6 Coming to a Conclusion

(This chapter contains themes of suicide which may be disturbing for some readers, only at the very end though. Reader discretion is advised.)

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-

It had definitely been more than an hour.

Micheal's neck was starting to hurt from the continuous forceful tug at the back of his collar, keeping it slung up. Jack's arms were aching while his fingers still tightly wrapped among themselves behind his head. Camille was growing less docile each passing second, heeled foot tapping against the ground, meanwhile, Jasmine's patience was wearing thin.

She looked out the window to stare at the visible moon, letting out a yawn and allowing the blade between her fingers to dangle slightly.

"It is getting rather late isn't it?" She suggested mockingly.

Rather than being taunted by her attitude Camille merely scoffed, "And whose fault is that? Such bad timing is the result of a bad 'party planer' wouldn't you agree?"

Jasmine shrugged, a yawn passing through her lips, "Perhaps so..."

Thinking she was distracted Camille turned towards Jack and whispered in his ear, "If you wish to save your cadet then we must try to stall for as long as possible."

"What?" Jack whisper-yelled back, "I sincerely apologize but no. I fear the longer this lingers the deeper that knife's will go, it's honestly a miracle the poor lad has been as compliant as he is. He looks like he's about to wet himself, it's only a matter of time before even his endurance starts to wear thin."

Camille pressed her lips tightly, choosing not to bight them to prevent smudging her lipstick, "I understand that, however, we need to take advantage of our situation. Right now it's late, and she's just as ill rested as we are if we can get her to lower her guard down for just a second that should be more than enough time to capture her and rescue Michelangelo in one fell swoop."

She gave Jack an honest look, "I wrote down a list of instructions on that sticky note I sent off a while ago. They've been trained for moments like these so I know they can handle it. As long as we follow my plan we will be alright. But until then I trust that you will do your best also."

Jack stared at her then back up at Micheal, who had long stopped fidgeting to the point where it was almost alarming. A part of him wondered if she really did pierce through his skin, ever so slightly so they couldn't tell, and this entire time she was merely just holding up a body of a corpse before them.

He kissed his teeth before nodding his head, "Yeah."

-

After writing down both of their names on a small strip of paper, with contact information and the district they worked in, they were able to leave with a literal slap on the wrist before cramping inside the carriage they bought with them and trotting outside of the estate.

They were informed that evidence was needed to be gathered on the situation for a proper investigation to be held. Once word would get back to their Chief they would have to attend court to testify their point of view on what happened. This part of the job was common amongst officers of their skill level so it wasn't something to sweat about. In actuality, it was the least of their problems.

They've had situations like these before, and got themselves involved in a few more than a handful of potential brutality cases, suspension here, paid leave there, nothing too permanent or drastic. Spending days in the courtroom in return for spending seconds outside with a badge on was the unwritten additional requirement of the job.

Not that they were ever too excessive or forceful with their task, obviously there were some officers who unjustifiably handled the situation way too drastically and still got away with it. The last thing on their mind would be to choose to become a part of the problem.

But beyond all of that what was truly on their mind were the dirty deeds they found inside the secret room itself. There were still nervous about whether or whether not those officers would actually be smart enough to find the hidden room behind the painting. While it was true they kept the key on their person just for safe measure there was always a chance that luck would be on their side and they'd uncover the truth.

At least they could trust the little girl to keep her mouth shut on all of this.

A part of Samantha felt guilty for leaving Daphne to clean up the large mess they left behind, she knew the little girl will probably be put through adoption and struggle a lot with the system until they could hopefully find any close family or relatives to take care of her. She thought about offering herself to watching over her for the time being, that way she could ensure she would be in safe hands until a lawfully acceptable guardian could take her place, however-

"I know that look on your face," Jones's gruff voice spoke. His head was tilted down so the shadow of his hair framed his face, "And I know exactly what you're thinking. That little girl is better off with somebody else than carrying around our petty burdens."

She didn't say anything, instead of recalling the way she had watched idly as one of the EPD officers were interviewing Daphne, obviously frustrated with her lack of will to comply. She was sure they would take her startled silence and attempt to use it against them, making all types of claims on how rough they were towards the small family and her inability to speak would be the roots of trauma inflicted by their carelessness.

