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Short filmTranscript
00:00Take off your police uniform, Amelia Saddington.
00:03You don't deserve to wear it at all.
00:05Desmond Urich, the head of the Major Crimes Unit,
00:09stripped my police uniform off me right in front of the entire team.
00:13So you really are still holding it against me from the raid
00:16because I prioritized protecting the hostages
00:19and didn't take good enough care of Addison,
00:21leaving her with a few scrapes.
00:24At my rebuttal, Desmond slapped me hard across the face in front of everyone.
00:28My head snapped to the side.
00:31He accused me of taking personal revenge under the guise of duty,
00:35then used every means to suspend me.
00:37After my suspension, Vicente D'Acra, my childhood friend,
00:41told me he wanted to marry me.
00:43But on the eve of our engagement, I overheard him talking to Desmond.
00:47Both of them were only protecting Addison.
00:50In pure despair, I changed into faded street clothes
00:53and headed alone to state police headquarters.
00:57Agent 003, Amelia Sadinton.
00:59Requesting assignment to Operation Foxhunt as an undercover operative.
01:02Scrub my file. I'm not coming back.
01:04Desmond slapped me hard across the face
01:07and my head snapped to the side.
01:09Before the pain in my cheek even set in,
01:12the trauma from my abduction flared up suddenly.
01:15Agony seeped from my bones
01:17and I curled up on the ground.
01:19Seeing me like this,
01:21Desmond kicked me.
01:22Quit playing dead!
01:24I clutched at his pant leg,
01:26sweating cold from the pain,
01:27and trembled as I whispered,
01:29Tranquilizer. I need a tranquilizer.
01:33Desmond only stared at me coldly,
01:35then said to his subordinates beside him,
01:38Addison was traumatized during the rescue.
01:42Give it to her first.
01:44That night, I curled up alone in the freezing isolation room.
01:48The hallucinogens the cartel had injected into me flared up again.
01:53In my delirium,
01:54I was back in that hellish abandoned factory.
01:57Tortured and interrogated by dealers,
02:00one after another.
02:01I whimpered in agony,
02:03Desmond help me,
02:05but the man I once loved didn't even glance at me.
02:08By the next morning,
02:09Desmond had already used the episode
02:11as a pretext to file for my suspension.
02:13He told our superiors I was mentally unstable
02:15and prone to violence.
02:17To calm Addison's nerves,
02:18he even confiscated my service weapon.
02:21He locked it in his own desk.
02:23The only person who didn't abandon me
02:25was Vicenti Dacra.
02:26A forensic pathologist who had known me
02:28since we were kids.
02:30Vicenti promised he would vouch for me
02:32with the Bureau to get me reinstated.
02:34He told me he wanted to marry me.
02:36That he would take care of me
02:37for the rest of my life.
02:38But, on the eve of our engagement,
02:41I overheard him talking to Desmond
02:43outside the forensics lab.
02:45Amy's a lost cause.
02:47After that kidnapping,
02:48everyone on the force is talking
02:50that she slept with the cartel boss
02:51for three days just to stay alive.
02:53She's tainted.
02:54What do you know?
02:55Back then,
02:56I had to pull out to save Addison,
02:58leaving Emmy trapped in that den.
03:01I'm drowning in guilt,
03:03but I can't stand what she's become.
03:06She's a total head case now.
03:07Lieutenant,
03:08you don't actually love Annie, do you?
03:11You're only marrying her
03:12because Addison is terrified
03:13Amy will snap and come after Addison.
03:16You just want to keep her
03:17under your thumb and sedated,
03:18so she won't hurt Addie.
03:20So that was it.
03:21Both of them were only protecting Addison.
03:24In pure despair,
03:25I changed into a pair of faded street clothes.
03:28I headed alone
03:30to the high security archives
03:31at state police headquarters.
03:33Standing before the commander-in-chief,
03:34Donald Tabert,
03:35I snapped into a perfect salute.
03:37My voice was hoarse,
03:38but it didn't waver.
03:39Agent 003,
03:40Amelia Sadinton,
03:41requesting assignment
03:43to Operation Fox Hunt
03:44as an undercover operative.
03:45Scrub my file.
03:47I'm not coming back.
03:48Donald's gray eyebrows knitted together,
03:50his eyes clouded with regret.
03:52This operation takes you deep
03:54into the heart of the golden trancle,
03:57straight into the hands
03:58of the most brutal cartel
03:59on the planet.
04:00To earn their trust,
04:02you might be forced
04:03into addiction or worse.
04:05Taking this assignment
04:06is effectively a death sentence.
04:09I squeezed my eyes
04:10shut against the sharp ache
04:11in my chest.
04:12My voice remained resolute.
04:14I'm ready.
04:15Both my parents
04:16were undercover narcotics officers
04:18who died on the border.
04:20I have nothing left to lose.
04:21If it takes my life
04:23to bring that cartel down,
04:24then that's a price
04:25I'm more than willing to pay.
04:26Donald glanced at the space
04:28on my waist
04:29where my police badge
04:30used to be.
04:32Isn't today the day
04:33you were supposed to head
04:34to the city hall
04:34with Dr. Dockwer?
04:36Don't you want
04:37a peaceful life?
04:38The tears finally broke,
04:40spilling over
04:41despite my best efforts,
04:43not wanting Donald
04:43to see me as weak.
04:45I roughly wiped my face.
04:46I did not explain.
04:48Donald didn't press further.
04:49He simply patted
04:50my shoulder heavily,
04:51a silent gesture
04:52of respect and farewell.
04:54Someone will be waiting
04:55to escort you
04:56across the border
04:57at 3 tomorrow morning.
04:58If you survive
04:59and complete this assignment,
05:01the department
05:02will restore your file
05:04and grant you
05:05our highest honor.
05:08I saluted in silence
05:10and walked out
05:11of the headquarters building.
05:12My mind blur.
05:14Just as I was about to leave,
05:16Desmond appeared
05:16in front of me.
05:17He was holding the leash
05:19of my retired canine partner,
05:21Kale.
05:21His gaze was cold,
05:23his tone completely unyielding.
05:25Kale hasn't stopped
05:26barking for days.
05:27It's disturbing Addy's rest.
05:30I was planning to drop it
05:31at a shelter in the suburbs,
05:33but since we ran
05:34into each other,
05:35it's your problem now.
05:36I stared down at Kale,
05:38a decorated veteran
05:39I had raised
05:40and trained myself.
05:41A partner who had saved
05:43my life more times
05:44than I could count.
