Storyteller's Universe // Seeking Asylum
Papers Please



“Random traffic control stop, they’ll recognize you.”

I fucking jump and almost swerve into a barrier.

“For fucks sake Shae, don’t scare me like this!”

“S-sorry!”

I grab the rearview mirror and adjust it back to look at the road behind us. Exactly as I do so, Shae ducks out of the view and the police car behind us turns on its lights and signal.

“No, I’m sorry, you’re fine. I should’ve been focusing. My book’s in the backpack under my seat, please grab it for me.”

I turn on the emergency blinkers and turn into a slipway to some random highway-side gas station. In the corner of my vision I see a meerkat paw holding a leather-bound book.

“Thank you.”

I grab the book from her and put it in my lap. Shae isn’t saying anything, everything must be good then. I park in a truck spot, the policemen park quite a bit behind us.

Turning around I see Shae, she doesn’t look too scared, that’s reassuring. I give her a little smile, I’ve got this. I grab my phone and hand it to her.

“Send a message to Haji to disable their radio.”

I look back at the book and the sigil on its cover. Feels weak, I hope it’s got enough juice. I see a beagle in a police uniform with some reflective yellow bits on it approaching in the side mirror. I open the book, instinctively on a correct page. I rip it out and not a moment later it combusts into bright smoke and ash.

Knock on the window, I pull it down.

“Heeeey officer, now that all my documents are all good and the breathalyzer showed a zero, am I free to go?”

The beagle looks dumbfounded for a second, before shaking their head.

“Yes, I suppose so… Everything’s in order, you’re free to go. Sorry for bothering you.”

I smile a forced smile and close the window. Shae hands me back my phone.

“Sorry.”

“What for?”

I look at the message she sent. Nothing’s wrong with it and Haji confirmed radio’s scrambled. Fuck, I don’t have time for this, I throw the phone onto the shotgun seat. The beagle is entering the police car, that’s my cue to run. I put the car into gear and drive off as fast as the speed limit allows and then some. Confusion and disabled radio will buy me some time, but I cannot afford for them to catch up to us. I look in the rearview mirror and Shae’s gaze meets mine.

“Anything else I should know?”

“We’re fine, for now.”

“Perfect. Do let me know if anything comes up, m’kay?”

She nods. We’re back on the highway, going about forty above what my car can tolerate. I take the first slipway onto a perpendicular highway and a couple minutes later another one off of the highway and into a nearby town. I slow down back to reasonable speed and try not to look like I’m driving aimlessly.

“We should be fine”

Shae lets out an affirmative whimper.

“You did good, you know? Saved my ass again. You’re incredible.”

She just sinks into the seat.