1 I see dead people?

"When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Is how the saying goes, yet..."

*Sigh*

"How did I end up with orange juice instead?" sighed a young man as he wondered about the mysteries of life.

*Slam*

A hand slams heavily onto a table as a man shouted angrily "Stop fooling around and tell us the truth! You should know why you ended up here! You should obediently cooperate with us or you are going to have a hard time."

"I want to know why I am here too." said the young man helplessly as he tried to spread his hands to express his confusion.

*Clink*

Only to fail as his hands are handcuffed to the table.

"Sigh... you should go easy on him. After all, this is just a formality. He can already be proven innocent with all the evidence that we have collected." said an old man who just entered the room.

"But that does not mean we should disregard the code of conduct. We should follow the rules in an investigation to prevent any criminals from escaping judgement!" said the young policeman seriously towards his mentor.

"I think it is that time of the month for him considering how much of a pain he is being." retorted the young man.

"You!-"

"Quiet newbie! Keep your calm and do not cause a commotion. And you, Mr Alma Laune. Please try not to aggravate the new recruit more than he already is. He means well but he is just too serious and the stress on his first job is getting to him." said the old man sternly.

"Now, can please you tell us the exact situation that happened? I don't really want to keep anyone longer than they should in the police station." said the old man.

"Well, alright, though I am not sure whether you would believe me. It went like this..." explained the young man.

---

It was a pretty nice day outside. The sun was shining, the sky was clear, and there was a slight breeze. It was the perfect day for a walk.

A young man could be seen resting on the park bench after having a jog. He can be seen wearing a black windbreaker with white stripes and grey sweatpants. The young man wiped his sweat with a towel as he looked around the park.

It was the weekend and there were a lot of people hanging around the park. Children could be seen running around with their parents following behind them, students could be seen hanging out with their friends, and some couples holding hands while enjoying their date.

Some young girls walking by could be seen glancing at the young man from time to time. The young man's eyes are hazel brown, and his face could be said to be rather handsome. His slightly long hair was swept aside as he wiped his sweat, exuding the aura of youth.

*Ring ring*

A phone could be heard ringing in his pocket. Checking the name of the one calling him, it was his little sister, Amy, that was calling him. "Heya little sis, whatcha need?" Alma said while checking the time.

"Alma! How many times do I have to tell you? I am grown up now, so stop calling me little!" shouted a voice from the phone.

"Chill, relax. Why so worked up? It is that time of the month again? Did it run out? Need me to help get you some-"

"Shut up! One more word from you and you are sleeping outside tonight."

"Yes, yes. As you command my lady." Alma said with a smirk.

"We are running out of some groceries. Can you go and get some since there should be a sale on today at the nearby market."

"Alright, I will go check it out."

"Stay safe. See you later."

After the call ended, Alma packed his towel into his bag as he took a drink from his bottle while walking away from the park. He rushed towards the market place and he seems to have made it just in time for the flash sale.

Looking around, a large number of people from the neighbourhood crowding around the market while waiting for the market to open. The scent of gunpowder can be felt from the air, as though the current situation is merely the calm before the storm. Alma gulped as he felt the intense stares from the housewives and the stay-at-home dads hunting for a bargain that seems to say they will not give in without a fight.

Staring back towards them, Alma also unleashed his own stare as a challenge. His physique, as well as the air of a housekeeping veteran he projected, seems to stir up their fighting spirit even more. Even the eyes of the old aunties and uncles blaze with fighting spirit.

"Hoho, you young ones should step aside as we show you who is the real boss of the marketplace." said an old man as he stretched to warm up.

"We shall see about that old man. Let's settle this on the battlefield." retorted Alma.

"I'll show you that the old ginger is always the spiciest and that you lack experience." taunted the old man one last time as a bell began to ring. Signifying the opening of the sale.

*Ting Ting Ting*

"Alright, everyone! Let the super-mega-extra-special-flash-sale begin now!" shouted the staff member as everyone started to move towards the opened door.

[You have encountered a troublesome situation.]

"Well now, I guess I underestimated the situation." said Alma nervously as cold sweat dripped down his back upon seeing the sea of people pushing towards the sales and the great promotions.

"But I will not give in without a fight!" shouted Alma with spirit as he too, begin to push forward to fight for the dirt-cheap groceries. Eventually, he managed to buy the groceries from the sale, albeit with some difficulty.

Alma could be seen staggering out of the market with his clothes and hair in a dishevelled state. Though his face seems to be gleaming with success as he gloated over the responses of some people as he managed to snag some of the last items on the shelf before their very eyes.

'Their shocked and annoyed faces was enough to make the horrible experience of getting pushed around in there almost worth it... almost.' though Alma as he walked out of the market.

"Damn, next time I ain't going anywhere near a flash sale. I rather not save some money than going there again. The aunts and stay-at-home dads that are there hunting for a bargain are so damn fierce." shuddered Alma as he remembered the scene where he was stared down by many sharp gazes as he managed to take the final radish available.

'It was like a warzone in there. I felt like I was about to get stabbed.' Alma thought silently as he walked back home.

"Get out of the way you bastard! Or I will make you!" shouted a dark shadow that dashed over at a fast speed.

*stab*

'Huh? I don't remember their gaze being that realistic? I almost felt as though I have been stabbed for real. Oh, wait...'

[You have encountered an unexpected situation.]

"Take that you bastard for getting in my way! Now I gotta get out of here quick." said the shadow with disdain as it looked around the area for an escaped route.

"So you have an accomplice! Eat this! You worthless assholes who dare to steal from me!" shouted a raging lady that was chasing the shadow as she seemed to have pulled something out of her pocket before pointing it towards the shadow as well as the one near it.

