The Land Before Tomorrow

Chapter 8

I can't believe he doesn't believe me! What am I going to do? I can't tell anyone else. Right now, I should focus on getting out of Akmondeza. I need to get back to Norquelle. That night I snuck back out. It wasn't as hard as getting back in actually, I just had to hide between some cars and keep to the ground. I followed the rivers of red back to Norquelle and went back to the city hall. I told the lady at the desk that I had just moved from another city called Ashbuld. She gave me some paperwork to fill out, then she asked where I was living. I told her that I didn't actually have a place to live, or a job, or any money. She told me to go to one of the shelters they had in Norquelle. She gave me the address and directions, and I walked there. 

I stood out more than anyone in Norquelle. Yes, I had some of their clothes on still, and even though the people there caked their faces with make-up, no one really had any piercings. So there I was walking down the street with thirteen piercings (five in each ear, two in my nose, and a lip ring). I was getting lots of unusual attention. Down in Akmondeza, people had gotten used to my unconformity, but up here, I was even more different than everyone else. My hair helped me blend in, however. The bright shade of orange covering my head matched with the crazy shades of pink and blue of everyone else. 

When I got to the Norquelle shelter, I ran into a tall kid about my age. There was something about him, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I kept walking and I asked someone where I should go to talk about food and shelter. She sent me to another woman. 

I walked into a fairly small room with navy blue walls and a mahogany desk. Behind the desk was a woman with a tight bun in her white-blond hair. The nameplate on her desk said "E. Jones" which I assumed to be her name. She turned to look at me and I was a little taken aback by what I saw. Her eyes looked very old, but her face, so... youthful. "Hello, dear. My name is Ella Jones. What is your name?" 

"My name is... Tot." I said with slight hesitation.

"And what lead you here?" 

"A lady at the Norquelle city hall told me to come here. I don't have a job. Or any money. Or a place to live." 

"Well, it was right of her to send you here. Where are you from, my dear?"

"Ashbuld..."

"And where is that?"

"Calivada,"

"Never heard of it..."

"It is in another country."

"Oh... Well, for shelter, I can let you stay for a month. For a job, the volunteers here can help you get one. As for money, well, we can't help you with that. Do you have any belongings?"

"No. Nothing to my name except the clothes on my back..." 

"Well, we can give you a few pairs of clothes." 

"Thank you so much. My gratitude is unending." And with that, she told one of the volunteers to lead me up to a room. It was a lot like my house in Akmondeza actually. Most everything was gray. I layed in bed for a while scheming about what the heck I was supposed to do next when there was a knock on my door. I went over to it and someone handed me a pile of clean clothes. "Dinner is downstairs in ten minutes," she said, then proceeded to walk away. I closed the door again and went to put the clothes in a dresser on the far side of the room when yet another knock on my door came. I opened it once again and the tall kid I bumped into in the lobby was there. "Hi," he said "I heard I got a new neighbor so I came to check it out. I'm Zander." he said. His curly brown hair walling in his eyes while he thrust his right hand out for me to shake. I hesitantly took it and said, "My name is Tot." 

"Tot... Like a Tater Tot?" 

"What is that?" 

"You don't know what tater tots are?!"

"uhh... no..."

"Oh. My. Goodness. They're the best things since... Ever! They are potatoes that are cut into really small pieces, then deep-fried until they are crispy, and golden brown! They're so good!" We did have potatoes in Akmondeza, but we had to eat them boiled and plain. "So you're new in town too?" he said.

"Uhh... yeah... I just moved here from Ashbuld..." 

"Never heard of it. Oh well! Guess there is just more for me to get to know about you!"

"hahaha yeah..." 

"Do you want to come to dinner with me downstairs tonight? With you just getting here and all I would suspect you don't have any friends." 

"uh... no, I don't." 

"Well, I will be your friend!" And there you have it. Zander was my first friend in Norquelle. And that brings you to where I am right now. What happens next? Neither of us has any idea, but we're going to find out, and somehow, I am going to take down Akmondeza.