Free Solstice by Jane Redd Page A

eyesight blurred as I tried to appear steady and calm. Somehow I managed to nod to the judge’s council while my mind raced. The inspector gripped my arm and led me from the room. I glanced at the other people waiting their turn. None of them met my gaze now. I was ushered into a side room where a metal cuff was secured around my ankle. It seemed to meld to my skin, flexible, but cool.
    Then, we pushed through another door, this one leading to an outside platform in some sort of an alley.
    “Where are we going?” I asked the inspector.
    He didn’t answer. Maybe I’d be sent to my dorm room and just have to stay inside for three months. My hope grew just a little.
    “Do people ever get released early?”
    This time he did answer. “Never heard of it.”
    My heart sank. I thought I’d made a compelling argument, but it would be dependent on their belief that the agitator had worked on me. I had no way to ask. By the end of three months, how much of the life I’d created would be left?
    I’d miss the final tests, the Separation ceremony, the first months of University. Would I still get into the University? Then I remembered . . . the Solstice. Surely I’d be allowed to enjoy the Solstice?
    I was about to ask the inspector about Solstice when I heard the familiar sound of an approaching tram. It came around the bend and made an effortless stop. As the inspector guided me onto it, I noticed the dark windows. No one could see in or out. I took a seat on a narrow bench and the inspector sat across from me, his eyes locked on me.
    The tram could have held two dozen people—or prisoners. Today it was empty except for us. Seconds later, the metal doors shut, and the dull lights came on. The tram lurched into motion, knocking my head against the shaded window.
    After several moments, the tram slowed, and just as I anticipated it stopping, the car tilted downward and descended a hill of some sort. The hairs on the back of my neck bristled. Were we going to the lower levels of the city? The C Level? The docks? Maybe I’d be put on a work crew. But even that would be better than being Banished from the city, to where there was nothing but vast waters and uncivilized Lake Towns full of barbarians.
    The air grew noticeably cooler, though that didn’t bother me as much as the encroaching smell. I couldn’t quite identify it. There were definitely chemical qualities to it, not strong enough to burn my eyes, but enough to create a bitter taste in my mouth. I looked at the inspector. He continued to watch me, seemingly unbothered by it.
    The angle of the track steepened, and I clutched the bench as the speed increased until, suddenly, we came to an abrupt stop. If I hadn’t already been holding onto the bench, I would have been flung to the floor.
    The metal doors opened, and the inspector stood. I rose to my feet, my legs unsteady. The chemical smell was stronger now, invading every one of my senses. The inspector didn’t seem to notice, but latched onto my arm and guided me out of the tram. As soon as we stepped onto the platform, the doors shut and the tram reversed direction.
    It was pitch dark except for glowing beads of light to the side of the platform. The thin string of lights continued to the right, descending as if following a set of steps. Cold air penetrated my clothing, pressing against my skin and making me shiver. There was no doubt now that we were underground.
    I folded my arms and inhaled carefully, trying to avoid breathing in the strange smell. The inspector kept ahold of my arm and led me along the strip of light. My vision adjusted slowly, and I began to make out the dimensions of a massive tunnel sloping gently downhill.
    “Where are we?” I said, finally daring to ask another question.
    His response was abrupt, and something about the tone of his voice made me shudder. “You’ll see soon enough.”
    We continued to walk on the smooth surface that vibrated beneath our footsteps. It was certainly