“You look...” Rosemarie furrowed her bloodied brows. “shocked, did something good happen while I was away?”

Rosemarie waited for a response. There was some worry in her eyes, but in it, Verdell found a bit of peace in contrast to the chaos that was her surroundings. Verdell wanted to walk up to her and shake her hand, but the mere presence of Lt. Higgins, who simply wiped the bits of flesh off his face made her rethink her choices. Rosemarie was within now her reach, but Verdell knew that she couldn’t trust his words; there was nothing she could do if Lt. Higgins decided to betray them both. With a hint of reluctance as she forced herself to calm down in desperation, Verdell watched Rosemarie jump over the barricade to get herself a towel.

Rosemarie wiped herself clean and tossed the reddened towel over to Hermano. He received it with a wide smile before turning to his giant, snapping his finger and allowing it to give him a thumbs-up before turning to dust and disappear. The other policemen looked at her silence before they got rounded up into their squads. Some began to dismantle the barrier they had created while a few readied themselves to head in and ensure the overall safety of all civilians living in this block.

“No, nothing much happened,” Verdell replied, glaring at Lt. Higgins before turning back to Rosemarie.

Rosemarie’s face darkened. “Did he harass you?”

“I—” Verdell flinched and left her mouth open. She wanted to step forward and tell her about what happened, but the image of their supposed target blowing up made her eyes waver. It forced her to look down. “He ruined my morning by giving me some ways I could die while highlighting the fact that I should get insured.”

“Yeah,” Lt. Higgins laughed, causing both Hermano and Rosemarie to follow his lead. “I mean, it’s true. You could always be too careful, but that doesn’t mean that everyone else is, right?”

“Yeah,” Verdell replied weakly.

“It’s a shame, really, since she’s really thinking it through, but,” Lt. Higgins placed his hand over Rosemarie’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re safe.” He turned to Hermano with a nod. “I’m glad you’re both safe... and good work.”

“Where did this come from?” Rosemarie knitted her brows at Lt. Higgins’ trembling hand. “Why didn’t I get the good work?” She glanced at Hermano and smiled.

“It’s meant for the both of you,” Lt. Higgins continued passionately.

“I think so too,” Hermano commented.

Rosemarie crossed her arms and scoffed. “That’s bullshit, and you know it.”

Lt. Higgins raised his voice, awkwardly, saying, “We thought that we were going to die for sure.” He cleared his throat. “I guess I was just scared for you—for all of us. I think I even peed a little.”

“Oh fuck you too, old man,” Rosemarie protested, and both of them laughed. “You do know that I got that shit down at the moment I stepped in; I just had to work accordingly to make myself presentable. I did something about the wraiths too, nicely, even, while some jerk made a zombie siren that, by some god’s grace, didn’t scare the civilians.”

“That you are,” Lt. Higgins replied with a kind smile, making Verdell shiver. “but—”

“Straight up.”

“But,” Lt. Higgins continued nervously to get back at Rosemarie. “what I’m saying is that it won’t hurt to have us get scared about your well-being from time to time, right?”

“Well isn’t that sweet,” Rosemarie chuckled. When she noticed that there were no eyes on her, Rosemarie gave Lt. Higgins’ gun back to him. “Didn’t get to use it, but I guess that’s fine. Also, we have a little welcome party planned for this very cute,” she stressed her words. “girl right here. Is there a way for you to let us off the hook for now or…”

“I’m sorry,” Lt. Higgins interrupted Rosemarie with an apologetic smile.

“So, the usual then…” Rosemarie pursed his lips and sighed at Verdell. “Sorry, about this but… you have to go back to the Tea Shop without me.”

“I’ll be with her,” Hermano gave Verdell a thumbs up. “don’t worry about it.”

Verdell was about to say something, but her body stiffened. Her heart drowned with worry. Verdell’s body begged her to shout about all the thighs she learned, but she hid it behind her frigid smile.

Verdell tried to look straight into Rosemarie’s eyes, but she couldn’t. “Are you sure?”

“I’ll kick this man’s balls if I have to, and that is if he still had the balls to do something to me,” Rosemarie replied, patting her head.

“That physically hurt me,” Lt. Higgins commented, and both of them shared a laugh.

“So yeah, don’t worry about me… they’re good people.” Rosemarie smiled as her voice rang inside Verdell’s ears. “It’s just the usual paperwork of me proving that I didn’t let that bastard escape. I mean, he’s dead, so… it’s just paperwork, I guess?”

Lt. Higgins tapped Verdell’s shoulder. It made her grit her teeth and push his hand away. Rosemarie didn’t see it, but he answered her back with a kind smile before stepping away. Verdell forced herself to at least display a soft smirk. She bid farewell to Rosemarie with a sweet tone before disappearing from their view.

Verdell walked towards the Tea Shop in silence. Her mind remained empty. She expected to enjoy her time while looking for the culprit, but then, the culprit revealed himself and left her confused and powerless yet again. At that moment, the sun lost its radiance, and the smell of flowers that should relax her suddenly lost its color. Her brain suffocated with an array of unanswered questions. She didn’t even know how to tackle it; all she knew, for sure, was that she’s angry.

Verdell didn’t even realize the wall of surprised faces that she cut through when she entered the Tea Shop. She didn’t notice some of them hanging some banners to welcome her for the second time, and she ignored those who offered her a seat.