The Bubble Popper

Chapter 14

The trip from the place where he was arrested to the closest police station was like a blur to Sud.

They had taken his treasure away. He wanted his treasure back.

In a dream-like state, he was taken to an interrogation room. He was asked many questions, but all Sud could say was, "Where's my treasure?"

Something inside Sud had snapped. He didn't care about anything anymore. He just wants his treasure, his only friend.

When they couldn't get anything from him, he was taken to a cell. Time passed slowly in there.

"Sud?"

A familiar voice called his name. When he looked up, he was Detective Fizz. To Sud, it was like a ray of light. He immediately got up and ran to him, "Where's my treasure? Detective, they took my treasure."

"Why did you do it, Sud?"

"Do what?" innocently asked Sud.

"Why did you pop those bubbles?"

Why? They deserve it. Sud didn't answer. All they cared for were those bubbles. No one cared about him and his treasure. They were all alone.

"If you tell me everything now, you can get a lower time in prison. I can help you."

Sud didn't answer. He didn't want to hear anything. They were just empty promises. If he really wanted to help, he would have helped him get his treasure back. Only it could protect him. Only together they would be safe.

Seeing no answer from Sud, the detective did not continue with the interrogation.

"In a few minutes, you're going to be taken to the first-ring main jail, where you will wait for your court." Sud didn't answer.

Hours later, Sud was taken from the cell and led to a police car, then taken to the local transport station. They transferred to the main transport station that took them to the center ring.

Sud was taken to a dark cell, where he was left alone. Maybe it was the absence of natural light, but the place was eerie.

When the natural light appeared, Sud looked around the cell. It was a small room, dirty, with the only source of light being a small window high off the floor.

Sud had tried looking through it, but it was too high. He caught a glance of what appeared to be a street level, leading him to think he was underground somewhere. The place where he was seemed to be surrounded by other buildings, and not much could be seen. All he knew was that he was somewhere in the first ring.

Is my treasure being treated right? Is he in the same building? Is he scared? Many thoughts were going through Sud's mind.

Sud heard an old, squeaky door being opened and turned to find an officer who opened the cell door.

"Get up." He was ordered. Then he was led to a brightly lit interrogation room. There Detective Fizz was waiting for him.

"Have a seat." Sud sat.

"When we met, you seemed like a quiet but nice guy, Sud. So why did you do it? Why did you pop them?"

Sud didn't answer.

Detective Fizz took a clear bag and placed it on the table. Sud looked at it and launched to get it, but his hands were handcuffed to his feet, preventing him from moving too much.

"That's my treasure!" He yelled as he struggled to free his hands.

"Where did you get it?"

"I found it. It's mine. It's my friend. He protects me."

"Protects you from what?" Asked the detective.

"From the bad guys."

"So all the bubbles you popped were bad guys?" Sud didn't answer.

He didn't want to answer. He just wanted to reach across the table and get his treasure.

"Sud, why did you do it? You can't deny anything. We have the evidence. We have surveillance and work records placing you where Spot was popped. We also have surveillance from the store and the park where you met and followed Bobba. We found the taxi and the popped driver. We know you were the last bubble he had contact with. That's not even counting Blob. Just cooperate. It will be beneficial for your case." Sud kept silent.

"If I answer, are you going to give me back my treasure?" Asked Sud after a long silence.

"That's not negotiable, Sud, but we can negotiate and even lower your sentence."

Sud didn't listen to the second half of what the detective said. He stopped listening when he didn't want to give him his treasure back. The detective kept asking questions, but they all received the same answer: silence.

Seeing his uncooperativeness, he was sent back to the cell. Sud fought to get his treasure as he was being led away from the room but was overpowered by the police officers.

Back in his cell, he watched the light come and go through the small window, lost in his thoughts.

Sud sat opposite the window. All he could see was the dirty street level. If he popped, would anyone miss him? No. Would he miss anyone? His treasure. He had been his one and only true friend.

Could things have been different if he had family and friends? What would've happened if he had someone to protect him from those bullies? Someone to hug him in those times when he wanted to give up. Someone to encourage and guide him, someone who was just next to him. Maybe things would have been the same. Maybe it's just who he is.

Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours, hours into days, days into weeks, and weeks into months. Sud waited for his sentencing inside the small cell.

He was constantly taken in and out of the cell. Bubbles came and went. They tried talking to Sud, but Sud answered them with silence. He sat there in silence, staring through the small window. Not caring about anything.

Every moment he was awake, he only had one thought. He wanted his treasure. Only it understood and accompanied him. They only had each other.

Treasure, save me. Don't leave me alone. I need you.

His cry for help inside the cell overlapped with the cry of a small bubble huddled in a corner of a dark, dusty room.

The little bubble cried in pain, his little body full of bruises and dirt. He cried himself to sleep, waiting for someone to come and hug the pain away. Someone to take him far away to a place where there was no pain.

POP!

The few light rays that entered the cell made the falling water particles shine. Together they created a bright rainbow. It only lasted for a few seconds, while the droplets slowly descended to the floor. As they finished falling, all that was left was a small circular patch of wetness where the Bubble Popper had been.

The end.