Kerra and Jared stepped into the grocery store, the fluorescent lights flickering overhead. Jared's eyes darted around, trying to make sense of the signs above each aisle and the labels on the produce bins.
He frowned. "I can't read any of this."
A middle-aged man nearby glanced over. "It's written in Zo-pak. If you're planning to stay here, you'll need to learn the language."
Jared blinked. "Learn a whole new language? That's not exactly something I can do in five minutes."
The man shrugged and turned away. Jared muttered under his breath and walked off with Kerra.
"Maybe the store changed ownership," he said, trying to sound casual. Kerra gave a hesitant nod, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.
At the checkout, Jared placed their groceries on the counter and pulled out a few crumpled dollar bills from his jeans pocket.
The cashier glanced at the bills and pushed them back toward him. "Sorry. We don't accept currency with Milton Sudan's face anymore."
Jared's jaw dropped. "What? This is legal tender. It's all I've got."
"I understand," the cashier said, her tone firm but not unkind. "But the policy changed last month. Only the new bills are valid now."
Before Jared could respond, a uniformed police officer entered the store and approached them.
"Excuse me," he said. "We received a report that you two were speaking Aka-pak and not Zo-pak. Is that correct?"
Jared looked confused. "Yeah, we're not fluent in Zo-pak. We weren't taught it growing up."
The officer nodded. "Under current regulations, non-speakers of Zo-pak are required to attend language orientation. You'll need to come with me."
Kerra's eyes widened. "Wait, is this mandatory?"
"Yes," the officer said, gesturing toward a military-style van parked outside. "It's part of the national integration program."
Reluctantly, Jared and Kerra followed him out of the store. As they climbed into the van, Jared caught sight of a crowd gathered near the public library. Flames crackled from a bonfire, and people were tossing books written in Aka-pak.
Jared's stomach turned. He shut his eyes and took slow breaths, trying to steady himself as the van pulled away.