05:48Five years ago,
05:49when Kale retired,
05:51Desmond had sworn
05:52he would treat it
05:52like family.
05:54He swore he would
05:55never let it suffer.
05:56Now,
05:57just to ensure
05:58Addison slept undisturbed,
06:00he was ready to discard
06:01an old comrade
06:02like trash.
06:03Kale saw me
06:04and let out
06:05a desperate whine.
06:06It lunged forward,
06:08but Desmond
06:08yanked back
06:09on its collar
06:10so hard
06:10the dog began
06:11to choke.
06:12Its eyes rolling back,
06:13my heart felt like
06:14it was being ripped
06:15out of my chest.
06:18Ignoring Desmond,
06:19I crouched down
06:20immediately
06:20to calm Kale.
06:22Desmond looked down
06:23at me,
06:23his voice stern.
06:24Isn't today
06:25your big day
06:25with Vicedo?
06:27What the hell
06:27are you doing
06:28at state police headquarters?
06:31Get in the car.
06:32I'll drive you back.
06:34Aren't you worried
06:34Vicente will change
06:35his mind
06:36and dump a junkie
06:38like you
06:38if you're late
06:38for the ceremony?
06:40I stood up slowly,
06:41my expression cold
06:42as I brushed
06:43the dust off my hands.
06:45I'm not marrying him.
06:47Not anymore.
06:48Desmond let out
06:49a sharp, mocking laugh.
06:52I get it.
06:53You're bitter.
06:54You still blame me
06:55for choosing
06:56to save Addie first?
06:58I also know
06:59you came here
06:59to file a formal
07:00complaint against me.
07:02But look at the facts.
07:05You're an officer
07:06who was held
07:06by a cartel boss
07:07for three days.
07:09God knows
07:10what happened
07:11to you in there.
07:11With all the rumors
07:13flying around the bureau,
07:14how could I ever trust you
07:16with real fieldwork again?
07:18Don't worry though,
07:19I picked up
07:19the low-level thugs
07:20who grabbed you
07:21and made sure
07:21they got sentenced
07:22to death.
07:23Consider the debt solved.
07:26Now the fact
07:27that Vicente
07:27is still willing
07:28to marry a woman
07:29like you,
07:30mentally unstable
07:31and potentially diseased,
07:35is more than you deserve.
07:38Don't push your luck.
07:40I looked up
07:41at the man
07:42I had once admired.
07:43His features
07:44were as sharp as ever,
07:46but his heart
07:47had turned to stone.
07:48The claims
07:49that I was
07:50mentally unstable
07:51were nothing
07:51but a convenient excuse.
07:54Addison as a psychiatrist
07:55had filled my evaluation
07:57with nothing but slander.
07:59Where were
07:59her professional ethics?
08:01A wave of sorrow
08:02crashed over me.
08:03There were too many words
08:05trapped in my chest.
08:06A weight so heavy
08:07I could barely breathe.
08:08In the end,
08:09all that emotion
08:10was stripped away,
08:12leaving only two words.
08:15Get out!
08:16My defiance
08:17instantly enraged him.
08:19He whipped
08:19Kale's leash toward me,
08:21the leather nearly
08:21catching me across the face.
08:23Amelia, don't push me.
08:26Vicente and I
08:27are like brothers.
08:28He's a good man.
08:31Don't you dare think
08:33you can keep him
08:33on a leash
08:35just to use him
08:36as a backup plan?
08:38I let out a cold,
08:40sharp laugh
08:41and chased him away.
08:42Afterward,
08:43I led Kale back
08:44to the police housing.
08:46My foster father,
08:47the former chief,
08:49had been waiting
08:49for a long time
08:50in the cold wind.
08:52Amy, thank God.
08:54The Docquig family
08:55has been looking
08:56everywhere for you.
08:57Where have you been?
08:57I didn't hold
08:58anything back.
08:59I told him everything,
09:01including my application
09:02for the undercover
09:03assignment.
09:04The color drained
09:06from his face.
09:07His cane clattered
09:08against the pavement
09:09as it slipped
09:09from his hand.
09:10No!
09:11I won't allow it!
09:13Your parents already
09:15gave everything
09:16to this life.
09:18I won't stand by
09:19and watch you
09:20throw yours away too!
09:22I took a breath
09:23and told him everything.
09:24Every word I had overheard
09:26outside the forensics lab.
09:28When I finished,
09:29my foster father
09:30was shaking with rage.
09:32He gripped his cane,
09:33ready to storm down
09:35to the bureau
09:35and demand justice
09:36for me.
09:37I threw my arms
09:39around his knees,
09:40sinking to the floor.
09:41My tears soaked
09:43into the fabric
09:43of his trousers.
09:45Dad, please,
09:47you have to let me go!
09:48If I marry Vicente,
09:50if I'm forced to live
09:51under their thumb
09:52and be sedated every day,
09:53that's not living!
09:55It's a slow death!
09:57Operation Foxhunt
09:58isn't just about
09:59settling a score.
10:01It's about finishing
10:02what my parents started.
10:04It was their last wish.
10:06Getting away from this place
10:07is the only way
10:08I'll ever be free.
10:10Seeing the unwavering
10:12resolve in my eyes,
10:13he broke down
10:14into bitter tears.
10:15He finally fell silent.
10:17As an old-timer
10:18on the force,
10:19he understood that
10:20some assignments
10:21were a one-way street.
10:23There was no coming back
10:24from them.
10:25When the wedding procession
10:26arrived later that day,
10:27there was no fanfare,
10:29no decorations,
10:30just a few black sedans
10:31idling at the curb downstairs.
10:33I didn't bother
10:34with a wedding dress.
10:35Instead,
10:36I threw on a black
10:37hardshell jacket
10:38and walked straight
10:38out of the building.
10:39Looking at Vicente's
10:41gentle face
10:42felt like a slow
10:42twist of a knife.
10:44The pain had long
10:45since moved past Sharp.
10:47Now it was just a heavy,
10:49throbbing numbness
10:50in my heart.
10:51He was only doing this
10:52to keep me on a leash,
10:53to clear a path
10:54for Addison.
10:55How could he still
10:57stand there
10:57and play the part
10:58of the devoted lover?
10:59It was disgusting.
11:01I pulled the
11:02prenuptial agreement
11:03from my pocket.
11:04I tore it into
11:05a dozen pieces
11:06and let the wind
11:07scatter them
11:08across the pavement.
11:10The wedding is off.
11:12Get out of here.
11:15Vicente's expression
11:16hardened instantly.
11:18Dropping the gentleman act,
11:20he closed the distance
11:21between us
11:22in a few steps.