"An Aparian could never adopt an Efflorian, even if the law allows it cannot work. The judgemental stares, the continuous eyes of the world watching our moves, we could never live comfortable lives with each other. No matter how messed up that system is she is definitely better off in the hands of others for sure."

Honestly, it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself rather than convince her.

The majority of the ride was in silence, nothing but the gentle trotting of their houses and the creaking of the cart's wood due to the rigid movement filling up the air and the atmosphere around them.

It had been a long day.

"Do you think the situation has finally died down?" Jones asked, head against the side of the cart and staring outside the window. He was referring to Camille and the others who they assume were probably still on the other side of the kingdom. On the inside Samatha felt relieved at the fact that he was started a conversation with her, giving her something to take her mind off of things.

"Maybe," she hummed, going back ad forth between playing with her thumbs and peeling the skin off the edges of her nail. "It's been quite some time since we left, around two hours almost, and it will be around another hour drive to get back, especially since it's gotten much darker now."

Jones hummed in response, listening to the trotting of the horses, "Do you think we might get there at the same time?"

She laughed coldly, "A part of me wishes that we don't see her at all tonight. The sooner we do the sooner we have to tell her what happened, and I would much rather save the confrontation for tomorrow."

Samatha was sure Camille would be able to see through their lies like wet paper if they decided not to mention the documents they found that evening, and when she caught on there's no telling of what could happen next. But perhaps they should just tell the truth, sensibly that would be the most logical and ethical thing to do, set an example for the others, and just own up for their mistakes. Who knows, Camille might show mercy and figure out an alternative solution for them, or as others would call, pull some strings.

They'll just have to cross that bridge when they get to it.

Making good use of their free time Samantha reached into her back pocket and pulled out the invitation letter that she removed from the wall before, opening it up and reading the contents more in hopes to gain a better understanding of it all.

"What the-?" Jones seemed startled at what was in her hands. "You took that with you? What is wrong with you?"

"I only brought it as a reference for later in case we forget," she remarked, "so calm down."

"Calm down! We were just questioned by like eight different EPD officers, fully loaded and practically itching to have us in handcuffs. They could have asked to check our pockets, if they found that letter then it would have been over."

"You're one to talk, you still kept the key on you didn't you?"

Jones snarled and clenched his fist over his knee, "There are at least ten thousand excuses I can use to come up with for why I have a singular key in my pocket. That letter practically screams we were snooping around, it even has his goddamn name written on the top!"

"I wasn't leaving without this," a sour expression matching the feeling in her chest rested on her face. "Those people are smart, not only are there more of them but they will definitely pay attention to any key details that could indicate we touched his things. I have no doubt in my mind that sooner or later they will find that room, and they will take back all the information inside of it. This is the one thing I would like to make sure we still have access to at the end of the day."

Jones shook his head at his partner, a bit upset but also impressed. It was usually him that made reckless moves like that that put the duo in danger and Samantha's job to get them out of those scenarios. For her to intentionally do something so risky like that without reason-? Well to be fair she's been very passionate about this case from the very beginning after realizing who their suspect was. And the way she clung to Daphne, almost more often than the child did to her-

"Sally, are you an Efflorian?"

"It's Samantha."

"You didn't answer the question."

Samantha looked down at her hands and chuckled bitterly, "I honestly can't imagine how knocked out you must be to even consider asking me something like that."

"You still didn't answer it."

She looked up to meet her partner's face, seeing the all too much serious look in his eyes. For a second she thought he was asking it in the heat of the moment in hopes of lighting up the mood like he always did, but she was taken back when she realized she was wrong.

She didn't answer right away, instead neatly folding the paperback but never putting it away. She held it in both hands and turned her head to the side almost as though she was embarrassed.

"...I'm not..."

Neither of them said anything as time continued to pass, an imagery clock ticking in both of their heads.

Finally, Jones sat back while exhaling, posture fixing itself and look all the more relaxed.

"That's good to hear," he spoke calmly with his arms behind his head. He could tell she wasn't lying, mainly because Samantha never lies, she doesn't have the heart for it. "But I will let you know that even if you are lying to me I won't think of you any less either way."

