by SBNa (Hunter: The Reckoning | Fiction)
What were some of the negative effect of Industrialization, and how are we still dealing with those effects today? Please write your answer legibly, on every other line of the provided paper. Make sure you provide thoughtful, full answers. Time will be called 10 minutes to the end of the class period.
That question was evil, insidious. It implied that for the past marking period Kim had actually been paying attention in class instead of dozing off, being distracted by her thoughts or even worse—skipping to go take care of business. She had more pressing things to worry about than the Industrial Revolution. Things like how she was going to sneak out of school this time to help her latest project. She liked to think of them like that. As projects. It was a little easier than thinking of them as walking, talking embodiments of dead spirit matter and energy that refused to move on to the next plane of existence.
She had no idea how she was going to get out of the building this time, since the doors she used last time now had a security camera over it because the high school’s administration had finally clued into the fact that kids were sneaking out that way. All the doors would have cameras for that matter, but the school didn’t have enough money. This, however, was the easiest one she’d found to sneak out of. She’d have to try it.
Putting her pen to her paper, she started writing, making up things and elaborating wildly on half forgotten concepts from class. As the clock ticked on above the door, Kim could feel the palms of her hands getting sweaty with anticipation. She would have to time it right so it would be plausible, and so the teacher wouldn’t suspect. First she started to frown. She rubbed her forehead as if she had a headache. After waiting a minute or two, she decided to add in a loud, dramatic sigh.
"That caught his attention." She thought as she noticed the teacher glancing up from his desk, searching out the source of the noise in the otherwise quiet room. After she was sure he’d figured out it was her, she leaned forward onto the desk, clutching her arms around her stomach. As she put her head down, she could see him quirking an eyebrow at her, curious as to what was wrong with her. Ignoring him for the moment, she let her straight black hair fall into her face, hiding her features from the person next to her as she allowed her face to relax, planning her next move. One of her blue streaked hair strands tickled against her nose, and Kim found herself simultaneously stifling an urge to giggle and to sneeze. You didn’t sneeze when you had an upset stomach. Not traditionally at least.
She thought as she noticed the teacher glancing up from his desk, searching out the source of the noise in the otherwise quiet room. After she was sure he’d figured out it was her, she leaned forward onto the desk, clutching her arms around her stomach. As she put her head down, she could see him quirking an eyebrow at her, curious as to what was wrong with her. Ignoring him for the moment, she let her straight black hair fall into her face, hiding her features from the person next to her as she allowed her face to relax, planning her next move. One of her blue streaked hair strands tickled against her nose, and Kim found herself simultaneously stifling an urge to giggle and to sneeze. You didn’t sneeze when you had an upset stomach. Not traditionally at least.After waiting what seemed like an appropriate amount of time, Kim sat back up, that pained frown back in place on her features. She picked up the pen as if it hurt her to do so, every move a supreme effort on her part. She started to write again, pretending to try to continue with the test. Two more sentences of crap and she was putting the pen back down, squeezing her eyes shut. "And a finishing touch…" She added in a few whimpers to top it all off, knowing the noise would carry through the room. Once she’d opened her eyes, she saw that she’d gotten the desired result. Her teacher was staring straight at her.
"Is there a problem, Miss Lockhart?" Some of the other students looked up curiously now, wondering what the fuss was. Kim licked her lips, trying to look embarrassed at the sudden attention.
"No…it’s just…I don’t feel so well." She made her voice sound as pathetic as possible, making it seem as if every breath were a trial to her.
"Well, would you like to go to the nurse’s office?"
Blinking at the offer as if confused and surprised, she pretended to consider it for a moment. She looked down at her paper, fingering the edges of her essay test. After a long moment of hesitation, she reluctantly nodded, as if she really didn’t want to leave.
"Alright then. Come get a Hall Pass. Bring your test."
Sliding out of her seat slowly, Kim lugged her book bag off the floor, clutching her worthless test in her hand. She shuffled her way to the teacher’s desk, putting the paper down heavily on the desk. Pausing in writing out her hall pass, the teacher stopped and picked up her paper, skimming the contents. After only a moment of two of reading, he blinked in surprise, glancing up at Kim. Knowing it was coming, she braced herself for his confused look.
