85
Archie is seen riding recklessly on the road, the superbike seems so difficult for him to ride, but he doesn’t know how to tell the people he almost crashes into that he’s still an amateur.
He’s on his way to school and he’s running late already, he fetches his phone from his pant pocket and checks the time to see he’s already an hour late for school. He slides the phone back into his pant pocket, taking his gaze off the road.
“Watch out where you’re heading! You insolent fool!” Comes an angry voice of an aged woman, walking on the walkway of a prominent street.
Archie whines as he couldn’t fathom why the bike chooses to disgrace him. He lifts his gaze and smiles warmly at her. “I’m very sorry ma’am, my bike seems to be faulty, but I can assure you I still have it under control.” he hastily bows to the irritated woman who seems not to give a darn about his excuses.
She rolls her eyes angrily. “Sell the stupid bike if it’s giving you a problem, don’t break my legs and start apologising later.” she scoffs, giving the bike a disgusting look before striding away from him.
Archie watches her back till she is completely out of sight. “Shit!” he cursed, hitting his fist on the bike. He hastily rubs his palm on it and cares it slowly. “I don’t blame you boy,” he smiles, tapping the bike on its head. “I blame those people for not understanding us,” he added, putting on back his helmet.
He starts the engine and its roars back to life. “Let’s cancel school for today, okay? I don’t think the principal will let me off if I get to the school late.” he groans, swerving the bike over.
Archie rides the bike to a popular street that leads faster to their place.
He sights a lady in front of him, he tries turning in to opposite direction but doesn’t know how to. “Ahh,” Archie cries out in fear, he closes his eyes expecting to hit the lady with his bike.
‘God please!’ he mumbles under his breath.
He plants his hands on both sides of his ears and screams when he hears a crashing sound before him. His eyes slowly creep open when he hears the sound of his bike key being forcefully pulled out from the ignition. Huh? What’s happening?
“Who the heck are you?” she yells, Archie opens his eyes to meet with a deadly, yet friendly-looking lady in front of him. Standing with her eyebrows arching in anger.
“You… you… you didn’t get hurt, did you?” Archie asks worriedly, he steps down from the bike to examine the lady carefully.
Archie stretches out his hand to touch the lady but she takes a step backwards, gazing at him with a dreadful look on her face.
“My name is Kayla, I’m an officer.” Kayla scoff angrily with her arms crossed on her chest.
Upon hearing that the lady is a cop, Archie moves back in fear, with his gaze fixed on the floor.
“I should just arrest you for driving precipitously on the road, putting the lives of the civilian in danger. Is that how you were taught at home?” Kayla fired at him, she stare at the bike and let out an unpleasant scowl.
Archie slams his palms together, wearing a pitiful look on his face. “I’m very sorry,” he mutters lowly.
“Sorry?” Kayla smirked, striding over to the bike. “I should have known you were brought into an affluent family. How then will you be driving something that cost a fortune?!” she rolls her eyes before turning around to face him.
“You are a schoolboy considering your appearance, shouldn’t you be in class by now; receiving lectures?” she pulls up her long sleeve, checking the time on her wristwatch.
“Doesn’t matter, Follow me,” she commands, walking towards the opposite building without glancing back at him.
Since she’s not looking, Archie dash to his bike, hoping to ride off without her knowledge. Kayla smirked and stop walking.
“Don’t even think of running away, the key is with me. Unless you want to get yourself killed.” she cackles, dangles the key in the air and then continues walking.
Having no other choice, Archie curses her under his breath before running up to catch up with her.
“Wait up!” he yells after her, panting heavily as he walks inside the building, revealing a bookstore.
Archie slightly raises his brows, wondering what they’re doing in a place like a bookstore. “Sorry, Ms.” he looks around, noticing they’re the only people at the bookstore, except for the shopkeeper that sits on his seat at the other side of the shop.
“Why did you bring me here?” he asks, gazing at Kayla who seems confused while checking out racks of books.
