bag and hurled it forcefully at Zaki. The bag hit his leg, causing him to stumble slightly. She seized the moment, rushing toward him, then jumped on him with all her might, gently hitting him on the head while yelling furiously.
Zaki (blocking her hits):
Stop! Have you lost your mind?!
Sarah (yelling):
You deserve this! How dare you push me?!
Zaki:
I told you I was busy! Can we talk calmly?
Sarah (defiantly):
Calmly? After all this? Dream on!
Zaki (sighing):
I'm sorry, is that enough?
Sarah (pausing for a moment):
It will never be enough! I'll remind you of this for the rest of your life!
As Zaki and Sarah continued their argument, the strange man suddenly stopped running and turned toward them with slow steps. Raising his hands, he began moving them in peculiar gestures, as if drawing invisible shapes in the air. Suddenly, a flash of light appeared, and a glowing vortex started forming before them, gradually expanding into a pulsating magical portal with vibrant colors.
Sarah (in awe):
What is this?!
Zaki (nervously):
Shit, we are in big trouble
The Strange Man:
No time for explanations, get ready!
Without giving them a chance to react, the man pushed them forcefully into the portal. Sarah tried to grab onto the edge, but she and Zaki disappeared into the swirling light.
The crowd in the street stood frozen, staring in shock. Silence enveloped the scene until the strange man broke it, saying loudly:
What? Never seen a magical portal before?
One of the onlookers:
Yeah, but this isn't normal!
The Strange Man (sarcastically):
Good, now you've seen one. What do you want now? A celebration? Mind your own business!
A small child timidly approached and asked:
Sir, what happened to them?
The Strange Man (coldly):
That's none of your concern. But they're now in a place where they can get to know each other better... maybe even improve their relationship.
The Small Child:
Do you have any candy?
The Strange Man (angrily):
Get away from me before I send you with them, and you all become a family!
As he walked away, he muttered to himself:
I need to find Bololo... and warn him that he's in great danger.