Wildfire And Rain

Chapter Nineteen

The police officers leave the campus. Driving to their next destination.

Meldom Street.

...............

"May I help you?"

Three police officers stand in front of his house. All but one wearing hard expressions. "Yes." The one in the middle crosses his hands on his chest, his voice is rough and deep. "Can we come inside? We have some questions for you."

Kai walks a few steps back and sighs at them to come in, he walks towards the living room. Waiting for them to follow. He offers them something to drink.

"Just water, please."

He comes back to the living room to see them already sitting on his couch. He sets a water pitcher on the coffee table along with some clear glasses. He chooses to stand, sliding his gloved hands in his pocket. "What's this in regards to?"

The captain narrows his eyes. "You are a student at Blue Springs, is that correct?"

"Correct. You haven't answered my question."

"You've most likely heard of the attacks happening right near your campus. There was another quite recently."

Kai grins. "That's still going? You must not do your job very well... "His subtle grin fades. "You're investigating everyone then, I assume. You wouldn't be biased toward me, now, that is just wrong. Not to mention, Illegal."

The captain shifts in his chair, and the air thickens. He coughs a little. "So, you haven't seen anything out of the ordinary?"

"No, Sir. I'm too focused on my studies to stay updated."

"Is that so?" the captain words skeptically.

Kai nods. "If there isn't anything else, I'd like you to go."

"Does our presence bother you, Kai?" The captain's eyes land on something and stay still for a few seconds as his voice trails off to a quieter tone. He points at Kai's gloves. "Do you usually wear those indoors?" he questions.

Kai's eyes harden. "I have sensitive skin," he explains in a more serious tone.

"Would you mind taking those off for us, Kai?"

"I don't see why I should. Like I said, I have a skin problem."

The policewoman gets up and sighs. "Let's go Cap, there's nothing here." She walks away from the couch, looking like she has a lot to say, but can't. The captain chuckles ironically. "Well, I don't see why not." He lifts his hands to the air.

She squints her already sharp cat-like eyes. "He just told you why not."

"Show me your hands, Kai. Surely, it's not a life-threatening request." He poses a harmless smile, trying to remain approachable. "Unless you have something to hide, of course."

The policewoman opens her mouth to argue but Kai stops her. "It's fine. As long as you leave right after."

"You have my word."

Kai peels the skin-like gloves down, revealing his charred skin little by little. He turns his head to the side, avoiding the scarring sight. The feeling of the air on his bare skin makes him cringe and it's a foreign sensation. Akin to removing your braces or taking off your cast after a long time and letting your skin breath again.

It's not relieving or anything positive. It makes Kai uncomfortable as if he's lost his shell and has the urge to do everything to cover his back again, or else something terrible will happen. He itches to cover them.