As the first rays of dawn began to paint the sky in muted hues, Maya headed back to the precinct, the night’s patrol had finally come to an end. The city, awakening from its nocturnal slumber, carried the promise of a new day. Weary yet happy, Maya pushed open the door to the police station, hoping for a quiet end to her night shift as the familiar scent of bureaucracy and coffee enveloped her.

Much to her chagrin, Officer Handal and Officer Crow, along with a group of their cohorts, were gathered in the precinct. Their smirks, like shadows cast on the wall, seemed to amplify in the early morning light. The shared glance among the officers carried a silent narrative, a subtle mockery that hung in the air.

Officer Handal, his smirk widening, clasped his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair.

“Officer Sinclair, back from your thrilling night of patrolling, I presume?”

Officer Crow chuckled, adding, “Did you manage to catch any more criminals, or did they prove to be too elusive for our rookie officer?”

Maya felt naked under their gaze, there was an unspoken challenge in their words. Steeling herself, she met their taunts with a measured response.

“Just doing my job, officers. Making sure the streets stay safe.” She knew it was best not to give into their remarks. The rookie before her had only lasted two months before quitting due to their cutting comments.

Officer Handal exchanged a knowing glance with his comrades. “Safe, eh? Seems like the streets are as dangerous as ever, judging by your encounter with that vandal.”

Laughter erupted from the group, and Maya could sense the friendship built on the shared amusement at her expense. She bit back her frustration as she felt tears well in her eyes. She couldn’t let them see any weakness.

“I’ll catch them next time,” Maya said, her voice squeaking.

Officer Crow leaned forward, his tone laced with sarcasm. “We’re counting on you, Sinclair. Veridium’s safety is in your hands, after all.”

The room echoed with their laughter as Maya, trying to maintain her composure, left to go get changed. The precinct, a canvas of power dynamics, was witness to the subtle dance of authority and camaraderie. The lingering smirks and chuckles of the men served a reminder that in Veridium, both the streets and the precinct held their own set of challenges.

Maya entered the women's change room. She went to open her locker but before she could even blink, the change room door swung open with a force that startled her. Much to her surprise, Officer Handal walked in and closed her locker door by leaning against it. The air in the room seemed to thicken, and Maya felt a shiver of unease crawl down her spine.

“Maya,” Officer Handal’s voice carried a tone that was equal parts condescending and authoritative. “Seems like you could use a bit of guidance in this line of work.”

Maya met his gaze, a flicker of defiance in her eyes, though a subtle hint of fear lingered beneath the surface. This was a man that could not be trusted.

He twirled a piece of her hair between his fingers, a gesture that felt invasive and unsettling.

“Our boss thinks you need some hands-on training, and who better than yours truly to show you the ropes?”

Maya’s jaw tightened, but she remained silent, wary of the power dynamics at play. Officer Handal’s proximity felt suffocating, his presence asserting dominance in the confined space of the change room.

“I’ll be accompanying you on your next shift,” he declared with a smirk, as if relishing the discomfort he was causing. “Teach you a thing or two about apprehending criminals. Maybe then you won’t let them slip through your fingers.”

Maya clenched her fists, the tension in the room was unbearable and the prospect of doing night shift with him made her blood run cold. She despised the thought of being under his watchful eye during her patrols. She had no choice though, but to be subject to his unwanted presence.

Officer Handal’s eyes portrayed a condescending glint as he continued, “I’m sure you’re just itching to learn from the best. I’ll make sure to enlighten you on how things are done around here.”

Before he left, he leaned down, invading her personal space, and uttered in a low, menacing tone, “Looking forward to our little night together, Maya.”

The atmosphere thickened with discomfort as he took a step back. But instead of departing, he leaned in even closer, his breath hot against her neck. The sensation sent a shiver down Maya’s spine and she felt bolted to the ground, unable to move.

As he straightened, he had a twisted satisfaction painted across his face, as if he took pleasure in making her squirm. Maya fought to maintain her composure as he turned to leave. The door creaked open, and Officer Handal left the change room, leaving Maya to grapple with the unsettling violation she had just experienced. The reverberation of his taunts and the horrible breath lingered, staining the confined space and leaving Maya feeling unable to breath.

