Wellington City
The wailing sirens echoed eerily as they pulsed relentlessly at the entrance of the city center hospital. A throng of people was pushing and shoving, a dense crowd that had gathered, frantically capturing the chaos—media reporters jostled for the best angles, their cameras clicking like frantic cicadas in the summer air.
“What on earth happened at the hospital?” onlookers murmured amongst themselves, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.
Police tape fluttered like a warning flag at the entrance, cordoning off the scene, while frustrated officers worked tirelessly to disperse the throng. But how could anyone simply turn away from such a spectacle? Each attempt to clear the area was met with stubborn resistance, the crowd swarming back like bees to honey, causing the officers' heads to spin.
“Alright, back up! This area is under police tape! Entry is restricted!” a gruff police officer barked, suddenly halting a girl named Sydney Comer, scrutinizing her with furrowed brows.
“What’s your name?” he probed, his tone icy as he assessed her.
“Sydney Comer,” she blinked, her big, uncertain eyes widening in surprise.
The officer gave a curt nod, taking stock of the girl, who appeared to be merely seventeen or eighteen years old. She stood about 165 cm tall, wearing a blue uniform that hugged her figure, and he had to admit—she was rather pleasant-looking.
But then, his gaze darkened, landing on the takeout meal clutched in her hand. “And what do you have there?” he demanded, his voice stern.
Hastily, Sydney lowered her gaze to the boxed meal, a wave of realization crashing over her. “Officer, this is a takeout meal! I’m just a fast-food worker on a delivery!”
Her voice was tinged with confusion, and she implored, “Surely you can make an exception? It’s a patient-ordered meal, and it has to be delivered before noon! Look at the time! It’s already eleven forty!”
“No!” he snapped, unwavering.
Just as Sydney prepared to argue, her phone blared to life, cutting through the chaos.
“Sydney! What is taking you so long with the food? This is the fourth complaint in a row!” came the furious voice on the other end. “If you don’t deliver it soon, pack your things and leave!”
Sydney held her phone at arm’s length, shock written all over her face, her heart racing as if it might leap out of her chest. Fine! She was merely a part-timer anyway. When school starts, they could beg her to stay for all she cared! Hmph!
But as she stood there, feeling the weight of their expectations, she thought, “I need to do this. I can’t just neglect my job, right?”
“Hey—”
“Someone has just barged in.”
“Stop her! Don’t let her interfere with our investigation!”
Panic surged through her as a wave of police shouts surged from behind. Sydney felt like crying but found no tears. “Officers, I swear this was all a huge misunderstanding!”
Clutching the lunch box tightly in her hands, she bolted into the hospital lobby, determined to finish her delivery. Footsteps thundered behind her, growing louder, but Sydney was quick and agile—there was no way they would catch her!
“I’m really sorry, everyone!” She shouted, her voice rising above the chaos. “As soon as I deliver this meal, I promise to come back and apologize!” With a deep breath, she flung open the door to the emergency stairs.
…
Sydney paused, panting heavily, as she glanced at the floor number she had written down. “Crap! The 21st floor?”
Her eyes grew wide, and she sank down on the stairs, exhausted. “Huff... I can’t believe this!” She gasped, pondering the seriousness of a theft taking place in what was supposed to be a place of healing.
Time slipped away as she checked her watch. Five precious minutes had passed!
Gathering her energy like a warrior preparing for battle, she began her ascent once more. Just as she felt a wave of relief, a cacophony of footsteps echoed from below.
“I have to run!” her mind screamed. “I only came here to deliver food! Why is this happening? Can’t I just hide for a moment?”
Desperation painted her face as she mumbled, her cheeks flushed with exertion.
Bang—
Bowing her head as she climbed the staircase, Sydney collided with a solid figure, staggering backward. She looked up, and her heart dropped as she screamed, “Thief! There’s a thief here!”
“Mr. Police! The thief is right here!”
Before her stood a man dressed entirely in black, with a mask that hid his features save for a pair of strikingly beautiful eyes that glinted like shards of ice. In his hand, he wielded a silver box, unmistakably a stolen treasure!
Without thinking, Sydney shrieked and leaped toward him, determined to latch on like a desperate vine. “I won’t let you escape!”
“Let go!” the man roared, his voice reverberating through the stairwell.
“I refuse!” Sydney retorted, her grip tightening. “You will be brought to justice for your crimes! I will not let you go!”
“You—let go of me!” He growled, his impatience palpable as he attempted to pry her fingers from his waist.
“Absolutely not! I won’t budge!” Sydney declared stubbornly. After all, delivering a lunch box was one thing, but watching a criminal slip away? Not on her watch!
The man glared down at her, his eyes blazing with annoyance. Just as he was about to resort to force—aiming a strike toward her neck—police officers burst onto the scene.
Within moments, Sydney Comer found herself seated inside a police car, the tension thick between herself and the man. He sat rigidly on one side while her skin crawled with the dread of his simmering fury.
“Get out of the car!” a police officer barked, signaling her departure.
With shaky legs, Sydney stepped out, heart racing as they entered the police station. Barely moments later, a panicked voice sliced through the air, “Where is our young master?”
“How could he possibly be a thief? You must be mistaken!” came the frantic response of a man in a suit, his expression betraying pure disbelief.
Sydney’s heart sank into her stomach as she sat in a chair, realizing with horror that she had mistaken a good person for a criminal.
The man who had been glaring at her suddenly held her gaze, his demeanor cold as ice. If looks could kill, she’d have been vaporized in an instant!
“Is that suitcase even yours? What’s going on?” Sydney threw her hands up, squirming in her seat.
“Yes! It’s our young master’s! What business do you have prying it open?” The well-dressed man snapped, frustration flaring in his tone.
Sydney’s eyes widened. “What young master? I was just doing my job!” she exclaimed, hurriedly defending herself.
“Why on earth would you dress like a thief if you weren’t one? You could’ve at least made it easier to identify you!” She added, her voice rising with irritation. “And seriously, do you know how terrifying it is to stare into those ‘dead fish eyes’ of yours? It’s unnerving!”
Suddenly, the masked man exploded, “Can you, this incessantly chattering girl, just shut up? I’m utterly fed up with your prattle!” His voice seethed with frustration.
Sydney frozen, astonished. Had she really ticked him off that much? A smirk played on her lips as she thought, “Well, at least I got under his skin!”
The atmosphere crackled awkwardly as the situation unfolded like a scripted play—a suitcase filled with a laptop and an expensive camera was the source of the confusion.
The police stepped inside, and Sydney dared not lift her head. The towering figure of the masked man loomed close. As he reached out, his fingertips brushed her chin, sending shivers racing through her.
What a whirlwind day!