"Yeah yeah…I know that look and exactly what you’re thinking. Little Asian girls are supposed to be clever and smart, so why did I just hand in yet another piece of crap work?" She suppressed a sneer at the stereotypical view of the teacher, hating the fact that -all- the teachers thought the same way. She hated that her adoptive parents did too. She knew full well that they would not be pleased with the grade that she got on this exam. "Whatever…" the thought was a sullen one, the frown on her face completely genuine now.
She suppressed a sneer at the stereotypical view of the teacher, hating the fact that -all- the teachers thought the same way. She hated that her adoptive parents did too. She knew full well that they would not be pleased with the grade that she got on this exam. the thought was a sullen one, the frown on her face completely genuine now."Can I have my Hall Pass please? I think I’m gonna puke." She put on an expression she sincerely hoped made her look green, watching with pleasure as the teacher hastily finished the pass. She suppressed the urge to cheer as she left the room, moving as quickly as she could shuffle out.
Kim waited until she got to the corner of the hallway to break into a fast walk, moving down the empty hallway. During exams, even the kids who normally wandered were in
their classes. Ducking through a swinging door down a corridor, Kim stood underneath a burnt out light in the darkened hallway, using the shadows to help hide her from the security guard making his rounds. When he left, she continued back down to the opposite stairwell, going through the heavy metal door.
She crept down the stairs quickly, keeping her ears peeled for any sounds. She thought that the stairs would be deserted, and they were, but she’d once had a nasty surprise when she’d caught a couple making out. The girl’s screech had sent Kim flying through the outside door before the voice brought a security guard.
After another quick check to make sure the stairwell was deserted, she turned her attention to the camera mounted in the crevice of the wall. So long as she kept from going directly in front of the door, she was in its blind spot. Nibbling her lip in thought, she suddenly grinned as a thought occurred to her. Heading back to an empty classroom right next to the stairwell, she lugged out one of the chair/desk combos. It was heavy and awkward, but with work she got it down the stairs. Moving carefully now to make sure she stayed out of the camera’s sight, she pushed the desk under it. Reaching into her book bag, she pulled out the long silver bottle inside. Next, she put her book bag on the desk and moving carefully, climbed on top of the whole deal. As she stuck her tongue out of her mouth in concentration, she carefully leaned up towards the camera with the bottle in hand, her finger on the nozzle. Pressing down, she couldn’t help but giggle as a spray came out of the can, covering the camera lenses. Pleased at her own cleverness, she hopped off the desk, confident that the hair spray would keep her hidden as she headed outside. Striding to the doors, she pushed them open and made her way outside, heading rapidly for the bus stop.
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Half an hour later, Kim was pulling up outside the First Baptist Church, where she had to stop a wedding. She could see several long, white limos pulled up outside, the drivers idly leaning against them and chatting easily, speculating on how much longer the ceremony was going to take. Hurrying up the decorated staircase, she pushed open the door to the church, peeking inside.
"Woah…those are some BIG ushers." Kim could only frown at the tuxedoed men standing right outside the sanctuary doors, big brutish looking men. "They look more like bodyguards than ushers, though I suppose it makes sense." The wedding that Kim was going to interrupt was none other than that of the town’s most popular socialite, Candace "Candy" Williams and Thomas Burnhardt, a successful investment banker. Kim sometimes read the society papers, reading longingly about the lifestyles of those much richer than she. She’d been reading about the upcoming wedding for weeks; reading about how much the exotic imported flowers were going to cost, how many real diamonds were going to be inserted in the bride’s tiara, and even details as mundane as what kind of china they were using at the reception.