11:23He clamped his hand
11:24around my wrist.
11:26Emi, do you have any idea
11:28what you're doing?
11:29I'm the only person
11:30in the entire department
11:32who doesn't hold
11:32your past against you.
11:34Why the hell
11:35are you taking this
11:35out on me?
11:38I know you're still in love
11:39with Desmond.
11:41But if you truly
11:42love someone,
11:44shouldn't you let him
11:45be with Addie?
11:46My eyes stung,
11:47but I tilted my head
11:48back to look at him.
11:50Every word I spat
11:51dripping with venom.
11:53So that's it.
11:55You love her too.
11:57You're throwing
11:58your life away
11:59on me
12:00just to pave
12:01the way for them.
12:02You're taking me in
12:03just to make sure
12:04this crazy woman
12:05doesn't pest her Desmond
12:06or hurt Addison.
12:10You were planning
12:11to keep me sedated
12:12until I was too
12:13drugged to resist,
12:14weren't you?
12:16A flicker of guilt
12:17crossed his eyes,
12:18but he kept up
12:19the charade,
12:20even forcing his eyes
12:21to redden
12:21as if he were
12:22the one betrayed.
12:23Emi,
12:23how could you think
12:24so little of me?
12:26We grew up together.
12:28Everything I'm doing
12:29is for your own good.
12:30The neighbors
12:31and colleagues
12:32gathered around
12:33began to whisper.
12:34Dr. Doc Ware
12:35has done more
12:36than enough for her.
12:37Amelia hasn't been
12:38right since that operation.
12:40Who else would even
12:41consider marrying her?
12:43I heard she came back
12:44from that den tainted.
12:46She should be thanking
12:47her lucky stars
12:48he's still willing
12:48to take her.
12:49My foster father's
12:50face flushed with rage
12:51as he raised his hand.
12:53I quickly grabbed his arm
12:54and shook my head.
12:56Dad, don't.
12:57Desmond is the captain now
12:59and the Dockway family
13:00has too much pull.
13:02We can't win a fight
13:03against them.
13:04Addison's the department's
13:05golden girl.
13:06Everyone is on her side.
13:07No one will believe us.
13:09They'll just see me
13:10as a jealous,
13:11unstable woman.
13:12His chest heaved
13:13with suppressed anger.
13:15Finally,
13:16he let out a heavy,
13:17defeated sigh
13:18and turned back
13:18toward the house.
13:21Vicenti reached
13:22for my hand again,
13:23his voice dropping
13:24into that familiar,
13:25hypocritical tone.
13:27Emi, if you're not
13:27in the right headspace today,
13:29we can push the date back.
13:31But my promise to you
13:33hasn't changed.
13:35Just promise me
13:36you won't bother
13:37Desmond and Addie anymore.
13:39I jerked my hand away
13:40and stared at him
13:41as if he were already dead.
13:43I'm not marrying you
13:45and I'm never looking
13:45for Desmond again.
13:47Not in this lifetime.
13:50Because I'm...
13:52I was seconds away
13:54from telling him
13:55I was leaving the country
13:56when Desmond's SUV
13:57pulled up.
13:58Addison stepped out,
14:00dressed in a white dress.
14:01She made a show
14:02of needing Desmond's
14:03help getting out of the car.
14:04She cast Vicenti
14:06a faint, flirtatious look.
14:08A spark flickered
14:09in Vicenti's eyes
14:10for a split second
14:11before vanishing.
14:13Addison walked over to me,
14:15her eyes already
14:15beginning to redden.
14:17Her voice was soft
14:18and sounded utterly tender
14:20that it could break
14:20people's hearts.
14:22Emmy, why are you
14:22still causing a scene?
14:24It's your wedding day!
14:26Why do you have to keep
14:27making Captain Urals
14:28and Vic worry about you?
14:31The murmurs around me
14:33grew sharper.
14:34She just said
14:34she didn't want to marry him
14:35but the second Captain Urals
14:36shows up
14:37she's standing there
14:37stardrock.
14:38How shameless can you get?
14:40Dr. Dockware
14:41even went out of his way
14:42to pull strings
14:43for her medication.
14:44An ungrateful woman like that
14:45belongs back
14:45in a holding cell.
14:47When Desmond heard
14:48that I had called off
14:49the wedding
14:49his gaze turned icy.
14:51He stepped protectively
14:53in front of Addison.
14:54Amelia, I know you look down
14:55on Addie because she's a civilian.
14:58You think she's delicate,
14:59don't you?
15:00But let's look at the facts.
15:02How many major cases
15:03has she closed
15:04from behind the scenes
15:05using psychological profile?
15:07Her hands are meant
15:08for a pen.
15:09They're clean, untainted.
15:11And then there's you.
15:13Ever since that mission
15:15you've been nothing but bitter
15:16and full of malice.
15:18Now you've even lost
15:19the little loyalty
15:20you had left.
15:22How can you even begin
15:23to compare yourself to her?
15:24I felt a sting in my nose
15:26as I sniffled.
15:27The late autumn wind
15:28whipped against my collar,
15:29but it couldn't chill me
15:30nearly as much
15:31as the coldness
15:32in my own chest.
15:33To put Addison on a pedestal,
15:35Desmond had gone as far
15:36as handing over half
15:37of my hard-earned
15:38career achievements to her.
15:42Overnight,
15:42I became the crazy woman
15:44of the department.
15:44Addison became
15:46the celebrated genius profiler,
15:48the golden girl
15:49of the Force.
15:50Suddenly, Addison pointed
15:52at the worn collar
15:53around Kale's neck.
15:54Oh!
15:55Isn't that my missing emerald?
15:57How did it end up
15:58set into a dog collar?
16:00My body went rigid.
16:02I stared at Desmond,
16:03my eyes bloodshot
16:04and burning.
16:05That emerald?
16:06Wasn't that the retirement gift
16:08you gave Kale back then?
16:09A flicker of guilt
16:10crossed Desmond's eyes.
16:11His voice remained iron cold.
16:13I never gave you
16:14anything like that.
16:15That's Addie's family heirloom.
16:16It went missing
16:17just a few days ago,
16:18so you're the one
16:18who stole it.
16:19The air was suddenly
16:20filled with voices
16:21calling me a thief.
16:23Every word felt like
16:24a bullet through my eardrums.
16:26Ignoring the sharp ache
16:28in my chest,
16:28I reached down
16:30with trembling hands.
16:31I unbuckled Kale's collar
16:33and slammed it
16:34onto the pavement.
