it was black ◎ psycho pass

~Chapter 20~

chapTER 20 OF HELL WOOOWOWOW

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"Voice recognition complete, welcome Zara to the Psycho-Pass watch. Your Crime Coefficient is a reading of 23."

I sank against the bus. The masses were still piling up against the yellow tape, and the police were doing a really bad job of holding them back. As usual. 

"Your highest Crime Coefficient reading was, 1700. Your darkest Hue reading was, dark grey." 

hmhmhm?

"For your safety, these readings will be sent to the Psychologist department. This includes: Doctor Kyle, Doctor Melanie, Doctor Jake, and five others."

I choked on nothing in panic. After looking around for Jake and Melanie, I flung myself underneath the bus as quick as humanely possible. I began cursing in my mind. If they ever caught me now I'd be in bIG trouble. And I mean BIG trouble. Well done, Zara! Great job!

From where I was heavily breathing on the floor, I could see Kyle's grubby boots begin pacing around. Mels' followed shortly. The heavy breathing turned to giggles when I realised they couldn't see me, which had to be covered up by a sweaty palm. 

"What are you doing?" Somebody asked. I banged my head in surprise and caught sight of red heels in front of me.  A woman crouched down and sniggered.

"Oh, I'm just watching my friends over there..." I nervously laughed, holding my nose instead. It smelt like smoke and petrol down here. 

She didn't say anything for a while. I was considering asking her something, but she interrupted my thoughts.

"Shion Karanomori, nice to meet you." Karanomori showed a row of teeth. 

"Zara Evergreen!" I replied breathily. 

Is she an Enforcer? 

Inspector?

Doctor?

If she's a doctor, then what is she doing here? Not to investigate me- right?

Frightened slightly, I checked up on Kyle and Mels- who were clustered around another group of people.

"I'm not a doctor." She laughed, almost able to read my mind. I couldn't manage any words. "I'm a lab technician in the Analysis Department."

"Oh!" I laughed awkwardly. What was a lab technician doing here?

"You're probably wondering what I'm doing here- seeing as I'm a lab technician."

"How-" 

"I actually was called here by the MWPSB. They wanted me to get evidence so I could find more about this case." She started, extending a hand. I took it slowly. "So, I would like to ask you some questions!"

She viciously yanked on my hand and pulled me out from under the bus, much to my surprise. Why did she-

"Zara~"

Kyle crouched down with a deathly smile plastered on his face. I started cursing in my head again, earning a few mumbles from my half-awake conscience. They looked like they were gonna rip me apart! 

have fun Zara..

SHE THREW ME UNDER THE BUS!

no, she pulled you out from under the bus actually..

Kyle clamped a hand on my shoulder. "What are you scowling for, Zara~? We have lots to talk about- don't we?"

In one swift movement, I was pushed against the bus and not under it. At least it wasn't smoky up here, my head was swimming from all the fumes the bus had snorted out over the past hour. Karanomori began strolling away, a smug look plastered all over her face. Mels voice brung me back to my current predicament, unpleasantly hinging itself on my ears. 

"What possessed you to stay there?" Mels fiercely whispered. "You should've gotten off as soon as you got the chance!"

I bore my eyes into the grime of my converse, still covered in soot from the explosion. It felt like ages ago. A sickening feeling sank in my stomach.

"You know you can't control it-!" Kyle almost shouted, sighing in frustration. He leant on the bus with his arm and eyed my watch. After a long, guilty silence, he spoke. 

"How come you weren't drugged?"

I stuttered out an excuse which was true, heart leaping. Kyle slammed his hand against the bus. Guess that meant an 'I don't believe you!'. 

"DON'T YOU KNOW TO CHECK MORE OFTEN?" He roared, drawing more attention to our situation. I winced. 

"If you ever pull a stunt like that again, we're forbidding you from leaving your house and the hospital!" Mels wagged her finger, meeting my eyes with feisty rage. Forbidden? She's forbidding me? I'm 21! You can't forbid me! 

I started to feel tightness around my throat. This time it was just tears. But my Crime Coefficient was probably rising again. It's not fair, they're not my parents. I didn't have parents. And it wasn't even my fault! Kyle tutted and held my chin, jerking it to face him. I was mere inches from his face, but still couldn't make eye contact with him. His eyes were just too scary, like a blackhole or something. 

"Look at me!" Kyle commanded. I dragged my eyes towards him slowly, immediately shooting back after seeing Kyle's eyes, that blazed like icy torches. "Got anything to say?" 

My lips parted.

"I'm..." 

Before I could blurt out anything stupid, I ducked underneath Kyle's arm and sprinted for my life. "I'm sorry~!"  I made my way under the police tape, diving into the sea of people and tossing a few apologies now and then. Guilt brimming at the back of my throat, I cursed my lack of courage and fended off sarcastic remarks from my conscience. She was half-awake and seemed ready to wake up properly any minute now. 

you shouldn't have run, they're gonna use the needle against you.. *yawn*

You would've done the exact same thing! Kyle just needs to calm down sometimes, jeez. 

they just care about you~

Her comment was illustrated perfectly by their swearing not too far behind me. 

"Sure, they care about me!" I spat with gushed breaths, pausing by the bus again. Somehow I had ran in a complete loop and had made it back to the smoking lump of metal. Hopefully nobody heard that last remark- nobody knows about my conscience's 'freedom of speech' and I have no intention of letting anybody find out. 

"ZARA, GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!" Mels thundered. I jumped and jolted off to the front of the bus. Bad idea. They were already there. In a panic I leapt onto the bonnet and eyed them from the road. Kyle and Mels had caught up, chests heaving, and starting cornering me like a wild buffalo. Mels retied her frizzy hair. Kyle rolled his sleeves up. They exchanged a few mental words. The crowd started buzzing even louder. 

"Your Crime Coefficient is a reading of, 500." The sparking metal on my arm spluttered. My shaking fingers ripped the useless thing off my wrist and onto the floor. Just shut up for once. I watched it spark again and Kyle edged around it cautiously, flinging it into his pocket. The police were starting to take interest, and while I was distracted by their foreboding presence, Mels made a lunge for my now vacant wrist.

Lucky I was paying attention. I jerked my arm around and Mels was forced to let go of my wrist, gritting her teeth. Okay, now I was angry. My Crime Coefficient was the least of my worries- it could go to 5000 for all I could care. Hit 10,000- why not?? 

10,000 would be a new record!!

"Alright, Zara. You're starting to lose control here." Kyle spoke without a hint of fear in his voice. "Calm down and you don't have to go to the hospital okay?" He tried to reason with me, which gave him a little leeway when he climbed onto the bonnet. However, that didn't stop my muscles stiffening and the glare in my eyes more prominent. Kyle's brow slanted with disapproval in turn as he pulled a syringe from his pocket. 

"Uhm.." I started to retreat slowly.  Mels in turn brought out one, and their eyes were glinting as bright as the reflection on the tips of the needles.

~END~