Metamorphosis

8. Space

Lucy sat at the black table in the tiny room with bare walls.

She could not believe they were caught when they had almost covered half the way to Avrog.

It shook her so much that she wanted to erase the recent events from her memory, but they still flashed in her mind in separate fragments.

Lucy remembered L, who, cursing, pulled over to the side of the road when the police command sounded.

'Demand explanations and defence,' he said quickly. 'They know they're acting illegally.'

They were handcuffed, put in the car, and taken dozens of kilometres away from the place of detention to the nearest large city. At the police station, she and L were separated, and she did not see him again.

And again — an endless, filled with despair and anguish night behind bars...

In the morning, Lucy was brought into this room, the handcuffs were removed, and, locking the door, they left her alone.

Only now, sitting here, did she gain control of herself. The veil of fear and confusion lifted, and Lucy began to clearly understand what she would do next. Now that she had discovered new abilities, she would be able to escape again.

But despite all her determination, Lucy could not leave right now.

First of all, she did not know L's fate. Lucy could not let him be imprisoned because of her — now he was considered an accomplice to the crime. From now on, she was obligated to help him, as well as her father.

Secondly, Lucy had to find out the true reasons for her imprisonment at all costs. She definitely needed to uncover the truth and try to restore justice.

And finally, running straight from here would be reckless — even if she could break down the walls and snap the handcuffs, there was a high chance she would not be able to hide in the densely populated city.

Lucy had to wait until they took her back to Dor, — and she had no doubt they would transfer her there soon, — and then escape in the first forest.

For these reasons, she stayed in place, waiting for the outcome.

The door lock clicked, and a middle-aged man in a shirt with a tie and a jacket thrown over entered the room. His face was covered in grey stubble, there were bags under his eyes, and his gaze from beneath his thick eyebrows was heavy and tired.

Lucy watched him calmly with her hands folded across her chest.

The man pulled out a chair and sat down opposite, placing a folder of papers in front of him.

'You have no right,' Lucy said, staring unwaveringly into the investigator's eyes before he could say anything. 'You are obliged to inform me of the specific charges against me and my father!'

'Calm down, Lucy,' the man began.

'You are acting absolutely illegally,' she continued. 'I demand an explanation...'

'You have absolutely no rights here, girl!' the investigator thundered. 'By law, we are obliged to send you back to where you escaped from, without any questions or investigation!'

Lucy was breathless with indignation.

'The fact that you are here in this room right now is only my initiative, and no one else will waste their time talking to you.'

'I was banged up behind bars,' Lucy said through gritted teeth, gathering herself, 'without any trial or proceedings. They told me absolutely nothing. Finally, enlighten me about what's happening here!"