Brittle Bone City

I was starving. I didn't know how long it had been since I had last eaten, but the thought of food made my bones ache. Rosten must have seen the hunger in my eyes.

"Are you hungry?" Officer Rosten asked.

"Yeah," I admitted embarrassed.

"Follow me and we'll get you some food," he said.

"Food?" I repeated, confused. "How do skeletons eat?"

Rosten chuckled. "Skaltans have a unique way of nourishing themselves, Bonesy. They take calcium nutrient pastes and smear them all over their bodies. This helps keep their bones strong and revitalizes them."

I looked at him skeptically. "But how will I eat? I don't have flesh or organs."

"Trust me, Bonesy, it works. The Skaltans will show you how to do it. They'll take care of you."

I nodded uncertainly. The idea of smearing nutrients all over my skeletal frame seemed strange, but I was too hungry to care. "Okay, let's go to this Skaltan camp."

Rosten nodded as he opened the car door of his police car for me.

The police car's exterior was imposing and aggressive, designed to strike fear in the hearts of criminals.

It wasn't streamlined for aerodynamics, but rather, it had sharp angles and edges that made it look like a predator on the prowl.

The front of the car was dominated by a massive grill, which was made up of thick metal bars that looked like the teeth of a dangerous animal.

The headlights were like the angry, sinister eyes of a hunter, casting a sharp beam of light that illuminated everything in their path.

The car's body was painted in a deep, dark shade of blue that looked almost black, adding to the car's intimidating appearance.

The doors were thick and heavy, designed to withstand even the strongest of blows. The wheels were large and rugged, built for speed and stability on any terrain.

I noticed that the interior was just as impressive as the exterior. The seats were made of a black leather-like material that seemed to conform to my skeletal frame, and the dashboard was lined with glowing screens that displayed all sorts of information.

The steering wheel was small and compact, and there were no pedals to speak of. Instead, there was a series of buttons and knobs that I assumed controlled the car's speed and direction.

As Rosten started the engine, I felt a slight vibration pass through my bones.

The car was completely silent, but I could tell that it was powerful just by the way it moved.

As we drove through the city, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the technology that had gone into creating such a remarkable machine.

It was as if I had been transported to a world beyond my wildest dreams, a world where anything was possible.

"We'll be there soon. Just hang on, Bonesy."

I sat back in the car seat, my bones rattling with hunger. I couldn't wait to learn more about this unique way of eating and hopefully find some relief for my gnawing hunger.

As we approached the Skaltan camp, I noticed that it was a small town called Brittle Bone City.

I had never seen anything like it. Everywhere I looked, there were skeletons like me going about their business, walking their dogs, and tending to their gardens.

As soon as we arrived, a Skaltan woman, wearing a pretty pink and blue dress came out to greet us. She introduced herself as Brenda Bonelli and asked Rosten if he was bringing a new Reborn.

When he confirmed that he was, she looked at me with a friendly smile and said, "Welcome to Brittle Bone City, dear."

Before parting, Rosten mentioned that the detective department might be interested in speaking with me and that I should come back to the Department in the future.

I agreed although I wasn't sure what was going to happen next. Rosten reassured me that everything would be fine and left in his futuristic police car.

Brenda Bonelli took me under her wing and showed me around the town.

She explained that Brittle Bone City was nothing more than a temporary neighborhood for Skaltans to live in until they decided whether they wanted to continue living on Earth or go to where the majority of Skaltans lived.

Bonesy looked at Brenda with an expression of confusion on his face. "I'm really hungry," he said. "But I don't know how to eat. Can you help me?"

Brenda nodded. "Of course. Skaltans eat by smearing calcium nutrient pastes all over their bodies. It keeps our bones strong and revitalizes us."

Bonesy was surprised but intrigued. "That's interesting," he said. "But how do I do that?"

Brenda smiled. "I'll take you to a diner where you can get a nutrient shower. You stand in a tube, and the nutrients wash over you. Robotic arms polish your entire body, and it's almost like you're eating a real meal. You'll feel satisfied afterward."

Bonesy looked relieved. "Thank you. That sounds like it will help."

After the meal, Brenda led Bonesy to his new apartment. "You'll be living here with other Skaltans," she said. "In a few days, a Skaltan Guide will come and make arrangements for all of the new Skaltans. You'll be in good hands."

Bonesy felt grateful for Brenda's help. "Thank you so much for everything," he said. "I'm glad to know that I'm among others like me."

I followed Brenda to my new apartment, feeling both excited and nervous. The building was tall and made of glass, with a neon sign above the entrance that read "Hearse Towers."

We entered the lobby, which was filled with Skaltans going about their day. Some were talking and laughing with friends, while others were hurrying to do other things.

Brenda led me to an elevator and pressed the button for the seventh floor. The elevator doors opened, revealing a long hallway with doors on either side.

She stopped at one of the doors and handed me a keycard.

"Here's your new home," she said, smiling. "It's not much, but it's yours for now."

I opened the door and stepped inside. The apartment was small but cozy, with a bed, a desk, and a closet.

The walls were painted a soft shade of blue, and there was a window that overlooked the city. It was a far cry from the spacious apartment I had lived in when I was alive, but it was more than I could have asked for as a reborn.

Brenda followed me inside and gave me a quick tour. She pointed to where the bathroom was located.

This lead to the obvious question, "How do skeletons go to the bathroom?

My question elicited a laugh from Brenday, "Oh, I forgot, you're not even a day old yet."

Brenda restrained her laughter. "You'll start to feel like something wants to exit your bones. When you feel that, come into this bathroom and stand under the water jets.

Your body will excrete various colored particles, but mostly the particles will be black and brown.

This is all the crud and harmful toxins and such that our bodies have absorbed over the years.

The food we eat has active ingredients that will help our bodies push this waste out.

Once that happens, it will be time for the next step, strengthening the bones.

But you'll need a teacher for that. However, that's all for the future, since this is your first day and you've already eaten pretty well, I'm sure you'll get to experience the welcoming ceremony tonight."

She said with what could only be described as a bright smile.

"What's the opening ceremony?" I couldn't fail to ask.e

"Don't worry, you'll know tonight." She changed the subject and drew my attention over to the door as she prepared to leave.

"You'll have everything you need here," she said, patting my shoulder. "And remember, if you need anything, just let me know."

I thanked her for her help and watched as she left, closing the door behind her.

I was finally alone in my new home, and despite the small size, it felt like a sanctuary. For the first time since my accident, I felt like I had a place to call my own.