The cadet tables in the dining hall were already occupied. Ellena, Norah, Harry, and Derek sat at one of them, talking quietly among themselves. One seat at their table remained empty—they were waiting for Bella.
The clock struck 7:30 p.m.
Officers entered the dining hall with disciplined steps. Among them was Officer Ethan, whose sharp gaze swept across the room, scanning every face. But the one person he was clearly looking for wasn't there.
Cadets began to rise, one after the other, quietly filing through the line to get their food. Plates full, they returned to their seats.
At 7:35 p.m., the heavy double doors of the hall opened again.
Bella stepped in—her hair dishevelled, her breathing fast and uneven.
"Sorry, I am late," she said quickly.
Every eye in the room turned to her.
Officer Ethan stepped forward and addressed her in a cold, clear voice.
"First day at training camp. The first—and most important—rule was not to be late. And I mentioned that in very clear words. You seem to have a special talent for breaking that very rule, Cadet Bella."
Bella lowered her head, her cheeks burning with shame and anger.
Ethan continued, his voice louder now.
"Do you think that just because you're Chief Luke's youngest—and most spoiled—daughter, you'll get princess treatment here?" His tone was biting. "Then you're very wrong."
Bella's face turned red—partly from embarrassment, partly from rising fury.
"I… I'm sorry," she said, voice barely audible.
But Ethan wasn't done.
"If you're late," he said slowly, "then you won't be getting dinner tonight. But maybe it's fitting to welcome you with our camp's famous drink."
A nearby waiter stepped forward with a tray and handed it to Ethan before stepping back. The moment the tray came into view, several cadets gasped.
On the tray were a glass and a set of ingredients that no sane person would want mixed together.
Ethan poured less than half a glass of milk, then cracked three raw eggs into it. He added five big Spoonfuls of red chili powder, three spoons of black chili powder, and a squeeze of ketchup. Then came two heaping Spoonfuls of salt. He stirred it all together, forming a thick, revolting mixture, and looked straight at Bella.
The entire hall watched in stunned silence.
Harry leaned over and whispered to Ellena, Norah, and Derek, "Do you think she'll still be alive after drinking that?"
Norah shot him a glare but said nothing—her eyes remained on Bella, concern plain on her face.
Ethan stepped closer and extended the glass toward Bella.
"Take it," he said firmly. "Drink it. Every last drop. And not a single drop should spill. After this, you won't get anything to eat until breakfast tomorrow—and no water for the next hour. Instead, you'll spend that hour running rounds on the training ground. Is that clear?"
Bella looked up, and for the first time, met his eyes directly.
"Yes," she said.
She reached out, took the glass from his hand, and brought it to her lips.
She drank.
Her face turned bright red as the burning liquid slid down her throat. She choked, coughed—but didn't let a single drop escape. Her body shook, and her eyes watered, but she kept drinking until the glass was empty.
She opened her mouth to speak, but the burning sensation in her throat left her unable to form words. Her tongue was numb.
She took a deep breath.
"I am sorry," she managed.
And with that, Bella turned and walked out of the dining hall.
Officer Ethan watched her leave, a distant look in his eyes—something unreadable passing through his thoughts.
*********************************************************************
Inside the training camp, behind the parking lot, on the left-hand side just a little ahead, stood the cadets' accommodation building. And on the right-hand side, a little further down the path, stood the officers' building.
This building housed the officers' residential condos—each one equipped with two rooms, a kitchen, and an attached bathroom, in case an officer ever had a family member visiting who needed to stay over.
On the balcony of one such condo, Officer Ethan and Officer Matthew stood side by side, both smoking in silence.
After a few moments, Matthew spoke.
"Ethan, don't you think you were a little too harsh with Bella?"
Ethan didn't look at him. His tone was flat.
"Rules and regulations are the same for everyone here."
Matthew nodded slightly but pressed on.
"I know that. But you also told me once… she struggles with maps. She gets confused easily. Isn't that what made her late today?"
Ethan turned to look at Matthew and replied firmly,
"There's no room for mistakes in the Special Investigation Department (SID). A single weakness can become a source of strength for our enemy. If she wants to survive in SID, she'll have to learn to control her weaknesses, Matt."
Matthew looked at him quietly for a moment, then said,
"Who would know that better than you."
Ethan opened his mouth to reply, but his phone suddenly started ringing.
He answered it.
"Hello."
On the other end, Sergeant Harris spoke.
"Hello, Officer Ethan. Cadet Bella has completed her punishment and returned to her room."
Ethan responded shortly.
"Hmm."
He ended the call.
Matthew looked at him, nodded slightly, then took a deep breath and turned his gaze back toward the dark horizon.