ᴋᴀɪʀᴏꜱ

ɪx.

ɪx. ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪᴢᴇ
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Studio lights have long since faded, taking their warmth and brightness away from the concrete building Emily stands inside.

The only light to enter is from the harsh overhead lights as she packs away her camera gear from the particular long and gruelling photoshoot she has just concluded.

With a feeling of fulfilment, she puts away the last of her things and starts to exit the building. That's when she has a thought.

Plucking her phone out of her light jacket, she quickly dials and holds it up to her ear before Shawn's voice sounds from the other side.

"Yo! What's up?"

"Hey, Shawn."

"Emily.", His tone changes drastically, but she doesn't mind much.

"I just finished my shoot. Are we still on for dinner tonight?"

"Uh-"

"You know what, don't worry. You have other things to do.", She sighs as he starts to stammer.

"No- No. I'm sorry. I- I forgot and I've kind of got a date with this pizza and the Tv. But I can come, if you really want me to!", He offers.

"That's okay. I'll be fine. It's only a five minute walk. Besides, all the street lights are in working order. And Jules is working late tonight, so I need some alone time."

"Yeah. Are- Are you sure?"

"Yes.", Emily chuckles as she looks the door and starts down the street.

"Don't worry about me. Get back to your, 'date.'"

"Will do. See you when I see you."

"Of course. Bye, Shawn."

"Bye, Em."

Emily sighs as she slides her phone back into her jacket pocket and chooses to focus on the rhythmic sound of her heels clicking along the concrete of the sidewalk.

People pass by here and there for the entire duration of her walk towards her location, that is until she comes across a relatively short part of the path. The street light is off, sending a rush of fear through her being. But her destination is just past the darkness.

"Calm down, Lesinksi. You're a cop. You have a gun. You will be okay.", She tells herself mentally before entering the completely isolated and darkened part of the path.

She feels her shoulders start to relax as she finds herself two steps away from entering the light of the restaurant, when a sudden, blinding pain forms in her skull. She falls to her knees from the brunt of the pain that blossoms there.

The edges of her vision, that had started to adjust to the darkness, suddenly lose their adjustment and resort back to black before she loses consciousness.
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Juliet sighs as she unlocks the door to her and Emily's shared apartment. Ready for a nice warm shower and a good night's rest, she enters the darkened apartment.