Chapter 45: Chapter. 46: Camping

We arrived home, and as soon as the door closed I heard a deep bellow. It sent a shiver down my spine, Ash was angry.

“You…” she hissed. “You told the Old man about the Underworld?!”

I shrank back. “Yes…”

“Why would you do that? Why would you tell him about that?”

“I… well…” I avoided meeting her angry gaze. “It was just a hypothetical scenario. Besides, he didn't believe anything.”

Ash sighed. “I suppose you’re right, but why even risk it?”

I took a deep breath. “Because I trust him.”

“You, trust him?” Ash asked incredulously, and I nodded.

“He’s always willing to listen to my complaints, and sometimes he gives me advice too…” As I continued speaking I felt myself growing shy. “I… trust him a lot.”

“I see,” Ash said with defeat. “Is he really that great?”

“I think so…”

Ash lazily nodded and walked past me. “So you really think he is that great, huh?” She muttered as she passed.

“I do…” I clenched my fist. Ash didn’t understand, but…

He had been there for me so many times. I… I wanted Ash to get to know him, maybe just maybe… Something that we could do together. To bring Ash along⁠— talking wouldn’t be enough.

Seeing new things is always nice. I recalled the Old man’s words, but what was new to all of us⁠— last week I had done a few things, a bear attacked me while hiking and unfortunate things happened. I was exploring nature⁠— Exploring nature? I remembered all the things Samuel ⁠— the first taxi driver I met ⁠— told me about. We could go to places!

I went after Ash, who seemed to realize I was up to something since all she did was stare at me.

“Yes?”

“Ash, how about we go on a trip with the Old man?”

“A trip?” She frowned. “Can you even drive?”

“No, but we can just… use a taxi or something?”

Ash pondered. “And why a trip?”

“Well…” I scratched my cheek. “The Old man said they like to discover new things, and I figured it’d be good for you to… get to know him…” I drifted off. My intentions were slightly embarrassing to confess.

She seemed to think about it for a few seconds. “So you really are serious.” She closed her eyes. “Alright, I’ll agree this time around.”

I almost jumped with joy. “Thanks…” I went away and hurriedly grabbed my phone, luckily remembering I could just call the Old man.

I unlocked it and went to the contacts, before looking for ‘Old man’ and pressing on the old-phone icon. The screen froze for a brief second before the menu switched, and after another second it began to beep indicating that it was indeed calling. I went to my room as it was the most secluded space, and as I entered the phone picked up.

“Hello, Kaiti,” The Old man greeted. “Why do you call?”

I drew a sharp breath suddenly feeling nervous. “W-Well… I was wondering if you would like to go on a trip with Ash and I… She⁠— I want her to get to know you.”

There was a brief silence. “Unfortunately, I cannot go on a trip, they take a long time…”

I sighed. “Is that so?”

“However, there is something that we can do if it is what you want.” Something?

“What is it?” I asked impatiently.

“Camping,” he chuckled through the phone. “It can be quite fun, just remember to bring your bear spray. How does that sound?”

Camping? It was an activity⁠— “That sounds great!”

“Alright, then how does…” He took a brief pause checking for something. “Tomorrow afternoon sound? All day, and into the night mind you. So we won't be back until the day after tomorrow.”

“Sounds great!” I chirped.

“Not so fast,” he sighed. “As you know I am pretty old, so unfortunately I will need you to help me with a lot of things while camping, such as setting up the tent, starting the fire⁠— all that. Are you okay with that?”

I nodded. “Yes, it sounds great!”

He laughed. “Very well, then let Ash know that tomorrow afternoon, also tell her I send my apologies since I seemed to upset her.”

Eh? The phone beeped and he hung up.

He noticed Ash was upset? I turned and left the room, heading for the living room. Ash seemed to be watching TV without a care in the world.

“So what did he say?”

“Well…” I pondered on whether to let her know or not, before finally making my decision. “He apologizes for making you upset, and he said we will go camping…”

“He noticed?” Ash asked with surprise. “Interesting.” She nodded. “So what is this about camping?”

“Em, he says we will meet in the afternoon and camp all day and into the night till morning?”

“I see, then tomorrow it is.”

I nodded.

◇ ◇ ◇

 

We met with the Old man in the afternoon, he seemed more than happy to see us. As he stood up and walked over to us.

“So are you girls ready to go?”

We nodded. But, he turned to Ash.

“Do you always wear those… pajamas?”

Ash nodded with an amused smile. “Always, you should try them, they are very comfortable.”

The Old man let out a cackle. “Maybe sometime later if they got them my size.”

“I am sure we can manage.”

“Sure, sure,” he dismissed. “What about you Kaiti, ready?”

I nodded. “Yes!”

He smiled. “Well as great as it would be to just go, we must get a few supplies.”

“Supplies?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Things such as food, perhaps a stove or utensils, fire-starter rods, and a tent. Maybe I am forgetting a few things, but that is all I can think of,” he said with a pensive look. “With that said we should get going.”

Ash and I nodded and followed after the Old man.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Kaiti, at least let me do this much,” the Old man pleaded.

“Nope,” I said as I lunged the tent onto the back of the van. Along with everything else that had been bought, closing the trunk shortly thereafter.

“You should’ve at least let me pay.” He sighed.

I shook my head, remembering what Ash had told me about Old people in this world ⁠— they cannot make any more money, all the money they’ve made in their entire life must last until they die ⁠— after being told that, I couldn’t help but deny the Old man of any form of payment. Then after he struggled to carry the tent, I also didn’t let him do it.

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And now he was sulking.