Officer Handal had a habit of harassing the rookies. Maya wanted to report him, but she knew that it would just bite her in the ass. Their boss would rather fire her then reprimand a distinguished officer like Noah Handal.

She swiftly ripped off her police uniform and hung it in her locker. Pulling on her civilian clothes, she slammed the locker shut and practically sprinted out of the change room. That snake of a man had wormed his way into her mind and her hands were still shaking.

As she left the change room, Maya felt a surge of relief to be escaping the stifling atmosphere that Officer Handal had left in his wake. The precinct, usually a haven of order, now carried the lingering tension of their encounter.

Just as Maya stepped into the hallway, she encountered Officer Marlene Monroe, a kind friend and ally amid the complexities of the police force. Officer Monroe greeted Maya with a friendly smile. Her plump face framed with golden curls that appeared to shine under the harsh lights of the precinct hallway.

“Maya, how was your night shift?” Officer Monroe asked, her tone filled with genuine concern.

Maya returned the smile, grateful to see a friendly face that wasn’t going to laugh at her expense. “It’s been a night, Marlene. Dealing with the usual chaos.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Marlene's brow furrowed, “I heard about what happened with that vandal.”

Maya sighed and rolled her eyes, “Everyone has been giving me a hard time about that. I have to be supervised by Officer Handal during my shift tonight.” Even saying his name made her stomach turn.

“Hmm…” Marlene grumbled, a look of concern washed over her. “Don’t let him get to you, and stay safe out there.”

Maya nodded in agreement, appreciating the unwavering support that Marlene always showed her.

“Well, I’ve got to head back and wrangle all these incident reports from the last month. They’ve dumped the whole load on me and, of course, expect it to be a masterpiece by the end of the day!” Marlene exclaimed, flinging her arms in the air with clear exasperation.

Maya offered a sympathetic smile, feeling a shared sense of frustration with her friend. The urge to confide in Marlene about the unsettling encounter with Officer Handal tugged at her, but the fear of rumors weaving through the precinct held her back.

“Best of luck with that, Marlene,” Maya said, her smile carrying a touch of understanding.