Kim could only frown at the tuxedoed men standing right outside the sanctuary doors, big brutish looking men. The wedding that Kim was going to interrupt was none other than that of the town’s most popular socialite, Candace "Candy" Williams and Thomas Burnhardt, a successful investment banker. Kim sometimes read the society papers, reading longingly about the lifestyles of those much richer than she. She’d been reading about the upcoming wedding for weeks; reading about how much the exotic imported flowers were going to cost, how many real diamonds were going to be inserted in the bride’s tiara, and even details as mundane as what kind of china they were using at the reception.She’d been more than shocked when, less than two weeks till the wedding, she was contacted by the spirit of a woman who claimed to have been a jilted lover of Thomas’. Kim had been spending her Saturday afternoon by the lake in a deserted section, enjoying the afternoon to herself. It had been a major disappointment when she’d felt that familiar pressure at the backs of her eyes, heard the sound of dozens of ringing bells in her head. Gritting her teeth, she stood up, wiping tears from her eyes. As she brushed them away, her eyesight became clearer, more true. And she SAW, with the special eyes that THEY’D given her. At first the image was fuzzy, as if she were seeing the woman from a great distance. But this spirit was strong, and was able to show herself fully to Kim. She was young, not more than a few years older than Kim, and incredibly attractive with long, dark hair and a shapely figure. Kim couldn’t help but note the ‘clothes’ the spirit was wearing, garments that suggested she’d been poor in life. Pulling her attention from the ghosts’ appearance, she tried to assess its general demeanor, waiting to see if it would attempt to speak to her. She’d met several ghosts, not all of them friendly, and she didn’t want to antagonize this one by pushing it before it was ready.
To her delight, the woman had smiled sadly at her, holding out her pale, smoky hand. "Can you…can you see me? Can you help me?" Kim was shocked. She was usually the one who offered the help, the proffered hand. With a smile and an open mind, she’d stepped closer, determined to help this ghost on to its final reward. What the woman had asked was simple. She had been seeing Thomas Burnhardt, and she’d thought he was in love with her. He’d promised to marry her, giving her the hope that she’d be able to have a happy life with him, a life without the poverty she’d grown up with. One night he’d gone to her, telling her that he’d found another and that he didn’t want her anymore. He’d used her, for her body and for information she had on the small software company that she was secretary at. Following him and looking into his business, she found out that he was engaged to marry Candace. She’d tried to confront Candace, telling her that he was a phony and a fake. In exchange, Thomas had started to threaten her, telling her that if she didn’t back off she’d be sorry. She tried once more to confront him, and Thomas finally agreed to meet her. He’d drugged her and drowned her in the lake. The ghost Marissa didn’t want revenge. She didn’t even care that he wouldn’t go to jail for his crime.
"Just stop his wedding. Make Candace see…" That had been her simple request. She claimed that it was the last piece of business that she had to attend to that would leave her finally happy. Kim was more than happy to comply. Which left her peeking into the church building, wondering how she was going to get past the bodyguards to stop the ceremony inside. She could hear the words of the reverend droning on inside, and to her horror, she actually heard him get up to the part in the ceremony where they ask for objections. Taking a deep breath, she decided that enough was enough. She couldn’t stall any longer.
As she rushed inside, the guard at the door closest to her actually started moving off towards his buddy, intending to give him a smoke for later. Her sudden entrance startled them both, and they stood in shock as she burst through the doors, heading for the actual sanctuary.
"Hey, you!"
"What the hell…"
"Johnny, grab her!"
Before any of the stunned bodyguards could catch a hold of her, she ran into the sanctuary, waving her arms and shouting at the top of her lungs.
"I OBJECT! I OBJECT! Wait!" Stopping dead in the aisle, Kim turned a bright red as over a hundred wedding guests turned to her, shock, anger, and confusion on their faces. She could see the bride and groom turning to face her as well, the bride’s carefully groomed face threatening to break into tears at this interruption to her wedding, the groom’s face a mask of carefully controlled fury. Looking between her and the wedding couple, the reverend cleared his throat carefully, about to address her, when the guards came rushing in, several rough hands grabbing at her and starting to haul her out. As she kicked and fought with them, she could hear shrieks and yells from the guests, one loud voice finally breaking out over all the others.
"Stop that! You will not manhandle that child in this church!" The reverend’s voice finally calmed the crowd down; aided by the microphone he was using to perform the ceremony with. The guards put her down finally, about to escort her out in a gentler fashion when the reverend’s cleared throat stopped them.
"I’m sorry. This girl has raised an objection. Per tradition…I’m afraid I have to ask her why." He ignored the angry glares of the groom, waiting while Kim drew herself up. Suddenly finding her throat dry with nervousness, she cleared it, speaking in a shaky, uncertain voice. This wasn’t turning out to be such a good idea after all, despite her desire to help Marissa.
"Well…you see…him, I mean Thomas…" She trailed off, seeing the bride’s face go pale with worry. Turning to her, Kim addressed her next words to the woman. "He lied to you. He went to see Marissa that night. When he was supposed to be working on the Carlson project."
