Evan

  Washing his face and hands in a normal bathroom was a glorious experience. After entering his room, he found Zarg curled up on the bed sound asleep. Typical. He pulled the blanket over him.

  It was time to sit and eat a normal meal with people from essentially another world. All he had to do was act normal and let Tozi lead the conversation. Okay. He could hide all of this for a week and find his way home. He could do this. Right? Right.

  He walked back through the fountain room and found Tozi helping Rosa heap ladles of stew into ceramic bowls painted with colorful flowers. Tozi’s eyes searched the ground around Evan. “Where’s Zarg?”

  “Sleeping.”

  “Oh.” Tozi handed Evan a bowl. “Can you take this to the table?”

  The table in the fountain room? It had to be. “Sure,” Evan said taking the bowl from her and leaving the kitchen with it, careful not to spill. The rich, hearty aroma from the stew filled his nose. It smelled amazing.

  After helping set three bowls, utensils, napkins and some mysterious drinks on the table, the three sat down for dinner. Was it dinner? What time was it anyway. And what was in the ceramic mugs he helped place at the table?

  Rosa sat at the head of the table, Evan to her left and Tozi to the right. No sign of the rat yet. Was that to be a second course? Maybe she had changed her mind. If he was going to convince her that he came from a family of rat hunters he had to eat it, and act like he liked it. He could do this. Evan grabbed his spoon and scooped up a big bit of the stew when Tozi and Rosa put their heads down. Crap. Evan set the spoon in the bowl.

  The pair sat quietly with their eyes closed for what felt like an eternity. Did they not say anything during grace? Was this like a prayer or were they doing some secret speaking? No. He would hear them. This was all a little creepy. No, it was just a different way. So, they said grace privately. No big deal. Calm down. Just relax.

  Tozi opened an eye. She smiled and closed her eye again. Great. She caught him staring at her. Who knows what weird reaction this would trigger. But at least she smiled at him.

  "Vamos a comer,” Rosa said picking up her spoon.

  Finally. Evan grabbed his spoon and took a big bite. Amazing. The earthy mushrooms mixed well with sweet and tender meat. He took another giant spoonful when reality caught up. Oh no. No. No. No. No. No. The tender meat was...it. It had to be. Evan swallowed his second bite. Screw it. The cave rat was amazing. “Rosa, this is delicious.”

  “Thank you, Evan.”

  A mischievous grin crossed Tozi’s face. “The rat really adds to it doesn’t it?”

  She was trying to gross him out. Nope. He was on to her games. “Yeah. It does. It’s so good.”

  That rumpled her grin. Ha. She wasn’t expecting that. But he really did like her smile. It made him warm. Why? She’s so annoying.

  Rosa took a sip of her drink. “So, Evan, tell me about yourself. What grade are you in?”

  “Ninth grade.”

  Tozi’s face scrunched up. Did he say something wrong?

  “I see.” Rosa set her spoon down. “And tell me about your family? Where are you from?”

  “I—”

  “His family are rat hunters.” Tozi cut in. “They go all over the empire hunting rats for hire and sale.”

  Rosa took a drink. “What an interesting life. I guess you don't get to stay in one place for too long.”

  “Uh no. Not really.” Was that the right thing to say? Tozi didn’t noticeably react, so it must have been.

  “So how do you go to school?”

  Tozi’s face twisted in concern.

  Crap. Think. Then it came to him. “I’m home schooled. My mom teaches me everything. She’s a sci—” Evan coughed. No can’t say she’s a scientist. “She very smart.” He quickly shoved another bite into his mouth. Did they even have home schooling down here?

  Rosa turned to Tozi. “See? Homeschooling isn’t so bad. Trust me, you’re getting a much better education out here than that school in town or even at the capital.”

  Tozi poked at her stew. “Yeah, but it’s so boring out here.”

  Rosa persisted. “And your father? What does he do?”

  “Oh, he’s a police officer. He...” Crap. Tripped up so easy.

  “Is that right? So, not a rat hunter?”

  Evan’s insides twisted. How had he screwed this up so bad?

  Rosa didn’t bat an eye. She saw right through their charade.

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  Evan sighed. “No ma’am. I’m sorry for lying. It was just...” He could tell her, right? These were good people. It all just came out. “I’m from above. My house was dragged down here. I’m lost and...” Evan’s breathing became difficult. “I don’t know where my family is? If they are okay or what happened to them. I assume they’re still up above, but my sister was hurt really badly. She and her friend went on ahead and...” Crap. Why did he mention Kae and Nina?

  Mija! Why did you lie to me?

  He needed help and you know how you always say people need to look out for each other? Well. He was nice. So, I helped him. Please don’t turn him in. He’s good. Honestly. He even told the truth!

  Mija. Do you know what could happen if we don’t report this?

  But Mama!

  Mija. I don’t like this. And you lied to me.

  This was too much. “I’m sorry,” Evan said pushing his chair back from the table. “If you need me to go, just say it. I don’t want to get you in trouble. Just point me in the right direction and me and Zarg will be out of your hair.”

  Rosa put a hand on Evan’s shoulder. There was pain in her voice. “No. You can stay. I won’t report you. They took Tozi’s father and older brother. I won’t let them take you too. You can stay as long as you need.”

  “I don’t want to impose. If I’m going to cause problems, I can go. Really. I know all about uninvited house guests.” Crap, why did he say that?

  Rosa pointed at his stew. “Please eat and tell me about this uninvited house guest? Did he stay long?”

  “Yeah, he’s been living with us for several months. He’s a wizard, actually. If you can believe that. He...” Why did he say that? He really needed to keep his mouth shut.

  Tozi rolled her eyes. “A wizard?”