16:35The emerald shattered
16:36into broken pieces.
16:38I haven't even set foot
16:39in your office.
16:40How could I have stolen anything?
16:41A flash of triumph
16:42crossed Addison's face.
16:44She buried herself
16:45in Desmond's arms,
16:46sobbing.
16:48Captain Urist,
16:49a few days ago,
16:50Emmy came to your office
16:50to cause us to mean.
16:51She must have taken it then.
16:54A voice rang out
16:55from the crowd,
16:56sharp with impatience.
16:58Addie,
16:58it's just an emerald.
16:59It's broken.
17:00Let it go.
17:02I'll buy you a better one.
17:04Emmy is still
17:04my deputy lead after all.
17:07Let's not make a scene
17:08in front of her house.
17:09Desmond pulled Addison closer,
17:11his eyes fiercely protective.
17:14He looked at me
17:14as if I were nothing but trash.
17:16Vedante,
17:17since she doesn't know
17:18what's good for her,
17:19consider the wedding off.
17:20Let's get out of here.
17:21Don't lower yourself
17:21to her level.
17:22I called out,
17:23my voice trembling.
17:26Desmond,
17:27we grew up together.
17:29How can you not believe me?
17:30He turned back,
17:31his gaze devoid
17:32of even a trace of warmth.
17:34He leaned in close,
17:36speaking in a low voice
17:37meant only for me.
17:38I want you to understand something.
17:40I don't care how outstanding
17:42you used to be.
17:44In my eyes,
17:45you don't even compare to Addie.
17:47If you keep trying to cling to me,
17:49you'll only disgust me more.
17:51My eyes stung with a bitter ache,
17:53but it felt as though
17:54my tears had already run dry.
17:58My mind drifted back
17:59to our days at the police academy.
18:02Back then,
18:03no matter who tried to bully me,
18:05Desmond would step in front of me
18:06without hesitation.
18:08He would declare
18:09I was under his protection.
18:11After that,
18:12no one dared to even
18:13raise their voice at me.
18:15But now,
18:16just to drive me away,
18:17he was letting the woman
18:18he loved drag my name
18:20through the mud.
18:21He didn't realize
18:22that even if I wanted
18:23to cling to him,
18:24I was out of time,
18:25by sunrise tomorrow,
18:27my identity would cease to exist.
18:29After the crowd dispersed,
18:31Vicenti dismissed
18:32the lingering colleagues
18:33with a wave of his hand.
18:35Seeing my numb expression,
18:37he grabbed my hand,
18:38his voice edged
18:39with impatience.
18:40Emmy,
18:41I'm sorry,
18:42that emerald really
18:42does belong to Addie.
18:44She gave it to me before,
18:45and I just passed it on to you.
18:47But I saw how much
18:48she liked it.
18:49If I hadn't played along,
18:50she would have been put
18:51in an awkward spot
18:52in front of Desmond.
18:53I stared at him,
18:55my face a mask
18:56of indifference.
18:58So you just stood there
18:59and watched them
19:00brand me a thief?
19:01He spoke with the gall
19:02of a man who truly believed
19:03he was in the right.
19:06There were so many people
19:07watching, Emmy.
19:10If I had called her out,
19:12how was Desmond supposed
19:12to save his image?
19:15How could Addison even
19:17stay on the force
19:17after a scandal like that?
19:20Besides,
19:20you're already suspended.
19:22Your reputation
19:23has already taken a hit.
19:24One more accusation
19:25isn't going to change anything.
19:27As long as I know
19:28you're innocent,
19:29that's all that matters.
19:31Once the wedding is over,
19:32I'll take you out of town
19:33for treatment.
19:34We'll start over
19:35on a clean slate.
19:37He was wrong.
19:37I wasn't looking
19:38for a fresh start.
19:40I simply reached the point
19:41where I didn't believe
19:42in humanity anymore.
19:43I slowly pulled my hand
19:45from his grip.
19:46I turned toward the hallway
19:47and shut the rusty
19:48iron door between us.
19:50Vicenti hammered on the door,
19:52his voice boiling over
19:53with rage.
19:54Emilia!
19:54Emilia!
19:55Don't be so ungrateful!
19:57No one else out there
19:58would touch a crazy woman
20:00like you!
20:01I'll give you one night
20:02to get your head straight.
20:04I'm coming for you
20:05tomorrow morning.
20:07If you're still acting
20:08this stubborn,
20:09don't blame me
20:10for forgetting
20:11we were ever friends.
20:12I leaned against the door,
20:14listening until the sound
20:15of his footsteps
20:16finally faded.
20:17When the silence returned,
20:19my legs gave out.
20:21I slid to the floor,
20:22clutching Kale
20:23and sobbing
20:24until I couldn't breathe.
20:29Kale let out a low whine,
20:31licking the tears
20:32from my face.
20:33Later that night,
20:35I packed my life
20:36into a few small bags.
20:37I tucked the police badge
20:39that represented
20:40my past glory
20:41under my pillow.
20:42Then,
20:43leash in hand,
20:44I walked through
20:45the shadows of the night
20:46with Kale.
20:47When we reached the garage,
20:49I tied Kale's leash
20:50to a pole.
20:51It seemed to sense
20:52what was coming.
20:53It clamped its teeth
20:55onto my trouser leg,
20:56its eyes wide
20:57and pleading.
20:58I knelt,
20:59and with a heart
21:00made of stone,
21:01I slapped it.
21:02It let out
21:03a sharp whimper
21:04and backed away.
21:07Kale,
21:07if you follow me,
21:08you'll die.
21:10Stay here.
21:11At least this way,
21:12you live.
21:13I pulled the knot tight
21:15and walked away
21:16without looking back.
21:17Behind me,
21:18Kale let out
21:19a series of
21:19heart-wrenching barks,
21:20each one sounding
21:21like a final goodbye.
21:22I whispered
21:23into the empty night sky,
21:25Amelia reporting to hell.
21:26I can't take it with me.
21:29I just hope
21:30it finds a decent owner.
21:32I stepped into
21:33the waiting van
21:34as the pre-dawn chill
21:35set in a
21:35single tear
21:37burned against my cheek
21:38for a second
21:38before the wind
21:39turned it to ice.
21:40Desmond,
21:41Vicenti,
21:42the bond we shared
21:43as brothers-in-arms
21:44died today.
21:44It was all gone.
21:46Burned to nothing.
21:48The next morning,
21:50Kale was found
21:51tied to the pole,
21:52shivering in the cold.
21:53Desmond frowned,
21:54his face twisted
21:55in disgust.
