Passages

Chapter 11

Baylee looked up.

"I really know it's sad, but I just can't help being happy. It's my nature."

"When we first met, I couldn't tell."

Pause.

"There are things to be happy about," Kaspar continued. "I thought you knew. Everyone knows that- everyone sees this on posers and things. But we never follow it. Never think about following it-"

"Getting philosophical?"

And again, Kaspar laughed.

"See?"

"See what?"

"That there are reasons to be happy about?"

"I thought you said everyone knew that."

"Well, you're not everyone. You're Baylee."

"Genius."

Both were silent, but they knew that inside, they were cracking up...

"We should find something to do. We're outta the Passages, could we practice magic?"

He hesitated.

"Maybe later. I'm... not in the mood."

The girl raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?"

He walked out.

"Later."

Baylee shrugged her shoulders.

"You're mysterious, you know that?"

No answer.

She repeated her question.

"Yes, I know! Let's not talk right now."

"Okay."

Part of her understood. His life was hard.

Their life was hard.

But that wasn't Kaspar's behavior. Even though he was really enclosed when they first saw each other...

She decided to go around the house again. Weapons that she wasn't allowed to touch, supply rooms, shattered furniture. It looked like it had already survived a good amount of raids and invasions.

But surprisingly, she enjoyed it. Somehow, it felt like she was born to pursue it- and honestly speaking, Baylee really wanted to touch a weapon.

She blushed and took her finger off the rifle. It wasn't what she had to do; she was supposed to be playing with dolls and jumping ropes.

But toys were in the past. It was the choice she made.

I guess I could try... I won't get caught...

Baylee picked it up and examined it. It was charged, surprisingly.