  Okay, he could maneuver out of this. “Yeah, he can do magic. You know, like you can.”

  “Oh,” Rosa nodded her head. “You see a wizard is someone very powerful. Almost godlike. But they are not gods. Just people.”

  Whew. They bought it. “Oh. Yeah, he is just another person.” He grabbed his drink and took a big gulp. Bitter and slightly sweet. Gross. He set the cup down.

  Tozi laughed. “The topsider doesn’t like mushroom tea.”

  Rosa waved her finger disapprovingly. “Don't say topsider. He’s...your cousin now. He's staying with us to help us with harvest.”

  “Cousin?” Tozi twisted her head. “We don’t look anything alike.”

  “Now Evan,” Rosa’s voice tightened. “Just stay away from anyone dressed as an eagle or a jaguar and no more talking about topside. Relations are not good. They’ve cut off our internet and shut down trade.”

  Evan’s chest deflated. “No internet? Any other way I can call the surface?”

  “I’m afraid not. But there are ways you can get back to the surface. You will just need to leave the empire first. There are other underground countries with better relations with above. I think your best bet is to get out of the empire. But first we’ll have to get you a visa and a ticket through a border gate. Then you should be able to make your way home.”

  Countries? Visas? Gates? “I... How will I do that? And my sister. I need to find her. She was hurt really badly. Any ideas where she would be?”

  Rosa shook her head. “We can try the hospitals. But there’s a very real chance she’s been caught. I knew you were from above the moment I laid eyes on you. No one wears jeans and a T-shirt down here unless you are very well off and can afford topsider clothes. Rat hunters don’t make that much. Everything down here is made from mushroom cloth, not pure cotton. And if you are rich, you wouldn’t be as dirty as you are.”

  This was just getting worse and worse. “What will they do if she’s caught?”

  Rosa’s shoulders drooped. “Tlacotin.”

  She said it like all hope was lost from the world. It chilled Evan. “What’s Tlacotin?”

  Tozi threw her spoon down. “The same thing that happened to Papi and Mano. They make them into happy and helpful slaves.”

  Evan’s throat caught. “Slaves?”

  Rosa nodded. “But maybe they’re at the hospital. There’s only one in the area. Either way, if your sister was hurt, she would have been treated there. The only question is whether they were caught. You never know they may not have been. Here on the outskirts of the empire people are not as friendly towards the government as in the capital. That’s why we moved out here.”

  “Who are Papi and Mano? And why did they take them?”

  Rosa frowned. “The Cuāuhtli Empire is a very prosperous empire that shares the wealth, as long as you don’t say the wrong thing. Tozi. Tomorrow, after your chores, take Evan into town and go see Tia Miranda. She’ll know if anyone showed up.”

  That sounded...hopeful? But he had to know. “And if they are caught and made into slaves. Is there any way to free them?”

  “It all depends. Every crime is different in Tonatiuh’s eyes.”

  It was too much. So many new words and names. “I’m never getting out of here am I? And who is Tonatiuh?”

  Tozi crossed her arms. “Gah, stupid topsider. You don’t know anything, do you? He’s the Sun God. Emperor of this world.”

  What was her deal? Always with the hot and cold.

  “Mija!” Rosa snapped. “Be polite. He is new here. Of course he doesn’t know who Tonatiuh is. And take that word out of your mouth. He’s not a topsider. He’s your cousin.”

  You apologize to him right now!

  Tozi stared intently at her spoon. She said, “Sorry, primo,” in a way that clearly meant she wasn’t sorry.

  Evan put his spoon down. He was full, yet the longer he sat there in the uncomfortable silence his hunger started to grow. How was that even possible? A wet nose nudged his side. Oh. Zarg was up and hungry. “Decided to wake up, did you?” Evan scratched his ears.

  “Zarg!” Tozi said with a little too much excitement in her voice. And just like that she was happy again. This girl.

  Rosa got up from her chair. Her voice softened. “Zarg, come here you bag of bones. I made you a bowl.” She hurried off to the kitchen. Wow. Zarg had them under his spell.

  Evan considered Tozi as she beamed at Zarg. “Did I do something to upset you?”

  She refused to look up and instead took a sip of her tea.

  Great. Now she was ignoring him.

  Evan persisted. “Did I say something offensive?”

  “It’s just that...”

  “Here we go.” Rosa came in from the kitchen with a wide bowl in two hands and set it on the ground next to the table. “We’ll get some meat on those bones in no time. Poor thing been out in those tunnels starving.”

  Zarg sniffed the bowl and started licking. Evan felt happiness and warmth come over him as Zarg was evidently enjoying the stew. A second later he found the rat's head and chewed it loudly like it was the best thing in the world. Gross. “Actually, I think he’s been eating better than ever. He’s already eaten a whole rat today.”

  “Can I be excused?” Tozi said, still unhappy.

  “You may.”

  She grabbed her bowl and left for the kitchen.

  Evan tried another sip of his tea. Still disgusting. “I am done too. Thank you again for everything. Should I just take my bowl to the kitchen? Do you want some help cleaning up?”

  Rosa waved her hand. “It’s fine. Have Tozi see if she can find you some of her brother’s clothes. They should fit. And you can take a shower.”

  “Thank you. This is all so nice of you.” Evan rose from his chair. “And... did I say something to upset Tozi? She seemed really mad.”

  Rosa put her hands in the air and looked to the ground. “Moving here has been tough for her. She’s never been good at making friends. And now with her dad and brother gone... She’ll come around. I haven’t seen her get excited about anything as she has about having Zarg around.”

  Great. Just as Evan suspected. He was only there because of Zarg. But at least he had a full stomach, was about to take a shower, and was going to sleep in a bed.