The Illegal Creed

I Volunteer!

Hours later, at a hospital in the city, Officer Lakes walked down a rather narrow white hallway, at a fast pace as he listened to what a nurse was saying to him and another officer beside him.

"Isabella Stellar. Fourteen years old, we believe she was a witness of this, but that's for you to decide. She just woke up some hours ago. She was medicated just a bit to keep her calm, but she is stable and ready to be talked to. We'll be conducting scans and tests soon to found out further information on her injuries and such."

"Thank you." The officers replied. The nurse walked away as they made their way toward her room. 109B.

"Gotcha. Thanks." Officer Laurence said into his walkie-talkie. He fastened it into it's respective case connected to his belt. "They are doing more research at the scene. They have identified the bodies of her parents... they're dead." There was really no emotion in his voice. A tad, but it was subtle. He's been a part of this for a while and has seen and been through things that have strengthened him. Nothing affects him anymore.

"That's terrible." Tristan said as they stood outside Isabella's door. "Yep." He said casually as he opened the door and they walked in. Before Tristan could, he couldn't help but think of how cold Laurence was being.

As they walked in, Tristan looked Isabella over quickly. Light brown hair, freckles, and those gray eyes... such a rare but beautiful combination.

"Hi Isabella." Officer Laurence said as he pulled up a chair, sitting near the bed. Tristan stayed standing, he didn't want to get comfortable. That's one thing he learned at this type of thing.

"Who are you?" She asked, her voice quiet and soft, but angry and scared.

"I'm Officer Laurence, and this is Officer Lakes." Tristan was taken aback by Laurence's sudden change in tone. From neutral to kind and gentle.

"We just want to ask you a few simple questions, okay?" "I guess so.." It's not like she had a choice. She couldn't get up and run out.

"Were you involved in anything unusual today, something out of the blue?" Tristan mentally rolled his eyes. Just get to the point.

"Yes.. but I wasn't doing anything." "Can you tell us what happened, from when this unusual event started?"

"I was in my room, on my laptop. I heard a shattering sound.. like.. like glass fell or something. I didn't mind it. My mom probably dropped something. But then it happened again, and I started hearing voices I didn't recognize. Soon it started sounding violent and stuff, and I heard someone stomping up the stairs, so I went in my closet."

"Anything else?"

"I heard more mad voices, and things getting banged around. Then yelling and screaming.. that's all I remember when it started.."

"Okay..." Officer Laurence wrote in his notebook pad as he spoke quietly to Tristan. "It's possible she could've blacked out. Doesn't remember." He nodded in response.

"What else do you remember?" He pressed, but not in a way that would be intimidating or annoying.

"I was in my closet, and it smelled really bad. I peeked out my closet, no one was in there, and the house was silent so I came out. There... there were a lot of dead bodies in my room, everywhere."

Isabella sniffed as she held back her sobs, wiping the tears from her eyes. "It's alright, everything's going to be okay. Just tell us what happened so we can take care of this."

"I-I was looking around, and I jumped because someone started talking from my d-doorway. I turned around and he was looking and talking to me."

"Do you remember what he looked like?"

"He was t-tall... maybe six feet.. and he was covered in some blood... He had some stubble of a beard."

"Okay.." Officer Laurence mumbled as he jotted down the details.

"He started saying stuff about money, and other stuff... I don't r-remember. And then he said stuff about my parents.. and.. and that they paid... they didn't do their job.. he asked me if I knew anything about it... that's all I remember. Then he tried to take my laptop, and pushed me on the ground when I tried to take it from him. He got really mad and started h-hitting me.." She took deep breaths as she wiped more tears.

"He only hit you?"

"No, he kicked me and slapped me and threw stuff at me too.. when he started throwing stuff is all I remember from that."

"Alright... last question. What are your last memories?"

"I woke up and I was on my floor, I was alone. I got up and saw all the dead people, and started walking around the house, calling for my parents... where are they?"

"Excuse me?"

"Where are my parents, are they okay? I want to see them!"

"Isabella, please, calm down. You need to continue your story."

"I need to know where my parents are.." she said quietly. There was a long uneasy silence within the room.

"Isabella..." It was Tristan this time who spoke; his voice was almost heartbroken. That's how he felt for her.

"What?" She said fearfully, starting to cry. She had a feeling she knew what was coming. "Your parents are... th-" "No! Th-th-they ca-an't be!" She sobbed pitifully.

If Tristan felt heartbroken before, his heart was shattered now. "But if you tell us everything you know, we can help get whoever did this, and make sure they never see the light of day again." Officer Laurence spoke softly.

"I did!" More sniffles. "Leave me alone..." she cried quietly. "Thank you for your time Isabella." Without a response, Officer Laurence put the chair where it was before and he and Tristan walked out.

"That was intense.." Tristan mumbled under his breath, rubbing the back of his head. "You'll get used to it," was what he got back.

Soon they were both in the waiting room, standing with the chief. "Alright, so we have staff working on the crime, gaining suspects, everything. So you two are free to leave until we need you again; if we do we'll call." Mumbled responses. "You're dismissed. Laurence, I need to speak to you about something before you leave." As Tristan took some steps away, he was sure to go slow so he could hear.

"... Isabella has no relatives within the state, her emergency contacts aren't available. I'll need you to see if you can find a good foster home for-"

"A foster home?" Tristan spoke before his brain even knew what he was doing. Laurence and Jinkins looked up at him. "Yes... she doesn't have anyone to stay with.." "But a foster home isn't any good! They won't care if her family just died! They'll just treat her like any other kid!" "Well it's the only choice we have." He said firmly.

"No it's not. I'll take her." Laurence raised an eyebrow as Jinkin's furrowed. "You can't." "Sure I can! I can handle it." "No, I mean you really can't. That's against the rules-" "Is it written somewhere?" "... Uh, I-"

"I'm sure it is somewhere." Officer Laurence interrupts. "Really, it says, 'an officer may not take in a client who has nowhere to stay'?" Tristan argued. "She does, a foster home." Chief said. "So I'll be her foster home! Come on! Just let this one slide! It's the least we could do.. for her." A sigh is heard from Chief Jinkins. "Alright. But that means you are giving up lots of your off time, including later today when the hospital will probably need you... and you're not gonna get paid for this." "I understand." Tristan responded.

"Alright.. well.. you are both dismissed. I'll see you at the job when needed." With an exchange of nods, Officer Laurence and Chief Jinkins left the hospital, leaving Tristan in his thoughts of planning.

He grinned slightly as he walked toward the exit. Time to help and make a difference in someone's life.