Their Reasons

"I guess I'll go next, then," Ilydia said, clearing her throat dramatically. "I came here… for an adventure!"

Michael's brother raised an eyebrow in skepticism. "An adventure? Are you crazy? You came into a place like this—" He gestured towards the collapsed buildings and destroyed roads outside the window, "—for an adventure?"

"Well, I will say, this is very different from what I initially imagined, but then again—" Ilydia shrugged. "—an adventure isn't really an adventure with no danger! How about you? Why did you come here?"

"I…" Michael's brother turned away, clenching his fists tightly. Michael, seeing this, blinked a few times, then figured it was his turn to step in.

"Big Brother Cory came here to secure a good life for him and I."

"Michael…!" Cory shot him a warning glare, but Michael merely shook his head and continued.