Chapter 6 - Fredricka

The inspector took the bait and closed in on Elena, their eyes locked in a tense standoff. Elena had baited Emilee to the warehouse and was prepared to escape if she had called for backup. But something about the inspector's courage intrigued her, causing Elena to stay. She wanted to offer her a chance, and there was nothing she relished more than the exhilarating rush of facing another person head-on, guns pointed at each other. Assassinations seemed mundane and uninteresting in comparison. Some might consider Elena's desire sick, but to her, this confrontation represented the pinnacle of excitement—the only thing that could evoke any semblance of feeling. There was love, but it was a luxury she couldn't afford in her line of work. While she had experienced moments of passion, it was merely a means to get close to her targets—an act devoid of emotion.

"Lower your gun, Fredricka," the inspector nervously instructed.

Elena regretted choosing that alias; it grated on her nerves.

"You first, Inspector," she retorted.

While awaiting the inspector's move, Elena had done her research on Emilee Dean, discovering that she wasn't just any police officer but a seasoned crime scene detective—an inspector.

"So it seems we have reached a stalemate," commented the inspector.

"Go on, try to out shoot me. I know you want to," Elena goaded, attempting to provoke her.

Elena didn't actually want to be shot; it hurt like hell. But she knew the inspector wouldn't pull the trigger unless she fired first.

"Give up Fredricka. What is your gameplan from here? Kill me and escape? Then you will be hunted for being a cop killer," questioned the inspector.

"I don't enjoy killing cops, you've got me there. But it is better than the alternative, and unfortunately it wouldn't be the first time I've killed a cop to avoid prison," Elena responded, her tone fluctuating yet remaining eerily calm.

Suddenly a health bar popped out from behind the large box at the entry to the warehouse. As both women noticed it in the corner of their vision, the tension in the room rose significantly. Judging from the inspector's reaction, she wasn't expecting anyone. Her long black hair was tied up in a ponytail, which flicked back and forth as she swiftly shifted her gaze between the large box and Elena. Beads of sweat formed on her olive skin, and her brown eyes darted even faster than her head. If she kept this up she was going to get dizzy. Emilee's appearance reminded Elena of Gal Gadot.

"Come out with your hands up!" the inspector shouted, careful not to divert her attention from Elena.

"Shit," cursed a man from behind the large box.

Elena could hear the man standing up, he groaned a little, and emerged from his hiding spot. He was wearing the uniform of a bank security guard, which alarmed Elena, but from his behaviour, he didn't seem threatening, nor did he have a weapon.

"Trevor, what are you doing here?" inquired the Inspector.

"Hello Inspector Dean. Hello Elena," replied Trevor.

How did he know my name? Elena desperately pondered. Then it dawned on her—the groan when he stood up, the way he hunched over slightly. He was the man she had inadvertently caused to be shot at the university yesterday. His name was Trevor.

"You two know each other? And your name is Elena?" questioned the Inspector.

Shit, this was a detail Elena didn't want the inspector to know. Maybe it would be better if she was dead, but she would have to get rid of Trevor first.

"We had a chance meeting yesterday," explained Trevor.

"Ah, that explains why you're injured," the inspector chuckled.

The inspector's assumption was correct, but Elena despised the habit of inadvertently causing harm to everyone she encountered.

"What are you doing here, Trevor? Answer me," the inspector demanded, her anger escalating.

"Please, call me Trev. I heard a gunshot and came to investigate. That's all," he replied.

"And what did you plan to do? Get hurt again?" asked the inspector, her gun still pointed at Elena, unwavering.

"I didn't really intend to get caught, but here we are."

This complicated things. With an extra person here, the thrill Elena had relished was extinguished. She had to find a way to escape this situation. She had made an escape route for herself—a surprisingly large drain in the middle of the warehouse—but she had moved too far away to realistically utilise it.

"Trevor, please leave, I don't want you to get hurt again," Elena implored. "The inspector and I have unfinished business."

"I won't leave you two to shoot each other," he said, stepping forward and placing himself between them, facing the two guns. "Let's resolve this peacefully."

Suddenly a deafening, deep, vibrating, but somewhat beautiful sound rang out, similar to a sustained bass note in electronic music. It lasted about ten seconds, in which time everyone clutched their ears and dropped to the ground. Once the noise ceased, Elena swiftly regained her footing, her gun still trained on the inspector. Much to her surprise, it began to disintegrate into dust in her hand. She reached for her knives on her belt, but they too crumbled into nothingness.

"What the fuck was that," exclaimed Trevor.

Then, another deafening noise pierced the air, higher in pitch than the previous one, reminiscent of a sustained guitar chord. Elena's pocket grew hot, and she hastily pulled out her phone as it bulged. Acting on instinct, she threw it away, and shortly after, it exploded. She also wore a smartwatch, but she couldn't remove it in time, and it detonated on her wrist, leaving behind burns and shards of glass embedded in her arm. The second noise subsided as explosions could be heard echoing in the distance.

"Fuuuck", yelled Elena, pain running down her arm.

A third noise, this time high pitched, filled the air. After a moment, she stopped hearing it, while blood ran down her cheek. Then as the noise stopped, which she could tell through vibration in the air, her hearing instantly returned. Her sight became clearer. Her sense of smell improved. The pain in her arm disappeared and the wound was gone. Her previously aching wrist, a result of stabbing too many people too forcefully, was healed. Elena looked up and for the first time, her health bar was at full. She looked at Trevor and the inspector, their health bars were also full. The third noise had restored them all to perfect health, or perhaps even better.

"What was that?" inquired the Inspector.

"Looks like the beginning of an apocalypse," Trevor replied.

Stripped of weapons and technology, Elena felt vulnerable. And she didn't like it.