Rowan and Shane walked on in silence for a while, until they saw lights in the distance. As they got closer, they saw the outlines of small wooden houses. It looked like a small, old-fashioned village and Shane was eager to check it out. 

They might find something to eat or drink there, his stomach had been aching because he was so hungry and his throat felt uncomfortably dry. He was used to eating at least 2 meals a day and some snacks.

Rowan had initially been against the idea because it could be dangerous. She felt like she couldn't make a judgment about the people here if she didn't know what dimension they were in and her motto was ‘better safe than sorry’. Shane however, didn't accept her rejection and she sulkily gave in and followed him because she didn’t really want to let him roam on his own. 

“Stop right there!” A loud, but formal-sounding voice seemed to call out to Rowan and Shane. “Identify yourself!”

They hadn't reached the little town yet and were probably around 100 feet from the nearest building, but they were suddenly surrounded by men, who were forming a circle around them.

They looked ridiculous to Shane, at least as old-fashioned as the village down the road seemed. They wore dark suits made out of heavy fabric and leather boots up to their calves. Not to speak of the weird hats they were wearing, made from some kind of shiny material with a chinstrap. The men were holding large guns pointed at the duo.

He counted eight men, all standing in the circle around them. Shane took a step towards the man who told them to identify themselves, his back straight to appear tall and in control. He was standing in front of Rowan now, who looked around like an animal caught in a trap.

“Police officer Shane Hall, New York City, 19th dimension,” he said, loud and clear, pulling his badge out of his pocket and showing it with a glimmer of pride in his eyes to the man. 

This was exactly the kind of situation Rowan had feared for, since Shane didn't really think about the fact that what she was doing was illegal and he was now her accomplice. If the men found the Tuner and the drugs in her backpack they could both be executed, if they wouldn’t be handed over to the first dimension. She didn't want to think about that, the most gruesome stories were circulating about the first. From a livelong prison sentence where you were basically left on your own to torture and slavery. 

“Arrest these sinners in the name of King Edward VIII, our savior Jesus Christ and the Almighty.” 

Shane couldn't believe the man actually said that and blinked a few times in surprise. Four men were already closing in on them and he glanced back at Rowan, but she wasn't looking at him, but at the men coming at her. She would probably be furious with him.

Two men already took hold of her narrow wrists and pulled them behind her back rather violently. They put something around her wrists that he couldn't see, but he was betting on handcuffs. He looked back to the man who had spoken to them and gave the order to have them arrested.

“No, you’re making a mistake!” he tried, a little desperately. 

He didn't get to explain or a response, only silence and a grunt from the person trying to pull his arms aggressively behind his back. He wasn't even being read his rights, maybe he didn't have any rights here at all. Shane resisted, even though he knew what usually happened when someone resisted an arrest. He still tried to pull his arms back to the front. 

They responded by pushing him harshly to the ground. He hit the grass with his face, his head knocking hard against the ground. For a second his vision turned black and he moaned softly as his head started to throb. A knee pushed itself against his back to hold him down and his hands got tied behind his back with something that felt heavy and cold against his skin. 

They weren't the lightweight cuffs he was used to and carried on his belt, but something much bigger. After this, he was lifted up again by his arms and placed on his feet. The world spun around him and he felt like he was going to topple over, but two of the men stood on either side of him, holding him. They started to push him forward, which forced him to move his feet forward or else he would just fall over. He decided it might be best to not say anything for now. 

The men said nothing to Rowan and Shane, but the two walking in front of them were whispering to each other, at such a low volume that Shane couldn't hear what they were saying. He tried to walk next to Rowan, to be able to gauge her reaction, but she seemed to avoid him and looked straight ahead. The men holding Shane made sure he couldn't get close enough to say something to her.

Shane thought it was strange, she didn't seem like someone who would give up just like that. He had expected her to resist at least as much as he had, or to open her mouth and cuss up a storm. Apparently, such things were reserved for him only.

Above them, the dark blue sky was already fading into a lighter blue, a sign that the sun would be setting soon. The night was almost over and Shane felt more exhausted than ever.

Not only was his body exhausted from the action-packed day, the running and switching from being almost frozen to death to the heat, but he had also suffered from anxiety, panic and stress. His lips were chapped from the lack of water, his mouth and throat felt dry and he had a stomach ache from hunger. He wondered how Rowan was holding up