FIVE
"No, I can't be seen like this." Emma muttered in panic.
"What should I do? Oh my God!" She clenched her fists as her eyes darted around the room then her eyes widened as an idea struck her mind.
She quickly rushed behind her door as the door was creaking open.
"Don't come in! I'm... I'm having a female situation! It is terrible!" Emma called out quickly. She winced as the words left her mouth, feeling embarrassed.
"Oh!" The voice mumbled on the other side sounding taken aback. Then as quickly as possible, the door slammed shut from outside.
"But why would you... never mind. Should I wait outside?" The voice asked.
"No! It will take me at least thirty minutes to handle this. It is too much of a situation." Emma said.
"Oh!" The voice grumbled, sounding uncomfortable at the information.
"Just go ahead, I will catch up!" Emma said, her heart racing.
"Well... okay. But hurry up, Carter." The voice said and afterwards, Emma could hear footsteps retreating.
At that, Emma let out a shaky breath.
"Oh, I dodged a bullet there. Thank God." Se whispered, quickly moving to her office closet.
"I need to change, fast!" She mumbled and her hands trembled as she pulled out the spare uniform she kept for emergencies.
"Never thought I would need this for something like... whatever this is." She gritted her teeth as she thought of her confusing situation.
"Well, first things first! I need to get rid of the evidence before finding out what is happening to me." She muttered, stuffing her bloodied uniform into her gym bag.
"I will burn it later. No one can see this." She added.
Emma checked herself in her small office mirror, making sure no traces of blood remained.
"Okay... I can do this. Just breathe." She told herself.
She heard more footsteps outside her door.
"Carter? You still in there?" A voice called out.
"Yes! Coming!" Emma replied, her voice higher than usual.
"The scene is pretty bad. We need to get there immediately." The voice said.
"I'm almost done. Just give me a moment!" Emma called out.
Shortly, she hurried out of the office, breathing heavily.
"Are you okay?" Sergeant Ross asked Emma as she got into the patrol vehicle.
"This is why I told you to go home and rest." The man pointed out.
"I am good, really." Emma maintained, nodding firmly. With that, off they drove to the crime scene.
~~~~~~~~~~
Later that day, Emma was sitting rigidly in Marcus Grey's office, with Sergeant Ross beside her, to give the feedback of their report. The senior officer's piercing gaze was making her feel uncomfortable.
"Officer Carter..." Marcus began in a measured tone.
"With this report, I learnt this morning's victim was someone you previously arrested, right?" He asked.
Emma nodded stiffly.
"Yes, sir. James Peterson. He was out on bail." She responded.
"And what was he charged with?" Marcus pressed on, leaning back in his chair.
"Sex offense, sir. An habitual sex offender who surprisingly keep getting bailed without being charged to court due to influence." Emma stated, her jaw tightening as she spoke.
It was obvious she was angry and irritated and Marcus saw through that.
"Interesting. And yesterday's victim?" Marcus questioned further, picking up a file from his desk.
"Drug dealing!" Emma replied, her throat dry.
"Both violent criminals. Both arrested by you. Both released on bail. And now both dead." Marcus noted, shaking his head slowly with his eyes narrowed at Emma.
Emma furrowed her eyebrows.
"What exactly are you getting at, sir?"She asked politely, fighting to keep her voice steady.
"Oh, nothing specific. Just trying to establish patterns. After all, it's quite a coincidence, isn't it?" Marcus said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"With all due respect, sir, it might be too early to call this a pattern. We shouldn't jump to conclusions while the investigation is ongoing." Sergeant Ross who had been quiet all along, interrupted.
"Is that what you think, Sergeant Ross? Two violent criminals, both arrested by Officer Carter, both killed in the same brutal manner within days of each other?" Marcus raised an eyebrow, a smirk making its way onto his lips.
Emma's heart sank at her superior's point.
"What is he drifting at?" She thought, clenching her fists.
"We don't have enough evidence to suggest..." Ross began but got interrupted before he could finish.
"Evidence will come. It always does." Marcus said cut Ross off.
Then he turned back to Emma.
"Don't you agree, Officer Carter?"
"Yes, sir. Definitely!" Emma managed to reply, her nails digging into her palms.
"How are you holding up with these cases? You look tired. Having trouble sleeping perhaps?" Marcus asked suddenly, peering at Emma.
"I'm fine, sir. Just working hard to solve this." Emma replied rather quickly. At that reaction, Marcus had a knowing look in his eyes.
"Really? Well, I am worried about you. Because Officer Johnson mentioned hearing you yelling in the parking lot last night. Something about seeing things?" Marcus pointed out.
Emma's blood ran cold, she quickly swallowed hard.
"I thought I saw something suspicious. It turned out to be nothing. Sir." She said, adding the last part sharply.
"Nothing?" Marcus repeated slowly.
"Are you sure about that?" He asked her.
"Absolutely, sir." Emma said firmly, though her hands were shaking under the desk.
"Good. Then get to the bottom of this. Soon." Marcus said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Yes, sir." Both officers responded before leaving his office.
"Are you okay?" Ross asked as they walked down the hallway.
"I'm fine. I just need a minute." Emma said sharply.
With that, Emma practically ran to the bathroom, locking herself in a stall. Her heart was pounding.
"Get it together, Emma. It is not as if you are guilty of anything!" She muttered, splashing cold water on her face at the sink.
She gripped the edges of the sink, staring at her reflection.
"But the crime scene... it was exactly like my dream. Just like the first one. Both victims... both dreams... She rambled on.
"Am I somehow connected to these deaths? Or is this all in my head?" She whispered, leaning closer to the mirror.
And that was when it happened.
For a split second, her eyes' color changed... to glowing red.
"What the hell? Those red glowing eyes... Are they mine?"