Hidden Nature

Sloan, a corporal in the Natural Resources Police, is driving home with her partner of five years, Joel Warren, after making an arrest of three men who were assaulting hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Sloan enjoys her job with the Criminal Investigative Bureau and hopes to become sergeant. Joel shares that his wife, Sari, is pregnant. Sloan realizes she hasn’t thought to check in with the man she’s dating, Matias. Sloan thinks, “she liked her life just as it was” (4). She likes her job, even though she got a black eye while apprehending her targets.

Sloan stops at a mini-mart to use the restroom and sees a man at the counter of the store. He turns and fires his gun. The first bullet grazes her forehead and the second hits her in the chest, throwing her to the floor. Sloan notes details about the shooter as he rushes past. Joel performs chest compressions and shouts at Sloan to stay with him, reminding her that she’s tough and has to fight. Sloan passes out. When she regains consciousness, she is floating in light and sees herself on the operating table, covered in blood. The medical staff are resuscitating her. She sees Joel on the phone, insisting that Sloan will not give up.