Chapter 6: Taran

We remain silent as we enter the city gates, which are opened on his approach. They must know his vehicle well since he doesn't have to stop and produce papers. He drives through the gates and proceeds toward one of my least favourite buildings in Sanctuary, police headquarters.

It's an intimidating concrete building with rusting bars at all the windows and guards with guns at each entrance. The police station is always one of the first buildings hit during food riots, so they don't take chances with security. I've been inside three times. Once for identity confirmation and processing when I first arrived as a refugee and twice for public mischief when I was caught up in the riots. I've learned to keep my head down though and escape attention so I haven't come to police attention for almost three years.

Every head lifts, and stares follow us as we walk through the entrance of the station. It's probably not often that the Warlord bothers with petty criminals. Unfortunately, we're intercepted by a man that I know. Not surprising since Sanctuary isn't a massive city. Officer Gillert, one of the processing agents looks me over with a smug glint in his eye. His gaze lingers on my chest reminding me that my vest has been torn and left to hang open. I believe that he recognizes me too, despite the dirt. I stand stiff, my chin tilted up and my eyes fixed on the wall behind the perverted officer. He's made disgusting advances toward me in the past. Probably does it to all of his female detainees.

"Street Urchin," he announces loudly. I roll my eyes. Yes, he definitely recognizes me.

I refused to give the officer my name when I'd been arrested and I hadn't produced any papers so Gillert had named me Street Urchin as a joke because he'd found me on the street and decided I was pathetic. At the time he'd been forced to release me due to overcrowding after the riot, but he hadn't been happy. He'd wanted my name and where to find me. "You remember the last thing I said to you?"

I sigh my annoyance and pin him with a disgusted look. "You told me I'd be back in custody and you'd see me again."

"You know each other?" Diogo asks icily, taking my arm in a tight grip and pulling me back away from his officer.

"Was her arresting officer during the 2070 riots," Gillert answers, almost proudly.

I roll my eyes again and sigh my annoyance. I'd practically tripped over him trying to get out of the way of a stampede. He had no real proof that I was even involved, but he'd taken one look at my prone form sprawled on the ground and arrested me. At a guess I'd say he hadn't wanted to put in the effort to arrest any of the bigger, stronger men that were smashing the city to pieces in an effort to get the authority to give out better food rations.

I'd used the riot as a distraction to sneak refugees to the safety of the slums. I'd been heading back home when he picked me up.

"What were the charges?" Diogo demands.

Gillert shrugs. "Nothing big. Mischief-making. She was released before I could get so much as a name out of her."

Diogo grunts and says, "Her crimes are more serious this time. Take her into processing, call the Judge. I want her charged and sentenced immediately."

Gillert looks surprised, his eyes covering me with more speculation now, but still perverted intent. He steps forward, taking my arm from Diogo. "I'll take care of her, Commander Fuentes."

A dark look passes over Diogo's face. He's not happy, but he has no choice. He needs to leave his officer to do his job. Diogo is the city's leader, he shouldn't be on the ground level worrying about the intricacies of a single arrest. Still he hesitates to step away and leave.

"I want to be informed when the Judge arrives. I will attend the hearing."

"Hearing," I sneer.

His eyes are drawn to me and he raises an eyebrow. "You have something to say, Wren?"

I'm a dead woman anyway. Since I have the ear of our Warlord, I may as well make each second count. "There is no such thing as a fair trial in this city. The Judge shouldn't have complete authority to prosecute, pass judgment and sentence. The whole system is utterly flawed. Guilty until proved innocent oh wait, no, not even that since you guys don't bother with the burden of truth, just guilty as charged."

Diogo steps so close to me that I can feel Gillert flinch away, his hold on my arm loosening. No one wants to be in the Commander's personal space. Mostly because, rumour has it, people who get this close to him die. I can feel the heat of his big body as he towers over me, stooping a little so he can look me in the face. I tilt my head back and glare up at him, searing him with my loathing. There's no point in denying my feelings, he knows where I stand. Knows I'm a rebel leader and people smuggler. He caught me outside of the city with the intention of escorting refugees inside. I'm fucked anyway. I won't bow down to the man who has caused so much suffering.

Instead of anger, I sense only curiosity as his hard eyes pierce mine. "The Judge isn't the only Authority."

"Who then? You?" I demand. I shrug my arm the rest of the way out of Gillert's slackening hold and step so close to Diogo that my chest nearly brushes his. He inhales sharply, his body curving toward mine, almost straining. "I don't recognize your authority or your laws," I say scathingly. "Your authority should've died a long time ago. We live in a dictatorship, run by a Warlord who serves the few at the expense of the many."

Anger flashes across his face, quick and brutal before he brings it under control and says icily, "You don't know me and you don't understand what you speak of, little girl. You need to stop before you say something you will regret."

I open my mouth to reply, to give him testimony of his misdeeds, when he takes my arm and shakes me. Bending even further, he hisses into my face, his breath hitting my lips and nose, "Do you wish to die? Question my authority again and I will be forced to act. We have an audience."

I'm stunned by his warning. Shocked that I'm getting this much out of him. Shocked he hasn't fallen back on his famously brutal methods when it comes to dealing with lawbreakers.

He doesn't seem to want me harmed. At least not here. I turn and look around the room. Every eye is on us, from the nearby officers to the people going through to processing. Everyone knows who Diogo Fuentes is. No one knows who this small, dirty urchin is that's yelling at him. He's right. I should be smarter. Should hold my tongue, at least until I decide whether I truly do want to die. I should wait for processing and sentencing. If it is to be death, then I will speak all the words that have bottled up inside me for years. Diogo said he would be there for my judgment.

Not waiting for my response, he thrusts me toward Gillert and says coldly, "Take her through to processing."

Gillert barely touches me as he urges me to turn, like he thinks my mouthiness with the boss is going to wear off on him. He walks me swiftly away from Diogo, but before we can go through the door, Diogo's voice follows us. "She is to be treated with respect. Touch her and die."