Robert stopped a man, who was walking past.

"Hey, sir can I ask you for directions to the bathhouse here?" Robert asked as the man pulled his cloth mouth covering down. He had gray skin and lips.

"Ah, I believe it is over there. The white building." The man said and pointed to a smaller white building, compared to the rest of the street. it was a few yards away.

Robert thanked the man and begin pushing his way through the crowd towards the building. He reached the building's doors and pushed his way inside.

"Whoa!" Robert muttered as the blues, reds, purples, and greens of the lobby room enveloped him. He was in shock by the color shift.

The lobby of the bathhouse had a rainbow of colored cloth hanging from the ceiling. Through the hanging cloth, Robert could see a desk. A man stood behind the desk, spinning a coin out of pure boredom. Beside him on the desk was a dozen sand timers, each counting down. A man entered the building behind Robert.

“Move.” The large man said as he pushed past Robert. He flicked colored cloth in his way as he approached the front desk. “HelIo, I want to the hour-long bath.” The customer pulled out a cloth bag.

“That will one copper crown.” The man behind the desk said as he straighten up. He eyed the bag intensely. “Ahem, Would you be interested in upgrading to the two-hour bath? Only another payment of one copper crown.”

“No, think you.” the man said as he handed the ten coins over. “Here you go.” The large man then hid the small bag away.

“Alright, here's your marker.” The man behind the desk said as he handed out a neckline of green-colored wood. “Make sure to return it afterward. Head through that door, and go through the door on the left, not the one of the right, understand? Oh and don't worry about the hired muscle in there. As long as you don't stay past your time limit you won't have to meet them.”

The customer nodded understandably and left through the back door. The man behind the desk pulled out a new sand timer and turned to Robert.

“Hey! Are you just going to stand there all day?” The man behind the desk said as he put the sand timer down. The timer started ticking away. “Get over here.”

Ok, calm down. This can't be worse than buying a car on earth. Robert thought as he approached. Wait I don't even know the currency system. How much do I have again? I don't want to give him too much. I'm going to have to wing this.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

“Haha, sorry but my girlfriend took my wallet and I only have some pocket change handy,” Robert said, as he showed his money. “How much time can this pay for?”

“What's a wallet?” The man behind the desk asked, confused.

Oh crap! They don't have wallets here. Robert thought.

“Oh, it's a new coin carrier. That kind of thing.” He said.

“Oh, so an expensive purse then.” The man behind the desk said, as looked at Robert's coins. “Oh, sir? That's more than enough for a full hour. Sorry, but it's not enough for two. Would you like two hours anyway?”

“Sure. Anything.” Robert said, gulping back anxiety.

“Ok. A two-hour bath coming right up.”The man behind the desk said as he takes twelve coins from Robert. “Oh and sorry about your girlfriend.”

“Ah? What do you mean?” asked Robert, confused.

“Didn't your girl run off with your money?”

“What no. She does this all the time. She'll be back. I hope.” Robert said as he pointed at the back door. “So I just go through that door?”

“Yes. Oh right here's your marker.” The man behind the desk said as he handed Robert a neckline of red-colored wood. Robert put it on.

“Make sure to return it afterward. Now through that door is two doors make sure to take the one on the left, not the one on the right, understand? Oh and don't worry about the hired muscle in there. As long as you finish in two hours they won't kick you out.” The man behind the desk said

“Ah, think you,” Robert said as he headed for the back door. “Great hired muscle. I wonder what that looks like here?”

The back door leads to a second room with two doors. the left door had the drawing of a stick figure and the other door a long-haired stick figure. A small group of large men and women set around the table playing cards. They paused to acknowledge Robert's presence. One pointed to the left door. The one with the build stick figure.

“Think you,” Robert said, as he walked around them and entered the left door.

The left door leads to an indoor pool. The pool was a half-circle that stopped at the wall. The floor was made of wooden boards, and the ceiling had many holes to let light in. The pool water was faintly boiling and was lightly tan-colored. Facing him was the man from earlier. He was sitting in the pool naked, with his clothes behind him in pile.

Hang on? Where's the changeling room? Do they not have one? Do I have to change in here? Robert thought as he noticed other men here. At least it's not a mixed bath.

Robert started undressing. He put his suit jacket, tie, undershirt, shoes, and socks in a pile. He got a lot of attention, probably because of the number of clothes he had on. Finally, he removed his pants and boxers and stepped inside the pool.

The water was hot, like a hot tube. The bottom was filled with rocks, that moved under his weight. As he stepped deeper in, the deepest part didn't even go past his chest. It was the worst hot tube he had ever been in, but never the less it was cleansing. He finally relaxed.

Oh, that feels good. Robert thought as he wobbled back to the edge to sit down. He rubbed water into his hair. It turned the water under him a hint darker. Oh, I'm really covered in it. This alien sand.

I was imprisoned, interrogated, attacked, starved, and abandoned. I almost died like eight times. Damn it. To Hell with everyone that did this to me. I mean really it. How is that even fair? I'm lucky to be alive. Just to hell with all of that.

Well, I can't just say, everyone was totally horrible. The princess was pleasant to be around to at least, and she was even pretty. I hope they find her. No stop!

He shook his head and splashed water in his face.

No! I can't think about that anymore. Robert thought. They'll definitely kill me if I go back. Whatever that was about, it's far too is big for me to do anything about. I'll have a hard enough time surviving the normal here. Firstly I need a job and a house like back on earth. Oh crap... I completely forgot.

He slides in deeper into the water.