She gave him a suspicious look, "Then why ask in the first place."

He tilted his head back and started whistling, "It's bad news for an Efflorian to get caught up in a case like this while working for the APD. Vice versa. Too many feelings would get in the way, and I don't want you to start blaming yourself for every little thing that goes wrong either."

She wasn't sure if she should be baffled or appreciative that she was associated with someone like him. Still, that didn't stop the small smile from growing on her face. She pushed her glasses up her face, before taking them off completely and leaning back in a very unladylike demeanor as well, not caring when their knees bumped harshly against one another.

"Guess I'm lucky to have someone like you on my side to worry about me, right?"

Jones looked up at her and simply smirked, "Yeah, I mean, I gotta look out for my ride or die, right?"

She gave him a confused look before she snorted, almost embarrassed by the sudden sound, and tried to compose herself. "What does that even mean?" She mocked, laughing.

He extended his fist out to her without question, shrugging, "I dunno, I heard it from somewhere, just can't remember where."

With that, he shook his still awaiting fist in the air. She rolled her eyes before raising her hand, and softly connected their knuckles, feeling some sort of unspoken promise being made.

-

It was time.

They knew it once the funny-looking bird from before came swooping back down to perch itself on a singular bar attached to the roof of the warehouse while at the same time heavy pounding was heard from behind them.

"It's us from the department," a loud booming voice yelled, "we have the files you requested."

At the sound of familiar voices, Jacks felt his stomach drop, mentally preparing himself for whatever kick-ass action-packed boss fight would ensue within the course of the next ten minutes.

Increasing her guard Jasmine shifted her hold on Michael once more, "Let them in."

Without much being said the door to the warehouse was opened, and like promised, only the two requested were standing in the doorway. They approach their chief in command slowly with a stern expression on their face, passing her the files slowly.

She then looked up as they all stared at each other, seeming to have some sort of silent conversation. Once they were done both officers nodded their heads and turned around, exiting the warehouse.

Meanwhile, Jack dumbstruck, confused, and dissatisfied to realize he had been so bluntly lied to. His face was filled with noticeable frustration, yet all Camille did was give him a reassuring smile.

"What the hell!" he shouted, figuring there was no point in trying to keep his voice hush then. "You told me that you had a plan, so what just happened? If you were just lying to me so I wouldn't lose my temper-"

"Sometimes Jaqueline, there will be situations where you will have to accept the fact," her eyes narrowed, "that there is nothing you can do to solve it."

"Bull! I can think of at least thirteen ways we could have fought back against this woman-"

"And out of those thirteen on a logical standpoint how many unsure we all survive to the end of the day?" This is what hushed Jack for good, making him bite his lip and clench his hands hard. "Must I remind you your position as a secondary officer is to protect your inferiors with your life? you are also not in the position to question the intention of those who are more superior than you."

The gaze she was giving him was cold, enough to chill him even further than the breeze in the air, "Leave those jobs to the primary officers, you are to only follow orders cadet, not to give orders, do I make myself clear?"

Bitter, everything tasted bitter. The air around him was bitter, the thick saliva that stuck to his tongue was bitter. He wasn't sure it was the salt from imaginary tears rolling down his face or from the feeling of defeat currently coiling around his stomach but regardless it was still bitter. The 'yes ma'am' that rolled off his tongue made every puff of air that came from his mouth extremely bitter.

Camille took two careful steps forward, placing the files on the ground, and kicking them with her foot. Due to the friction of the file container and the floor beneath it, it was able to slide perfectly across, just barely stopping in front of Jasmine's feet.

"Okay, you have what you wanted, give us back out officer," Camille demanded.

"Patience auntie, I have to make sure you cops aren't lying to me again."

With two careful steps forward on her end, she bent over carefully and picked up the file. Michael tried his best to move in sync with her to ensure he didn't accidentally lurch forward too much and cut himself on the blade.

All with one free hand she opened the file and read the first page.

"I'm surprised with the total amount of cooperation you guys showed me today," she exclaimed, smiling brightly while turning to the next page with two of her fingers. "Usually your kind puts up much more of a fight in these types of situat-"

All of a sudden she stopped, a moment of shock coursing through her body. She felt her heart pound and her body begin to shake as she continued to read the components inside the document with widening eyes. Barely, just barely her lips trembled stuttering the words 'no way' over and over again.