*Bzzt Zap* *Shock* *Thud*

"How do you like my dual shock taser! It is the ones with the highest voltage in the market. Taste electricity you bastards!" taunted the lady as she watched the two thieves fall onto the floor shuddering in the electric shocks before shooting them another time for good measure.

"Huh?" she exclaimed as she walked closer to the bodies on the floor before realizing that one of them does not look like a thief at all. The man can be seen carrying bags of groceries like he just finished shopping at a market.

The lady, upon closer observation, can see that the man looks to be bleeding and what looks like a large pool of red blood flowing down his body. The face of the man was very pale and there did not seem to be any eye movement while lying there on the floor.

"Oh no! Ah!!!! Murder!! Someone help!! There is a dead person here!!" shouted the lady out loud as she realized what had just happened.

---

"And that was how I got shot by a crazy lady that got very trigger happy with her shiny and brand new taser. Not once, but twice." Alma explained with a pitiful expression towards the two men.

*Bam*

"Stop joking and say it seriously! Do you really expect us to believe you?"

"The blood is just various red sauces which got their packaging broken as it fell and splashed onto me. *sigh* such a waste of good sauce." Alma said sadly as he gave a moment of silence towards the good sauce.

'May the sauce rest in peace. Your sacrifice will not be in vain, especially you, ash ketchu- I mean ketchup.'

"Do you take us for idiots! We obliviously know about that. We are asking about where did you purchase all those drugs! Your eyes that are very dilated and the blood tests showed that you are in fact high on drugs! Do you know that the drugs you took are, in fact, illegal? Tell us where did you get them! We might just be lenient with your punishment if you tell us the source. Who and where are the dealers?!" shouted the newbie police angrily as he lost his patience listening to the unrelated stories.

"Hey, hey, you don't have to shout. Sheesh, talk about anger issues." Alma said offhandedly. "It is my medication. I need it to deal with my health issues." replied Alma.

"Try some better excuses. We have already heard those a million times already." said the newbie.

"It's not my fault you refuse to believe in me. Just talk to my doctor for proof of my situation. Or maybe my lawyer since it looks like you really hate my guts."

"Leave him alone, newbie. We will wait for the investigation results before deciding anything. Besides, my instincts seem to say that he is saying the truth." said the mentor towards the newbie.

"Hah! now even he calls you newbie."

"Why you! It's all your fault! I have a name you know! And you, mentor! Why are you joining him?" said the newbie, flustered at the current situation.

"Why don't you calm down a bit. Being too serious is detrimental sometimes."

"But-.. alright senior. I'll try.."

"Good. But that is one thing that is puzzling me this whole time. I wonder if you can enlighten us, Mr Laune." said the senior mentor as the air seems to become serious all of a sudden.

"Well, ok. What do you want to know Mr inspector?"

"You have not been detoxified, yet you seem perfectly fine interacting with us while being heavily drugged. Your movements are smooth unlike how someone will be upon heavy consumption of the drugs that you took. Tell me, how are you doing this?"

"Ah, this-!" exclaimed the newbie, realizing the actual situation. Finally realizing why he had been feeling that something was not quite right.

"Quiet newbie. Tell me seriously Mr Laune. If we can learn your methods, our undercover agents that I investigating the drug cartels might have a higher chance of staying safe out in the field." said the senior seriously as the air in the room seemed to become tense.

"If you want to know the truth... then it can only be because of...."

"Because of what?"

"Focus! Commitment! And sheer freaking will!" said Alma as he could see that the vein of the senior seemed to twitch.

"Do not lie to us. Even if you chose to not speak of the truth, you should at least be serious, considering the circumstances. But- *sigh* alright. If you do not want to speak, then so be it. You may leave, we have just received word about your release. You can go. Just leave." said the senior, resigned at the situation as he uncuffed Alma while pointing at the door after looking at the files he just received.

"Wow really? Finally, I can leave. The service here was terrible. See you around bossman." Alma said cheerfully as he left the police station after picking up his groceries that weren't ruined.

"Senior, can we really let him go? Isn't drugs illegal? Should he not be punished by the law?" said the recruit carefully as he watched Alma cheerfully walked out of the room.

*sigh*

"I know what you mean, but what he said is the truth. It seems to be related to his medical condition." the senior said as he plopped the file that he just received from another officer. He pointed to the information regarding the drugs as the newbie read the file.

"I see. I am sorry for not taking that scenario into account. That, as well as not being patient." apologised the newbie upon realizing Alma's circumstances.

"Don't be. After all, the situation is just different from the ones you have been taught. Now, why don't we go get something to eat. Lunch break is almost over and we will be busy soon enough." huffed the senior as he made his way towards the cafeteria.

"Yes, mentor." said the newbie as he followed along, relieved at not being lectured at his mistakes.

---

"Ahh, finally I am free. Now, what time is it...! Oh no! I just remembered that I have an appointment with the doctor in an hour! Gotta run." Alma exclaimed as he began to rush to the hospital. Of course, that is, after he placed the groceries back home.

"AH! The premium chocolate ice cream that I especially saved is going to melt! No!" Alma exclaimed as realized the dire situation he is in. He picked up his pace and rushed back home as fast as possible.

[You have encountered a tragic event.]

Needless to say, the ice cream did not make it. Rest in peace, you will always be remembered.

"Like hell, it will! If it melts I will just perform what I call a pro-gamer move and behave like a savage. I will drink it as a soup served with a side of marshmallows!-.... Actually, that doesn't sound that bad..." mumbled Alma as he ran with a face that seems to show that he has achieved enlightenment.