With a deep shuddering breath, she opened the door and stepped into a concrete room with a lone chair in one corner. The room was dusty, that much was obvious from the ways dust flickered in the light coming through the window and how dry the air felt. On the right side of the room stood a glass window with a small opening at its bottom.

Closing the door behind her, she stepped toward this window with papers in hand. God Emperor, plea-

Her prayer was cut off by a dry, monotone voice. "Papers, please".

Thrown off by the order, her already beating heart lept into her throat. Obviously, her hesitation forced the officer to repeat the order.

"Papers, please".

The officer's voice cut through her nervousness which allowed her to say, "O-oh yes, my apologies, Officer..." as she layed her papers onto the table for him to take.

"Terwen", came his curt reply.

Taking her papers onto his side of the glass, she couldn't help but think. 'What if they don't believe the fakes? What if they discover who I am? What if-'
"Purpose of travel?"

"Oh! Vacation!", 'please buy it. Please God Emperor'.

"How long until your return?"

"A couple of months. I won a trip to Holy Terra and I plan to make use of it!" 'If only, but anywhere but here is good'

The sounds of papers moving and her own heartbeat was all she heard for the next few minutes with the rare clicking of keys. It seemed to go on for hours. She could feel a few drops of sweat roll down her arms. 'God Emperor, she was so blasted nervous and who could blame her!? All her friends have been taken over by some unknown xeno! People she's never known suddenly appearing in her district! She had to leave. She wasn't going to become infected like everyone else!'

"Everything seems to be in order. Please retrieve your papers". The officer's curt words cut through her thoughts, but man were they good cuts. She could leave.

"Of course, thanks for your hard work, officer". She thought it odd the paper's were a bit on his end, but it was probably just laziness. She put her hand through the hole in the glass and grabbed her papers.

Suddenly, a stinging sensation was felt on her hand. Immediately, she pulled back her hand to reveal a red dot on her hand which was now dripping blood. Grabbing her hand to distract from the stinging sensation, she looked up at the officer and exclaimed "What the hell was that for?!". Her words came out before she realized her mistake. "I-I'm sorry Offic-"

"Your infection status has been determined-" "W-what?". The officer continued with "and consequencly, your visa has been deni- "No, PLEASE!". Ignoring the woman's cries, the officer continued with the same monotone, dry voice. "denied. Please remain where you are for infection"

The woman ran towards the door, grabbing the handle and twisting it, only to see that she couldn't. The door was locked. She slammed her fist against the door. "Someone! Help me! HELP!"

Behind her, she heard the sound of buzzing and with tears in her eyes, she turned. Flying and crawling through the hole in the window were flying insects.

"TERWEN, PLEASE!"

"You are safe. Please remain calm. This is for the good of everyone. Infection is mandatory".

"Please, God no!"

All the insects took flight and were now swarming her. She could only let out a shout of fear as she swatted her hands at the insects, but instead of swatting them away they just fused with her skin. She screeched as she fell against the wall, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo..."

The last of the insects merged with the woman as her screams died down. Steadily, with a few probing movements, the woman stood back up. On her face, a smile. A stark contrast to the tears still in her eyes and those running down her face.

"I apologize for my outburt, Officer"

"You're one of us now. You aren't the same person you were 10 seconds ago. Still leaving?"

"No, I think I'll stay. I mean, who would want to leave?"

Wiping away the tears on her face, the woman turned and opened the now unlocked door and left without her papers.

Now alone, Officer Terwen grabbed the woman's now undeeded visa and papers and placed them in the garbage. Among many others.

Pressing a small button, he alerted the next person in line to come in. Once they came in and closed the door, he locked the door with a button underneath the table.

Terwen looked up at the man and said,

"Papers, Please".

=================

My first attempt at writing something. Quality not guaranteed.