Honeymoon.

It was a picturesque evening, the perfect setting for the newly wedded couple, Mr. and Mrs. Sirid, to embark on their long-awaited honeymoon. After their wedding, they had made all the necessary arrangements, including booking a flight to the enchanting island of Cuba. Excitement filled the air as they anticipated the adventures that lay ahead.

In their eagerness to embark on their romantic getaway, the couple had made sure to arrange for a capable babysitter to care for their beloved 5-year-old daughter. The day before their wedding, they had carefully selected Helen, a warm and nurturing individual, to take on this important responsibility.

As the sun began its descent, casting a gentle golden glow over the landscape, the doorbell rang, signaling Helen's arrival. To their surprise, she arrived earlier than expected, her arms laden with not only her gentle presence but also a collection of extra toys for their daughter. Enisa Sirid, observing Helen's humble demeanor and accommodating spirit, felt an instant connection and a sense of reassurance that she had made the right choice for their daughter's caretaker.

Enisa exchanged warm pleasantries with Helen, expressing her gratitude for her punctuality and thoughtful gesture of bringing additional toys. With a genuine smile, Helen assured the couple that she was more than happy to go the extra mile to ensure their daughter's happiness and comfort during their absence.

As Enisa and her husband prepared to depart, they couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and a trace of melancholy at leaving their daughter behind. Yet, the sight of Helen engaging their daughter with the toys, her tender care, and the sparkle in their daughter's eyes as she laughed and played, brought a sense of relief and confidence that they had chosen the perfect babysitter.

Ian Sirid found himself unable to resist stealing glances at the babysitter, captivated by her beauty, simplicity, and gentle nature. Her presence seemed to have an enchanting effect on him, and he couldn't help but admire her from afar.

Meanwhile, Enisa leaned down to kiss her daughter Anna, showering her with affection before bidding her a heartfelt goodbye. They exchanged warm embraces, and Enisa lovingly waved goodbye to her daughter, entrusting her care to the capable hands of Helen.

Moments after the couple left their home, the sky darkened ominously, and rain began to pour down heavily. The street where their house stood was engulfed in darkness as the thunder rumbled, casting an eerie atmosphere over the neighborhood.

********

Judith reported the distressing news to her boss as they walked briskly side by side. The weight of the tragedy hung heavily in the air. "Sixteen out of twenty-three people died last night," she said, her voice filled with a mix of sorrow and concern. "Four of them them travelled, and three are still missing."

Her boss, Kimberly, responded with a warm smile, but there was a hint of weariness in her eyes. "That's terrible," she replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "And you know that as police officers, we often become the main suspects in cases like these."

Judith paused, taken aback by her boss's statement. The implications of being considered suspects troubled her deeply, and she couldn't comprehend why Kimberly reacted in such a way to such devastating news. Confusion etched across her face as she opened the door of the police car for her boss to enter.

Kimberly noticed the perplexed expression on Judith's face and halted her steps. She turned to face her, meeting her gaze directly. "Policemen were placed in every street," she explained, her voice calm yet filled with underlying concern.

Understanding flickered in Judith's eyes as realization dawned upon her. The weight of Kimberly's words settled upon her, and she comprehended the reason behind her boss's reaction. The placement of police officers throughout the area meant they would inevitably come under scrutiny, their actions and potential involvement in the tragedy questioned.

Judith nodded, absorbing the gravity of the situation. She understood the complexities of their position as law enforcement officers, the delicate balance of being both protectors and subjects of suspicion. The burden of proving their innocence in the face of tragedy was a challenging task, but one they had to face head-on.

Kimberly broke the silence, her voice firm and resolute. "Despite the cloud of suspicion, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to justice," she emphasized, her gaze unwavering. "We will conduct a thorough investigation, leaving no stone unturned, to uncover the truth and bring closure to the victims' families."

Judit's admiration for her boss deepened, recognizing the strength and determination within Kimberly. She closed the door of the police car and joined her boss inside, ready to face the difficult road ahead.

The police car came to a damaged street. Many houses were burned, making it hard to identify the bodies.

Judith gasped when she saw several dead children and adults being taken to ambulances. She took out a pen and a small notebook from her pocket and began writing down what she saw.

"Judith!" Kimberly called from a distance, and Judith glanced up. "Come here."

Judith put her notebook and pen back in her pocket and walked over to Kimberly.

"Where is my daughter?" a woman screamed as she rushed toward Kimberly, with her husband closely following. Judith recognized her as Judge Sirid. Judith sighed and quickened her pace.

Enisa forcefully pushed aside the police squad as she ran into her charred house. Ian glanced at Judith before chasing after his wife.

"Which team was assigned to this street last night?" Judith asked calmly.

"None," one of the policemen replied, and Kimberly stared at Judith in shock.

"I assigned a team to this location last night... where did they go? And we found a police badge in that building," Kimberly explained to Judith.