At that moment she practically shoved Michael away, now using both hands to hold onto the papers. Michael stumbled forward and immediately ran over to the officers, slinging his arms around Jacks's body. That sudden wave of relief and emotion that was lacking for the past sixty-two minutes came all at once.

"Whoa!" Jack exclaimed, almost tipping over with the sudden weight as Michael clung to his fame.

"I thought I was going to die!" Micheal sobbed through his words, babbling incoherently in a way neither of them was able to understand. "I'm so sorry, I was stupid. I got myself in danger and could have had us all killed, I'm not ready to be an officer yet."

"I-...it's okay kid just get off me for a second," Jack mumbled, relieved but at the same time a bit startled. He looked back over to the woman on the other side only to see her shaking even more than Michael was back on the hill. Sweat was coursing down her forehead causing her hair to stick to her skin in an ugly demeanor.

She looked like she had just caught herself dead, pale and flush and fragile and trembling. It made him question if this was even the same person he had lost to in a fistfight not too long ago.

From Jasmine's point of view, she wanted to die.

She understood the type of information the file would hold, she thought she could handle the words that were on the paper. I mean, the APD kept it a secret for a reason, right? It had to have been something severe and messed up.

But this...

This?!

This was insanity, pure total insanity. There was no way this could be real, it had to have been a prank, faulty documents all just meant to scare her off, and she fell right for it.

Despite losing her ominous presence from before she pointed her knife towards the three officers, "You....you must take me for some kind of fool don't you, auntie?" Her hands started shaking, and it surprised the trio how she hadn't dropped the weapon yet.

"You're lying to me," she screeched, "this is all just a lie just to fool me, to trick me. I don't know how you found out about all of this or how you knew how much it would bother me but it's all just a lie! That's all you've ever done, that's all you police officers will ever do, just lie and lie and lie again!"

Camille was rather calm, not even remotely shocked at the young women's sudden tantrum, and if she was she didn't show it. "Despite what you may have been told growing up everything in that file is the honest truth. You have my word."

Jasmine was left gasping, mouth open wide in an embarrassing way. Her eyebrows furrowed in pure melancholy as her pupils dilated in terror. She lost her voice, lost her soul, lost her only reason for living.

"Why do you look so surprise, was this not the information you wanted?" There was acidity etched in every word Camille spoke, and it infuriated Jasmine beyond speakable levels.

"So you knew about this? You knew about the truth! I honestly should feel disgusted you would keep something so important like this hidden from me."

"I should inform you that the details in that file are several years old. Although I was heavily involved in the case I can vaguely remember what we had even managed to uncover since all forms of the investigations were put on hold. So no, I didn't 'know about this' nor specifically attempted to keep it a secret from you. I honestly can't imagine why you are so frightened with what you have found but whatever it is seeing you like this still brings me satisfaction."

Staring at the folder in her hands she gripped the damn thing as though it didn't deserve to breathe. Biting her tongue she looked up while trying to control her shaky breaths.

"How many people know?" She questioned, voice barely above a whisper.

"Me and almost all trustworthy high ranked officials of the APD-"

"I wasn't talking about you and your obtuse formulated slaves! I meant civilians, human beings, people whose life wouldn't matter if I killed them."

Camille rose her head to the ceiling, almost as though she were thinking about it, contemplating the numbers for herself. Jack was extremely confused but was currently too occupied trying to calm down his frigid friend who he swore was having a panic attack right against his shoulder.

What felt like seconds too long Camille dropped her head down from the sky, "You are the only one."

Jasmine stared at her hands in horror, realizing the only enemy she had left to face was herself. She clenched her fingers in frustration, before shouting, "And how many others were killed before me because they themselves knew?"

The answer this time was much quicker than before, "Many, but so far in terms of people that you knew or people that were important to only two: My grandfather, and possibly your mother."

Realization, horror, and reality struck her all at once, hard and heavy. She felt her knees buckle and her eyes losing the bright color they once had. She was just about ready right then and there to simply lay down and die.

