The sound of footsteps coming closer made Cologne, Berlin, and Lukas' hearts race. Even Berlin, who was a demon, could feel so tense. He himself could not realize this. And began to get carried away in his role as a human.
They knew that coming out of the hideout was a big risk, but they had no other choice if they wanted to survive and bring this evidence to the authorities.
Cologne carefully peeked through a small gap, seeing two well-built men combing the room. “We need to get out,” she whispered. Berlin and Lukas nodded in agreement.
As the men moved on to another room, Cologne signaled for movement. They slipped out of the secret room and headed for the back door of the house. With bated breath, they made it out into the backyard undetected.
However, before they could go any further, one of the men returned to the main room and saw the open back door. “They're running away! Quick, go after them!” he shouted.
“Shit we got caught!” grumbled Berlin.
“This is not the time for you to grumble.” Cologne pulled Berlin's hand away quickly.
Berlin, Cologne, and Lukas ran with all their might into the forest. As they went deeper, the darkness and dense trees gave them little protection. The sound of the pursuers' footsteps grew closer, spurring them on to run faster.
Berlin spotted a small cave among the trees and signaled for entry. They hid inside, holding their breath as the pursuers passed through the cave unaware of their presence.
After several minutes that felt like hours, the sound of footsteps disappeared. Cologne signaled for them to come out of hiding. “We must hurry to the city and hand over this evidence,” he said. “We're not safe here.”
They proceeded cautiously, making sure no one was following. After several hours of walking, they finally arrived at the outskirts of the city. Cologne immediately contacted a colleague they could trust, named Ramirez, who they had worked with before.
At the police station, they handed over all the documents and flash drives to Ramirez. “This is all the evidence we have on Vincent Lengrand,” Cologne said. “It's more than enough to catch him.”
Ramirez examined the evidence carefully. “This is very helpful. We will secure Vincent and all those involved immediately. You guys have done a great job.”
While Ramirez organized his team to capture Vincent, Cologne, Berlin, and Lukas were relieved. However, they knew that they still had to find Elena. They hoped that with Vincent's capture, they could get information about Elena's whereabouts.
A few days later, they received news that Vincent had been arrested. However, Elena was still nowhere to be found. Cologne, Berlin and Lukas did not give up hope. They continued to investigate, trying to find other clues.
One morning, Lukas received an anonymous message that mentioned a location where Elena might be kept. They immediately informed Ramirez and together with a police team, they headed to the location.
The location was an old warehouse outside the city. When they arrived, the place seemed deserted. The police team combed the area and found a secret door that led to the basement. There, weak but alive, they found Elena.
Elena cried tears of joy when she saw her friends. “I knew you would come,” she said hoarsely.
Cologne, Berlin and Lukas embraced Elena with relief. “We'll never give up looking for you,” Berlin said.
With the evidence they found and Vincent's arrest, the authorities managed to dismantle a huge crime network involving embezzlement and threats. Elena was safe and given the protection and care she needed.
***
“You guys did a great job. My God, it's such a miracle,” Eden praised excitedly.
Cologne could only chuckle in annoyance, its work had indeed been done. And it ended well. But the praise given by Eden did not make him feel happy at all.
“Don't overdo it. It hurts my ears to hear your praise,” said Cologne with a bent face.
“Uh, you're not happy? I thought you were enjoying it. Take a look at Berlin, he looks so satisfied and is celebrating with the other employees.” Eden pointed at Berlin who was surrounded by several other employees who were dominated by female employees.
Seeing Berlin seem to be enjoying it so much. It made Cologne believe that it was an opportunity for Berlin to steal the attention of the women working in the office.
***
“You can go home first. I'm going for a drink with them today,” Berlin said before leaving Cologne who was still standing in front of the office courtyard.
“Whatever. It would be great if you didn't come back to my place anyway,” Cologne quipped. Although the others had offered to join them. Cologne refused and preferred to go home. She didn't really like this kind of celebration party.
Cologne who finally went home alone. Suddenly heard someone calling her name.
“Cologne?”
Cologne's head automatically turned and found Xiao's figure walking towards her.
“Oh hi Xiao, what's up? You heard that Elena was found and the case ended well. Isn't that great news?” greeted Cologne as she told Xiao the good news.
“Yes. I heard.” Xiao nodded and was now standing right in front of Cologne. “That's why there's someone who really wants to see you,” she said.
Cologne's brow furrowed. “Who?” she asked curiously.
Xiao just smiled. Extending his hand to Cologne. “Come with me. I will take you to that person.”
Without saying much, Cologne finally followed Xiao who took her to meet someone who wanted to meet her.
***
“Thank you for helping me. Without you and your partner's help, I might not have survived,” said Elena, whose figure was now lying on a hospital bed. The woman asked Xiao for help so that she could meet with Cologne.
“You're welcome. That is my duty. I'm sorry I can't see you together with Berlin. He's celebrating the success of this case with the rest of the office,” Cologne said.
Elena smiled. “That's okay. Maybe if I'm feeling better, I'd like to go treat you two another time. But for now, I really only wanted to meet you.”
“Meet me? Is there something you need from me?”
Elena let out a long sigh. “I have something to tell you. And it's quite long, would you mind listening to it?”
“Not at all. Just tell me. I'll listen to you very carefully.”
Elena then began to tell Cologne everything she knew in detail. And Cologne, who listened to the story carefully, realized that she now had another fact through Elena's story.
***
“I'm home. Oi Cologne you haven't turned on the lights out there. Hurry up and turn it on or I'll kick your ass.” Berlin, who had just returned from a party for his office friends, began to grumble that the lights outside were still not turned on by Cologne. It was already dark so there was little light outside.
“It's noisy. You should just turn it on. I'm busy frying the chicken. Remember you won't get any rations for eating out!” said Cologne who appeared with an apron and a spatula in her hand.
“Nope. I'm not in the mood for your cooking either.” Berlin waltzed into the house.
“Hey Berlin. By the way, today I met with Elena. And it seems like that woman said something so familiar to me.” Suddenly Cologne changed the topic.
Berlin's eyebrows shot up one side. “If you have something to say then say it clearly. I don't have time to deal with you,” she said lazily.
If only she didn't have so much patience. Cologne would have thrown the spatula at Berlin's head. “You bastard, I will only speak once. So listen well. When I met with Elena. She told me that she had a twin who used to work as a nun. And that twin had told Elena that one day she would be helped by me....”
“So?”
“I feel strange about that story. I can't say she was lying because I strangely felt that the story was true. Besides, I also had a dream about meeting a nun before. I never remembered that I had a relationship with that nun. But I felt strangely familiar,” said Cologne.
A sly smile appeared on Berlin's face. But he only replied to Cologne's words like this, “Who knows? When you live in this world, you may remember or forget someone in your life quickly.”