Candace’s eyes went wide with shock, and bursting into furious tears, she turned from the altar, fleeing down the aisle, causing Kim and the guards to have to move hastily out the way. The groom and everyone else simply stood in shock, unable to believe she was abandoning Thomas at the altar. Shaking themselves from their shocked stupor, a woman who could have been the bride’s mother and the maid of honor both ran down the aisle as well, following after the hysterical woman. Not needing to say another word, the reverend turned from the groom, heading down to a side door. As the guests erupted into loud speculation, Kim turned, taking the opportunity to slip out of the church before someone had the presence of mind to stop her. She barely noticed the angry gaze of the groom, knowing full well that once she was gone, he couldn’t do anything to her.
As Kim slipped out of the sanctuary, Thomas turned to his best man, ignoring the frantic questions of his mother. His best man stood there stone faced, knowing just as well as Thomas did that this was the worst thing that could have happened. If Candace wasn’t so excitable, the girl’s words could have been smoothed over, but everyone knew the chit was a drama queen. Evidence of his infidelity. From a strange girl, no less, who couldn’t possibly have a reason to not want her married. To Constance’s vapid mind, it would be irrefutable proof that he’d been unfaithful. After this little display, there could be no mistake that the wedding was off.
"You know what to do. That girl..."
"Asian. Teenager. Blue streaks in her hair. Only two high schools locally that she could have come from." The man smirked, flexing the muscles of his shoulders. "It won’t be hard." With a satisfied nod, Thomas turned from his best man and put on his most diplomatic face, thinking ahead to the task of having to deal with his master after this…setback.
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Kim was ecstatic, grinning stupidly at the ghostly figure of Marissa. She had just finished recounting the story to her captive audience, even sharing with her how clever she’d been to get out of her test in time to stop the wedding.
"She ran? It’s over…" Marissa voice floated over to Kim, thin and nearly as insubstantial as her form. Kim knew the massive effort it must be taking Marissa to maintain her image for so long, so she tried to push the issue a little harder, needing to make sure this was over.
"So. You’re happy now, right? He’s been paid back. He won’t marry her now and…"
"And now I can rest, happily. Thank you." Marissa began to fade from view, a bright light shining inwardly from her. Kim’s mouth opened in awe as she watched, the bright light seeming to completely envelop the ghost’s form. She could see Marissa smiling brightly at her before she disappeared from view completely. Gone. Passed on to her final reward.
Kim’s chest puffed out in pride, a feeling of well being and happiness spreading through her. She had power… a real ability here. She was able to help lost souls find their way home. She could fix a stain on reality by helping these things…former people…find their way home. She was content.
Pushing her way up to her feet, she brushed the grass and dead leaves from the back of her pants, giving the lake one last look. She would have to find something else to do for a couple of hours before she could head home, not wanting to show up before her normal time. Her thoughts went to all the places she could safely hang out at, and she grinned as she thought of the cyber café over on North Street. She’d go there and log on.
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Marissa forced herself back. It was a painful process, one which she never really enjoyed, but one that was necessary if she were to please Him. And there he sat, looking as cool and unruffled as usual. She looked over his form, once again painfully aware of how attractive, how charming she would have found him if she’d still been alive.
She wished she were so she could have Him.
There was a way to do it. To come back. But thus far, she’d been unable to find the information she needed. She had to talk to the right ‘people’. And he kept a close watch on her activities. It was hard to get away unobserved.
Bringing herself back from her private musings, she gave him what she thought was a charming smile. "It’s been done. The little girl believed me. And she told me that the wedding was stopped."
He nodded slowly, giving her that sly, dangerous smile that he had. "I know. I was informed less than 15 minutes ago. The wedding was called off and will not be proceeding. Candace, of course, is crushed. You’ve done well."
Marissa preened, hoping, praying for some sort of reward for her good service. When he only continued to look at her with that smile, she knew she’d been dismissed from his sight, and she could feel the anger rising in her, knew that she was getting closer to the boiling point with Him.
"Not now…not till the time is right." The voice inside her hissed, and she bowed to it, fading from His view. She’d find her moment.
