Here's the first part of Chapter 2 for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!
Chapter Two
Two days later, Kale once again found himself in Corten’s
company. They had run into each other strolling through a park and decided to
have lunch. Neither was in a great hurry, Kale being occupation-less and Corten
being who-knows-what when it came to his daily activities. Kale was frequently
glad his parents had left him enough inheritance to not require an immediate
transition from high school to college. Instead, he spent lazy summer days
tracing paths through Torman City and getting to know his surroundings as well
as possible, including every café and restaurant he came across. He was not
sure of his long-term aspirations, but he never wanted much to be a known
entity. He was perfectly content without a job, family, or too many friends
surrounding him. Those things meant pressure, and Kale did his best to stay
away from pressure.
He was curious about Corten, though. The man had practically
dropped into his life without warning one day on the bus. Corten seemed intent
on getting to know Kale, as if he had a mission of sorts, yet Kale did not view
him as the type to pressure, so he allowed it. They were friends within a few
days. Kale had all the time in the world to do as he pleased, and Corten seemed
to always be free, so they met for meals a few times and a basement closet
poker game once—that mysterious night blended into Kale’s mind as normal almost
too quickly for his liking. He felt like he was part of a movie, and until he
stopped enjoying the strangeness and unpredictability, he would continue to go
along with the games of his new acquaintances.
“Where are we eating today?” Corten asked.
“There’s a burger I want to try at a place around the
corner.”
“Alright.”
“Do you work? At all?”
“Work? Do I have a job?”
“Yes, a job. Do you have a job?”
“Yes. Of course I have a job.”
“Um. What is it?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You never seem to be busy. Ever.”
“I work different hours than most people.”
“What, like night shift?”
“Something like that.”
Kale gave up. Maybe it was too soon or it was some top
secret government thing. That would make sense considering the events that
transpired a few nights before. There was quiet as they entered the restaurant
and sat down at a booth. They ordered, and the food was served, and still they
didn’t speak to each other. Kale felt odd—he knew nothing about this man. The
man knew nothing about him. They ate. The burgers were perfectly adequate. They
paid, stood, and left, walking back the way they had come. It was a monotonous
walk, steps aligned and breeze blowing the same warmth of the day before. Corten’s
mind was brewing with something; it was obvious on his face. Kale was
overwhelmed by curiosity, but held back his thoughts. He was still hesitant to
ask too many questions. He seemed to be quite bad at it as a whole.
There were very few words exchanged as they eventually
parted ways at the start of the sky’s darkening and headed to their respective
places of residence. Kale wanted to know more. He was not sure what, but he wanted to know something.
In time, the voice
in his head told him. You will understand
more than you wish to, in time.
--
Kale stepped again into the hallway that had once been
covered with tarp. It was now clear of any excess plastic, and Kale was
surprised to discover that there were other doors in the hall. He assumed the
darkroom had been the only one on the floor. Corten and Enya followed him
inside, and Corten closed the door. Kale continued down the hall, but Enya
grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back.
"We're not going there this time. The darkroom will
wait a little longer for your second entrance." Enya did not explain
further, but Kale was accepting of the information he did receive.
"Where are we going, then?" Kale asked.
"The backwood." Corten spoke as he guided Kale
with a hand against his sholder to the second door on the right, almost
opposite the turn that led to the darkroom.
"Wait, I thought Kenton was the backwood."
"Kenton is a
backwood, yes. But that is not his full occupation. We are taking you to his
namesake. The backwood." Kale
tried to turn the doorknob to no avail.
"Why is this locked?"
"What did I say about questions?"
"Learn to ask better ones or don't ask them at
all."
"Very good, youngling. It is not locked, you are simply
not able to open it at the moment."
"Okay, so you open it."
"Perhaps you should avoid demands as much as questions.
They do not suit you well." Corten did open the door, however, and another
darkness was on the other side, but it was not the same quiet, hopeless
darkness of the darkroom. Kale decided not to ask why it looked exactly the
same but felt different.
"On with you, then." Corten gave him a
light shove into the darkness.
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