“You people are taking too long,” Ash grumbled. She was sitting on the driver’s seat of the van that we had rented solely for this. This time however, Ash decided to rent it saying that a taxi would be too cramped.

Though at first she expected the Old man to drive, but he denied every single attempt to get him to drive, including Ash trying to guilt him into doing so. In the end, the Old man sat as the co-driver and I sat at the back of the van. As we all got ready the Old man couldn’t help but look at Ash, who was going to drive with a onesie on.

“Are you sure you can drive?”

Ash scoffed. “Do I look like I can’t?”

The Old man stared for a second. “Yes.”

Ash grunted. “Well, I can. Worst case scenario⁠— should the cops show up⁠—” She paused and shook her head. “We can always just do a hit and run.”

“Ha?” The Old man took a deep breath. “Please don’t joke about such things.”

“What is a hit and run?” I asked from the back.

“Something that you shouldn’t know about Kaiti,” the Old man said with a sigh.

“It’s what that driver did when he ran me over,” Ash said as the engine of the van roared to life.

Huh.

“I thought that was just an invented story by Kaiti,” The Old man said.

Ash nodded. “It is.”

“Is that so?” The Old man got another nod for affirmation. “Well… No use in worrying about a story then,” he took a deep breath and looked at his phone. “Our destination shall be⁠, this.” He showed Ash the map.

“I have no idea where that is, just tell me left or right, how about that?” She said with a small smile, that it was as dead as sand.

The Old man paused. “Sure…”

And just like that, our fantastic journey began.

◇ ◇ ◇

The sun was nearing the horizon when we arrived at our campsite. The van had been left a walking distance from it. And the Old man was grumpy.

“I just don’t understand how you take left for right.”

Ash mused. “It was entertaining to see you sigh in disappointment every time.”

The Old man sighed making Ash chuckle.

“Just like that.”

I shook my head. “Where do I set the things?” Everything camping related was in two bags and the bag for the tent.

The Old man took a deep breath before turning to look around, and after a minute or so of pacing around he turned to me.

“Kaiti, let us build the tent here.”

I nodded and brought everything along. Eventually setting everything on the ground. At that moment Ash looked at me.

“You should go gather the firewood, I’ll help the Old man with the tent.” She said, though it wasn’t happy or sad. I turned to the Old man but he nodded.

“I’ll go do that,” I walked away. There was a certain weird atmosphere after the said that, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

“Kaiti, the hatchet!” The Old man called, but I didn’t want to interrupt so I shook my head.

“I don’t need it!” I yelled at him back as I disappeared into the nearby woods.

◇ ◇ ◇

Ash took a deep breath upon seeing Kaiti disappear into the woods, while she was unsure on whether Kaiti would spy on their feelings or not, it was enough. Good enough for them to be alone. She turned to see the Old man unwrapping the tent, and its accessories.

“So what did you want to talk to me about?” He asked with confusion.

Ash couldn’t help but sigh. The Old man was very perceptive. Though perhaps she had made it a bit too obvious.

“Kaiti has a really high opinion of you,” Ash said. “But, you are dying aren’t you?”

The Old man paused, before chuckling. “It is only normal for people my age to be dying don’t you think?”

Ash nodded, it was nothing but a hunch. But it itched at her mind the more she interacted with the Old man.

“So did you actually get hit by a car?” The Old man asked suddenly.

Ash paused.

“Don’t lie to me,” the Old man continued.

“I did, but as you can see I am fine.” Ash taking a deep breath. “It hurt a lot.”

The Old man nodded. “In my youth I had my leg ran over by a truck, it certainly hurt. I can imagine your pain a bit. But whether I am dying or not, I don’t think it is all you want to ask.”

“You’re right.” She turned to the stars overhead. “Dead men tell no tales, yes?”

The Old man chuckled. “Indeed, if you shoot me with that gun of yours anyway.”

Ash paused. She wasn’t even showing her weapon, she always carried a pistol sure, but she rarely had to use it. She couldn’t help but look at the Old man with suspicion.

“I could see the outline ever since you sat down,” he shook his head. “At the same time your eyes resemble that of a fish out of the water, dead and dry. Forgive me for being so straight, but you remind me of some of my friends.”

Ash sat down with a sigh. “I never thought about killing you, Kaiti wouldn't forgive me should I do so.”

The Old man nodded. “You care a lot about her, I do too. She is a good girl.”

“She is.” Ash agreed.

A few seconds of silence went by before she decided to begin helping the Old man with the tent. He was taking his sweet time, but with her help, hopefully it would go a lot faster. During that period of time Ash thought.

“Old man, what do you think of Kaiti?”

He paused. “I think she is a well-meaning person, simply lost from time to time. Someone who needs a lot of encouragement, a kid who needs the help of the grown-ups. Someone in desperate need of guidance I suppose, every time I meet her she seems troubled by something.”

Ash nodded. “I carry a great burden, but I can’t help but worry it shall extend to her. Family expectations are the worst, she is the next heir after all.”

“Heir eh?” The Old man said with a smile. “Didn’t know Kaiti was from a reputable family.”

“Sort of.” Ash shook her head. “I grow worried for her.”

“Are you Kaiti’s roommate?” The Old man asked out of nowhere. Ash nodded.

“Yes, why?”

“Sometime ago she seemed very confused regarding her situation and about her roommate, around the first few times I met her,” the Old man mused. “But I saw something else in her concern. She seemed very concerned about her roommate⁠— she wanted to help her. She wanted to help you.”

Ash paused, and finally chuckled. That sounded like Kaiti.

“You should help her too, just like how she wants to help you.” The Old man threaded the wire through the tent.

“I will.”

“Good,” he smiled. “I’ll be counting on you Ash.”

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