The coming week had been exceptionally hectic for SID officers and high-ranking personnel. Delegations and envoys from several countries were scheduled to arrive by the end of the week, and the responsibilities tied to their visit were immense. Meetings of great significance were to take place—matters of international cooperation, security frameworks, and strategic partnerships were to be discussed, with several diplomatic agreements and memoranda expected to be formally signed, strengthening professional and diplomatic ties between nations.
Officer Ethan, Officer Becky, and Officer Matthew spent most of their days coordinating with the four wings of the SID departments. The pressure was relentless, schedules tightly packed. Bella herself had last seen Officer Ethan four days ago.
That afternoon, after lunch, Bella was walking past the officers' offices when her gaze fell upon Ethan. He was standing outside his office door, engaged in a serious discussion with Officer Samuel. The exhaustion was clearly visible on his face—etched into his eyes and the way he carried himself. Bella stood there for a long moment, quietly watching him.
Sensing someone's gaze, Ethan looked up. A short distance away, he saw Bella standing there. A faint smile appeared on his lips. Startled, Bella quickly looked away.
Ethan handed Samuel a file, giving him final instructions, then turned and walked toward Bella. The corridor was empty—officers were occupied with their duties, and the cadets were resting in their condos for the afternoon.
Stopping in front of her, Ethan asked gently,
"Didn't you go to your room for afternoon rest?"
"I was going," Bella replied.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "The residential building doesn't go this way."
"I know," she said quietly.
He smiled slightly. "So… you came to see me?"
"No," Bella replied at once.
"Alright then," Ethan said with a teasing smile. "I'm heading back to my office… but if you did come to see me, you can come inside."
With that, he turned and walked into his office.
Bella stood there for a few seconds, thinking. Then she followed him inside.
Ethan was clearly waiting for her. When he saw her enter, he laughed softly. Bella's face flushed red with embarrassment.
Gesturing toward a chair, Ethan said,
"Please, sit—Cadet Bella."
She sat down and asked,
"You've been very busy these days, haven't you?"
"Yes," Ethan replied. "Envoys from different countries are arriving. All security and safety measures are being reviewed very carefully. We've been holding back-to-back meetings with all law enforcement departments."
Bella nodded, then asked,
"Have you had lunch?"
"Yes, I have."
"Why don't you take some rest then?" she suggested.
"I can't right now," Ethan said. "I have a video conference in half an hour. I was just reviewing things for that."
"Then I should go," Bella said, starting to rise.
"No," Ethan stopped her gently. "Sit for a while. I haven't seen you for days… I missed you."
Bella smiled shyly and lowered her head.
"I… um… I missed you too."
Ethan smiled, teasing her softly.
"What was that?"
"Nothing," Bella said, pretending to be annoyed.
*************************************************************************************
Bella stood on the rooftop, her eyes fixed on the moon, when once again she noticed a shadow moving near the vacant ground. Her heart skipped. Without wasting a moment, she hurried down from the rooftop and made her way toward the open field. The darkness of the night was so dense that she could barely see anything clearly.
The shadow was moving toward the forest path, and in that deep darkness the moon was the only faint source of light. Guided by its pale glow, Bella followed the shadow cautiously.
A little farther ahead, the single shadow split into two. Bella slowed her steps, her senses fully alert as she continued to trail them. Suddenly, her foot struck a stone and she fell to the ground. She quickly looked up—but the shadows were gone. Panic flickered through her as she rushed forward.
Crossing the small bridge near the pond, Bella headed toward the abandoned factory. Being alone there in the dead of night made her heartbeat race. She moved slowly, carefully. Other than the constant chorus of cicadas, there was no sound at all.
The factory's large gate was rusted with age. When Bella pushed it open, it groaned like an old door long forgotten. She stepped inside. The darkness swallowed her whole—she couldn't see a thing. Keeping one hand against the wall, she searched blindly for a switch. After several tense moments, she finally found it.
Click.
A golden bulb flickered on, flooding the space with dim light. Bella winced, shielding her eyes with her hand. When her vision adjusted, she lowered her hand and surveyed the factory. Rusted machinery and large wooden crates were scattered throughout. At that moment, the place resembled a graveyard more than a factory—silent, lifeless, abandoned.
Deciding it was best to leave, Bella turned back. Just then, her slipper caught on a blue string. She tugged at it lightly—and suddenly, a door on the left creaked open on its own, revealing a staircase descending downward.
She stared at the open doorway in stunned silence. Then, cautiously, she stepped forward and began to descend the stairs.
Below, the air felt heavier. The space opened into a dim underground area—its rough concrete walls stained with age, the ceiling low and oppressive. Large metal drums were stacked along one side, while wooden crates of varying sizes were arranged unevenly across the floor, some broken, some sealed tight. Shadows clung to every corner, as if the place itself was holding its breath.