Almost year and a half had passed and Lam Lathi still had not invaded....

“Nahlia's home. My old home. It's turning out to be a memory....”

I reminisce to myself and let out a sigh. The air was spiced with taste, animating it with summertime milieu. Even though I was surrounded by pavement and dune buggies, I knew the beaches were packed today. I could feel the expectations of all the Neandelerian families hanging in the air. People were excited for their vacation time together, and so was I. I had to find Tayt. We were on vacation just the same. The Cepertine sands were back again.

“The companies have to let the animals graze, now and then.”

The Cepertine sands were a long held tradition for us. They were from the older times, when the jungles were still saturated in flowers during the hottest months. Now, all but a few species remained close to the city. I take a look around me. The skyscrapers gave me shade, like my large FauX sunglasses. Their windows glossy, like my lips.

A humongous tarp snaps above me. I watch the loose advertisements crackle in the wind as vehicles pass by. They stretched from building to building. It was like the spirits of every color lived on them, dotted with the pastels of Cepertine softness. The salty air smelled fresh to me. That's why I enjoyed standing like dummy on the sidewalk alone. Like the hairstyle of our girls, the efflorescence was always there. The ocean made us wet. A man catches my attention.

“Which flower would you like today? Buy one get none free”

The man smiles at me. His shop was selling jungle flowers for my hair. Everyone had to get one today. It was fun when you did. The Cepertine sands were back in style. I rummage through my pockets and hand him some coins or whatever. He lets me pick a flower. I throw away the cheap plastic and stick it to the side of my head.

“Surely there's room for another?,” smiles the vendor.

“Are you kidding me?,” I snap back. I walk away and go find Tayt.

“The Cepertine sands....”

The Cepertine sands were an ancient tradition. It was a celebration of birthright that lit up the whole city. Long ago, the celebrations were held on the bay-side of our metropolis, where, the water was clear, and one could see the vast jungles across the endless blue. It was in the forgotten journey across the bay, that turned into the Cepertine sands. The tradition spoke of a time when the Neandelerians of old, took their battleaxes to rescue their families from the possessor priesthood. Now, such a history was lost, living in fairy tales, and in the abandoned remains of small-owner antique shops.

“What's taking Tayt so long!”

It was time to walk the chalky beaches and join the teeming metro life.

I stumble onto the crowded pavement and cross the street. Tayt said he was going this way. I press my hands around a painted wall, as free-riders shout and try to hit on me. The wet season was far off and life was like hot weather. I step out of the masses.

Booths were in front of every shop, selling colored sand. You had to buy a bag.

“The pouring of sands....”

The pouring of sands was nothing more than buying a bag of dyed sands. Everyone would throw their sand on onto beach together at sunset for a week. Not everyone followed the rules. I usually threw mine early and I liked watching the sand drift along shoreline edges. The children enjoyed the colorful grit stuck between their toes and on their sand castles.

I had been living with Tayt for about a year and a half now. The world was changing all around me. There was the constant rumor of invasion by Lam Lathi in the news. Everyone knew The Far Away Dream was a ticking time bomb, but no one took things seriously. The threat had been preached about for many years.

“Spew the bad news somewhere else,” I think. A bell rings. I enter a shop and step into the air conditioning. I look around the shop. It was a guns n more place. That meant they sold it all. I look around the place. It reminded me of my crummy job. I casually wipe my wet bangs away from my sunglasses.

Ever since I dropped out of school, I had been mildly depressed. I couldn't stand seeing my classmates move on with their lives and get good jobs. Ned Fexhan got a really good one and so did most of his bully friends. It would branch into a career. Soon they would have their families and take them to the Cepertine sands. It was just like me, except I was sad and not sleeping around.

Tayt comes running up to me and I smile.

“I'm feeling jealous, again,” I sulk.

“Who cares, Nahlia.”

I give Tayt a dirty glance. I roll my eyes. He had some gun in his hand he wanted to buy. That meant he wanted me to chip in.

“C'mon, Nahlia. Factory family, pump them out. What type of future does Ned really have? We're the real Neandelerians. Having fun and cursing too much.”

I open my mouth with a smile. I try not to laugh. “Whatever, Tayt.”

“Whatever-ever, Nahlia,” shoots Tayt back at me.

The noticeable crinkle of advertising paper catches my attention. Tayt peels the sticker of his new gun as if he was already buying it.

“You can't afford that. Just so you know,” I add.

Tayt looks at me smiles. He didn't care. He was peeling the sticker off. A second later, I hear a package drop. Tayt drops it on the ground and kicks it aside. He shrugs and I give him another look. I hated when people did that.

“Ahh, fine!,” sighs Tayt. He picks up the gun and places it back on the shelf. Seconds later, a bell rings and we leave the shop.

Outside, I take a final look across the city street. Not only had the entire city changed around me, the people had too. There were lots of temporary changes and they would go away. Caparan junkies now littered the lower skies. They were worse than company police, often hunting down people in the name of their chosen king. It was sickening.

“The bugs are out today,” I exhale, at my friend.

“They're out every day, Nahlia,” replies Tayt.

I hold my tongue in my cheek and Tayt shoves me. He runs across the street, before I can shove him back. We chase after each other among the blaring horns.

The only reason the Caparans were allowed to hang around was some kind of deal we had. Every company wanted the gold and wealth that came from the Caparan mines. Allowing them passage into Cepertine was the price tag it came with. The foreigners even got free advertising and I could only imagine how many of my old classmates had joined their ranks for a getaway. They were traitors, but worse. They were selling us out. The truce wouldn't last forever.

I continue heading down the sidewalk, until the traffic starts to slow.

It was time to hitch a ride.