Chapter 7 - The Arrest

The peaceful silence between Damon and Riley was suddenly shattered by the sound of a car engine revving in the distance. At first, it was just a soft hum on the horizon, but it quickly grew louder, its headlights cutting through the night like a piercing beam. Damon's heart skipped a beat when he heard the unmistakable screech of tires.

He sat up quickly, pulling Riley gently away from his shoulder as his senses sharpened. Riley stirred, blinking up at him with a sleepy, confused expression.

"Damon, what's going on?" she asked, her voice still thick with sleep.

Before Damon could answer, the flashing blue and red lights illuminated the shore, signaling the arrival of a police car. It skidded to a stop just a few feet away from them, and the officers inside wasted no time. They rushed out of the vehicle, their footsteps loud on the sand, and one of them, a tall officer with a stern look, pointed directly at Damon.

"Damon," the officer called out. "You need to come with us."

Riley's heart began to race. "What? Why?" she asked, her confusion quickly turning to concern as she stood up, trying to understand what was happening. "What did he do?"

The officer didn't answer, his expression hard and serious. "We've been instructed to take him in. It's not up for discussion."

Damon's face hardening as the officers approached him. He looked at Riley, his gaze filled with regret and uncertainty. The last thing he wanted was for her to get caught up in this.

"Damon!" Her voice cracked as she tried to reach him, but before she could get any closer, another officer suddenly stepped forward, blocking her path.

"Rai," Damon said, his voice low and strained. "I'll explain later. Just... don't worry. It's not what you think."

Riley's brows furrowed, and she could feel the adrenaline rushing through her veins. "What do you mean 'it's not what I think'? What's going on, Damon?"

"Damon!" Her voice cracked as she tried to reach him, but before she could get any closer, another officer suddenly stepped forward, blocking her path.

"Stay back, miss!" the officer barked, his hand grabbing her wrist roughly. Riley jerked back, trying to pull free, but his grip tightened.

"Let me go!" Riley demanded, trying to yank her arm away. Her chest was tight, her breath shallow with panic, but the officer wouldn't relent.

The officer tightened his grip on her wrist, pulling her further away from the car, his fingers digging into her skin. Riley winced at the pain, and her heart began to race even faster. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Damon needed her.

"Don't touch me!" she shouted, desperately pulling herself free. But the officer wasn't having it. His face twisted with a look of annoyance as he forcefully pulled her toward the other officers.

"No, let her go!" Damon's voice was filled with fury, but the officers kept pushing him toward the car, and there was nothing he could do but watch in helpless desperation. His fists clenched, his jaw tightening with rage as he struggled against his restraints.

But the officer holding Riley didn't seem to care. In one swift motion, he grabbed her by the shoulders and yanked her backward, his rough hands forcing her to the ground. Riley screamed in shock and pain, the harshness of the officer's grip sending a wave of terror through her.

"Stop!" she screamed, her voice raw with fear. "Let me go!"

Damon's heart nearly shattered as he watched Riley being manhandled by the officer. His whole body was burning with anger. He fought with everything he had to break free, his entire being focused on protecting her, but it was no use.

"Get your hands off her!" Damon shouted, his voice hoarse as he struggled with the officers. His eyes were wide with fear and fury as he saw Riley on the ground. She was hurt - she was vulnerable - and they were treating her like this.

But before Damon could do anything else, one of the officers, seeing his resistance, pulled out a taser. Without hesitation, they pressed the button, sending a surge of electricity through Damon's body.

His body convulsed, and he screamed in agony as he dropped to the ground, unable to fight back. His muscles locked up, and his body crashed hard against the sand. His vision blurred, and he could barely focus through the pain.

"Damon!" Riley screamed, her voice high-pitched with fear, her heart breaking as she watched him fall. The scene before her felt like a nightmare. The man she cared about, the person who had always protected her, was now lying motionless on the ground because of these officers. She couldn't breathe.

She scrambled to her knees, trying to reach him, but the officer who had grabbed her was still holding her back, his grip tightening as she struggled.

"Stay down!" the officer growled, but Riley wasn't listening. She pushed against his hand, desperate to get to Damon.

Tears streamed down her face as she fought to get to him, ignoring the officer's commands. But she was too weak to break free. Her entire world felt like it was crumbling as she watched the man she loved writhing on the ground, barely conscious.