WebNovels

Chapter 56 - Ch.4 Bailed Out (pt1)

 "Here she is, Chief," an officer said, glancing down the hall at a girl sitting alone in the waiting area. 

 Chief Nkosi let out a sigh. "What was it this time?" 

 "She was caught shoplifting from the Farmers Market—again."

 The Chief looked at the girl for a few moments before turning back to the officer. With a pat on the back, he thanked him and sent him on his way.

 Walking over, Chief Nkosi leaned against a table positioned across the hall from her. He sat in silence for a moment, choosing his words carefully.

 "Y'know, kid… I'm not always going to be around to bail you out of trouble. I'm getting old."

 He let that settle before continuing. 

 "This is the second time this month, and the–" he hesitated, "I don't even know how many times this year."

 He gave a weary shake of his head.

 "You've only ever been brought in for minor stuff, but all those little things? They add up. One day, someone might decide you're too much of a nuisance for the public to tolerate. Then what? You end up locked in a cell on the lower floors—for who knows how long. A month? A year? More?"

 He paused, letting the words hang. 

 The girl hadn't moved. Hadn't looked up. Hadn't even glanced his way.

 "Ami Akita!" he raised his voice, snapping her out of her silence.

 She turned to him, a mix of fear and irritation stirring inside her at the sound of her full name.

 "Shhh! What's your problem, using my government name in a place full of criminals?" Ami hissed, quickly standing to her feet.

 The Chief unfolded his arms and slid his hands into his pockets as the two stood nearly clashing heads.

 "You've gotta start thinking about your future, or else you'll end up just like them with the path you're on. You're young—don't spend these precious years doing wrong. You reap what you sow, so don't go planting bad seeds."

 Ami's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying I'm just as bad as they are?"

 Her voice was edged with a defensiveness that made her words hit harder than she likely intended.

 "I'm saying you're better than they are," the Chief replied. "But your choices lately… you've been skirting the line." 

 He gave her a steady look.

 "These reckless choices of yours—they'll keep landing you in situations that drag you right back here. You can't keep being nonchalant about doing the wrong thing. You might think these are just small mistakes. But they ripple out. They affect more than just you." 

 He leaned back slightly.

 "One day, it could even put someone's life in danger."

 Ami scoffed. "In danger? How does shoplifting put someone at risk seriously enough to be considered dangerous?"

 "You're young, so maybe you don't see it yet," he said, his tone softening. "But struggling to make ends meet? That can be dangerous—sometimes even deadly."

 He looked away, rubbing his forehead in disappointment. 

 "Not being able to put food on the table is a slow but certain path to that end. It might not look like murder, but starving a man by taking away his means? That's cause and effect. And the results can be just as fatal."

 Looking back at her, his tone softened, but his gaze stayed firm.

 "You don't realize how lucky you are to have landed here, instead of some other department. You've been given more chances than most people could ever hope for."

 "So what?" Ami shot back. "You're not letting me off the hook this time? Gonna throw me in a cell with someone locked up for something way worse?"

 "I should," the Chief snapped, his voice rising. "Maybe then you'd understand."

 He saw the worry flicker in her eyes. That was enough to make him pause. He knew she wasn't a bad kid—just one caught up in the kind of circumstances she didn't choose. 

 Sighing, he rubbed the back of his neck.

 "But I won't." 

 He exhaled slowly. "I mean it, though—if you get in trouble again, it won't be my department handling it. I don't have it in me to keep bailing you out. Next time, it'll be someone else. And they won't go so easy on you."

 Having endured Chief Nkosi's lecture, Ami slung her backpack over her shoulder and turned to leave, offering not so much as a word of thanks for his mercy. But before she could make it down the hall, the Chief called out to her.

 "Hey—hold on. There's something I want you to have."

 He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, worn book titled The Five People You Meet in the End. 

 "I read this when I was your age. I was a bit of a trouble maker back then, too… Thought that since it opened my eyes, it might do the same for you."

 Ami paused, eyeing the book, then looked up at him.

 "This thing's gotta be older than you, old man."

 He chuckled. "Well… that might be true. But some things don't age out of relevance."

 He extended the book again.

 "It's about a man who learns that even the smallest choices he made had an impact on others' lives. Sometimes in ways he never even realized."

 Ami rolled her eyes. "Cause and effect, yeah, yeah. You know, it's annoying how good you are at that—giving one of your long speeches, and then it somehow ties into something else later. You should teach a creative writing class or something." 

 She adjusted her backpack, swinging it to her side, then reluctantly took the book and slipped it inside. The Chief offered a small, knowing smile, which only made her scoff. 

 As she started to walk away, she called over her shoulder, 

 "Don't worry—you won't be seeing me around here anymore." 

 Then, under her breath, she muttered, 

 "Or anywhere near this kingdom, for that matter."

 "I look forward to that," the Chief replied.

 His response stung more than she'd expected. 

 She knew he hadn't caught the part about her leaving the kingdom—but his words still hit a nerve. Her eye twitched, and for a split second, her face tightened. But she said nothing, forcing herself to keep walking.

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