"Ah, Mike, is there anything on your side?" Joe asked with a smile.
"The officers have spread out across the city. I need to tell you something, come with me to that tree," Mike, the young officer, said.
Mike's gaze flicked toward the shadowed tree, unease tightening the corners of his mouth.
Joe noticed the stiffness in his posture, the kind that only comes from something strange pressing on the mind.
Mike glanced around once more, making sure no one else was listening.
"Did you see that… or am I losing it?" Mike said.
"W-what do you mean, Mike? What did you see?" Joe's voice cracked despite his attempt to stay calm.
Joe raised an eyebrow, thinking, What has him so rattled?
Mike took a half-step closer to Joe, lowering his voice.
Please don't say you saw what I think you saw, Joe prayed silently, throat tightening.
If he saw it too… then it wasn't just in my head, Joe realized, dread settling in his gut.
"That pink glimmer… right after she vanished," Mike said.
It really was the same thing…! Joe thought.
"That light… you saw it too, didn't you? I saw you, you were the one who reacted the strongest, Joe." Mike held Joe's shoulders, his eyes never leaving Joe's.
"I… I don't know what you think I saw," Joe said, letting out a trembling laugh.
He's too young… too young and fragile, Joe swallowed.
I shouldn't let him think too much about it.
"You must be exhausted, Mike. That's all." Joe laughed.
"A-anyways, let's get to our work…"
If he keeps pushing, he'll end up seeing more than he should, Joe thought, a tight knot forming in his chest.
Mike didn't move right away, his grip loosening only after a long, uneasy breath.
"R… maybe you're right. I—" Mike stared at the police building.
"I think… I really need some rest," he said with a thin, forced smile.
"Y-yeah, you should. You look exhausted," Joe replied.
Both men froze for a heartbeat, neither daring to look toward the sound.
"I—I'll head to my car… try to clear my head," Joe said.
Joe pressed his fingers to his temples, trying to steady his breathing.
Just keep moving… don't think, don't look, don't stop.
I didn't protect that creature… I just didn't want him panicking, he told himself.
Why do I feel sorry for her?! he thought, then he turned his head quickly.
No, no, Joe, don't think like this.
Just get to the car… don't look back, Joe told himself, fighting the urge to run instead of walk.
His keys jingled weakly in his trembling hand, betraying what he tried to hide.
Then he opened his car.
She was sitting right here… like nothing was wrong, he thought, staring at the back seats.
A faint glimmer caught his eye.
He let out an unbelievable laugh. "You must be kidding me…"
"A… a medieval coin? Seriously?"