> Of all the depictions of Jaan, the most fearsome were the creatures that resembled jaguars. Large cats that could control the shadows to stalk their prey. However, there has been no evidence to suggest their existence.
>
> - Of Myth and Legend, The Jaan.
As she’s being taken, Elena looks back for William. In the back of the police car, she looked around the growing crowd, but couldn’t find him. All around her, the car’s metal acted as a temporary cage. She wasn’t buckled in, or handcuffed, but the knowledge that this was her fate became real for her. The officer entered the car, started the engine and sirens, and started through the streets.
Elena turned one last time, hoping to see William. He couldn’t be found among the crowd. What she saw instead was Erasmus struggling against the police. He shifted his arms and tackled and pushed the few that restrained him. He managed to squeeze through the crowd into the backstreets and alleys that led back into the Deuda. From where Elena was leaving, she could see the police calling it in, and other officers followed Erasmus.
Elena wanted to hate the man, to wish ill upon him for doing what he did, but she felt she couldn’t. She felt she would’ve done the same if she were in his shoes. Being free of past worries, righting past wrongs, and getting the chance to expel evil when it became clear seemed normal to her.
The people cleared the street as the cars left one after the other. The car Elena rode in led the way through the streets. She saw men, women, and children all in costume. Vendors began to pack up, and the music ceased its dance through the air. Everything felt dead as if with the coming of the undead, the people felt no need to continue in reverie.
“What’ll happen to me?” Elena asked aloud, not necessarily to the driver, but to hear her own voice.
“You’ll be matched against missing children, and taken home.” The officer didn’t look back at her but looked forward as he navigated the host of people, most unsure of what was happening. Most of them looked like they just wanted to be happy and enjoy the party. The part of her that wanted that for them broke a little. The part of her that wanted to be out there with them broke. And the part that knew she wouldn’t get the chance made her cry.
The cruiser navigated the street but didn’t have to go far. After driving down the Deuda Line, and turning into El Viajar, into the portion of the city with glass and metal meeting the sky, the car turned right, and continued down, not far from the Deuda Line. Each building stood tall and imposing. The glass sparkled with the light of a thousand bulbs on the street. Each business clearly marked itself and wore its identity with pride. On this side, there were no cracked streets or broken sidewalks. Everything was beautiful.
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The car stopped and turned into a stone building parking lot. The officer opened the door and led Elena to the front of the building. Inside, she saw many officers doing paperwork, and running to and from the back, the front, and every which way. Some were on the phone answering questions about the incident earlier.
The officer led Elena to a desk and asked her to sit while he sorted through the paperwork he had. He began asking her questions, starting with her name.
“My name is Elena. Do you know where the undead are being taken?” He didn’t look up and instead marked her name in his report. He didn’t bother asking for her last name. He kept writing, but she couldn’t tell what. Then, he rose and walked to a file cabinet in the back. Alone, Elena began to pick at her dress. It chaffed her arms and seemed too big for her. She felt uncomfortable, and the need to hide.
The officer returned with a file. He opened it, and Elena saw a picture her family had taken of her a few years ago. She looked mostly the same. “Is your address still correct?”
“Yes, but do you know what’ll happen to the undead.”
“Good, I’ll take you home and we can be done. I have other things to do. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry you had to see all that, must’ve been traumatic getting lost like that, and seeing that horde try to attack the Inheritor. Good thing Uldvari called me over,” Elena wanted to reply, but he motioned for her to follow him out to the car. She followed, exited the building, and reentered the same car she left earlier.
In the car, she watched the city she had just seen leave her sight. From the Deuda Line, the officer drove up into the Deuda and continued for a few minutes. She passed cracked streets, decorated homes, and many of the same streets she had grown used to over the last few weeks. He kept driving until they reached an apartment complex. She never realized how close the station and her home were.
He opened the door for her again and asked her to lead the way to her home. They climbed the flight of stairs, and Elena knocked on her door. The officer fidgeted for a moment, then they both waited. The light turned on inside, the door bolt turned, and her father opened the door.
“Hello officer,” he said, almost completely ignoring Elena.
“Hello, sir. I’m just bringing back your daughter from the festival out on the line. One of the members of the church noticed her and informed us. You’re lucky she wasn’t harmed, she’s been out on the streets for weeks, sir.”
“Thank you, officer. We’ve been missing her, and feared the worst.”
“No thanks necessary, sir. Goodnight.” The officer turned, and left down the steps, leaving Elena to stand there, alone, with her father before her. His neutral expression melted away, leaving her to see his scowl and hatred. The hope that her family loved her, that they cared, fled her heart.
“You have no idea how bad you’ve made us look.” He grabbed her wrist and pulled her inside.