Shadows Ablaze

Chapter 14- Jaxon

The conference room is loud when I walk in. All the seats are already taken by other officers, leaving me to stand along the back wall beside another officer who arrived late. There are only six of us in the department, but the conference room rarely sees groups bigger than four, making the yellowing paint feel as though it's trying to suffocate us in the small space.

The Sheriff passes through the door, sending the whole room into silence. He makes his way to the front, looking at each face. "Thank you for coming," his gruff voice begins. "As many of you know, the topic for today's meeting involves this new drug that has hit the street. Axenil."

A chill runs up my spine as I remember the seizing teenagers and the house on fire. I think about the girl I interviewed at the hospital. Her scared, almost defiant golden eyes watching me from under trimmed black eyebrows and dark lashes. The curly black hair that framed her heart-shaped face. The flash of red that sparked against her hazelnut skin at the beginning of our conversation.

She might be the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, or at least in the top ten. I assume it makes sense. She's an Elite. Genetically created to be perfect. Just one more novelty they receive while the rest of us struggle to get from one day to the next. I should say it disgusts me, but looking at her was anything but disgusting. In fact, it was kind of enjoyable.

She had claimed she never took the drug, yet she seized the same way the other two teenagers had after taking it.

If things had gone differently two weeks ago, I could have been the one to sell the drug to them at that party. I wonder if the dealers I met were the ones to distribute it. I wonder if they know what's happening to the people that are taking it. I wonder if they purposefully target the Elite kids. I can't blame them if they dislike the Elites... I don't even like them. Always so entitled. So selfish. But giving them drugs that they would seize on? That's a bit excessive.

"So far, we've received reports that six people have seized on this drug."

Six? I only know of three. Who were the other three? When did that happen?

"Additionally," he goes on. "We've noticed that Axenil is highly addictive to people who take it. It doesn't matter that it's dangerous, these users can't get off of it." He pauses, glancing between all of our faces.

I do the same. Faces remain static, not fazed by the announcement, but I assume it's a facade.

"There have been no deaths. Yet. But I don't know how long that will last, especially with the growing popularity. I ask that if you have any information about where these drugs are coming from, who's dealing them, or why certain people are having reactions to please come forward."

No one moves, not even to scratch an itch. I don't hear anyone breathing. I match them, nervous that if I react any differently, it will be obvious I know something. That I tried to be one of those dealers only a couple weeks ago.

I resist fidgeting. You know things, I tell at myself. You know who's doing this.

That's valid information. That's what the Sheriff is requesting. But how do I explain to him how I came to learn about the dealers and their location?

Hey, Sheriff, I know where the drugs are coming from and who's selling them. Oh, how do I know? Because two weeks ago I was trying to join them. I was trying to deal the drug that is now hospitalizing people. Why am I not working with them now? How do you know you can trust me? Good questions, the dealers rejected me and that's the only reason I'm working for the police now. You don't need to worry about my loyalty, I'm not a threat. Yes, I know I went from wanting to do an illegal job to wanting to enforce the law, but that's a minor detail.

Yeah. Nice try, but I don't think that's going to cut it. Not to mention, even if the Sheriff does listen to me and we go after the dealers, I'll have a target on my back. You don't bust drug dealers without some repercussion.

I'm not sure it's worth the risk. I can't afford to lose this job. And I most definitely can't afford to lose my life.

The Sheriff sighs and I swear his eyes linger on me for a moment longer than everyone else. "I figured that would be the case. Well, keep your eyes open and ears listening. If you come across anything, I encourage you to come to me so we can decide how to proceed. Everyone is dismissed."

With that, the officers files through the narrow doorway. Everyone seems to relax once they've left the room, but I can't say I feel the same.