The voice inside her hissed, and she bowed to it, fading from His view. She’d find her moment.Once the ghost faded from his view, Giacomo stood, walking to a door on the other side of his study. He fixed his expensive, well tailored suit and ran a hand over his carefully groomed dark hair before walking inside. Sitting at an elegant wood and marble table were three other equally well appointed and well groomed men. He gave them a polite smile, bowing from the waist.
"It has been accomplished, gentleman. The medium performed the duty for us…they will never have cause to think it was us." The men nodded, their relief that the plan succeded showing through clearly. Thomas had no way of knowing whom Marissa had told about their liaisons…it was entirely plausible that she had a friend, a younger girl, that she’d told everything to. And even if she was found and divulged that she’d gotten her information from a ghost; there wasn’t enough information to trace it to them.
They were pleased.
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Seeing that it’d gotten dark outside, Kim shut off the computer she’d rented. As she gathered up her things, Kim mussed over some of the posts she’d read that afternoon. Some of the others like her were so blatantly….aggressive. She was having trouble relating to most of the blessed on that site; many of them wanting to outright destroy creatures like Marissa. Kim knew better, knew that many of them could be helped. It was just hard to convince hard headed macho men of that.
Shaking her head in derision, she contemplated what it’d be like to contact some of the others on the list that were like minded to her. She supposed that it might be easier to do what she did with help, though she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to have any adult trying to tell her what to do or telling her she shouldn’t be doing it at all. That was the problem with adults. They didn’t think that anyone younger than them was capable.
Leaving the café, she started the walk back home, taking the long way so she’d have time to think without her parents inquiring about her school day. And in the case that they’d actually gotten a call from the school, it was giving them some extra time to calm down so she wouldn’t get yelled at as badly. Pulling her light jacket around her, she shivered a little as she hurried under the street lights. Realizing just how late it must have gotten, she quickened her pace, knowing that if she got home too late they’d have yet another thing to yell at her about.
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Thomas looked up as his best man entered the room. It was hard seeing through his black eye, and he didn’t really want to move his bruised and battered body much, but it was preferable to the state he could be in. After that afternoon’s debacle, his master’s assistant had been most….displeased with him. And once his master had awoken…
The only thing that kept Thomas from getting hurled through a high rise window was the knowledge that the girl responsible was being sought out. And that she’d be punished for her part in ruining his master’s carefully laid plans. Getting up and going over to the man, Thomas kept his voice pitched low, aware that any bad news would quickly reach his master’s ears, spelling out his doom.
"The girl? Did you…" His man held up a hand to forestall him, and gave Thomas the largest grin he’d ever seen on the man. Thomas felt his battered face trying to give an answering smile, and he suppressed it, not needing the extra pain.
"Excellent. They’ll take care of her then." With a nod and a stiff turn, Thomas went to inform his master, knowing that he was still to be punished…but that this news would greatly reduce the damage.
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As she walked up the driveway to the house, Kim braced herself, seeing both her adoptive parents’ cars. The lights were on in the living room and the upstairs, meaning that someone was probably putting the baby to bed. She hesitated, wondering if she should give them a few extra moments to deal with their son. Their natural son…the child they’d had after years of failing and believing they couldn’t conceive. Scowling at the thought of how much attention the annoying brat got, Kim went up to the side door to the kitchen, with the full intention of being as noisy as possible. She didn’t care if she disturbed them putting him to bed at this point, her jealousy overriding her common sense.
The only problem with that was that when she turned the lock, it was already open. "That’s odd." Staring at the door, some sixth sense for danger finally settled over Kim, and she pushed the door open slowly, peeking into the dark kitchen. There was no one in there, which didn’t make sense. Her parents wouldn’t leave the kitchen door undone for no good reason. Moving further into the kitchen, she started past the large kitchen island towards the living room, some instinct making her keep quiet. Before she was more than two steps into the living room, she saw him.
He lay splayed on the living room floor, his glasses askew on his thin nose, sliding half off his face. The look on his face was one of incredible shock, as if he couldn’t believe that someone would be rude enough to blow a hole in his head. There wasn’t much blood seeping out the wound itself, but Kim could see the puddle forming under his head. "Mom won’t like that. Blood on her new carpet. Hard stain to get out." The absurd thought crossed her mind before her face crumpled, a sob escaping her lips. She fell hard onto the floor, her eyes locked onto the corpse of her father. She could feel her entire body going cold, as if all the blood were draining out of it.
