The Wardens didn't look impressed when I emerged but didn't make any comments either.
My gaze snagged on a pretty blonde girl standing at the back of the group who looked like she was trying not to smile and I instantly warmed to her.
I gave her a hesitant smile in return and she moved to my side as we headed out into the corridor.
“Six Wardens seems like a bit of overkill for little you,” she teased in a whisper as we started walking. “Are you secretly an assassin or something?”
“That would be a lot more interesting than the truth,” I muttered in response.
Unibrow cut us a reprimanding glare and we fell silent as we kept walking.
We headed back towards the elevators, the numbers on the doors descending as we passed them. A Warden, who I named Needs-a-wash as a waft of rancid air blew into my face from his direction, held the elevator door open for us.
Needs-a-wash opened the secret pad as before and the retina scanner did what it does. I surreptitiously moved as far away from him as the elevator and my escort allowed as I held my breath, not looking forward to being in an enclosed space with him for the ride up.
"Warden seven-five-five-four, where would you like to go?" the smooth voice asked over the speakers.
“Transport," he replied and the elevator soared up. My ears popped and my knees buckled a little under me.
The journey took several minutes before coming to an end and we stepped out into an empty corridor.
“Level eighty, alight here for Transport."
“Are we there?" I asked.
"It's not in this tower," the pretty female Warden supplied. She had kind eyes, soft blonde hair and didn't look much older than me. I wondered what had drawn her into a career with the Wardens.
We headed on down the corridor at a brisk pace and people moved aside to let us pass.
"But there are no Walkways up here," I said to her, feeling confused.
“Wardens don't have to use the Walkways to get around," she replied before going quiet at another look from Unibrow. It may have been a frown but it was hard to tell.
At the end of the corridor, we moved through another pressure sealed door into a huge chamber with the far wall open to the air. The wind whipped around us as it was funnelled through the confined space and whooshed back outside again. My heart pumped wildly at the feeling of the fresh air on my skin and I couldn’t contain the smile which tugged at my lips.
The chamber was at least two storeys high and was lined with small helicopters. I’d seen the helicopters flying back and forth between buildings, usually whilst I was trying to forge a path along the Walkways. I’d never thought I’d get to see one up close though, let alone ride in one.
They were mainly painted the sleek grey that marked them as Warden property but here and there I spied some with different coloured paintwork. Those had names scrawled across their sides which labeled them as belonging to various high ranking officials and Guardians within the city.
Each of the helicopters were stationed on wheeled platforms which moved along tracks that crisscrossed the ground.
We moved towards a grey helicopter whose propellers were slowly starting to rotate. The pilot was already onboard and preparing for departure.
Lucretia quickly moved into the seat next to the pilot and tightened a buckle across her lap.
Hook-nose was in front of me, he jumped onboard and turned to help pull me into place behind him. I scooted over to sit by the window and peered out excitedly.
The rest of the Wardens clambered up behind me, settled into the other seats and buckled themselves in.
“Its not all bad, hey?" the female Warden whispered to me as she slid into the seat next to mine. "Laurie." She introduced herself.
“Maya." I smiled back. If she was willing to be friendly then maybe I wasn't in too much trouble.
The helicopter lurched forward as the carriage beneath it started moving along the tracks. We manoeuvred out of the line and turned sharply to face the open wall. I could hear the blades spinning faster and faster as we closed in on the exit. We passed out from under the roof of the cavernous room onto a ledge which protruded from the side of the building and the pounding of my heartbeat turned into an all out sprint.
As we reached the furthest edge where the city sprawled away beneath us, the carriage stopped moving and the helicopter began to lift into the air.
The bottom dropped out of my stomach as we soared higher. I snatched at my seatbelt in panic and fumbled with it as I tried to work out how to do it up. Laurie leaned over to do it for me and I smiled gratefully as I tried to get my breathing under control.
The platform sped away below us at an astounding rate. We got level with the top of The Wall, which was around one hundred stories up then soared over it for maybe fifty feet.
I strained my eyes, looking towards the horizon, searching for something out there past the dusty brown landscape that surrounded the city in every direction but one. As I looked towards the ocean, I could make out waves crashing to and fro, creating white lines along the deep blue surface which called to me with promises of adventure and the unknown.
The helicopter began to bank hard right and turn back over The Wall and I was soon looking out at the wasteland again, dirt and dust extending eternally.
A flash of light flared on the horizon and my lips parted as I fixed my gaze on it. I stared at the spot as we turned away and was certain I saw something glinting in the sunlight. The view was almost out of my range of sight but as I peered back, craning my neck, I swear I saw a hint of green.
Is the rest of the world still out there thriving without humans to interfere with it?
I soon forgot about the hint of the unknown as my eyes swept over the place I’d spent my entire life. The city was beautiful in its own way. I took in the dramatic buildings with metal and glass shining and glimmering in every direction. The top of The Wall was lined with countless spinning turbines which helped to generate power and cast flickering shadows over the buildings nearest to its edge.
