TWO
"Officer Carter? Are you okay?" Ross's concerned voice broke through Emma's thoughts.
"Yeah, absolutely. Sorry." Emma shook her head, forcing herself to look away from the victim's face.
"Just shocked to see a familiar person ended up like this." She added, her voice low and sullen then she intended.
"I understand. But you have to try to take it easy. This is a nasty one." Ross placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Emma nodded, grateful for his consideration even though guilt churned in her stomach. She wasn't just shocked – she was terrified of what she might have done.
"Listen," Ross continued, pulling out his notepad.
"I want you to note down everything you can remember about this guy. Previous arrest, his known associates, anything that might help. We will be working this case together." He informed her.
"Sure, Sergeant. I will get right on it." Emma replied.
"Good. Let's catch whatever did this, because surely it wasn't a person's doing. Only an animal could do something like this or let's say a person who has become a beast." Ross pointed out, shaking his head in disbelief.
"It just didn't make any sense but I believe when we dig deep, it will eventually make sense." He added.
Emma's throat tightened at his words.
"Whatever did this."
"Could I possibly know the perpetrator and that is why I dreamt about everything?" Emma wondered inwardly.
"When did you last interact with him?" Ross asked, studying her face.
Emma inhaled and exhaled deeply before she could respond.
"That was during the arrest. He was... surprisingly calm about it. He actually said something about karma always catching up." Emma recalled, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Interesting choice of last words!" Ross muttered, jotting something down.
"Did he mention any threats? Anyone who might want to harm him?" He questioned further.
"No, nothing specific. But drug dealers aren't exactly known for their honest communication." Emma replied.
"True enough. Get me that report by end of day, alright?" Ross sighed, closing his notepad.
"Will do, Sergeant." Emma said.
~~~~~~~~~
The afternoon sun flooded through the windows of Eat & Eat Cafeteria, a stark contrast to the darkness that had consumed Emma's morning.
She sat across from her best friend Lily, who was already halfway through her burger.
"Girl, you look like something the cat dragged in." Lily declared, wiping ketchup from her mouth.
"And that is me being nice about it." She added, commenting on Emma's facial appearance.
"Thanks for the brutal honesty." Emma replied dryly. She knew she looked horrible. And the reason was no other the terrible dream that had plagued her night and even day.
"That is what friends are for." Lily said sarcastically. Emma heaved a sigh, not feeling amused one bit.
However, Lily continued, gesturing at Emma's untouched sandwich.
"You gonna eat that or just stare at it until it does tricks?" Lily raised an eyebrow.
"I'm just... troubled by this case I'm working on. I don't have an appetite." Emma responded, her voice low and tired.
"It must be one hell of a case to make you skip lunch. You never skip lunch." Lily pointed out then her eyes glinted with mischief as she remembered something.
"Remember when you ate a sandwich during that high-speed chase?" Lily said and let out a laugh.
"That was one time, and I was hungry." Emma replied and chuckled despite herself.
"Well, you are always hungry. That is why this..." Lily waved at Emma's full plate, "is freaking me out." Lily commented lightly.
Emma scrunched up her nose, pretending to be offended.
"Leave me alone, I am trying to think." She maintained. Lily smiled but continued talking anyway.
"Okay, tell me, what are you trying to think about? Share with me, I might be able to provide an insight."
However, Emma barely heard her. The memory of blood on her skin that morning kept flashing through her mind, mixing with images from the crime scene. From her dream.
"Earth to Emma!" Lily waved her hand in front of Emma's face.
"You are doing that weird zoning out thing again." She complained.
"Sorry, I just ..." Emma was saying but her friend cut her short.
"No, no more 'just.' What is really going on? And don't give me that 'troubled by the case' bullshit. I have known you since college – this is different." Lily maintained firmly.
Emma opened her mouth, then closed it.
"How can I even explain something I do not understand myself?" She thought to herself. Then exhaled sharply.
"Wait, Lily, have you ever dreamt ... About something and it felt so real, then it actually happened the same way in real life?" She asked her friend.
"You mean like that time in college when I slept-ordered fifteen pizzas?" Lily asked, laughing.
"No, I mean... something serious." Emma said in a serious tone.
At that, Lily's playful expression faded.
"Emma, you are starting to worry me. What happened?" Lily asked.
"I don't know. That is the problem. This morning, I..." Emma was saying but suddenly, Emma's vision blurred. For a split second, she could have sworn she saw red eyes gleaming at her from across the restaurant. Her hands began to shake.
"Emma? Your face just went white as a sheet." Lily stated her observation.
"I need to go." Emma stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor.
"What? You haven't even touched your food!" Lily protested, looking genuinely concerned now.
"Emma, what is going on with you?" She inquired.
"I just remembered ... there is something I need to check about the case." Emma responded.
"Bulls--t. Sit down and talk to me." Lily insisted.
Emma heaved a sigh again but as she opened her mouth to respond, a sharp pain shot through her head. The room began to spin, colors blending together like a twisted kaleidoscope.
She gripped the edge of the table, but her fingers wouldn't cooperate.
"I don't ... I can't ..." she managed to mumble before her knees buckled.
"Emma!" Lily's panicked scream was the last thing she heard as darkness claimed her.