The next day.....

“Property of Tayt Milonas.”

I pull the sticker off my new handgun and plaster it on Nahlia's forehead to annoy her. She rips it off and throws it at me. Everyone owned someone in Neandeleria. The name tag was a low paying job. The price tag was your life.

There were still six days left of the Cepertine sands. I had a week to let loose and I was counting down the days. Nahlia bought me a bag and we picked out our colors. Light green, pale orange, and light purple. We bought some magenta sand for James. He liked throwing it at people, who walked too slow in front of him.

I take a look at Nahlia.

All I needed was a few positive experiences to get back on my feet. I had friends and we were safe. Life was stressful, but that was what made my apartment feel like a home. It was like throwing colors onto the beaches. Life was gritty, but the experiences we shared made it color. Without the sand there was no celebration. You needed both.

“It's time to go, Tayt,” says Nahlia.

I make a run for the door to open it for her. Some time later, we find ourselves on the streets of Cepertine. I wipe my brow in the heat. We walk the same way we did yesterday. I pause, still wondering if my classmates were lurking. They had to be planning something for after this break. Sometimes I saw them on my way to work. I still had the same job in the sky. It took the stress away from my work week. Sometimes, I would come home bored and exhausted. I was no longer in school and part of me felt like I was missing out. The old days of being a loser were lame. Still, those times were real, edgy, ugly, and vibrantly alive. It was funny how my best friend came from the worst place to be for me.

Nahlia and I push passed some people. The beaches were becoming increasing crowded as others arrived to join. They came from all over Neandeleria, into the beating heart of the city. I pass another few ground dwellers.

A gun sling embraces a woman's sweating thigh, with Solomon-knots wrap tight around the skin. I see the overkill Para-cord and leather protectors curve around her holster. Excess material traces her hips like a belt, with inserts for cigarettes and bullets as if they were birds of the same feather. All the while, an oceanic scene paints her naked back in ink. A look over at another. A man walks by me with a battle ax stabbed above his arm like it was art. Lots of tattoos.

We make it to the beach a while later.

Waves collapse ahead of me. I let my fingers drift in the tide, as the rush of foaming water chills them again. I wince under the exacerbating sun and step deeper into the water. A group of homeless beggars had already lined the shoreline in hopes of collecting loose change. People tried to ignore them. It pissed me off sometimes. I walk over the the group. A veteran from the Felokyle looks up at me. He tries not to get emotional.

“Not much, but here you go....,” I say.

I put what I found on the floor of my apartment in his box. It was barely anything. It would be a few days until my paycheck came in. Thankfully it would still be during the celebration week. I run away and rush into the water, soaking my knees.

In Cepertine, everyone dreamed of having a good image. No one wanted to be like the beggars the companies left out to dry. They just wanted to look like a bad ass and act like life owed them something. People were obsessed with image and the thought of living like they preached was out of the question. As long as people got the praise and social benefits that came with the image, they didn't give a care about backing it up. That's why I hated FauX. It was the plastered symbol that followed me everywhere I ran.

My eyes skim over the undulating waves.

“Tayt, check this out,” smiles Nahlia.

A dark blue shark, twisted its body over a shiny emblem. A logo for the Sahari rope company lingered on its turquoise edges. It was a swimsuit.

“Pool pants.”

I didn't even want any bathing suit. I wasn't sure what Nahlia thought she was doing. I rarely went to the public pool. It was an arm and a leg just for an hour. You paid for the electronic door to open. The pool was actually free. I grab the bathing suit and hold it up to me. It was even too big!

“I can't even wear this, Nahlia!”

“Well...it's a gift,”

Nahlai didn't know what to say to me. She moves her mouth to the side. I think she thought I would like it because I was a sky dweller. I hadn't even been home in a long time. My parents said I had chosen the ground dweller girl over them. They had a point. I hold the swimsuit up to me again.

Usually Nahlia got me something that fit. It must have been the only bathing suit on sale. I look over at Nahlia. She wasn't too impressed with my reaction. That's what made it special. Not.

My body jerks, as Nahlia gives me a hug. I stand there awkwardly, not knowing what to say or think. I hold onto the swimsuit and hug her back. We make our way back to the sand and towels.

We reach our towels and I drop my gift on mine. I sit down. The sand sticks to my legs. I start to close my eyes in the amazing sun, but a voice stops me.

It was Ned. “Hey, Tayt.” It was odd seeing Ned calm around me. He seemed kind of normal.

Ned looks over at Nahlia “Hey.”

My heart races. I didn't know what Ned was up to, but he was walking with his girlfriend. I look at Ned a while. I could tell he was hiding some kind of smile. I look for my bag, to get my gun. Ned stops me with his voice.

“It's the celebration. I just wanted to say hi with my girlfriend.” Ned points to his girl. She waves and we wave back. I feel uneasy as Ned nods repeatedly.

“Yeah. No hard feelings, Tayt. I have a girlfriend now. I don't need to sneak over to Nahlia's house and fuck her like I used to.”

Ned points a finger. leaving and a deep welling of pain, jealousy, and confusion in my heart. It was breaking. Shortly after, Ned walks off and I remain in shock. His words just kept biting at me. I look at Nahlia.

“No, Tayt. Oh my God.”

Nahlia covers her face and backs away from me. I didn't know what to think or do. I think she was crying. My teeth clench and I start shaking. I almost begin to cry. My eyes water as I look at Nahlia.

“I can explain. Sorry. I can explain, Tayt.”

I move toward Nahlia, but she doesn't budge. I try to open my mouth and speak. I wanted to punch her in the face just like her uncle. I take another step and Nahlia doesn't react. She looked petrified. She doesn't even blink. Finally, Nahlia points behind me.

Cepertine was being invaded by sea and not a soul was ready for it. It was Lam Lathi.

My legs were shaking. I look at a massive army and glowing wings, cut from creations made in The Far Away Dream. There were ships and landing craft. There were flying machines and banners of midnight blue. The whole horizon looked like a growing tidal wave of death. It was headed straight for Cepertine!

The ocean becomes colder, as people freeze in place and stare at the endless pattern of invading battleships and wings. At the center of it all, a monstrous glow takes form. It was a flying machine bigger than the rest. Everyone becomes restless, to the point that a few start to head inward toward the city. Parents gather their children, while friends shout, leaving their belongings on the beach. There would only be minutes to spare and the faint echo of sirens could be heard. .

Military craft fly overhead and begin to rally. I hear radios in the distance. I grab my gun.

“What do we do, Tayt!,” gasps Nahlia. She reaches for our stuff.

I angrily grab Nahlia's hand and make a run toward the city. I dig my fingernails into her skin and grit my teeth. I think about hitting her across her face, but we didn't have time. I stop as others shout and run to their vehicles. Others wave their handguns at the distance trying to act all brave. We were going to die.

The sand burns my feet rapidly. I didn't even pick up my shoes. The panic was surrounding me. The feelings were overwhelming. I didn't know what to think about Nahlia or the situation. More alarms groan in the distance, as others headed to the beach grab their guns and valuables and head the other direction. Everyone was going to the city center where the warriors were. I violently yank Nahlia toward me. She drops my shoes near my feet. She tries to wipe her face again.

“I hate you!” I shout at her.

I put on my shoes. Nahlia sniffles. The whole time I stare at her and she watches me. There were tears in her eyes that seemed to drip with silence. I dig my fingernails into her skin again and pull her along. I wanted her to feel pain every time I yanked her.

“Ow, Tayt!,” shouts Nahlia. I feel her body jerk as James runs up to us out of breath.

The invasion to steal The Far Away Dream was here.