21:56So that crazy woman
21:58actually dumped
21:59the dog here?
22:00Does she really think
22:01she can win me over
22:02with a stunt like this?
22:04He untied the leash
22:05and was about to chase it away
22:06when Kale spat out
22:07a scrap of chewed up paper.
22:09Desmond pieced it together,
22:11barely making out
22:11a few words.
22:13Undercover suicide mission.
22:15Final farewell.
22:16He let out a cold sneer
22:17and tossed the scraps
22:18into the trash.
22:19Another one of her mind games.
22:21How boring.
22:22I was already
22:23on a transport plane
22:25heading toward the border.
22:26Staring at the clouds
22:27outside the window.
22:29I felt a strange
22:30hollow sense of peace.
22:32Even though Desmond
22:33told himself
22:33he didn't believe
22:34a word of it.
22:35He couldn't shake
22:36the restless feeling
22:37gnawing at his gut.
22:38Without even realizing it,
22:40he got in his car.
22:42He found himself
22:43driving toward
22:44the police housing.
22:45He arrived just in time
22:47to see Vicenti
22:48clutching his ID
22:49and pounding at my door.
22:51Emilia!
22:52Get out now!
22:55Stop playing dead!
22:57Desmond rolled down
22:58his window,
22:59his voice ice cold.
23:01Vicenti,
23:01give it a rest.
23:04A manipulative woman
23:05like her is probably
23:06hiding somewhere right now.
23:10Laughing at both of us.
23:14Vicenti looked embarrassed
23:15when he saw Desmond,
23:16but he doubled down
23:18stubbornly.
23:19Captain Urift,
23:20I'm just worried
23:20Emmy might do
23:21something reckless.
23:23She was in a really
23:24bad state yesterday.
23:25Desmond scoffed.
23:26Reckless.
23:27She values her life
23:28more than anyone.
23:30That whole performance
23:31yesterday was just
23:32for our benefit,
23:32wasn't it?
23:33Just as the words
23:34left his mouth,
23:35my foster father
23:36stepped out of the stairwell.
23:37He leaned heavily
23:38on his cane,
23:39his eyes heavy
23:40with disappointment
23:40and grief.
23:41You two should leave.
23:43Emmy is gone.
23:44She sent the dog
23:45away yesterday,
23:46and she's already
23:47on her way
23:48to the border.
23:50Desmond frowned,
23:51his voice dripping
23:52with disbelief.
23:53You're actually
23:54humoring this nonsense?
23:57The border
23:57is no place
23:58for her.
23:59In the state
24:00she's in,
24:01she can barely
24:01hold a gun steady.
24:04She'd be nothing
24:04but a liability.
24:05My foster father
24:06let out a cold,
24:07hollow snort.
24:08And whose fault
24:09is that?
24:10You two drove her
24:11out of this city.
24:12She felt she had
24:13no choice but to
24:14volunteer for that
24:15suicide mission.
24:17She thinks dying
24:18out there is the
24:19only way to clear
24:20her name.
24:21Desmond flinched,
24:22but he quickly
24:23forced a dismissive
24:24smirk.
24:25Undercover?
24:26Her?
24:27Don't be ridiculous.
24:29If she actually
24:31has the guts
24:31to go through
24:32with that,
24:34I'll eat my hat.
24:37He turned
24:38and walked away,
24:39refusing to listen
24:40to another word.
24:42Yet when he
24:43returned to the station
24:44and passed the archives,
24:45he walked in
24:46on an impulse.
24:47He pulled up
24:48my file.
24:49A bold red warning
24:51flashed across the screen.
24:52Top secret,
24:54sealed.
24:55At that moment,
24:56his hands began
24:56to tremble uncontrollably.
24:58He rushed toward
24:59the chief's office.
25:01But the secretary
25:02informed him
25:03that the chief
25:03was already at a briefing
25:04at state police headquarters.
25:06He called Vicenti
25:08immediately.
25:09Vicenti,
25:10check Emi's
25:11travel records now!
25:12Hurry up!
25:13On the other end
25:14of the line,
25:15Vicenti's voice
25:16was shaking.
25:18Desmond,
25:19I was just about
25:19to call you.
25:21Addison is having
25:22morning sickness.
25:23She says the baby
25:24might not make it.
25:26Let's put the stuff
25:27about Emi aside
25:28for a minute.
25:29Addie's in critical condition.
25:31Desmond froze,
25:33his mind spiraling
25:34into chaos.
25:35On one side
25:36was his childhood friend,
25:38who might be walking
25:39to her death.
25:40On the other
25:41was his fragile
25:42current partner,
25:43carrying what they believed
25:44was a fallen
25:45comrade's child.
25:46Finally,
25:47he gritted his teeth.
25:49Stay with Addie
25:50at the hospital.
25:51I'm on my way.
25:55As for me,
25:56he convinced himself
25:58it was just another
25:58one of my desperate
25:59plays for attention.
26:02A sealed file?
26:03Please.
26:04She must have begged
26:05the former chief
26:06to pull some strings
26:07and fake it.
26:09Six months later,
26:10big news came
26:11from the border.
26:12The drug cartel
26:13that had ruled
26:14the Golden Triangle
26:15four years
26:16was finally taken
26:17down in one
26:17major strike.
26:18The success
26:19was all thanks
26:20to an undercover
26:21officer,
26:22codenamed 003.
26:24This officer
26:25had lived among
26:25the cartel
26:26and sent back
26:27the secret data
26:27needed for the raid.
26:29But during the final fight,
26:31003 went missing,
26:32no one knew
26:33if the officer
26:34was dead or alive.
26:35While the rest
26:36of the department
26:37celebrated,
26:38Desmond and Vicente
26:39couldn't even smile.
26:40They were the only
26:42ones who remembered
26:42that 003
26:43was my old code name.
26:45During the victory
26:46party,
26:47Addison walked in,
26:48leaning on Desmond's
26:50arm.
26:50She was heavily
26:51pregnant now.
26:53Des, don't worry
26:54so much.
26:54Emmy will be okay.
26:55She's always been
26:56lucky.
26:57Besides,
26:58our baby has been
26:59kicking me all day.
27:01Desmond looked
27:01at Addison's belly.
27:03A flicker of tenderness
27:04crossed his face,
27:06but it was mostly
27:07buried under pure
27:08exhaustion.
27:08Over the last six months,
27:11he had dreamed of me
27:12countless times.
27:13In the nightmares,
27:14I stood before him,
27:16covered in blood,
27:17asking why he hadn't
27:18saved me.
