Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream
Make him the cutest that I've ever seen
Give him two lips like roses and clover
Then tell him that-

Charlie groaned after finally snoozing her radio alarm clock by slapping it repeatedly until the music stopped. It was expensive and she didn't want to break it, but hearing that song almost made her. How old was that song anyways? It was horrible enough for her to be woken up at this hour, now she already felt a shiver run down her spine. Old school music is creepy, she thought.

She remembered the time her grandparents would take care of her, because her parents were at work or had a date. They always played old songs and even when she was a little kid, basically born only a few decades after those songs were first published, she found them creepy.

Charlie rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up in her bed, which was also used as a couch. She sighed, knowing she had another boring day at work ahead of her. She did sign up for it though, and it was only a matter of time until she could finally call herself a real police officer. She was still a trainee and was ordered by her boss to sit in an office all day. She did the paperwork every single day and couldn't wait until she finally got out of there.

Her stomach was practically begging to be fed, even though she had a proper dinner yesterday. She didn't know what had made her so hungry, but she had a clue. The long walks that she decided to take at night were probably tiring her body out and burned more calories than she thought. Her therapist had recommended them a while ago, but Charlie only started them last week after trying to fall asleep for the nth time at night.

Those nightmares these days were getting worse. She had a feeling taking those sleeping pills over the past few years only made them worse, but she knew that didn't make sense. Yet, she tried everything in order to not have to take the small, evil, white things, that made her unconscious for a few hours. She didn't have a problem with taking them, but she noticed that they did indeed had a side effect on her.

She felt lazy the next day and had no motivation to do anything, but she had to. It was her dream to be a police officer, ever since she was a little girl. And now that she finally made it to the department, she was determined to get her badge. Not even a year and she would be able to proudly call herself a guardian of Habbershire City.

Her stomach eventually stopped with the growling and resumed in satisfied silence as Charlie finished her cereal. It was her first day at the shooting range. She had experience from the academy, but still had to pass the official test to get her license. She was starting those four months of training now. Although she knew she'd nail it, she was nervous.

Her usual office attire, which consisted of a pair of black trousers and a white blouse, was hung up on the door to her bathroom. She got dressed quickly and finished off her look with black boots and a grey blazer. She left her apartment after making sure all the windows were closed and all the lights were shut off.

Charlie thought about her parents' apartment below her floor as she strode towards the elevator. She knew they were still asleep, so she didn't bother visiting them at seven in the morning. She would see them tonight anyway, after celebrating her first day at the shooting range.

She finally reached her car and got into a blue vehicle. It was a Fiat, a really small and really old one. But it was good enough to drive her to work and back. That's what Charlie always told herself as she drove towards the office that was only twenty driving minutes away from her apartment complex.

With the keys in her hands and her red purse messily swung over her shoulder, she reached the department after parking her car and stepping over a huge pile of brown mush that could've either been poop or a dead animal. She hoped it wasn't the ladder. Dead animals on the roads always made her sad and reminded her of how much her species was ruining this planet and harming the animals that were living in it.

Marshall, a soon to be colleague of her nodded in acknowledgement. She offered him a small smile in return, but stopped as soon as he was out of her sight. He kind of intimidated her.

"Miss Denver, good morning. Sheriff Peters told me to send you to his office as soon as you arrive." Megan, the receptionist told Charlie. Huh, that was new, she thought. Nevertheless, she nodded at the elder woman and made her way to her boss' office.

Through the glass doors she saw him sit in his chair, writing on which looked like a post it. She took in a deep breath, before knocking. Sheriff Peters looked up and nodded at her to come in.

"Good morning, sir." She closed the door after stepping into the small office. Even as a sheriff here in New Habbershire, the biggest city of Rian, his office was laughable. It fit his desk and a bookshelf. But that was it. She knew as soon as she got her badge she would move to another department, preferably the one her dad used to work at.

"Did you bring my coffee?" He asked, his eyebrow rising as he looked at the woman in front of him. Her curves and her long brown hair did something to him, but he would never admit that. She was a young and beautiful woman, and he was married and had three healthy girls. He didn't want his trainee to get the wrong impression.

"My apologies, sir. But Megan told me to immediately come to your office. I didn't have time to get you one." Charlie held back a roll of her eyes. She was used to his rude behaviour, but was not planning on ever complaining, especially now that she was almost done. But that man could hit her last nerve at the end of a long work day and it was actually surprising that she had never once shoved her opinion in his face. Lord knew she was tempted more than once since she started working here.

"That woman is too old for her own good." Sheriff Peters said as he stood up after placing the pen on his desk. Charlie once again held herself back from arguing and just nodded. Not even a year and she was out of here, she silently told herself.

"Well Miss Denver, I heard you are going to the shooting range today. Did I forget about you telling me about this crucial part of your training?" The middle aged man asked as he came to stand in front of her. Charlie smiled sweetly at him before answering.

"I did tell you a few times before, sir." She told him, making him narrow his eyes at her. The man didn't think she was telling the truth, but shrugged carelessly. Charlie on the other hand was sure she told him, seeing he would have to write her report on her time here. Something that was also a must if she wanted to have her license.

