The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with the weight of what had just happened. Ren stood in front of the two police officers, trying to control his breathing, his fists still clenched at his sides. Jenny was still sitting on the edge of the couch, trembling, her hands clasped together, eyes downcast.
Ren could feel the officers sizing him up, their eyes moving between him and Jenny, waiting for an explanation. Before he could say anything, the door behind the officers creaked open, and Tim stepped back into the room, his face twisted into a pathetic grimace, clutching his side where Ren had hit him earlier.
"That psycho assaulted me!" Tim gasped, stumbling toward the officers, a desperate attempt at looking wounded and weak. His eyes darted toward Ren, but his voice was loud and filled with exaggerated pain. "He barged in here, attacked me for no reason! I didn't do anything! This guy's nuts, I swear!"
Ren's stomach dropped as he watched Tim play the victim. The bastard was putting on a show, trying to flip the entire situation on its head. He shot a glance toward Jenny, hoping she would speak up, say something to defend him. But Jenny's lips remained sealed, her gaze still fixed on the floor, her face pale and drawn.
"No, no, no, not now... don't freeze up."
One of the officers, a stocky man with a stern face, stepped between Ren and Tim, his hand resting on the baton at his hip. "Alright, alright, calm down," the officer said, his voice firm but controlled. "Let's get some answers here. Sir,"—he looked at Ren—"what's going on?"
Ren felt his pulse quicken. He knew how this could look if he didn't explain himself clearly. He needed to stay calm, needed to make sure they understood what was really happening.
"I didn't assault him. This fucker's been abusing his girlfriend," Ren said, his voice steady but laced with anger. "I heard them fighting, and I couldn't just sit by and let it happen anymore. I came in to stop him from hurting her, that's all. He was the one threatening her."
Tim, still clutching his side, scoffed dramatically. "That's bullshit! I didn't touch her. This guy just lost it. Look at me!" He pointed at the officers, as if to underline his supposed injuries. "He barged in here and started hitting me! I never laid a finger on her."
Ren's jaw clenched, and he shot a look toward Jenny again, silently pleading for her to say something. But she sat there, frozen in place, her eyes glossy with tears. She looked like she wanted to speak, but the words wouldn't come out.
"Goddamn it, Jenny. Please, say something..."
The second officer, a tall woman with short-cropped blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, seemed to notice the way Jenny was trembling. She took a step forward, her gaze shifting to the bruises on Jenny's wrists, peeking out from the cuffs of her oversized sweater. Her eyes narrowed, and she spoke softly, leaning toward Jenny.
"Miss... are you alright?" the female officer asked, her tone gentle, but firm. "Are you hurt? Is what he's saying true?"
Jenny opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her breath hitched, her eyes darting nervously between Ren and Tim. The female officer's gaze sharpened, noticing the subtle way Jenny shrank back when Tim moved closer, still clutching his side.
Ren's blood boiled as he watched Tim's smug expression, his body language oozing with fake innocence. You fucking snake, Ren thought bitterly. The guy had always been good at manipulating people, especially when it came to making himself look like the victim.
Tim looked over at Jenny, a sickly sweet smile spreading across his face, the kind he used when he wanted to control her. "Tell them, Jenny," he said softly, though his voice had a hard edge. "Tell them I didn't do anything. This guy's the problem."
"Say something, Jenny. Say anything!"
Ren's chest tightened. He could feel the situation slipping through his fingers, like sand spilling through an hourglass. If she didn't speak up, they were going to arrest him for assault. They didn't see what happened. All they saw was a battered Tim and a silent, terrified Jenny.
But then, just as Ren was about to lose hope, the female officer knelt down in front of Jenny, her voice lowering even further, her tone becoming even softer. "It's okay, Jenny," she said, using her name for the first time. "You don't have to be afraid. We're here to help you. You can tell us the truth. Did he hit you? Did Tim hurt you?"
Jenny's lip trembled. Her hands were shaking as she pulled the sleeves of her sweater over her bruised wrists, as if trying to hide them from the world. And then, her eyes met Ren's for the briefest moment, and something in her broke.
Tears streamed down her face as she began to sob, her voice trembling. "He... he hits me," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "He hits me when he gets angry. I didn't... I didn't know what to do..."
The room went still. Tim's face went white, his smug confidence evaporating in an instant. He took a step back, raising his hands in a defensive posture, his eyes darting around nervously. "What the hell, Jenny?! You're lying! I never—"
"Shut up, you lying fucker," Ren growled, stepping forward, his anger boiling over. His voice was ice cold now, his body tense, ready to explode. "The cops can ask the neighbors. They'll tell you everything. You've been terrorizing her for weeks, and you know it."
The female officer stood up, her eyes now locked on Tim, no longer soft and sympathetic but sharp and accusing. "Is that true, Tim? You've been beating her?"
Tim's mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. "N-No! No, I didn't—she's just... she's upset! I... She fell down the stairs, that's all! I didn't touch her, I swear!" His voice was rising, his eyes wild with desperation.
Ren couldn't help but laugh bitterly, the sound harsh and full of disgust. "Fell down the stairs?" Ren repeated, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "That's the best you've got? Come on."
Tim glared at him, his fists clenched at his sides. "You're full of shit," he spat. "You're just trying to cover your own ass because you attacked me. I'm the one who's hurt here!"
The female officer raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with Tim's performance. "We'll see about that," she said coolly. She turned to the stocky officer and nodded. "Cuff him."
"What?!" Tim shrieked, his voice cracking. "You can't arrest me! I didn't do anything! This is bullshit!"
The stocky officer stepped forward and grabbed Tim's arm, twisting it behind his back with a practiced efficiency. The sound of the handcuffs clicking into place was sharp and final. Tim struggled, but it was no use. He was trapped.
"I didn't do anything!" Tim yelled, his voice growing frantic. "She's lying! She's making this up!"
"Tell it to the judge," the female officer said, her tone flat. She turned to Ren, her gaze softening just a bit. "We're going to need you to come down to the station to give a statement. Just to make sure we've got everything on record."
Ren nodded, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion wash over him. "Yeah, sure," he said, his voice quieter now. "I'll do whatever you need."
As they led Tim out of the flat, still protesting loudly, Ren looked over at Jenny one last time. She was sitting on the couch, her head in her hands, sobbing quietly. He wanted to say something, to reassure her that it was over, that she didn't have to live in fear anymore. But the words wouldn't come.
Instead, he turned and followed the officers out into the hallway, his mind buzzing with everything that had just happened. As they made their way to the police car waiting outside, Ren couldn't help but reflect on how different this moment was compared to his old life.
In the past, I would've stayed quiet. I would've let her suffer. But not this time. Not this life.
The ride to the station was quiet, the city of Manchester passing by in a blur of lights and buildings. Ren stared out the window, his mind still processing everything. He had changed something today. He had made a difference. And for the first time in a long time, he felt like he was finally in control of his own fate.
This was his second chance, and he wasn't going to waste it.