Pieces Part 1

My Shadow- The End

How...? This couldn't be real. Please tell me I'm dreaming. I pressed the part of my torso where I had stitches sewn in. "What happened? How did this happen?"

Amber's head swung from side to side, tears surging to her chin. "As soon as the cops arrested us, another shot was fired off backstage in the VIP area of the North Bay Dock. They say that when the cops arrived, he was already gone and had no witnesses." She sobbed.

"No witnesses? He was looking for Kali. Did he not find him?" If he was not where Mario searched, where could Kali have been?

Albert averted my gaze. Filling the absence of answers, Amber squeaked, "I heard that name before. Moe who is that?" Oh yeah, she wouldn't have known... I didn't know if I had enough time to catch her up.

I retrieved the artifact Albert had handed me, giving it a more careful look. My lips became dry as I realized what I'd missed. It appeared the past I'd marooned years ago was striking a comeback, rustling my vulnerabilities as it wormed its way back into my life. I was not fond of it. I dreaded it wholly.

I tossed my trinket to Amber, and as the projectile flew into the air, I noticed the sky flashing with red and blue strobes.

Sirens.

Detective Walker strode up to me with his handcuffs ready. "Mr. Richardson, glad you are alive, but it's time to go. Don't think of doing anything foolish." His voice was gruff and decisive.

I sighed, "I know; I won't fight you this time. I... have one question."

He cocked an eyebrow at me. "A question? Sounds fair enough, ask away."

Clearing my throat, I straightened my posture in preparation for what might slump me next. "Did y'all save a guy named Kalilian anywhere on the boat?"

Walker flicked his eyes around, taking an interlude to recall his reports. He then fixated on me again. "No."

No? I thundered up to Walker and grabbed him by the collar. "What do you mean? There had to be a Kalilian on the boat!" I desperately searched his eyes for some lost memory, and aha! That'd string all the pieces together. But he looked genuinely oblivious to what I was referring to.

The second I touched him, Amber hissed, "Maurice, stop before you get into more trouble." I froze up. I instantly knew I'd messed up, my dread only heightened by the cops who raised their guns at me.

In an unexpected move, Walker signaled his team to put their weapons down. He fixed his eyes on me all the while they did so, eventually sliding my hand off his collar. He proceeded to draw a cigarette from his pocket and light the butt, indulging a puff like he wasn't in the middle of an arrest.

I wasn't crazy. I heard Kali's voice over the phone when the killer called. It was just a few seconds, but I was sure it was him. How was Kali not on the boat?

I tried to regain my composure and questioned Walker again.

"I'm sorry, but... are you sure there was no Kalilian on the boat? Did you check everyone's ID?"

Blowing out a smoky gust, Walker replied, "Yes, even the VIPs were checked. There was no Kalilian." I stared blankly ahead. That didn't make sense. Walker proceeded to restrain my wrists in the cuffs, ushering me towards his cop car. I heard someone shout as we neared the doors.

"Detective, please let me say my goodbyes!"

Heaving a sigh, Walker permitted Amber past the officers, holding her back. She ran into my arms and embraced me in the last glimpse of affection I would have in a while.

The grass around us turned black, and the sky dimmed once I lifted my head and looked towards the hospital. Between Amber's scarlet hair and Albert's tall figure, I concluded that the cuffs on my wrist couldn't compare.

I was snatched away from Amber's hands, speechless. I squeezed myself into the back seat of the cop car. Then I stared outside the window, hoping for another glance, but Amber and all the officers were blocking what I wanted to see. As we rode off to the police department, I was caged with the image of the person who set me up.

"It took me some time to realize it, but you were there the whole time. I didn't want to accept it. In the rain with those familiar shoes, In the apartment where you killed my best friend and knocked me out, at the crime scene where you watched your plan play out, at the funeral where you just wanted to rub it in."

I begin to kick the wall and cage around me. I murmured, "Let me out."

"I thought you had entered my life for me to grow. After all we've been through, you came to save me? Right? So why were you smiling?"

"Stop that!" yells the officer in the passenger seat as I banged my head on the window.

"When I heard your voice scream for help, I felt like Superman. I felt like I could make a change. Maybe I could get ahead of my past. But now I want to"

"Hey, we might have to pull over. He is bleeding from his head," says the officer in the passenger seat.

I lay on my side, kicked a window, and yelled, "Is this what you wanted? You wanted me arrested! You wanted..."

"Okay, now you've done it!" The cops pulled over the car and waved the police car following to assist.

The two cops approached, looking for an update on what was going on, "He started acting belligerent and is kicking and head butting everything. We got to restrain him." says the passenger cop of car one.

"But I don't hear anything?" said one of the cops who just arrived. The cops looked at each other with a scared look and rushed to open the door.

"Mr Richardson! What's going on?"

They stared at me, sitting straight up, with my feet planted on the floor.

I smiled at the officer, "Sorry about that. I had an episode. It won't happen again."

The cops said, "What the hell... man, fuck that, secure his ass.." They cuffed my ankles and held me down with two seat belts reaching over me as we continued to the police department.

"You told me to capture my captor. You wanted me even to kill my captor. You wanted me to kill you. You tried to push your agenda on me. The problem is you know I wouldn't do it. So you pulled the trigger first. Right, Kali?" I can tell by your sculptured grin when I was arrested at the hospital. You stood at the entrance, contemplating.

"Alright, face the camera. Now Turn... Turn again. One more time!" says the officer taking my picture.

Kali, you won. There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. I'm stuck both physically and somewhat mentally.

"Open the cell.... What are you waiting for? Go inside, Richardson." The officer gave me a slight push and then yelled, "Hey! Close the cell!" says the officers escorting me. I turned around, putting my hands on the chilly cell door.

I guess it's time to face my demons.