The skyscrapers themselves were topped with solar panels. The city was entirely self sufficient and self contained. The perfect system for the preservation and continuation of human life after the end of the world.
The flight lasted about fifteen minutes. We travelled half way around The Wall then took a direct path through a gap between the towers to the biggest skyscraper in the heart of the city.
Safe Harbour was the tallest building in the city. It served as our capital building and the residence of the Guardians who ran our government. It was built out of gleaming blue glass that twisted in diamond shaped patterns running back and forth all the way around its outer edge. They reflected the light of the sky all day and night in changing shades of blue. Another landing platform awaited us, protruding from one of the upper floors and we were transported inside once we landed.
Straight away it was clear that Safe Harbour was an entirely different kind of tower than the ones I was accustomed to. Beyond the landing chamber, the hallways were carpeted and lit with soft lighting which subtly accentuated delicate wallpapers and paintings. Music played softly, welcoming us inside.
Everything screamed of luxury. I was used to grey corridors designed with practicality in mind. These corridors were obviously used to having a lot less footfall.
A girl dressed in a cleaning uniform and carrying a tray with a silver tea service on it entered a room to my right as we passed and I caught a glimpse of the apartment beyond the door.
The room was huge, three or four times bigger than my entire apartment and inside, a family sat lounging in comfortable chairs around an electric wall fire. A wave of heat washed over me. There was a TV screen the size of an entire wall playing in the background. They had a window which actually let in light from the outside. The blue glass cast a sparkling sapphire sheen across the space that illuminated everything beautifully.
The serving girl set about handing tea to the residents
inside as I watched, my mouth hanging open at the sight before me.
"Move it," Unibrow growled, shoving me roughly as I fell still in awe and I stumbled ahead.
I knew that people ahead had a higher standard of living depending on how much they contributed to society, but I never imagined that kind of extravagance even existed. The Uppers didn't mix with the rest of us much; even when I’d lived with my parents I’d been far enough beneath them that I barely warranted politeness. Now they didn't even acknowledge me.
We moved quietly to the elevator in the centre of the tower which was made entirely of the same blue glass as the building's exterior. It was waiting open for us and we marched straight into the hollow space.
We rode up several floors in silence as the seriousness of my situation pressed in on me again. The wall of the elevator shaft was filled with water and little fish swam back and forth happily. It was as unbelievable as it was ridiculous.
We slid to a stop and Laurie smiled encouragingly as the doors opened, revealing a huge room. I tried not to gape as I stared at it.
It was the size of an entire floor. The blue, glass walls let in a shimmering light all around us and gave an impressive view over the roofs of many of the surrounding skyscrapers.
Seats filled with a jury ringed one quarter of the room. In front of them, a platform was raised with three people sat on it behind a table with their backs to us. Professor Delo, President Rivers, and a huge brick of a man I recognised as the leader of the Wardens, though I couldn't remember his name. My throat felt dry and I tried to swallow past a lump in it as I took in the sight of the three Guardians.
I’d been downplaying this whole thing in my head for the duration of my incarceration but maybe that had been naïve. The signs had been there. They’d locked me up for days and days in solitary confinement. And now I was being put before honest to god Guardians to decide my fate.
Fucking hell.
Laurie gave me a nudge to remind me to move and I made it out of the elevator without falling over my feet. I was ushered to a seat at the side of the jury and surrounded by the Wardens who had escorted me here. Needs-a-wash stood close behind me and I wrinkled my nose in an attempt to block him out.
Lucretia Scorin moved up onto the platform and filled the final seat at the table. She fixed a look of impatience on her face and drummed her fingernails along the table top. There were two more empty seats to my right. Before I could ask why, the elevator doors opened again and Taylor and Artie were escorted in by their own platoon of Wardens.
I looked at them as they sat down and Artie gave me a reassuring smile.
“We’ve considered the evidence presented to us already." Lucretia stood to address everyone assembled in the room. "The statements taken from the three accused all give the same account of the incident and we have no other evidence to suggest there is any more to the story. Foolish actions were followed by irresponsible decisions that were made without proper thought and resulted in a failure to keep to protocol. We now need to vote based on the evidence as to the guilt of the accused." She strolled to the far end of the table and a screen rose in front of her.
“In the case of Dr Jackson, do you find him guilty of a failure to respond in the correct manner in the case of an emergency?" she asked the room.
A flickering of hands from the audience made me notice that they all held small tablet computers which they must have been using to register their votes.
“Not guilty," Lucretia read from her own screen and a flash of relief went through me.
“Do you find him guilty of endangering the population?" Another flicker of hands from the audience. "Not guilty," she repeated with a small scowl and a sigh escaped me.
I could see now that this was all a show, a way to teach us a lesson, but we were going to be found innocent and this nightmare would all be over.
“In the case of Miss Summers, do you find her guilty of a failure to respond in the correct manner in the case of an emergency?" A pause. I forgot how to breathe and then- "Not guilty."
“Do you find her guilty of reckless activities whilst on duty in her position as a scientific researcher for our city?"
