Midnight River Shorts

Benjamin and Silas

Benjamin's POV

Age 18

The bell rings, dismissing us from our last class of the day. I sigh and grab my backpack, swinging it over my shoulder.

"Wanna go to the bakery?" Casey grins, sliding his messenger bag over his head.

"I don't know." I sigh, following him out of the classroom.

"What's wrong, Bennie?" Casey asks, hooking his elbow with mine.

"I don't know what I want to do after we graduate, Case." I look at him.

He hums softly, then looks at me. "Then try a bunch of stuff." He shrugs. "There's nothing that's specifically laid out for us. My mom wanted to be a teacher, so that's what she is. I think... I want to be a baker." He grins happily at me. "So, I'm gonna practice baking and then apply at the bakery." We walk down the front steps of the school and start toward the bakery. "We've got time, Bennie. We're only eighteen."

"You're right." I smile at him. "Let's go get some cake." I grin.

We spend the next hour or so at the bakery before splitting up and going to our own houses. I set my backpack down inside the door and kick off my shoes.

"I'm home!" I call out, letting my family know I've returned.

"Hi, Bennie!" My little sister, Alyssa, grins from the couch. "Spending time with Casey?"

"Duh." I laugh, sitting with her. "How was school for you?"

"Eh. Same old, same old." She shrugs.

"Bennie, Dear." Mom says, drying her hands on a towel as she walks into the room.

"Hey, Mom." I smile at her.

"Have you given any thought to what you want to do?" She asks, sitting on the coffee table in front of me.

"I don't know, Mom." I sigh, leaning back.

"You've got time, Honey." She says, patting my knee. "Just try out things that interest you. You'll find something sooner or later." She smiles. "In the meantime, dinner is ready. So please set the table."

"Alright." I smile at my mother and stand, hugging her briefly before I set the dinner table.

The months pass and Casey and I graduate high school. He gets more into his baking, claiming that he needs to get to a certain level before he applies to the bakery. I try different things. Painting, drawing, sculpting, pretty much any kind of artistic thing I can think of before I finally settle on photography. Something about capturing beauty on camera just sparks something in my soul.

Age 20

"I'm going out, Mom!" I call over my shoulder, as I strap my camera bag to my back.

"Alright, Honey! Have fun!" She calls back from the kitchen. "Come back before dark!"

"I will!" I say, sliding on my boots and closing the door behind me. I trek into the forest, searching for something that calls to my heart.

I snap photos of chipmunks and such as they scurry around in the trees. I snap some photos of the plants that grow on the ground. I look up and see what could be a beautiful shot. Straight up through the tree branches, looking up at the blue sky.

I step backwards, trying to line up the shot. I click the shutter, getting the shot... Right before I slip and fall down a short crevasse. I land on my ankle, hearing it crack.

"Damn it!" I curse softly, trying to right myself. I try to stand, but it hurts. I sniffle quietly, realizing I left my phone at home.

We need to get to the clinic. My Wolf, Storm, says.