Down and Out: A Young Adult Dystopian Adventure (The Undercity Series Book 1) (23 page)

“Why want title? Just words,” said Henri, who finished eating half his food and put the rest away on a corner table near his chair.

“It's not just the words,” Teddy explained.  “It's the power that goes with them.  Now that Dorkas discovered all this place offers, he wants more.”

“Jolon right, that red... redicu... ridiculous.”

“Especially since our community consists of only, what, a couple hundred of us?” said Caden.  She stretched her arms above her head as her back seized.  “What's the point of lording over anyone?”

“Some people like power,” Teddy said, and Caden guessed by his blank face his mind flitted back to the stories he read.

The discovery of the shops led to a whole new world of resources for Teddy's insatiable appetite for reading and knowledge.  Though Caden never enjoyed reading—the lines always seemed to get away from her—she did love to listen.  Often, in the evenings, he would read to her and the others stories from his new books or something he scratched out himself.  It was a good ritual.  She liked rituals.  They made her feel safe, consistent within such boundaries.  The greatest difficulty she found adjusting to their new home was the departure from everything familiar.  Though all their rooms were clustered together, they no longer had a common space for only their family.  Nor did they catch each other as they were going by.  Now the doors were always closed, and she had to knock to gain access.  Not that that was too hard, but it seemed more intrusive—separated and distant.  They ate at the same table, but in a horde of people.  They gathered in the common area, and others joined them.  It was both crowded and lonely.

“We should head back,” Teddy decided as he stood. 

“Yeah,” Jolon said with a dramatic weary stretch as though hard labour awaited him.

“Go now?” Henri asked, his open face tragic.  He got up and gazed at Caden with hopeful puppy eyes.

She managed an awkward smile and rose to her feet.  “We'll talk to you later, Henri.  Ma always has stuff for us to do and Deb wanders off.”

He slumped in the shoulders and nodded.  “K.”

They left him and headed back in silence for most of the way.  Everyone wanted her to like Henri, and she did, but not like Ma liked Pa and vice versa. Love and intimacy like that confused and scared her. 

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K
ris Moger – The words and ideas.

Like many creative people, Kris Moger doesn’t like writing bios, but she got talked into it this time. On an average day, she likes to write, draw, and daydream. On most days, she cleans house, gets distracted, and procrastinates. She has created stories since she was young, but only started writing them down in the last dozen years. After publishing a couple of short stories, ‘Down and Out’ is her first official published novel.

T
eddy – Second oldest child of Peterson family

• Eyes – brown
  
• Hair – chestnut
  
• Complexion – Khaki
  
• Build – slight
  

Caden – Oldest child of Peterson family

• Eyes – amber
  
• Hair – black twists
  
• Complexion – sepia brown
  
• Build – tall, boney
  

Jolon – Middle child of Peterson family

• Eyes – mud brown
  
• Hair – curly black
  
• Complexion – copper
  
• Build – thick
  

Deb - youngest child of Peterson family

• Eyes – pale blue
  
• Hair – light blond
  
• Complexion – ivory
  
• Build – slight
  

Mr. Truman Peterson

• Eyes – pale blue
  
• Hair – black and grey
  
• Complexion – drywall grey
  
• Build – boney
  

Mrs. Tisha Peterson

• Eyes – grey
  
• Hair – frizzy blonde
  
• Complexion – drywall grey
  
• Build – tall
  

––––––––

H
enri – brute for Peterson family

• Eyes – forest green
  
• Hair – thin / dusky brown
  
• Complexion – freckled white
  
• Build – slight
  

––––––––

G
eorges – Upperlord and Brute Merchant

• Eyes – gold
  
• Hair – black and grey braids
  
• Complexion – coal black
  
• Build – boney
  

––––––––

B
elinda – Upperlord and Brute Merchant

• Eyes – gold
  
• Hair – black braids and twists
  
• Complexion – coal black
  
• Build – full-figured
  

––––––––

M
rs. Fish – Friend of Peterson family

• Eyes – gold
  
• Hair – mahogany
  
• Complexion – tawny
  
• Build – tall / physically fit
  

Mr. Fish – Friend of Peterson family

• Eyes – brown
  
• Hair – black
  
• Complexion – copper with beard
  
• Build – brawn
  

Dorkas – Fellow Underling

• Eyes – grey
  
• Hair – grey
  
• Complexion – grey
  
• Build – narrow
  

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N
una – Tower Resident

• Eyes – brown
  
• Hair – chestnut
  
• Complexion – rusty
  
• Build – solid