Anita

Her interrogator jumped when another agent came through the door. “What’s going on here?” The new human stormed in, took one look at the situation and whirled on her interrogator. “What did you do? You don’t beat suspects.”

“It didn’t cooperate, and Guardians aren’t covered under our laws,” her interrogator spat.

“That doesn’t...get out of here. Out!” he repeated, more forcefully when he didn’t move. He jabbed a thumb at the door and her interrogator slunked out of the room, shooting glares at them.

When it shut behind him the new guy turned to her with a shake of his head. “I’m so sorry about my colleague, he never should have been assigned to this.”

“I’m used to it.” Anita watched him warily, but he didn’t give any signs of aggression.

“Do you need medical attention?”

“I’m fine.”

He sat in front of her. “I’m Agent Powell.”

When she didn’t respond with her own introduction he flipped through the other agent’s notes. “Is it Annie?”

“Anita,” she corrected.

He nodded. “Do you know why you’re here?”

“Left the compounds and killed a Keeper.”

“Right,” he said, thrown off by her easy tone. “So you’re not denying it then?”

Anita shook her head once.

“Can you tell me why?”

“He deserved to die.” Anita closed her eyes and sighed. “Look, is this really necessary? We both know they’re just going to send me back to the compound for the Keepers to deal with.

“Yes,” he said slowly, “but I’d like to get my facts straight before sending you back. Why’d you run?”

“To get away from the Keepers, and try to find a way to help the Guardians.”

Powell frowned and tapped his fingers. “Why? The Keepers are your caretakers.”

Anita shook her head and repeated what she’d told the other agent.

He clenched his fist. “They’re not allowed to do that.”

Anita shrugged. “Doesn’t stop them.”

He opened his mouth to respond then closed it, furrowing his eyebrows. “I’m sorry.” Powell grimaced, he was bound by his duty, no matter his personal feelings. And so, against his better judgment, he had to send her back.

Anita sighed when he told her, having expected as much. “Time to pack me up and ship me home then?” She rose to her feet as he cut her bounds and rubbed at the raw skin of her wrists.

“Not quite,” he said, spreading his hand towards the door. “Someone wants to see you first.”

Meriam. Anita both lit up and flinched at the thought of her. “Did you hurt her?” she demanded.

“Of course not.” Powell frowned. “She was just being a good samaritan.”

Her relief was instantaneous. She was okay.

Meriam was waiting for them at the front door. “Anita!” Meriam practically tackled her with a hug and she tensed as the brunette’s hands brushed the broken stones on her back.

"Ow," Anita hissed, gently untangling the girl’s arms and taking a step back.

“Right.” Meriam cringed. “Sorry.”

“It’s alright,” Anita assured her, mussing up the human’s hair before she swatted her hand away. A couple moments passed in silence and Anita glanced between the two humans. “So...”

Meriam’s gaze darkened and she scowled, crossing her arms. “They won’t let you go,” Meriam said, glaring at Powell like he was the source of the world’s problems.

Powell shrugged helplessly. “Order from the higher ups. Anita is to be returned to the Guardian compound. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

“You could try,” Meriam growled. Anita suspected that they’d had the same argument earlier.

He spread his hands in front of him. “I used up my influence getting you off the hook. You’re lucky you’re not in a jail cell right now with the shit you pulled.” He returned her glare calmly. “You know the law, Ms. Hayes. Even you can’t avoid that.”

“The Keepers have clearly violated the terms of their agreement! You’re honestly going to sit by and let them break the same laws that you are supposed to enforce?” Meriam had started yelling now and the other humans were starting to stare. Anita glanced between them, unsure if she should involve herself. The agents had told her the Keepers weren’t allowed to harm the Guardians, but from the look on his face she figured that didn’t mean much.

Powell grit his teeth, shaking his head. “I don’t have the authority to barge into a Guardian compound and arrest Keepers, especially on the word of a single Guardian.”

“All the Guardians would testify,” Anita murmured and Powell frowned.

“Be that as it may, the Keepers are keeping the Herects at bay and that’s all the higher ups care about. I’m truly sympathetic to your situation Anita but there’s nothing I can do about it. The best I can do is mention it to the higher ups. Maybe see if any of my contacts can push the issue.” His words did little to inspire confidence. “For now, you need to return and you,” he turned back to Meriam, “need to go home.”

Meriam scoffed. “I’m not-”

“There’s nothing more to be said,” Powell interrupted before she could protest. “If you want to build a case and defend the Guardians in a courtroom, you’re more than welcome to, Ms. Hayes." He said her name like it meant something and Anita frowned. Who exactly had picked her up?

Meriam narrowed her eyes and nodded stiffly. “You’ll be hearing from me soon.” She glanced at Anita and sighed. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.” Meriam started to back up to the door as she spoke.

“You did more than enough. Thank you.” Anita dipped her head and followed the agent out to his car.

“Look,” Powell started hesitantly as he pulled the car out of the parkade, “I’d love to tell you that things are going to be different and that we could fix this, but even Ms.Hayes has limits to what she can accomplish. Add in the fact that you killed a Keeper on your way out. It’s just...” He shook his head and sighed. “Don’t expect much alright?”

Anita snorted, staring out the window. “I’ve never expected much from humans. No one is interested in anything that doesn’t further their own agenda and this is no different.”

“Ms. Haye-”

“Why do you keep saying her name like it should mean something? Is she some anti-government rebel or something? Seriously.” Anita was getting frustrated by how little she knew about their world.

Powell looked genuinely surprised that she didn’t know who she had been staying with. “She...Ms. Hayes is the daughter of a very influential government official. And to top it off she’s one of the best lawyers around. I mean, I can pull some strings but she can challenge the government.”

That would explain the money. She didn’t have any time to process the information before Powell suddenly jerked the vehicle to a stop. She glanced up at the familiar walls of the compound with a growing feeling of unease as she climbed out of the car. A couple Keepers were already waiting for them and she could tell that they were not pleased, regardless of the happy, professional appearance they put on to greet Powell.

“Thank you very much for the timely return of this one,” A Keeper Anita didn’t know addressed them. “We were very worried.” The other Keepers nodded along and Anita scoffed. One of the Keepers wrapped his hand tight around her arm and shoved her towards the door.

“Keep your mouth shut,” he hissed, shooting a friendly smile and waving to the agent as he continued to practically drag her up the stairs. “I’ll just take this one back to her room, it’s been a long day.”

Powell took the hint and backed up slowly to his car. “Take care, try not to get into any more trouble.” As soon as he was out of sight the Keepers dropped their friendly guise, each one glaring at her with enough heat to burn a tree. Too late for that Powell.