"I see," she softly admitted, her voice monotone as though it lost the vibrant and warmth it had mere seconds ago. She reached into her pocket after carefully placing her knife down on the floor. For a second Jack started to tense, thinking she'd reach for a weapon when instead she grabbed a small lighter.

"No one must know," she mumbled, holding the edge of the papers to the flames, "no one must know."

"What do you think you're doing?!" Jack's voiced boomed throughout the warehouse. "Those are classified documents, you cannot possibly understand how much time it takes to finalize and print those things. Those papers aren't even allowed to be copied for legal reasonings, by burning it you're just doing exactly what you have been complaining that the APD has been doing this entire time!"

"Jaqueline."

Almost on cue, his shouting stopped, and his poster fixed itself as he flinched, staring at his chief in command with worry.

She opened her golden eyes and let out a sigh of what almost felt like a defeat. "She's just doing what honestly should have been done years ago. A part of me knew those files should have been burned while we had the chance but an even more foolish part of me hoped that by keeping them I could achieve something."

Jack watched without question the golden flame turn the small stack of papers into burnt ashes, which were blown away by the soft wind of the open window. Now, the only APD official copy of the Beckerson case was gone for good, with no other way to retrieve it.

"It's over," Camille asserted, and they all knew she wasn't just talking about the burnt files, but also everything else that had transpired.

It was all over.

After some time had passed a small chuckle was heard. They started up at Jasmine who was giggling like a maniac, then laughed menacingly, frustration coursing throughout her veins. "It's over....It's over?! This-it's all far from over auntie!"

She fell to the floor and shook her head, staring down at the ground with tears running down her cheeks, "You don't understand what they will do to me if they find out the truth. Even with the document gone they'll still torture me for lying to them. It's one thing to mess up the mission, but to jeopardize their chances of success completely? I'll be hanged in the town square, bleeding out for all to see.

"If this is really 'over' then it's over for me!"

Jack pressed his eyes, "What do you mean by 'them'? Are you trying to imply that someone else is forcing this upon you?"

"Shut up! It's not that simple, it's not that simple. They're everywhere, they want justice, they wanted to know the truth and I did too but not if the truth means this!" She grabbed at her chest as though it hurt, looking just about ready to explode and scream. "It would honestly be better for them to just die. How am I supposed to live in a world when this is my past, present, and my future?"

"Jasmine," Camille spoke calmly, "I understand this is a lot for you right now. If what you're saying is true then you are obviously being forced to do this against your own will-"

"I CHOSE THIS FOR MYSELF, AUNTIE! I chose what I've done up until this point of my own volition. I did this to myself, I wanted the truth but even then I couldn't handle it." She sobbed and bowed her head to the floor, words no longer making sense as she practically choked on her own tears.

Compassion and sympathy flooded Camille's senses, every instinct within her told her to start walking forward to console the child. She knew better, but for some reason, the sight of the heartbroken woman wailing her eyes out reminded her of the young girl from her childhood who would cry the exact same way at every minor inconvenience.

"It is not too late, my offer from before still stands," she reminded. "Just say the word and I promise I will fight for you and your freedom. Don't turn out as your mother did, be her legacy that never ends."

"...legacy that never ends..." The words sounded doll-like coming out of her mouth when she repeated them. Like a robot, she reached for her forgotten knife and arose yet still on her knees.

"Watch out!" Jack warned though it was futile, for the weapon was not for her anyway.

She pressed the blade with two strong hands directly against the skin of her neck. Her eyes were looking at nothing, distant and faint yet her cheeks red and wet from tears just starting to dry. Camille was shocked at the girl's response, not considering that she would be so willing to take away her own life.

"Jasmine, put that thing down right now."

"It's the only way, please auntie, it's the only way." Jasmine held the knife tighter to the point where her knuckles were starting to turn white. "I'm going to hell, we're all going to hell. There is no such thing as a never-ending legacy, so I might as well finish it now before they finish It for me."

She closed her eyes and smiled brokenly, "I'm sorry...mother. If what I know is true then hopefully I'll get to see you too." With that being said in one fell swoop without any hesitation she extended her arms and aimed the blade right for the vital point on her neck.

"Jasmine!"

"Ma'am!"