While walking home after an unexpected night shift, covering for an injured co-worker, Christopher Mores noticed with a bit of unease that the lights of his apartment were still turned on
'Did something happen to Vanessa and the kids?' He thought immediately, speeding up his pace
When he reached his apartment door, Christopher slowly unlocked it, he had an unsettling feeling that once he opened the door, something horrifying would display in front of him.
What met his eyes, however, was the body of a boy no older than 16 sprawled on the floor, while his wife and kids stood nearby, their faces etched with fear and worry.
"Chris... the police are on their way," his wife said, her voice trembling and her expression a mix of confusion and fear.
...
About an hour later...
"So, you're telling me this kid appeared out of nowhere inside your apartment?" the police officer said, slightly annoyed.
It was already past midnight. Although he worked the night shift, incidents during these hours were rare, and he would typically spend his time resting in the office.
"Yes. The kids and I were already asleep when we heard a loud thud coming from the living room. We were terrified at first, but when I finally gathered the courage to check, the kid was already like this," said Vanessa, now noticeably calmer than before.
"Hmm... If what you're saying is true, then this could be the work of a powerful Mage or Arcanist," the police officer explained, his tone still tinged with annoyance. "Tomorrow, we'll send a team to inspect the apartment's security system. If we find any faults, the owner will face appropriate sanctions. All we can do for now is wait until the kid wakes up..."
"I suggest you stay at the Silk Serenity Hotel for the night. It's about a 30-minute walk down the road, and you should still find it open if you leave within the next half hour," he added. "We'll take the kid under our custody for now. You can come back by tomorrow at 9:30."
The police officer nodded curtly. "Take care and stay safe. We'll keep you updated if anything unexpected happens."
Vanessa gathered the children, and Christopher gave the officer a firm handshake. "Thank you. We'll be back first thing in the morning, and please, take care of him. He's just a kid after all." He said before leading his family out the door and into the night.
...
The next day.
Cristopher and Vanessa went to the police station as soon as they could.
"You must be Mr. Mores and Ms. Reeves, correct?" said a different officer from the night before, his tone calm but professional. He gestured toward the chairs in front of his desk with a wave of his hand. "Please, have a seat."
As soon as they sat down, their eyes were drawn to the child standing across the room. He looked frail, his posture tense, and his eyes darted nervously. It was clear, he was both anxious and hungry.
"From the investigations we've conducted so far, we've identified this kid as Kang Xu. He's been living in an orphanage for the past six years after his parents died from the G-Crisis," the officer began, his voice steady but tinged with unease. "However, it seems there was an accident at the Samdong orphanage just a few hours ago."
He paused, glancing at the boy before continuing. "But there is something that doesn't add up about this story, this kid is supposed to be dead. Just like every child in that orphanage who had been killed in a third-grade explosion, the entire building was declared collapsed. Yet, we only recovered the bodies of a few children."
The officer leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly. "So, it seems this boy somehow survived, without any hint of injury. But there's no evidence of how he ended up teleported into your apartment. When we examined his body for mana traces, we found only a minimal amount, certainly not enough to cast a teleportation spell this powerful. He's just a child, after all."
"As for the investigation into the warding spells and security implants, you'll receive further updates this afternoon," the officer said, extending a small card toward them. "You can reach us at this number if you have any additional questions or concerns."
If you have any questions, feel free to speak up," the officer said, his gaze shifting between Christopher and Vanessa, waiting for their response.
"Thank you very much, Officer—"
Christopher began to rise from his seat, but Vanessa's voice cut through the moment, halting him.
"What will happen to the kid?" she asked, her tone firm and her expression serious as her eyes fixed on the officer.
"He'll be relocated to a different orphanage," the officer replied plainly, his tone devoid of emotion as he glanced briefly at the child before returning his focus to Vanessa.
"Th-then... would it be possible for us to adopt this kid?" Vanessa asked, her voice wavering slightly as she gathered the courage to speak, yet her eyes reflected determination.
"What are you talking about, Vanessa?!" Christopher retorted loudly, his voice filled with shock and disbelief. "If you want to adopt him, you need to consult with me first!" He stood rigid, clearly taken aback by the sudden suggestion.
The police officer, apparently confused about everything that was going on said hurriedly: "Sir and Miss, if you want, you can take a decision later, and as I said earlier you can message the number from the card I have given to you"
He seemed eager to de-escalate the situation, hoping to give them space to sort things out.
The two left, still arguing heatedly as they made their way out of the room. The police officer watched them go, his shoulders sagging in relief. Once the door shut behind them, he let out a deep breath, finally enjoying a moment of peace and silence.
The officer then glanced sharply toward the boy and snapped, "What are you standing there for? Go rest in the meeting room for now!" His voice was stern, but there was an underlying exhaustion in his tone as he pointed toward the door.