“Little boy come over here, I need your help.” she gestures for him to come forward, totally ignoring his question.
Archie sighs heavily, he moves closer to her and stands right behind her. “Archie, that’s my name.” he discreetly rolls his eyes at her.
“I don’t care about what you’re being called or what your name is.” Kayla blurted out, ransacking the rack for a particular book. “Go to the other side and find me a book, title; emblem of gold,” she whispered to him. “Heard the owner here is secretly selling the book after it has been outlawed by the administration for years,” she says to him in a low voice, not wanting the shopkeeper to eavesdrop on their discussion.
Archie stares at her in shock. “Emblem of gold?” he repeated in utmost surprise. “Isn’t that a book written by a group of men in the late 90s; they were later denounced vile of the death of an authoritative man.” he chuckles, wondering why she’s looking for an unethical book like that.
Kayla turns around to have a proper look at the young lad in front of her. “A book like this is something of a unicorn. How did you learn about this?” she asks with her arms crossed.
Archie shrugs his shoulder. “Overheard a couple of instructors in my school speak about it, so I further asked the school principal about the book.” he shake his head, moving away from her.
Kayla quietly trails behind him. “And what did she say?” she asks, tugging at his arm to stop him from moving.
“It’s confidential. so, no, thank you.” he rolls his eyes and turns around to leave. He bumps into a shelf and a couple of books drop from the rack.
“Thanks for giving me another work to do.” Archie groans as he squats to pack up the book, but Kayla slightly pushes him off, she squats and picks up a book with a black shroud.
“Guess what I found?” Kayla smirks, standing up from the floor and grinning wildly.
“What?” He pouts, standing up with a frown.
“Emblem of gold in another version.” she smiled in perpetrating her duty.
Archie smiles in disbelief. “Really? Let me see.” he steps forward but Kayla slaps his hand off.
“The content is not for the kid.” she sneaks her hand to her back and brings out a device and plants it to her ears.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
“Confirmed! I’m leaving now, take your guys and head here.” Kayla speaks to someone on the phone, she ends the call and deactivates the camera.
“Don’t worry, I will crop out the part you mentioned your principal and stuff before submitting the tape.” she pat his shoulder, smiling brightly at him.
Archie nods and picks up a sketchbook from the rack. “I’m buying this to not be sus.” he raises his eyebrows for approval.
Kayla shrugs. “Don’t buy it if you don’t need it,” she says, walking away from the section.
“Nah. I need it, and I’m getting it.” he hops after her as they proceed to pay at the counter.
They step outside the store to see a group of men in uniform enter the store.
“So, let me ask, what’s going to happen to the store and the owner?” Archie peep curiously after the men.
“Those are the officers in charge. I’m lending a helping hand since I’m on leave.” she laughs hysterically. “The owner will be arrested and charged in court for violating the law; the store will be closed forever. That’s what happens to those that trade outlaw stuff.” she sighs sadly, walking up to the basement his bike was packed.
“That’s bad, I feel bad for the owner.” Archie exhale as he stops by his bike.
“Don’t feel bad for people like them; they brought it upon themselves. The less the pity, the less the crime.” she gets on the bike and beckons to him to hop in.
“What are you doing? Taking me home?” he asks in surprise.
Kayla scoffs at him. “You don’t expect me to let you ride yourself after seeing the stunt you pull on the people. Hop in or I get you arrested.” she threatened.
Archie rolls his eyes and reluctantly hops on the bike, he holds tightly onto her. Kayla starts the bike and rides them to the mansion without asking for directions.
“Get down and don’t let me see you ride it ever again if you don’t know how to ride it.” She instructs, sliding down from the bike and watching him push it inside.
“It’s nice working side with you, Ms Officer.” he saluted and flashed her a toothy smile before shutting the gate.
Kayla scoffs and rolls her eyes after him. “He only bumps into the rack, not like he did something great.” she hissed, smiling nattily as she gazes at the entrance.