Somebody's Someone - Chapter Six

The yellow glow of the lanterns still illuminated the quiet street when the first patrol car arrived, followed closely by a second. The atmosphere, which had held an air of festivity just moments ago, now felt heavy with tension. Two officers stepped out—one in his mid-40s, with a square jaw and a rigid posture suggesting he hadn’t blinked since boot camp. The other was younger and leaner, holding his belt like a shield, as if authority was something to be gripped tightly. Their names were stitched across their chests: Hollins and Greaves.

Zahra instinctively reached for Khand's wrist—not tightly, just grounding. The warmth of his skin was reassuring in this mounting anxiety. Jamila, ever the vigilant one, shifted her weight beside the boutique window, arms crossed, her eyes scanning the scene for any signs of trouble. Yennia stood near the curb, stiff but silent, breathing as if trying to rewind time through her breaths alone, her mind racing to understand how quickly this had escalated.

"Who made the call?" Officer Hollins barked, his eyes scanning the group as if they were suspects in a crime.

"I did," Yennia said softly, hoping to defuse the situation. "But it's fine now. It was a misunderstanding."

Hollins stepped closer, his presence intrusive. "You call 911, we respond. That's not a misunderstanding—that's a police matter. We take these things seriously."

"Sir," Khand began, attempting to remain calm. "We were just leaving. There was no threat, no altercation. Everything is resolved." He was trying to project confidence, but there was an undercurrent of concern in his voice.

Greaves lingered further back, his gaze flicking between the faces in front of him—less confrontational but still watchful, as if he was assessing the situation from afar.

Hollins was not having it. His tone was brusque and dismissive.

"I need everyone's ID," he said. "All four of you."

Jamila spoke up first, her voice firm. "For what reason? No crime was committed, and no one is under suspicion here."

Yennia glanced sideways, her heart racing. This was spiraling beyond her control, and all she had wanted was to report a minor incident—a misunderstanding, or so she thought.

"Because I said so," Hollins snapped, stepping between Khand and Zahra, effectively shutting down any further dialogue. "You don’t get to set the terms."

Khand’s jaw tensed. He recognized that tone—the pulse of superiority wrapped in a badge. It struck a nerve.

"We’re not refusing," Zahra interjected calmly, her voice steady yet assertive. "We're asking why. That’s not resisting—it's knowing our rights." She could feel the tension ripple through the group.

Greaves shifted uncomfortably but remained silent, as if weighing his options. Hollins rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed.

"You can argue later. IDs now. Don't make me repeat myself," he said tightly, his authority palpable.

Jamila and Khand exchanged a glance, an unspoken agreement passing between them. They all knew that compliance was crucial in situations like this, especially when the stakes seemed to be rising.

One by one, they pulled out their wallets, carefully passing their IDs forward. Hollins took them all and moved to the cruiser, with Greaves following closely behind, casting a quiet glance back—maybe a hint of doubt, maybe an unspoken apology. Yet, nothing was whispered among them.

Minutes stretched out like an eternity, blending the sounds of the night into an unsettling silence.

The group stood in a tense standoff outside the boutique. Yennia stared at the cracks between the sidewalk bricks, her mind racing with questions. Khand looked toward the sky, as if searching for answers among the stars. Zahra and Jamila remained still, like pillars bracing against an impending storm.

Then Hollins returned, holding one ID as if it were a ticking bomb.

"Yennia Taylor?"

She nodded slowly, her heart pounding in her chest, eyes narrowing with dread.

"You have a warrant."

The world seemed to stop.

Jamila blinked in disbelief. Zahra stepped forward instinctively, her protective instincts flaring. Khand squared his shoulders, ready to confront this new reality.

"What?" Yennia said, her voice tremulous. "That... that's not possible."

"It's for a hit-and-run incident in Charlotte," Hollins said, his tone matter-of-fact. "A vehicle registered under your name was involved in a collision and left the scene. The case is flagged for unresolved damage and injury."

Yennia staggered back slightly, confusion washing over her. "No, no... I wasn't driving. I wasn't even there! That was—" Her voice caught, panic creeping in. "That was him. He wrecked my car before I left."

Hollins raised an eyebrow, unyielding. "You can explain that downtown."

Greaves finally spoke, the shadows in his eyes deepening. "We can confirm ownership and witness accounts, but we do need to process the warrant."

Khand stepped forward, his voice calm yet firm. "She didn't commit a crime. You're about to arrest someone over a car she didn't drive. This isn’t right."

"It's not your place to make that determination," Hollins shot back, his voice sharp.

Zahra's eyes narrowed, the heat of injustice igniting within her. "And it's not yours to treat people like criminals without full context." Each word carried the weight of their shared experiences.

Hollins turned toward Yennia, cuffs already in his hand, a grim look set on his face. "Ma'am, I need you to turn around."

Yennia shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "I—I didn't even know…"

Jamila's voice was low but firm. "Yes, it's going to be okay. We'll figure this out together." She reached out, trying to offer comfort in the rising chaos.

Khand looked at Hollins, his voice steady but charged with urgency. "This entire situation started because she made one emotional decision. Now you’re turning it into something it’s not. You have to see reason."

Hollins ignored him as he placed the cuffs around Yennia's wrists—not roughly, but with a practiced indifference that spoke volumes about his experience in these situations.

"I didn't mean for this," Yennia said quietly, her voice breaking as she looked around at her friends, to no one and everyone.

Khand watched her eyes—the same eyes that had once laughed with him, full of joy and warmth, now clouded with disbelief and despair.

Zahra gently reached for his hand again, squeezing it for strength.

The lantern light flickered as Hollins led Yennia toward the cruiser. Leaves swirled around them in the night air—but this time, it felt less like poetry and more like disruption, a chaotic whirlwind threatening to unravel the fabric of their lives.

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**Chapters Seven through Twelve are currently in development and undergoing reconstruction. As a result, the usual weekly release schedule may be temporarily delayed. Thank you for your continued patience and support.**

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🖊️ *Author's Note:*

I deeply appreciate you taking the time to read Chapter 6 of this multi-chapter series.

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This story and its entirety was written by me. AI was used solely as a tool for ideation and refinement.

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