Judith turned to the squad. "What is happening, and how did you know they weren't here?"

"The CCTV footage revealed that there was no police squad present from 7 p.m. until the blackout occurred," one of the officers explained.

"Blackout?" Kimberly inquired.

"Yes. The last individuals who departed the street just before the rain began were Mr. and Mrs. Sirid."

"You should go check on them," Judith suggested, pointing to two policemen. They both nodded and turned to leave when suddenly the building exploded.

Judith felt a powerful external force lifting her into the air, then forcefully knocking her to the ground. As her eyelids grew heavy, she witnessed Kimberly lying lifeless on the ground. She attempted to move her body, but the excruciating pain coursing through her made it unbearable. She called out to Kimberly in her mind before finally surrendering to the weight of her eyelids and allowing them to close.

******

"We lost her," an indistinct voice said from a distance.

"We can't lose her, please..." a man's voice, clearer this time, begged. "She must survive... she has a nine-month-old baby. The baby needs her. Please." The man wept as he pleaded.

"Are you serious? Oh no!" a clearer voice of a woman screamed. "Where is she? I'll go check on her." She sobbed, expressing her deep concern.

She heard a single footstep, which abruptly halted, as she slipped back into unconsciousness once more.

"Have you seen her?" a male nurse asked the blonde lady.

"Yes!... but..." her voice broke. "She's still unconscious... I can't bear to look her in the face. How will she react? Her only sister is dead. They lost their parents in an earthquake last year, and now..." She swallowed hard. "Her only sister is gone, and one of her arms is fractured... this is too much for her." She sobbed, overwhelmed by the situation, and the male nurse offered her consolation.

"Your brother is still in shock. Help take care of the baby. I'll join you there after my shift, and please, my dear, be strong," the male nurse comforted her, rubbing her back gently and planting a kiss on her forehead. She wiped away her tears and nodded, gathering her strength in response.

She gradually opened her eyes, and the surroundings appeared blurry and unfamiliar. Her head throbbed, and the sound of her own heartbeat echoed in her ears. As her gaze focused, she noticed the medical equipment surrounding her, and her vision became clearer. She soon realized that she was connected to a life support system.

"Where is my sister?" Judith whispered, mustering all the strength she had regained. She looked around once more, but the view remained blurry, and she saw no one nearby. "Is anyone there?" she called out, but her voice seemed to go unheard by anyone else. She attempted to lift her right arm but winced in pain. However, she persisted and managed to raise her right arm successfully, feeling little to no pain as she did so.

Despite the pain, Judith resolved to remove all the cannulas and medical equipment connected to her body. She groaned as she carefully detached them one by one. With her fractured right arm supported by her left arm, she slowly got out of the bed, determined to move despite the discomfort.

She opened the door to the ward where Kimberly's lifeless body lay. Her entire body trembling, Judith approached with hesitant steps, overwhelmed by a mix of grief and fear.

She gently touched Kimberly's cold face, desperately hoping for a response. "Kimberly... It's me, your sister," she pleaded, her voice filled with anguish. "Please... wake up. I know you're not gone. We still have more cases to investigate. You can hear me, right? Boss, let's get back to work. Mr. and Mrs. Sirid's..." Her words became increasingly incoherent as tears streamed down her cheeks, a mixture of sorrow and determination filling her heart.

Ignoring the pain in her right arm, she continued to plead through her sobs. "Kimberly, please... Let's go home. Layla... Your baby needs you. You're not just my sister, but also my mother, my father, and my only sibling. Please, don't leave us like this." Her words were a desperate plea, filled with love and desperation, as she struggled to accept the reality before her.

"Kimberly" - her voice cracks - "let's go home... Please, wake up." She said, sobbing loudly and uncontrollably.

Out of nowhere, a doctor and a nurse rushed to her side, cautiously assisting her while being mindful of her fractured right arm. However, she refused to abandon her kneeling position beside her deceased sister. She continued to struggle and scream at them, demanding that they leave her alone until her sister would follow her home.

***********

"No one can handle the case like Officer Robinson. May her soul rest in peace," the young policeman uttered during an official meeting with his colleagues. "Judge Sirid is deceased, which means the case may remain unresolved. It could end up exactly as it is now."

"What about Judith? She's the only survivor. She might be able to provide assistance," one of them suggested.

"We were supposed to be on the street that day, but we received a call from the base instructing us to secure another street. It turned out that the call was false, and I strongly believe that someone within our base is involved," another person explained.

"I agree with that. It could be someone who was close to Officer Robinson," the young policeman stated.

"But that's Judith. It can't be her," another policeman countered.

"I understand. It could be someone of a higher or lower rank than Officer Robinson. Only they would have the authority to give us such instructions," the young policeman reasoned.

Another policeman in the team added. "We are the main suspects because we were not in the right place at the right time, thanks to some unexplained or false diversion. Besides Judith, Judge Sirid's 5-year-old daughter is still missing, and where is the babysitter?"