27:19Every time he woke up,
27:21his pillow was wet
27:22with tears.
27:25Nearby,
27:26Vicente drank alone,
27:27his eyes dark.
27:29He had known the truth
27:30for a long time.
27:31I really had gone
27:32to the border.
27:33But he didn't dare
27:34tell Desmond.
27:36He certainly
27:36couldn't face Addison.
27:37The truth was,
27:39the child Addison
27:40carried wasn't a
27:41deceased comrade's
27:42child at all.
27:43That night,
27:44he had been drunk
27:45and mistaken Addison
27:46for me.
27:47If that secret
27:48ever came out,
27:49all three of them
27:50would be finished.
27:51Suddenly,
27:52the doors swung open,
27:54several special forces
27:55soldiers in camouflage
27:56carried in a stretcher
27:58draped with a white sheet.
27:59A single limp hand
28:00hung off the side,
28:02tightly clutching
28:03a shattered police badge.
28:04The entire hall
28:06went silent.
28:07The glass in Desmond's
28:08hand hit the floor
28:09and shattered.
28:10He staggered forward,
28:12reaching out to lift
28:13the sheet.
28:14The lead soldier
28:15stepped in his way.
28:16Captain Urence,
28:18I'm sorry for your loss.
28:19This is Deputy Captain
28:20Saddenton.
28:21We found her in the dungeon
28:22of the cartel's stronghold.
28:23Desmond's legs gave out,
28:25and he hit his knees
28:26beside the stretcher.
28:27He reached out
28:28with trembling fingers
28:30and pulled back
28:30a corner of the white sheet.
28:33The face underneath
28:34was completely unrecognizable.
28:37Her once beautiful features
28:38were a mass of knife scars
28:40and burn marks.
28:41Her skin barely intact.
28:43Only the old,
28:45familiar scar on her neck
28:46remained clear.
28:47The one she had gotten
28:48saving him from drowning
28:50when they were children.
28:52Abby!
28:54Desmond let out
28:55a gut-wrenching cry
28:56that echoed
28:56through the silent hall.
28:58Addison turned pale,
29:00clutching her belly
29:00and backing away in terror.
29:03Nearby,
29:03the wine bottle slipped
29:05from Vicenti's hand
29:06as he collapsed to the floor,
29:07his eyes completely hollow.
29:10Suddenly,
29:11the limp hand
29:11on the stretcher twitched.
29:13Desmond snapped his head up,
29:15a flash of desperate hope
29:16in his eyes.
29:19Doctor!
29:20Get a doctor over here!
29:22She's still alive!
29:23The military medic shook his head,
29:25his voice heavy with grief.
29:28Captain Urence,
29:29it's no use.
29:30They pumped her full of neurotoxins.
29:33Her organs have already failed.
29:35She's only held on this long
29:37by sheer willpower.
29:39She said she had something
29:40to tell you.
29:41Desmond and Vicenti
29:42scrambled closer,
29:44pressing their ears
29:45to my lips.
29:47My voice was a ghost of a sound,
29:50coming out in shallow,
29:51broken gasps.
29:53Desmond,
29:54Vincenia,
29:55tell Addison,
29:57the act is over.
29:59I'll see you in hell.
30:02With those final words,
30:03my hand went completely limp.
30:05The eyes that had once shown like stars
30:07were closed forever.
30:09In the corner of the hall,
30:11a man in a black trench coat
30:12watched the scene
30:13with cold indifference.
30:15He was the supreme commander
30:16of the operation,
30:18the only person in the world
30:19I had truly trusted,
30:21a top-secret agent
30:22known only as Lone Wolf.
30:24He ran a hand over
30:26the sniper rifle at his side,
30:28a dark, dangerous smirk
30:30pulling at his lips.
30:31The real show
30:32has only just been Barton.
30:34As the hand fell limp,
30:36a heavy silence
30:37filled the hall,
30:38broken only by
30:40Desmond's frantic roar.
30:42Where's the ambulance?
30:43Why isn't it here yet?
30:45Vicente,
30:46you're a forensic tech.
30:47Save her!
30:47Do something!
30:49Desmond pressed down
30:51on my chest like a madman,
30:52trying to start CPR.
30:54His hands,
30:55which had never wavered
30:57while holding a gun,
30:58were shaking so violently
31:00he couldn't even find his rhythm.
31:03Vicente collapsed beside him,
31:05his trembling fingers
31:07reaching for my carotid artery.
31:09Seconds later,
31:10he pulled his hand back
31:11as if he'd been electrocuted.
31:13His face turned white as a sheet.
31:16No,
31:17there's no pulse.
31:21IMPOSSIBLE!
31:23Desmond screamed,
31:24his eyes bloodshot
31:25as he shoved Vicente aside.
31:29She's too tough for this!
31:30She wouldn't just die!
31:33She's doing this to get back at me!
31:35She's faking it!
31:36Just then,
31:38the man in the black trench coat
31:39stepped forward from the shadows,
31:41Jalen Field,
31:42known as Lone Wolf.
31:43With a face like stone,
31:45he grabbed Desmond's wrist,
31:46his grip tight enough to crush bone.
31:49Captain Urge,
31:49that's enough.
31:50Amelia was a special operative
31:52for national security.
31:53Her remains are a classified state secret.
31:56Your department has no jurisdiction here.
31:59He gave a sharp nod.
32:00Several armed agents stepped in,
32:02forcibly dragging Desmond away.
32:04They lifted the stretcher and moved out,
32:06swift and solemn,
32:07disappearing into the night.
32:09Let go of her!
32:11She's mine!
32:13Desmond thrashed like a wounded animal.
32:17Jalen stopped and looked back
32:18with pure contempt.
32:20He pulled a folder from his coat
32:22and slammed it hard
32:23against Desmond's chest.
32:24Take a good look,
32:26Captain Urgeans.
32:27This is the last bit of intel
32:29she sent back.
32:30The truth she bought with her life.
32:32The file burst open,
32:34spilling photos
32:35and a voice recorder
32:36across the floor.
32:37Desmond's hands shook
32:39as he reached for the pictures.
32:40In one,
32:42I was strapped to an electric chair,
32:44drenched in blood,
32:45my jaw set in a silent,
32:47stubborn line.
32:48In another,
32:49Addison was perched
32:50on the drug lord's lap,
32:51laughing as she counted
32:52a thick stack of cash.
32:54Then,
32:55the recorder clicked on
32:56Addison's voice
32:57filled the room,
32:58sounding sickeningly sweet.
33:00Oh, Amelia is such a fool.