"What’s going on? How could anyone…Mom and the baby…he can’t be dead…he’s dead…oh my God, no!" The thoughts raced through Kim’s brain, her body frozen with indecisiveness and uncertainty as she tried to process what she was seeing in front of her. She was so stunned that it took her a moment to notice the man on the stairs, smiling a fake, friendly smile at her.
The thoughts raced through Kim’s brain, her body frozen with indecisiveness and uncertainty as she tried to process what she was seeing in front of her. She was so stunned that it took her a moment to notice the man on the stairs, smiling a fake, friendly smile at her."Hey girly. Why don’cha come over here, and I’ll make it all better, ok?" Her eyes flew towards him and she jumped to her feet, her body poised to run. She could feel a wave of something washing over her, a desire to listen to who was probably the murderer of her father. Her eyes widened as she instinctively realized he was doing something to her, and her eyes watered up, the tears starting to fall from them as she could SEE again, her clearer vision revealing the man for what he was.
He wasn’t real. Some sort of monster, she didn’t know what. But everything about him just screamed out at her that he wasn’t right. She took a step back from him, intending to run for the back door. Seeing her move, the man snarled, taking a step forward. It was then that she saw the gun in his hand, the silencer attached to the barrel. As he raised it to aim at her, a flash of pleasure twisting his pockmarked features, Kim felt a surge of pity rising through her body. Pity at this creature standing in front of her who knew only violence and pain.
"How could you do this to us? What did we ever do to you?" She could feel that surge rising out of her and moving towards the man. It wasn’t anything visible, but she knew it was there, and could tell the exact moment that he felt it too. His hand wavered, and the gun started to lower, moving farther down until it was pointing at the floor. The pleasure drained from his eyes to be replaced by a look of shame and anguish as he looked towards the dead body on the floor. Kim could see his shoulders shaking as he started to cry silently, tears pouring down the man’s ugly face.
A movement caught Kim’s attention as the doorway upstairs darkened, another man stepping out of the baby’s room. She gasped as she looked him over, his face and clothes splashed with blood, an equally bloody knife in his hand.
"You got the…what the fuck?" The new thug looked over the scene, Kim standing near the kitchen doorway while his partner quivered on the stairs, crying like a baby. He stared in shock at the thug, not being able to comprehend that the man wasn’t attacking Kim as he was supposed to. It took him another two seconds before he started running for Kim himself, his knife flashing in the light. Spinning on her heel, Kim raced for the side door, slamming the kitchen door behind her as she raced out into the night.
As she started running through her neighbors’ yards, she could hear the side door crashing open as the man tried following her. She could only hope that he wouldn’t give chase, not wanting to call attention to himself. Already, the dogs next door were starting to bark, and sooner or later, the owners would come investigate. She continued to run blindly, not caring where she went so long as she got away from the house. She didn’t know why those men had decided to break into her house...kill her family…all she knew was that she wasn’t safe there, at the place she’d called home for as long as she could remember. The thought frightened her beyond anything she’d ever felt before.
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Thomas was not happy. He stared at the two men standing on the other side of the desk, looking incredulously at the one who was actually able to speak.
"She got away? After you were specifically sent to eliminate her?" The man nodded dumbly, giving a hateful glance towards his blubbering associate. Apparently the man had lost his nerve in the middle of the job. A regretful occurrence. He would have to be taken care of.
"You will find that girl. Do you understand?" He addressed the coherent one, giving a significant look to his cowering buddy. The simple thug nodded, steeling himself as he took his friend by the arm, leading him out of the suit’s office. He would have to take care of this schmuck. And when he was done, he had a loose end to tie up. It shouldn’t take long. She was bound to go someplace where she could be easily found.
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Wiping her eyes and sobbing quietly, Kim walked past the officers outside the police station, veering around them as they tried bringing a junkie inside. She could hardly believe what had happened to her, and didn’t know what else to do but to tell the cops. Stepping up to the receptionist, she swallowed hard, and then started to talk.
"I n-ne-need help. Parent’s k-k-…murdered." She whispered the last word, hanging her head. The cop at reception took one look at her tear streaked face, and then got up to come around the desk.
"Jesus. What’s your name, kid?"
"Kim Lockhart."
Unnoticed by either of them, another beat officer picked up the phone and dialed a number. Mr. Burnhardt would be pleased with him.
