Salvation 2035

Chapter 37- Unearthed Secrets

『Tsuki』

     We enter what sort of looks like an office. The walls are lined with bookcases and file cabinets, and a few papers are strewn about Mikael's desk. He has a computer, but it looks a little older. I spot a picture of him and his family. His wife has long, wavy dark hair and icy blue eyes, and is holding a small child, who I can only assume is Lailah.

     "Why don't you take a seat?" he invites.

     "Oh, right," I settle into the chair opposite him.

     "So, Tsuki," he begins, rummaging through some papers, "what brings you to our fair city?"

     "Um, I dunno, I was just in the area I guess," I answer nondescriptly.

     "If you're a fugitive, you tend to just move from place to place, right?" he inquires.

     "Right."

     "There's a lot of people like that here. Of course, I make sure they haven't gotten their hands in anything slimy," he pulls out a few pages and looks through them. "My people here are very good about digging up details about particular individuals that may end up on our doorstep, and you are one of those such individuals. I haven't memorized all the stuff we know about you, so I'll just go through it now, alright?"

     "O-okay," I reply quietly, unable to make eye contact with him. What exactly is his definition of 'slimy,' because depending on what it is, this may be the end of the line for me. Mikael seems like a good man, but I can't help but be afraid of people like him. I can stand up against almost anybody and put up a good fight, but people like him are scary. Older people have always treated me badly, whether it be their attitude or their actions.

     "So here it says you were arrested when you were twelve. You were charged with multiple counts of theft, breaking and entering, vandalism, and avoiding arrest," he reads out, "but you weren't jailed until you were fifteen."

     "Yeah, it's weird," I reply, unknowingly crossing my arms.

     "There was a new charge added," he continues. "Solicitation of prostitution."

     I can't find any words to respond to him. I didn't know that it would be in there. Surely, this would compromise Cromwell's entire operation. But then again, it's not like anybody would care enough to look into it. Nobody's found out about it until now. I don't know what to say. I always thought that I'd be the one to tell others, but there it is, right for all the world to see. Who knows what this guy will do to me now and if I'm even worthy of being spoken to like him equal.

     "That doesn't seem right for a fifteen-year-old," he comments and puts down the papers. I know he's looking me in the eyes, but I can't do the same.

     "No," I say quietly. "It isn't right." I feel my chest tighten, and I nervously clutch at the fabric of my pants. "I'm... sorry. I should go." I stand up and grab my bag.

     "Wait."

     At his word, I sit down immediately. I continue to avoid making eye contact and cross my arms. I want to disappear. I hear him coming closer, and I don't dare move.

     "Do you like dogs?" he asks, unexpectedly.

     "Huh?" I look up out of bewilderment. "Yeah... I do."

     "Stay put for a second, I'll be right back," he briskly walks out of the room. Shortly, he returns with Lailah and... a dog?

     "Hi Tsuki," she greets me. "This is Halo!" The dog has pale gold fur with floppy ears and a gentle face. I love all animals, especially dogs. I always wanted a puppy or a kitten when I was younger. Now that one's in front of me, I can't help but smile.