Portal of shadows

Chapter 1: Nightshade

As the investigation progressed, my focus shifted towards apprehending the heartless individual responsible for the bombings. I made a vow to capture him and make him suffer the same pain he inflicted on innocent lives. The mere thought of his heinous acts filled me with anger, strengthening my resolve to bring him to justice.

As we delved deeper into the case, it became clear that the perpetrator had an accomplice. Shockingly, evidence emerged suggesting that they were planning to target more hospitals. Alexei, a fellow investigator, approached me with concern evident in his voice. "Did you find anything?" he asked.

"Yes," I replied grimly, my gaze unwavering. "The suspect has a partner with a criminal record including sexual assault, selling fake IDs, and drug trafficking."

"Okay, come with me, we have a meeting," Alexei instructed, leading the way.

We gathered in a room where the sergeant briefed us on the latest developments. I presented the suspects' history, highlighting the partner's expertise in car theft and previous incarceration.

"If you come across any stolen vehicles, let us know," the sergeant commanded before we split up to search the streets.

As I sat at my desk organizing files, Alexei approached me with a puzzled expression. "Are you coming?" he asked.

"If you're talking about chasing the suspect, then no. I won't let another bird-shitting incident ruin my day, especially with my perfect coffee," I replied, my frustration evident.

He chuckled softly and clarified, "No, I meant, let's go talk to his partner."

Confused, I questioned his reasoning, "Okay, are you either incredibly stupid or selectively deaf? I already told you, the partner won't cooperate. What makes you think he'll suddenly start talking?".

I proceeded with the task at hand, determined to escape the overwhelming pile of paperwork that loomed over me. Together, we navigated our way to the interrogation room. Alexei's sudden burst of laughter caught me off guard once again. "What's so funny?" I asked, puzzled by his amusement. Between chuckles, he managed to utter, "Bird shitting on your coffee." The memory of that unfortunate incident flooded my mind, reigniting my annoyance.

"It's not a laughing matter," I grumbled. "This morning, a bird defecated His disgusting little shit on my WATCH. How am I supposed to READ THE TIME NOW? It's a clear sign of my bad luck; things couldn't possibly get any worse." As we entered the interrogation room, Alexei's demeanour shifted.

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"Alright, let's get serious now. No more jokes," he stated firmly, his laughter fading away. I couldn't help but feel frustrated by his sudden change in tone, especially since I hadn't cracked a single joke.

We started to question Lilith Darkwater, "Ok, Lilith Darkwater, do you recognize this man?" I inquired, displaying a photo of Elias Nightshade. He let out a heavy sigh, "Yeah, we have a long history," I probed further, asking if he knew the reason behind Nightshade's actions. 

"Uhh, I see what you're up to, trying to rat out my buddy," he smirked at me, adding "Listen, sweetheart, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I won't betray my brother." Alexei grew frustrated and grabbed him by the shirt, declaring "If you won't talk, I'll make you talk," as he began to choke Darkwater. Darkwater swiftly commanded the water with a flick of his hand, summoning swirling torrents that surged towards Alexei.

Each droplet turned into a weapon, striking with the force of a storm. I utilized my useless ability with plants, causing vines to emerge from the ground and ensnare Darkwater, their thorns tightening around him. He struggled against nature's grip, his powers weakening as he remained captive.

I calmed Alexei down and suggested we step outside the interrogation room to talk. "Hey, are you alright? What happened back there?" I asked, concerned about his sudden outburst over a common situation among criminals.