33:03I just play the victim for a minute
33:04and Desmond falls for it
33:06every time.
33:08Once she's dead,
33:09I'll be the captain's wife for real.
33:11Desmond went still,
33:12his mind a total blank.
33:15Seeing the evidence,
33:16Addison shrieked
33:17and lunged for the recorder.
33:20It's a lie.
33:21It's all fake.
33:23Des,
33:24don't believe a word of it.
33:27The sound of the slap
33:28cracked through the hall
33:29like a gunshot.
33:31Desmond put everything
33:32he had into it,
33:33sending Addison
33:34spinning to the floor.
33:35Blood immediately began
33:37to leak from the corner
33:38of her mouth.
33:39His eyes were bloodshot
33:40as he closed in on her,
33:42his voice a low,
33:43deathly growl.
33:45It was you.
33:47You leaked the intel.
33:49You're the reason
33:49they caught her.
33:50You were the one crawling
33:51at the feet
33:52of a drug lord.
33:53Addison scrambled
33:54back in terror,
33:55only to hit Vicenti's legs.
33:57She grabbed onto him
33:59like a lifeline.
34:00Vic, help me!
34:01I still have you!
34:02But Vicenti kicked her away
34:04like she was trash,
34:05his face a mask
34:06of despair
34:07and self-loathing.
34:08Still acting, Addison?
34:10He pulled a crumpled
34:11medical report
34:12from his pocket
34:13and threw it at her.
34:14I already found out
34:15the truth.
34:16You drugged me that night!
34:19A wave of shocked
34:20whispers broke out
34:21across the room.
34:22Jalen watched
34:23the pathetic display
34:24with a cold,
34:25mocking curve
34:26to his lips.
34:27Amelia was right.
34:29You people really
34:30are disgusting.
34:32Move out!
34:33At his command,
34:34the agents lifted
34:35my body and walked
34:36away from that
34:37filthy place
34:37without looking back.
34:40Behind them,
34:41Desmond collapsed
34:42to his knees,
34:43his desperate wails
34:44drowned out
34:45by Addison's
34:46hysterical screams.
34:47Two years later,
34:49the air in the
34:50Chicago PD's
34:51criminal investigation
34:52division was so thick
34:53it was suffocating.
34:55Desmond was unshaven,
34:57his eyes sunken
34:58and hollow.
34:59The sharp,
34:59confident edge
35:00he once carried
35:01had long since vanished.
35:03For two years,
35:04he had lived
35:05like a madman.
35:06Every spare moment
35:07was spent at the border,
35:09hunting for any
35:10scrap of proof
35:10that I might still
35:11be alive.
35:12Even though
35:13the ashes
35:14Jalen sent back
35:15were already buried
35:16in the martyr's cemetery,
35:17he simply refused
35:18to believe I was gone.
35:22Captain Urich,
35:23order just came in
35:25from state police
35:25headquarters.
35:26A young trainee
35:27handed him a file,
35:28his hands shaking
35:29slightly.
35:31Interpol is sending
35:32a special commissioner
35:32to help us with
35:33the recent cross-border
35:34trafficking case.
35:35Word is,
35:36this commissioner
35:36is the Reaper,
35:37the one everyone
35:38in the Golden Triangle
35:39is terrified of.
35:40Desmond rubbed
35:41his tired brow
35:42and took the file.
35:44Got it.
35:45Prepare a meeting room.
35:46His heart had died
35:47two years ago,
35:48buried right alongside
35:49those ashes
35:50at the funeral.
35:52Half an hour later,
35:54the conference room
35:55door swung open.
35:56The sharp,
35:57rhythmic click
35:57of high heels
35:58echoed through the room,
35:59bringing with it
36:00a cold, lethal energy.
36:02Allow me to introduce myself.
36:05I'm Catherine Barnard,
36:06the special commissioner
36:07from Interpol.
36:08The familiar voice
36:10hit Desmond and Vicente
36:11like a physical blow.
36:12They both snapped
36:13their heads up at once.
36:15Standing before them
36:16was a face that was
36:16as delicate and stunning
36:17as it was icy.
36:19She wore a tailored
36:20black trench coat,
36:21her blonde waves
36:22falling over her shoulders.
36:23Her lips a bold,
36:25fiery red.
36:26Her presence overwhelming.
36:27It was unmistakably
36:29the face of Amelia,
36:30the woman who had been
36:31dead for two years,
36:32but the light in her eyes
36:33had changed the steady,
36:35earnest look she once had
36:36was gone,
36:37replaced by a cold mockery
36:38and an indifference
36:39born from someone
36:40who had seen it all
36:41and survived.
36:42The pen in Desmond's hand
36:43snapped in two
36:44with a sharp crack.
36:45He surged to his feet
36:47so quickly that his chair
36:48slammed into the floor
36:49behind him.
36:49Emmy?
36:50Is that you?
36:51You're alive?
36:52He stumbled toward her,
36:54reaching for her hand,
36:55but a firm,
36:56powerful grip
36:57blocked his way.
36:59Jalen,
36:59dressed in a sharp,
37:00tailored suit,
37:02stood between them
37:03with a faint,
37:04mocking smile.
37:05He casually slipped an arm
37:06around the woman's waist.
37:08Captain Urest,
37:09show some respect.
37:12This is my fiancée
37:13and your commanding officer
37:15for this mission,
37:17Catherine.
37:19I casually removed my sunglasses
37:21to reveal eyes
37:22that were completely composed.
37:24I looked at Desmond
37:25with a flick of contempt,
37:26as if glancing at a stray dog
37:28by the side of the road.
37:29Captain Urest,
37:30I believe you have me mistaken
37:31for someone else.
37:33That fool,
37:33Emilia,
37:34died two years ago.
37:35Driven to her death
37:36by your own hands,
37:37wasn't she?
37:38Beside him,
37:39Vicente stumbled forward,
37:40his eyes bloodshot.
37:41Emmy,
37:42it really is you.
37:43I knew you hadn't died.
37:44That scar on your neck-
37:45I let a thin smile
37:46curl my lips
37:47as my fingers brushed
37:48the side of my neck.
37:49The skin was as smooth
37:50as silk.
37:51The scar had been
37:52surgically removed
37:53long ago.
37:54Mr. Daxue,
37:55if your eyesight is failing you,
37:56I suggest seeing an ophthalmologist.
37:57We are here to discuss the case.
37:59If all you can offer
38:00is personal sentiment,
38:01then I don't think you deserve
38:02to be an officer anymore.
38:03My voice was as cold as ice,
38:05every word cutting through the room.