Another pause as my heartbeat thundered in my ears.
“Guilty," Lucretia said with a smug look in my direction. The word rebounded in my head as if my brain was refusing to accept what I’d just heard. I struggled to regain concentration and my hands curled into fists in my lap.
"Do you find her guilty of endangering the population?"
The next pause seemed to stretch on and on.
“Guilty."
I hadn't even considered what might happen to me if they found me guilty in all of this.
“Do you find her guilty of endangering the population intentionally?" she asked.
Lucretia’s eyes flicked down to the screen and narrowed slightly. I bit my lip so hard that I tasted blood.
“Not guilty," she announced, though she seemed far from happy with the outcome. I sighed with audible relief but it wasn't over yet.
Tap, tap, tap. Her fingernails drummed against the table as she waited for the room's muttering to quiet back down.
“In the case of Mr Jackson do you find him guilty of a failure to respond in the correct manner in the case of an emergency?" Pause. "Guilty." Lucretia gave a curt nod of approval before continuing. I looked across at Taylor in horror.
"Do you find him guilty of reckless activities whilst on duty in his position as a scientific researcher for our city?" Pause. "Guilty. Do you find him guilty of endangering the population? Guilty." She smirked and it looked like her face might crack.
What the hell is going to happen to us?
"Do you find him guilty of endangering the population intentionally?" Too long a pause followed this, some hands seemed to hover above their tablets whilst people made their decisions. I forgot how to breathe, terror gripping me at the idea of them finding Taylor guilty of such a serious crime.
Lucretia scowled at the screen as if she didn't agree with their verdict. "Not guilty," she read and moved back to her seat at the table with a look on her face like she’d smelled something awful. She drummed her nails along the side of her chair and crossed her legs, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Warden Commander Roberts will decide on the punishment as the crimes caused a danger to the safety of the population within The Wall," Professor Delo announced with a scowl in our direction.
President Rivers yawned and rearranged his toupee, seeming disinterested in the proceedings. He flicked a look at us and started fiddling with his tablet, clearly unconcerned with hearing any more.
Commander Roberts slowly climbed out of his seat. Throughout the trial his suspicious eyes had been studying our faces as if looking for answers from us and now all I could hope was that he hadn’t found us wanting.
He was huge, more muscle than man really. He swung around the table before using it to prop his mass up and crossed his arms in front of his chest, though they barely made it. I felt sorry for the table as it tried to hold his weight.
Several minutes ticked by while he considered what to do with us. I couldn't draw breath. My heart was slamming a panicked rhythm against my rib cage.
I reached my arm out towards Taylor on my right and his fingers closed around mine.
The commander raised a hand and pointed at Artie before pointing at the door without a word. Taylor watched as his dad was escorted out, a mixture of desperation and relief written over his face. A small knot in my stomach released as I watched him leave. I hoped that he hadn't been kept away from Jane this whole time. She must have been worried sick about all of us.
Commander Roberts' attention then shifted to me and he frowned, holding my gaze for a moment. I watched as his eyes moved to where my hand clutched Taylor's.
"Miss Summers is to serve three months as a message runner in the Lawless Trials, it will be strictly non-combat, but should serve to teach her what happens to people who endanger the population and
so dissuade her from any similar mistakes in the future."
My heart stopped working. My pounding pulse thudded in my head and my ears rang.
"Mr Jackson will also serve three months as a messenger but will have to spend one battle running messages to the front line." He looked away from us dismissively and turned around like he hadn’t just offered up a possible life sentence.
"Striving forward together," he said, moving back to sit in his chair.
"For the good of the population," everyone in the room replied instantly. My lips stayed motionless.
A flurry of approving nods from the jury followed and I locked eyes with Taylor. Our hands were clasped together so tightly it was cutting off the blood to my fingers. The taste of blood was overpowering everything and I felt like I was about to be sick.
The punishment we’d been served was so much worse than I could have imagined. They were sending us out to fight with killers and cutthroats. We were going to the Lawless Trials. And there was no guarantee that we’d make it back.
The trip back to my cell was a blur. I vaguely remembered them prising my hand from Taylor's grasp and leading him in a different direction and then the world caved in around me.
"Will we be going together?" I whispered to Laurie as she showed me back into the cell.
She glanced up at the camera in the corner of my room before whispering back. "Yes, they send out new convicts once a week. Together." And she was gone.
I was a convict which was fan-fucking-tastic. But at least Taylor and I would be together, we could keep an eye on each other.
There was a glass of milk waiting for me on the table. I strode across the room and drank it in one before collapsing onto the bed.
Tomorrow held a fate I was afraid to face but there was no avoiding it. So sleep could have me.
***
When I woke, there was no new tracksuit but my trials uniform had arrived. It comprised of a black and grey camouflage-print pair of thick, waterproof trousers and a matching coat. There was a dark green tank top to go underneath and a pair of sturdy black walking boots that buckled up tightly around my calves.
Rebel Rising: A Dystopian Romance (Cage of Lies Book 1) Page 7