Framed
The heavy rain mixed with the smell of tens of millions of people packed into the City Between Worlds, Antara, and my fur, which hadn’t seen a proper shower in the week since my life went to hell. “It doesn’t have to be like this. I know you think the system is prejudiced against us, but it’s not. Turn yourself in. You’ll get a fair trial.”
By us, the arctic fox meant non-humans. He would have caught up days ago if not for all the humans who hid me, fed me, and risked everything to protect me from a system they know has nothing good in store for anyone. I like humans in general, but not the ones with power in this city.
I peeked out from behind the rusted out dumpster, squinting into the lights of his cruiser floating a meter off the ground. “Then why are you after me?”
“You’re accused of a crime.” He turned the cruiser to get the light out of my eyes, and so I could see his face poking out of the window.
“You know who accused me.”
“It’s not my job to decide which of my superiors to obey.”
“You don’t agree with it?”
He was quiet for a few seconds. “That’s not important.” A bolt of lightning hit the tip of a nearby building. “You’re going to get yourself killed.”
“I’ve ridden out hurricanes before.”
The cruiser rocked in the wind. “It’s a class three. Look, yes, I believe you. The other canids in the force are talking. We don’t want to end up like you. If you die, the truth dies with you.”
“You really think a fox is going to get a fair hearing during an election year?”
He set the cruiser down and got out, shutting the door hard in the heavy wind. “I wish I had a better answer for you. Yeah, maybe they won’t give you a fair trial, but how long can you really run? They have eyes everywhere, and you don’t want a human officer to be the one who finds you. We’ll protect you.”
Several police drones descended on us, white and yellow lights flashing on the wing tips.
“Don’t run. Please.”