The Bubble Popper

Chapter 2

Sud was prepared for the pain, but after waiting for a few seconds, nothing happened. Even the force restraining him disappeared.

Slowly, he opened his eyes.

Nothing.

He was alone.

What happened? He thought perplexed. Where did that other bubble go? He couldn't have disappeared so fast.

The treasure he found was still firmly grasped in his hand. He looked around but found himself completely alone.

He observed his treasure and noticed it was shiny and wet.

How did it get wet? He thought as he scanned his surroundings, looking for the other bubble. While looking at the ground, he noticed a patch of wetness that seemed to have appeared out of thin air. In the middle of wetness lay a thin layer of wrinkly film, the remains of the bubble.

The bubble had popped! Thought Sud as he stared at the wetness in awe.

He actually popped!

No, his treasure popped the bubble. A bubble doesn't just randomly pop. Sud panicked as he connected and processed what had just occurred.

Then, very quickly, he calmed down. He scurried up from the ground and grabbed his treasure. He needed to leave immediately before anyone walked by.

Expressionless, he turned to look at the bubble or what was left of him, then hurried away from the alley. Before entering the street, he looked behind him to make sure there was no one around. Then hurried to his delivery van as calmly as he could. He stuffed the treasure in his backpack and drove away.

As he sat in his seat, he noticed the wet areas in his clothes, some drying faster than others. He anxiously searched for something to clean himself but found only a jacket. Having no choice but to give up his search, he drove to the company, allowing the wet areas to dry naturally. Then, before getting out, he put on his jacket, hoping to cover the most visible spots. If anyone asked, he would say he got splashed by water.

After successfully returning his work van to the delivery company without anyone noticing his wet stains, he rushed nonstop to his apartment. On the way home, he sat absentmindedly in the public transport, trying to process what had occurred. It all seemed like a dream. A very distant dream.

As he got down from the bus, he bumped into a few bubbles, but he didn't pay attention to them. He just wanted to get to his home as soon as possible. Only there would he be safe.

As soon as he entered his apartment, he closed and locked the door. He didn't have the intention of going out again.

He closed the window curtains and then sat down in his living room. He took out his treasure from his backpack and closely examined it.

His lifesaving treasure. The only one who came to his rescue.

The treasure had popped a bubble to save him. He should have been scared and thrown it away, but it saved him. He found it. I was meant to be with him. It was a special item, and it was all his. His reward for everything he's had to endure.

It popped a bubble, but if the bubble hadn't wanted to snatch it, nothing would have happened. He was clearly the victim. He was being attacked and was only defending himself.

Yes, that's what happened. That bubble did everything to himself. It wasn't his fault at all. Sud convinced himself that it wasn't his fault.

Should he have called the police and explained what happened? Maybe. But when did they ever help him? They would only blame him, then take his treasure away and arrest him.

Anxiously, he turned the news on, waiting to see if they mentioned the popped bubble, but nothing.

******
POV Police

A bubble walked through a cordoned-off area, straight to the center of activity. There, bubbles were taking photographs and samples of the area.

"Detective Fizz, you're here." The bubble nodded and answered, "Yes. What's the situation?"

"Male bubble, middle age. He was found popped."

"Did anyone see how or when he popped?"

"No. A resident of one of the buildings came out for a walk and found him popped and called the police."

The detective looked at the buildings and then at the crime scene thoughtfully.

"Where's the bubble who reported the crime?"

The two bubbles walked to a bubble sitting on the steps of a building.

"You were the one who called in the crime?" Asked the detective.

"Yes."

"Did you know who the victim is?"

"No. Never seen him." Nervously answered the bubble.

"Is there surveillance in the buildings?"

"Yes. But not the alley area."

"Okay. I need the surveillance footage. Send it to me as soon as possible. Let's go and interrogate the residents of the building." Ordered Detective Fizz to the officer.

**Later in the office**

"Detective, here's the background check results from the alley victim. His name was Spot. He recently got out of jail for a misdemeanor."

"Was the family notified?"

"Yes. He had a partner and a small bubble." The detective sighted.

"It appears to have been a natural pop. I checked the surveillance, and nothing seemed suspicious. He walked into the alley on his own accord. Did you get anything from the neighbors?"

"No. No one in the two adjacent buildings knew him. We sent officers to ask in the surrounding buildings and try to get surveillance from the building on the other side of the street." Detective Fizz nodded.

"Let me know if you get any information about why he was there. Also, see if we can find the identity of the delivery bubble who entered the alley right before the victim." Order Detective Fizz.

"Yes, detective."