Duty or Family?

It had begun like any other ordinary day, with no emergencies to attend to. The captain had spent his morning reviewing documents and preparing for his daughter's upcoming birthday, a celebration he had been looking forward to.

With his daughter's 18th birthday just around the corner, everything was in place for a grand celebration. Today was supposed to be his day off, a chance to relax and look forward to the festivities. However, duty had called, and he had opted to work overtime instead, driven by a need to investigate the recent incidents that had been plaguing the area.

The captain's brain was racing with concerns about the recent incidents. He clenched his fist as the reports piled up on his desk, each one detailing more destruction than the last. Their sheer destructive power was unprecedented - shockwaves triggering temporal earthquakes, reducing nearby buildings to rubble. He couldn't jiggle off the feeling that something was amiss. The urgency to investigate and uncover the root cause of these anomalies grew with each passing moment. He knew he had to act swiftly, before the situation got out of control.

As the day drew to a close, the office received a frantic call from an unknown number. The terrified voice on the other end pleaded for help, claiming that an unidentifiable person had breached their home. Before they could provide their location, the call abruptly dropped.

The captain was immediately notified of the incident. Normally, he would have delegated the task to his junior officers, especially with his daughter's birthday celebration looming. However, the mention of an "unidentifiable individual" sparked his curiosity and suspicion. 

Recent reports of unexplained, large-scale devastation echoed in his intellect, and he couldn't push away the feeling that this incident might be connected. He wondered if this could be more than just a routine break-in, and his instincts compelled him to take on the case personally.

Determined to crack the new case in hand, the captain directed his team to trace the mysterious call. Within minutes, they pinpointed the location, and a convoy of police vehicles, accompanied by a medical team, set out for the scene.

The inclusion of a medical team was a deliberate choice, born out of the captain's past experiences with delayed ambulance responses. Seeking to streamline his operations, he had successfully petitioned his superiors for permission to establish an in-house medical unit. This handpicked team, comprising only the most skilled medical paramedics, allowed him to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies, free from reliance on external services.

As they approached the location, the captain couldn't shake off a nagging sense of unease. It was as if he had a connection to the area, but he deliberately pushed the feeling aside. He didn't want to let his personal concerns cloud his judgment or compromise his focus. With years of experience, he knew that a focused mind was essential to solving the case efficiently.

The captain's unease intensified as they drew closer to the location. It wasn't until he laid eyes on the building, its name decorated in glittering lights against the dark night sky, that the unsettling truth struck him with full force. The building before him was the exact same venue his daughter had chosen for her birthday party. Just that morning, she had sent him a text, excitedly describing the venue's elegant atmosphere, exquisite dining area, and stunning interior designs - the perfect setting for a grand celebration. The coincidence was discouraging, and the captain's instincts screamed that something was terribly wrong.

His reasoning was torn apart by a heart-wrenching dilemma. If his suspicions about the case were correct, the nearby buildings, including the party venue, would be at risk of collapse. The thought of losing his daughter, his wife, and countless other innocent lives was unbearable.

He was paralyzed by indecision, his pulse pounding in his ears. One choice could save a family in immediate danger. The other could keep his daughter safe. If he followed the call, maybe he could stop the destruction before it reached her. But what if he was wrong? What if, by chasing the unknown, he lost everything.

As a police officer and a father, the weight of responsibility was crushing him. He had to choose between his daughter's safety and the desperate call for help. He had always told fellow officers to prioritize duty over personal matters, but now he faced his own test. Torn between being a father and a law enforcement officer. He couldn't let go of the doubt: was he mistaken in thinking that this incident was linked to the previous ones that had caused such destruction? 

He took a deep breath, attempting to calm his racing thoughts and reassure himself that he might be overthinking the situation. This brought him a sense of calm, soothing his frazzled nerves and easing the tension that had been building up inside him.

 But then....

As he had predicted, the shockwaves hit, and he watched in horror as buildings around him began to crumble into nothingness. His heart sank with the thought of his daughter and wife being in one of the buildings that collapsed. Instinct took over, and he ordered the officer driving his vehicle to rush to the scene. Other officers sprang into action, racing to the other collapsed buildings to help. Some followed him, joining the dash to save those trapped.