38:07Just then,
38:07the conference room door
38:09swung open again.
38:10A large German shepherd
38:12rushed in.
38:13It was Kale.
38:14It had aged significantly,
38:16and its coat had lost
38:17the luster it once had.
38:19Desmond lunged
38:20at this final straw,
38:22pointing at the dog
38:23and shouting,
38:23Kale is your dog!
38:25He'll recognize you!
38:26Dogs don't lie!
38:30When Kale saw me,
38:31it let out an excited whine.
38:33It moved to pounce.
38:35Every eye in the room
38:36fixed on the animal,
38:37a spark of hope
38:38ignited in Desmond's eyes.
38:40Kale charged toward me,
38:42its tail wagging
38:43like a propeller.
38:44Seeing that familiar expression
38:46made my heart skip a beat.
38:47But I kept my face
38:49a mask of indifference.
38:50The moment it went
38:51to leap at me,
38:52I stepped aside.
38:53My gaze sharpened instantly
38:55as I drew my sidearm.
38:56I leveled the barrel
38:57directly between its eyes.
38:59Where did this stray come from?
39:01What happened to security?
39:02One more step
39:03and I'll shoot it to death.
39:05As if sensing
39:05the cold lethality
39:07radiating from me,
39:08Kale slammed on the brakes.
39:10It skidded to a halt
39:11half a meter away.
39:13It tilted its head
39:14in confusion,
39:15a pitiful whine
39:16caught in its throat.
39:17But it didn't dare
39:18move any closer.
39:20It could still catch my scent.
39:22But it was now buried
39:22under the stench
39:23of gunpowder
39:24and years spent
39:25in the line of fire.
39:26The vibe of the gentle owner
39:27it once knew was gone.
39:29The light in Desmond's eyes vanished.
39:31He stared at me
39:32in disbelief.
39:35You would really kill it?
39:36This is Kale.
39:37You used to scrimp
39:38and save just to buy
39:39the best food for it.
39:40You nearly got hit
39:41by a car
39:41trying to save its life.
39:42I coldly holstered my gun,
39:44cutting off
39:44his sentimental rant.
39:46Captain Eurbert,
39:46I've told you
39:47don't know any Kale.
39:48In my world,
39:49any unpredictable variable
39:50is a threat.
39:51I turned toward Jalen,
39:52my voice softening.
39:54J, let's get the meeting started.
39:57I don't want to waste
39:58any more time
39:58on irrelevant people
39:59or their drama.
40:00In front of everyone,
40:01Jalen affectionately
40:02ruffled my hair.
40:03He pressed a kiss
40:04to my forehead.
40:05Of course,
40:06whatever you say.
40:07The rest of the meeting
40:08was nothing short of torture
40:09for Desmond and Vicenti.
40:11I laid out the operation plan
40:13with ruthless efficiency.
40:15Every order was precise
40:16and calculated,
40:18completely overshadowing Desmond,
40:20the supposed team leader.
40:21They watched me speak
40:22with such confidence.
40:24A wave of familiarity
40:25and strangeness
40:27washing over them.
40:28The little girl
40:29who used to follow them around,
40:31meekly calling them
40:32Day and Vic.
40:32She really had died
40:34that winter.
40:36After the meeting,
40:37I stood up to leave.
40:39Desmond blocked the door
40:40in desperation.
40:41His eyes bloodshot
40:42and his voice rasping.
40:44Emi,
40:44I went back through
40:45the old files.
40:46I know you took
40:47that undercover mission
40:48just to get away from us.
40:50These last two years,
40:52I've lived in regret
40:52every single day.
40:54I've been to countless
40:55therapy sessions
40:56because every time
40:57I close my eyes,
40:58I see you covered in blood.
41:00Adeline is in prison
41:01and Vicento
41:02has gotten what he deserved.
41:05Can you give me a chance
41:06to make things right?
41:07He reached out humbly,
41:09catching the hem of my coat.
41:11Even if you never forgive me,
41:13just let me watch over you
41:14from a distance.
41:15I stopped and turned.
41:17I looked down at the man
41:18I had once loved
41:19with all my heart.
41:21Now,
41:21he was just a pathetic loser.
41:24A cruel smile tugged
41:25at my lips.
41:26Make amends?
41:27Desmond,
41:28love that comes this late
41:30is worth less than
41:31the dirt under my shoes.
41:33When I was being injected
41:34with hallucinatics
41:35in that dungeon,
41:36in so much pain
41:38I wanted to bash my head
41:39against the wall
41:40to end it,
41:41you were taking Addison
41:43to her prenatal checkups
41:44when I was being stepped on
41:46by a drug lord.
41:47My ribs breaking
41:48as I defended
41:49the dignity of my badge.
41:51You were celebrating
41:51Addison's birthday!
41:55And now you want to talk
41:56about making amends?
41:59I crowded into his space.
42:01Step by step,
42:02my gaze was sharp.
42:04You want to atone?
42:06Fine.
42:07Then die.
42:10The only way
42:11I'll ever believe
42:12you're sorry
42:12is if you're dead.
42:14Desmond staggered,
42:15his face turning ashen
42:17as the life seemed
42:18to drain right out of him.
42:19I didn't give him
42:20another glance,
42:21slipping my arm
42:22through Jalen's.
42:23I strode out
42:24of the police station.
42:25Outside,
42:26the sunlight was blinding.
42:28Jalen opened
42:29the car door for me.
42:31Did your heart soften
42:32just now?
42:33I stared at the figure
42:35kneeling and weeping
42:36in the rearview mirror.
42:37I shook my head gently.
42:40My heart died
42:41a long time ago.
42:43There is nothing left
42:44to soften.
42:45Let's go, Jay.
42:46We still have missions
42:47waiting for us
42:48at the border.
42:49The car roared
42:50to life and sped away.
42:52A week later,
42:53during an arrest,
42:54Desmond threw himself
42:55recklessly in front
42:56of a rookie officer
42:57to protect them.
42:58He was shot five times
42:59and died on the spot.
43:00When his belongings
43:01were sorted,
43:02a blood-soaked photograph
43:03was found in his pocket.
43:05The only picture
43:06of him and me
43:06taken on the day
43:08we graduated
43:08from the police academy.
43:10As for Vicenti,
43:11he never married.
43:12He stayed in that
43:13empty dormitory courtyard
43:15with the aging kale,
43:16living out the rest
43:17of his days
43:18in a haze of madness.
43:20But none of that
43:21mattered to me anymore.
43:22I was Catherine.
43:24And I was Amelia,
43:25who had been reborn.
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