The sheriff's office in Sector Z-47 stood at a major intersection where three corridors met, surrounded by gray metal walls scarred with scratches and the marks of age. Its heavy steel door was always left half-open, as if inviting anyone in search of justice or safety.
Inside, old paper files and worn maps lay scattered across a shaky wooden desk. Beside them sat an outdated radio that functioned only on a single frequency buried in static, and on the wall hung a faded portrait of the Queen.
Sheriff Jacky sat in a torn leather chair, smoking slowly as he stared with tired eyes at an old surveillance screen. He was tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in a worn black coat bearing the insignia of the British police, though the emblem had long since faded. His light beard and thick gray hair reflected years of service and exhaustion.
Jacky had once been a police officer under the British government, serving in London before the outbreak of the Biological War. After the collapse of the system, he never abandoned his oath to protect the innocent, becoming a symbol of security and order in a world consumed by chaos.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vYdJPD3jB
After the world ended as people had known it, Judge Marco appointed him as the official sheriff responsible for maintaining safety and order in Tunnel Z-47 a decision widely considered one of the wisest made in an age when nearly everyone else had lost their way.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqMEu5AZR8
He drew slowly on his cigarette, his eyes fixed on the emptiness before him. In a tense voice, he muttered to himself:
Jacky (muttering):
"What am I supposed to do about these assassinations? I need to act like a cop... and that bastard Marco refuses to let me handle the case. Maybe he knows something about all of this."
Suddenly, the door opened, and Sarah, the deputy sheriff, entered.
She was twenty-nine years old, strong and self-assured, with short brown hair. She wore a dark military jacket, and two pistols were strapped to her waist. Her face was stern, yet her eyes shone with intelligence. She had once served as a fighter in the British anti-population unit and was highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat and light weapons.
She walked toward Jacky carrying several files and placed them on his desk with a sly smile.
Sarah:
"Hello, Sheriff Jacky. Here are the issues reported by the residents of the sector... and also the supplies and ammunition we need for this area."
Then, with a mischievous grin, she added:
Sarah:
"You should send Mohamed—and put me on his team... so we can succeed in the mission."
Jacky slowly raised his head and fixed her with a sharp stare, then spoke in a low but firm voice:
Jacky:
"I know what you're thinking, Sarah... If you're trying to play with fire, he is a married man... and a Muslim. Sex outside marriage is forbidden in his religion, and considered one of the seven major sins. I will not be part of wrongdoing... do not try that again."
Sarah looked briefly unsettled, but quickly regained her composure. She cleared her throat, pulled another paper from her pocket, and spoke more seriously:
Sarah:
"All right, let's change the subject... this is bigger than you think. These assassinations are not random crimes. Mayor Gerard is behind them... and Marco is involved as well."
Jacky was stunned for a moment but said nothing, and Sarah continued.
Sarah:
"Secret laws have been enacted... they plan to eliminate the poor in order to achieve self-sufficiency in this sector. They want to reduce consumption by removing those they consider useless. Even Judge George fears one man in this sector... a man no one dares confront—not the mayor, not Marco, not even the guards."
Jacky (irritated):
"And who is this man?"
Sarah (in a low voice):
"Mohamed... the only one who can reach him is Mohamed."
Jacky:
"Mohamed? Are you certain?"
Sarah (hesitating):
"Yes."
Jacky (harshly):
"How?"
Sarah (stammering, holding her breath):
"..."
Jacky (shouting angrily, slamming his hands on the desk):
"How?!"
Sarah froze where she stood for a moment, realizing she was facing Jacky and could not stand against him as an equal.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdKHUMzvD3
A heavy silence fell between them.
Then she answered, her voice full of sorrow.
Sarah (sadly):
"He was my only love... the one I adored. But he made a difficult choice to protect his older brother, Mohamed."
Jacky (surprised):
"Mohamed has a brother? Why did he never tell me?"
Sarah (uncertainty):
"I don't know. Ask him yourself."21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6BJJvdZCs
Sarah tried to restrain her anger, but suddenly it erupted like a volcano. Her eyes burned with fury.
Sarah (angrily):
"I will take revenge on Mohamed... because he robbed me of a life in love and kept me away from the man I loved. I will not let him escape so easily!"
Jacky stared at her, trying to calm her.
Jacky (firmly):
"Listen, Sarah... this is extremely dangerous. You're being reckless."
But Sarah ignored his warning, slammed a paper onto the desk, then rose and stormed out, wiping tears from her face.
Sarah (as she left, her voice full of determination):
"I will meet him again... even if it means stepping over his older brother's body or over this entire society!"
Then she added:
"I will call Mohamed and tell him to come to your office."
She left the room, disappearing into the darkness, while Jacky remained where he was, lost in thought.
After Sarah left, Jacky sat behind his desk and picked up the paper she had thrown down. It was covered in handwritten words, apparently scrawled by Judge Marco in haste.
He looked at it suspiciously, then read it aloud, wanting to hear the words clearly for himself.
Jacky (reading aloud):
"Jacky,
Send Mohamed and his team to gather the necessary equipment. We are in desperate need of vegetables and certain other food supplies, and you must ensure they are secured as quickly as possible.
As for Mohamed, as you know, he is merely a tool in my hands, nothing more. Do not think of him as anything except an obedient puppet, following orders and doing what is asked of him without hesitation. This Amazigh Arab is thought of as a hero, but in truth he is only a twig in the wind, moving wherever he is told.
Everything must be gathered immediately. We do not have time to wait.
Marco."
When Jacky finished reading, anger rose inside him.
He knew Marco respected no one not even Mohamed. But to describe him in such a way, as though he were nothing more than a tool to be used when convenient, was unacceptable to him.
He quickly gathered the papers and returned to thinking about what had to be done next.
After putting out his cigarette, Jacky leaned back in his chair, a deep frown darkening his face. He was furious, his thoughts churning.
Jacky (muttering angrily):
"Marco... you're as good as dead. If Mohamed doesn't handle it, I will."
He paused for a moment, dark determination in his eyes, then continued:
Jacky (firmly):
"One of the things I admire most about Mohamed is that he is a man who keeps his word. If he says he will do something, he does it. But if he refuses this time, then I will make sure Marco pays the price whether with his life or with something worse."
He rose and began pacing the office, his mind already made up.
The only question left was whether Mohamed would step forward... or whether Jacky would have to take matters into his own hands.
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