The Trial

Chapter 16 - Edited

A structure of some kind's starting to come into view and I wish I weren't sitting in the backseat, since far too much before me is obscured by my driver. There's an odd scent growing in the air, but is isn't the unpleasantness of the camp. It's not strong enough to override the smells of nature and hope it never does, since I find myself to prefer this to what's emanating from the city I left behind.

My eyes catch movement to my left, which causes my head to turn to investigate, but my driver must've missed it as the slow pace remains unchanged. There's a young woman wearing a brown robe holding the hand of a small child and there's fear in both of their eyes. Both of their faces look dirty as she melts back into the woods and it's as if they were never there at all.

I've no interest in calling his attention to what may have been, since there's a very real chance I imagined the whole thing. Had they really been out there, it would've been impossible for him to miss and the car would've stopped. I shake my head a little as I write it off to the stresses of the day, and return my attention to approaching structure.

The car's stopped and my driver opens the door as his eyes look at some distant point behind me. I get out of the car and stare at the building that seems to stretch on forever in some clearing in the woods. It's not particularly tall, not in comparison to many of the buildings in the city, and the color's some odd mix of gray and brown. There are dirty windows across much of the structure, at least the part that's visible to me. They're darkened from this side and know they must be in place to keep anyone from seeing something they shouldn't, which the dirt alone should be enough to do just that.

There's only one door I can see and it's starting to open with a soft creak. An older woman appears in the opening with mostly gray hair, but a few strands of black run through it. There's no movement of air and it feels a little stifling to be standing around. I catch a soft hint of mildew as we walk towards her, and the air clings to my body, which causes me to break out in a sweat beneath the black.

Her thin figure steps out and her brown flesh clings tightly to what few muscles she has. Dark eyes appear to lighten under the blue sky and there's something dangerous about her. I keep my distance and assess my surroundings without letting on I suspect her of anything.

Her voice croaks a little in her throat. "It's not enough they gave you my name. They went and gave you my driver. What am I supposed to do? Walk to the city?"

State driver twelve's voice sounds cold as my eyes focus on her. "Not at all, state clerk three. Once you finish taking this one around and explaining everything, I'll drive you back."

Her dark eyes burn into mine as she smirks. "Come on."

She steps back into the building and hate that I must follow her alone. There's nothing about this that leaves her pleased and wonder if her anger is enough to drive her to kill me. A slight breeze picks up just as I step into the darkness and the door closes with a loud bang that echoes out. Dust falls on my head and the air smells stale.