Marlene returned the smile, a mix of gratitude and determination in her brown eyes, and continued down the hallway, disappearing around the corner. Maya watched her go, the click-clack of her heels echoing through the hallway and eventually fading into the precinct’s ambient hum.

~~~~~~~~

The morning sun painted the city in soft hues as Maya headed home, her thoughts a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The events of the night, from the mockery in the precinct to the disturbing encounter with Officer Handal, lingered in her mind. As she closed the door to her parent’s home behind her, Maya couldn’t help but yearn for the solace of her bedroom.

In the cozy kitchen, the comforting aroma of breakfast filled the air. Maya’s mother, a short woman who exuded warmth and strength, greeted her with a smile as she moved about the kitchen.

“Good morning, sweetheart. How was your night?” her mother inquired. Her eyes studied Maya and she knew that her mother could tell she was upset.

Maya, finding a moment of respite in her mother’s presence, sighed and said, “It was… challenging. The precinct was tough on me this morning because I let a criminal get away, by accident, and now I’ve got to work with Officer Handal tonight.”

Her mother, sensing Maya’s unease, paused in her cooking and turned to face her.

“Noah can be a… handful. But remember, you’re all on the same side of the law. Focus on your duty, and don’t let him get under your skin. You’re stronger than you think.”

Maya nodded, “I know, Mom. It’s just annoying dealing with him.”

Her mother offered a reassuring smile. “Just stay true to yourself, Maya. No matter who you’re working with. Remember why you joined the force. You’re here to make Veridium a safer place, and that’s what matters.”

Maya gave her mother a half-hearted smile and sat down at the kitchen table. Her mind flashed back to her childhood. As kids, Maya and Noah had roamed the same streets, played in the same parks, and attended the same schools. Although they were the same age, Maya hadn’t joined the police academy until she was twenty-five. Yet, even in their youth, Noah was a condescending, power-hungry prick.

He had, it seemed, a knack for asserting dominance. In the innocence of their childhood, he became a bully to the other kids, his cruel actions were driven by a desire to wield power over the smaller and younger children. Maya, despite sharing the same neighbourhood, had often found herself caught between her desire for peace and her reluctance to confront Noah’s oppressive tendencies.

Her mind took her back to a pivotal moment in their childhood - a moment when she had tried to stand up to Noah’s bullying ways. It was a day etched in the canvas of their history, one that unfolded near the playground by the pond.

One mild autumn afternoon, as Maya witnessed Noah tormenting a younger child, a spark of defiance ignited within her. She ran up to Noah and hit him in the back of the head. He dropped the young kid from his grip and spun around to face Maya.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he sneered.

Maya felt her heart drop and she turned to run away. But Noah, fueled by his innate aggression, grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and dragged her forcibly to the pond by the edge of the playground. The air in the playground shifted and everyone froze.

Maya kicked and screamed, but her protests fell on deaf ears as the other kids, paralyzed by fear, stood as mere spectators. The once lively playground had become an eerie stage for Noah’s power, a theater of cruelty where everything was played by his rules.

Nobody was coming to help her.

Noah dragged her to the water’s edge, where the once inviting pond now took on a malevolent presence. Using every ounce of his strength, he callously forced her face into the frigid water. Maya’s struggles beneath the water’s surface distorted her vision, the waves and debris added a disorienting chaos.

As Noah relinquished his grip, Maya gasped for air, pulling her head out of the water. The cold, muddy liquid clung to her, and in a gut-wrenching moment, she vomited out the pond water.

Coughing and sputtering, she turned to look up at Noah, who stood there with a chilling smile etched across his face.

“I’m in charge, don’t forget that,” he growled. With a final glance at Maya, he walked away, leaving the playground behind.

The other kids scattered in every direction, running home to the safety of their parents. Maya sat on the shoreline, still coughing and shaking. All but one kid was left, there was a boy with red hair that looked to be similar age to Maya. He came up to her, a concerned look on his face. Maya stared at him, not sure what to make of this boy. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of cloth.

“I’m sorry that I couldn’t help you,” he said. Maya reached up to grab the cloth and wiped her face.

“It’s all right.” She went to give him the cloth back, but he shook his head.

“Keep it.” And with that, the boy turned and left the playground.

Maya watched as the boy disappeared down one of the many alleyways. The sun was starting to set and that was her cue to head home.The once happy playground became a sullen reminder of Noah’s aggression, a memory forever carved into Maya’s mind and the other kids who had been too scared to defy the bully who loomed over them.

As Maya sat at the breakfast table, the weight of that childhood incident lingered in the background, casting a dark cloud over their shared past. Noah’s cruel nature had followed him into adulthood, and even now as adults, he still had power over Maya.

Snapping back to reality, she noticed that her mother had placed a plate of food in front of her. Maya quickly ate her breakfast as her mother’s advice quietly resonated within her.

Before retreating to her bedroom, Maya craved the warmth of a hot shower. The cascading water offered her a momentary reprieve, an opportunity to soothe the tension that clung like a second skin. As the steam enveloped her, she studied her features in the bathroom mirror.

At a modest five foot five, Maya stood as a testament to her petite stature, yet her presence transcended her physical dimensions. Long black hair fell in waves down around her shoulders, a silhouette against the backdrop of the steam-filled air. Brown eyes, warm and inviting, contrasted the weariness etched into her face.

Her face, rounded and soft, was punctuated with a tall nose and ears that stuck out to each side. Her features carried an innate kindness that spoke volumes about the resilience within her spirit. Despite the challenges she faced, there was a gentle strength in her gaze.

In terms of physique, Maya embraced agility over sheer strength. She moved with a swift grace, and took pride in the fact that she was able to navigate the complexities of Veridium’s streets with a nimbleness that defied her size. Maya was not the most confident, but she tried her best to embody the ideals of Veridium and of her parents. There was still plenty left for her to learn.

Finishing up her shower, Maya retreated to her room. The familiar surroundings provided a sanctuary where she could momentarily escape. With a weary sigh, she settled into her bed, allowing sleep to wash over her.

The soft sounds of the city stirring to life outside served a lullaby, temporarily quieting the turmoil within her mind. In the hushed moments before the next night shift, she sought refuge in the realm of dreams, where she was safe from everything.