Maybe it was the fact that after a few weeks in the Hellscape, Carter would never see these people again, for they would be long gone, and he couldn't bring himself to care who the mercenaries sold them to. Maybe they wouldn't give them back to the government at all? Maybe they would sell them on the black market and fetch and even higher price? Carter thought it irrelevant and therefor didn't think on it much. 

Whatever reason it was, Carter found himself wanting to tell the Red-haired boy his past, to unload the burden of the past onto another person, almost selfishly pushing it away as if it were his own responsibility to carry. Or perhaps the years of self-seclusion had effected more than he thought? And so he couldn't hold in the memories anymore.

"It was a few years ago that I left the group."  He thought about leaving it at that, but Jesse beat him to it before he could finish. 

"Were your parents mercenaries?"

"No, they were just ordinary travellers. My old Captain helped them out with some things, got themselves in a ton of debt when they had me." Carter paused, and started to reel in the fishing line before casting it back out again. "They died in the Hellscape before they could settle their debt to my group."

Jesse stayed quiet.

He continued, "The group took me in, since I was too young to get properly employed, they just trained me up, then sent me out in their soldier groups when I was 11... t'just went from there."

"Are you not out of debt yet? Is that why you took our offer?" 

Carter paused and turned to look at Jesse for the first time since conversing. The first drop of guilt crawled its way into his chest. The look on Jesse's face was one of sympathy and deep understanding, as if he could personally relate to the lack of freedom that Carter experienced day-to-day, and he hated seeing that empathy from Jesse, or anyone in fact, but especially since Jesse had no idea of the fate that would befall him when arriving to Eskar. Swallowing the feeling back down, he turned back to the lake and continued, face and tone cold. 

"Why do you care anyway? As long as I get you to Eskar in one piece, then all is fine and dandy! And we," he pointed between the two of them, "never have to see eachother again. So don't get too comfortable around me, just stick to your little group and I get some peace and quiet." 

He was glad he couldn't see the look on Jesse's face for some reason, and all was quiet except the sound of the water from the lake. A sound which gave a false sense of security to those passing by, that this was a place of tranquility and budding life. 

After a moment, Carter heard Jesse reply, "Right."

And then that was it, no smart retort and no silly tone to accompany the blunt answer. After he turned his head, Carter instantly regretted it, since the boy's furrowed eyebrows and contrasting small smile made his face look the picture of disappointment and embarrassment. For some reason, he hated that look on Jesse's face. 

Just as Carter was thinking of something to say, the trees rustled uncharacteristically, as if they were prey trying to run from a nearby predator. Not a second after, an ear-splitting wail tore through the Hellscape.

~~ 

Thanks for reading! Sorry about the late update, from now on I'll be posting every week still but it'll be less of a set-day schedule and more of a whenever I have time thing. So subscribe so you can stay tuned to new episodes!