"Well then, shall we go?" He asked her, already picking up his jacket from the back of his seat. Charlie blinked before nodding. She didn't think he would accompany her. At least she hoped that he wouldn't. Sheriff Peters knew she didn't like him, but he also thought having her in a shooting range with all those men would make her uncomfortable. He didn't want to invite himself, but she had no intention on doing it and he knew that.

"This way." He ordered her and walked in front of Charlie. She rolled her eyes openly, because he was ordering her around, even though she knew exactly where she had to go. He was treating her like a little girl and she hated it. She knew she was one of the first women in this department to become a police officer, but she wanted him to treat her like his male colleagues.

They reached outside and Charlie thanked the heavens she still had her grey blazer on. It was chilly outside and she didn't want Sheriff Peters to see her shiver. The smell of gun powder reached her nose as soon as they stepped into the shooting range a couple minutes later.

She had heard of this place, but never saw it from inside. At the academy they only practiced shooting with the glock 22, she would soon be the owner of. But this shooting range had every gun. From revolver to sniper. They had everything here. She didn't really care much about guns, but that fact impressed her.

She looked over to see Sheriff Peters talking to a man who had a black shirt on with the logo of the range. She knew this guy was part of the personal, so when she walked towards them, she put on another smile. Here went nothing, she thought as she carefully listened to the man's instructons.

Fourteen hours later and Charlie was still in the shooting range. Only a few more shots and she was done, she told herself. Even though everybody already left and her instructor told her to come back tomorrow, this woman was way too stubborn and wanted to hit the middle of the target at least one time. She knew she hadn't practiced in a while, but one time wasn't impossible, right? Well, it sure as hell seemed so.

She let out a frustrated groan as she finally placed the gun on the little banister that separated her from the targets. The headphones that protected her ears from the loud sounds of the guns, were slammed down on the spot right next to the gun. Charlie had enough. She didn't want to shoot anymore. Her motivation was gone and so was her good mood from that morning.

She eventually relaxed when her boss left and blamed her missed shots on him up until then. But after the fiftieth time of not hitting the middle, she realized it was her. Whatever, she thought. Even in the academy, she was never the best shooter. She preferred the psychological talk over the shooting anyway.

After having closed the door, passing the sleeping receptionist, she quickly ran back to the department. It was even colder than in the morning and her blazer wasn't enough now. But Charlie was almost at her car, so she didn't care. She passed a few still working officers and smiled at Megan's nighttime substitute Dora, before finally leaving. She had worked way longer than she intended today, but it was good. Because as soon as she had her badge, Charlie would work even longer than now. She had to prepare for that anyway.

"Oh, come on." Charlie groaned after a failed attempt to start up her car. She hit the dashboard a few times, before the vehicle finally started roaring to life. Charlie rolled her eyes in annoyance, which felt like the millionth time that day and put her seat belt on. She wasn't in the best mood and her car would definitely be held as a scapegoat if it didn't work again.

She heard her phone buzz and quickly took it out of her purse. An annoyed groan erupted when her mother's face popped up. She knew she had a few missed calls, because she was late for dinner and her mother was most likely worried sick again.
"Hello." She greeted, wanting to come off as innocent, but her mother was having none of it.

"Don't you hello me, young lady. Where are you? I cooked beef stew four hours ago. It is already cold. You better have a good excuse for your tardiness." Her stern voice reached Charlie's ears and she cringed. Think of something, she thought.

"My car broke down." She lied, knowing this would be a credible lie, right? Her mother sighed.
"Okay, well where are you. I'll pick you up." She said and Charlie panicked. Oh no, she thought.

"No, I already fixed it. Don't wait for me, though. Please eat." Charlie tried to explain. She couldn't see, but her mother rolled her eyes on the other end. It was a Denver women thing, apparently.
"But tomorrow we will eat together." Her mother demanded and it was Charlie's turn to roll her eyes.

"Yes, of course. I have to go now." Was her quick response. They said their good byes and Charlie quickly placed her phone back into her purse. It wouldn't do her any good if an officer saw her driving with the phone in her hand.

She also knew driving in the darkness intimidated her. It was late and having a distraction while the streetlights were all that offered her view of the surface she was driving on, was not good. She had to concentrate even more.

As the young woman finally arrived at her apartment complex, after having taken the longest possible route there, she killed the engine and stepped out of the car. The parking lot was empty and she brushed off the feeling of being watched. Charlie knew she was paranoid and she had a feeling that her nightmares were also a reason for that. Ever since she started taking walks at night, instead of taking the pills, she felt that way.

"Excuse me?" She jumped at the sudden appearance of a deep voice behind her and turned around quickly. The moment her eyes landed on the tall figure in front of her, they involuntarily widened. She felt really small now. He was standing right in front of her, making her wonder where he even came from. Marshall from the department looked like this guy's dinner.

"Yes?" She didn't want her voice to come out scared, but it did anyways. Charlie shamelessly let her eyes travel from his chest up to his face. She noticed he had a warm bronze skin tone that somehow glistened even in the dark. His lips were plumb and had a nice rose colour, which she was sure every girl should be jealous of. His jaw looked sharp, giving his face a more mature look.

His eyes were the darkest black she had ever seen. It was probably just a normal black, but somehow she felt herself being trapped into them. Charlie felt a cold shiver run down her spine as she took a step backwards. She didn't want to look into his eyes, so she looked at his dark and bushy eyebrows.

Another shiver ran down her spine when he eventually opened his mouth again.