Four cop cars drove up with their lights on, despite the lack of traffic to part. The rain had stopped but I still smelt it on the wind. This time of year was winter. Donnelly had already experience snowfall by now, and we had only gotten some cold wind in Auburn. My nerves had made me sweat a little, as I had slightly powered down. I had undone the zipper of my suit to dry my t-shirt. I preferred the cold, really.

They stepped out and began to question me. I knew the protocol, it was apart of my own training, though I did do an awkward job of answering certain questions. Mostly, because I hadn't been active long enough to be familiar, so they were mostly strangers to me; except one. Joe Cormick, a former classmate, stood at the back as the youngest. I hadn't seen him in years. His face was still too slim. Though it had matured, noticeably. He had even grown a beard. I took off the mask to finish the questioning, and to talk to a familiar face.

"Okay, that's enough. Stop by the Registration Bureau to pick up the bounty. But, I think my boys could use a drink? This was about twenty thousand? Jeff?"

"No, twenty-five thousand."

"Only one?" Joe wanted two at a minimum.

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I agreed. That amount of money was a lot for a day's work, a lot for three month's, even. Police officers and heroes had a close relationship, I'd do my part to keep it that way.

Since the questioning was finished I could leave. I told Joe I'd see him tomorrow, walked a little distance away from them and their cars, and left.

Cars drove by from the north. Workers returning from Donnelly in the evenings. Knockers, I felt, had been chosen as the first district to be repaired because Auburn had the habit of showing its best foot to Donnelly's rich inhabitants. Even Donnelly's workers would show some prejudice, to those of lesser standing. The average inhabitant of Auburn didn't own a personal vehicle. Relying on public transport, to get around was the norm. They were very reliable and much safer than traveling alone. But having your own vehicle was a status symbol, which most of the people who could afford it, couldn't resist.

I hadn't been here for a while, now. Grass had grown up around the apartments, almost reaching their lower windows. I stopped often on my journey; becoming distracted by places and things I hadn't seen in years. The only thing that mattered to me, that wasn't here was my school.

After detouring, I reached the turnoff I had been moving towards. The white, rough terrain juxtaposed harshly against the dark tar, of the main road to Donnelly.

A white cloud of dust fell in my wake. The wind from the lake blew it into coils; hopefully, none of it would get onto my suit.

There was a hill to my left, two houses were on it. Which made me sigh at my sentimentality and a bubbling anxiety in the pit of my stomach.

I was almost home.