Over the Falls

Chapter 11

WIRT

Wirt remained silent for a good portion of the time he and Bill walked. He didn't like that he had cried in front of a demon, and he hated the thoughts that were running through his mind. He was scared, but he wasn't about to let Bill know that.

He glanced at Bill. Bill looked strange. It seemed like he didn't know where to look, his hands weren't in his pockets, he just looked out of place. Wirt wondered if he wasn't used to dealing with human emotions.

Perhaps I am still human for now... I still feel things, things the Beast probably doesn't feel, Wirt thought to himself.

Bill met Wirt's eyes. Wirt looked away cooly.

What was he thinking?

BILL

Bill didn't know what he was thinking.

He was nervous, he guessed. Nervous that if a creature like Wirt could have emotions like that, maybe he did too. Maybe the things he had been feeling for the past few days...were emotions. Human emotions.

I can't have human emotions. I'm better than that, Bill thought. It's this body, Pine Tree's body is making me weak. You hear that, kid? I might leave soon, you better come back and reclaim your body.

There was no response.

Bill sighed and looked back at Wirt. He still couldn't believe he had tried to help him. He couldn't believe they had shared...a moment. Sort of.

Bill's hand had been stiff on Wirt's shoulder, but Wirt had let him keep it there. Wirt's face had softened, he had calmed down. Bill usually didn't have that effect on people, he usually made people angry, more frustrated, even violent.

This was different for him...pleasantly different.