• She rose off the sand as her dress fell to her knees. She watched as a boy came running up to her. "Miss, are you alright"? The boy said in a English accent. "I'm just fine". She replied as the boy looked at her amazed. "I just watched you fly out of the Sea and you're just fine, I think you need to go to the hospital". The boy said as she knelt down to his height, he must have been maybe seven years old ten years younger than her. "Please if you want to help just tell me where I can find some shelter for the night and food". She said gently placing her hand on the boys shoulders to make him look into her pleading eyes. "There's a hot dog stand about a mile up the beach and you can stay with me tonight if you want to". The boy said as she nodded, under any other circumstance she wouldn't take such an offer but she had no choice at the moment people would soon come looking for her and she wasn't quite ready to be found yet. The little boy grabbed her hand as the walked up the beach to the hot dog stand. "Richy, I thought I already gave you your free dog today". The man at the stand said as Richy which apparently was the young boys name nodded apologetically. "I know but my friend was asking where she could find some food so I brought her here". He said as she realized he was trying to get her free food. "Wait I have money I can pay for my food I was just wondering where there was some". She said as the man behind the stand sighed a breath of release. "Well thank goodness, by the way what's your name young miss"? The man asked as she froze stunned. She hadn't had time to think of a fake name so she just blurted the first thing that came out of her mouth. "Toya, my names Toya". She said with a little panic in her voice. The man eyed her questioningly but let it slide. "Toya huh, is that Japanese"? He asked as she nodded. "Yes it is, my father was Japanese". She lied quickly but more believably this time. "Hmpf, well it is pretty, tell you what this ones on me alright as long as you look after Richy for me". He said handing her a hot dog as she nodded and Richy grabbed her hand. "Thank you Colburt"! Richy said as he dragged Toya across the sand. "Woah where are we going"? Toya asked a little concerned that the boy was dragging her so far away from civilization. By the time she looked up from taking her first bite they had been at least two miles away from the stand. "To my house I told you that you could stay with me for a while until you find a place". Richy said as Toya followed him into a cave. Inside the cave was a tent with a fire pit in front of it along with some very heavily used pots and pans. "I know it's a tent in cave but it keeps the animals and bats out, they get really rowdy at night but the tent keeps them out, I think they actually finally gave up on trying to get in". Richy said as Toya stared in wonder, was the boy really homeless, and at the age of seven how had he learned to survive so well on his own, surely he must have someone helping him. "Are you alone"? Toya asked as Richy shook his head. "No I have an older brother who actually should be back soon". Richy said right as Toya heard foot steps coming into the cave. "Richy how many times have I told you to stop bringing people to our spots"?! A voice from the opening of the cave screamed as Toya flinched and looked back just in time to see a rag being tossed over her head.

    End of Chapter 1