Mikel drove his sword through the Traitor's back.
"Justice!" The little boy lowered his voice in what he thought sounded manly. "For my wife, creten!"
"Mikel!" His maid stood in the doorway. "Dinner time!"
But Mikel did not hear, he was focussed on his story.
"Muhahahaha." The Traitor laughed maniacly. "You have fallen into my trap!"
"Mikel!" The woman grabbed his arm, making him drop his toys. "I said dinner."
"But... I'm playing."
She grinned. "You've fallen into my trap." She said, her teeth growing. And growing. "Your mama and papa can't save you now." Her eyes bulged, and her skin rotted, chunks falling to the ground as she spoke. "You will burn like the rest of them!"
"No!" Mikel tried to break free but her grip was iron. Mikel screamed.
"You've fallen into my trap!"
Worms started to crawl on her disfigured face as it stretched and contorted. Mikel could feel the flames approaching. Entrappinjg him. The worms seared and melted, puffs of smoke escaping their charred husks. The fire melted the once-maid's face, turning it into puss. She screamed all the same.
"Mikel!"
"Get away!"
"Mikel!"
It was Mom. Half a dozen boys and girls surrounded the homely-looking woman as she stared down at Mikel disappointed. He was in his bed. The sky was blue overhead. And a nightmare. It was a nightmare.
Just a nightmare.
"You woke the other children." Mom spat the words. "And you changed beds. Jehan? Oh, there you are. Who permitted you to change beds with Mikel?"
Jehan was looking at his feet. "I did it to help him sleep, Mom. He was gonna wake the others up if I didn't."
Mom, lips pierced, looked at both boys intently. Mikel hated the woman with a passion. He didn't know why. But something about this Mom made his stomach turn. He wanted to grab her by the head and -
"Alright." Mom said raising her hands. "Jehan. Since you seem so trusting of your new best friend, I am assigning you as his Chaperone."
The kids around them gasped. Jehan shuffled his feet and bit his lip, but nodded. Mom nodded likewise and left before another word could be uttered.
Voices rose around him but Mikel did not listen. He could not listen. He was angry. Angry at himself for not remembering what happened. The anger rose until he imagined breaking his bed in half. The fury engulfed him on all sides. It was fierce, red, and hot. So hot. The heat was everywhere. Support beams falling, people screaming, furniture burning. He wanted to scream but he knew if he opened his mouth the inferno would drown him.
"Mikel?" Mikel raised his head and Jehan stepped back, eyes wide. "Woah." It was just him, the others were gone. "I - I'm sorry. You were shouting. Tossing and turning. We were scared so we called Mom."
Slowly. Gently. Mikel breathed in and out, in and out. When he locked eyes with Jehan again the boy breathed a sigh of relief. Mikel extended a hand of thanks and Jehan took it.
"Still can't talk?" A nod. "Did you have a nightmare?" Another nod. "Are you alright now?" A pause... nod. Jehan nodded back. "Do you understand what me being your Chaperone means?"
Mikel shook his head and Jehan jumped on the bed to sit beside him. "It means that I am responsible for you. So, you see, if you get in trouble, I get in trouble." He smiled but it was forced. "And the punishments can be very harsh."
Jehan gave Mikel a pleading look. Mikel knew it well. It was the look servants gave his Father when they angered him. Mikel grabbed Jehan's shoulder and squeezed it, just like Father used to do. It seemed to ease Jehan a little.
"So this is your new friend, Jehan?"
A girl with curly black hair stood with hands behind her back. Her stance said she was judging them, and her look said they were guilty.
Jehan blushed fiercely. "Mikel, this is Amilia. Amilia this is Mikel. He, uh, doesn't talk much. At all, actually."
Amilia took precisely one step forward and proffered her hand. Mikel shook it gladly. She then returned to her previous position.
"Mr. Fenrose is sure to have brought you for a reason, Mikel. He only saves the worthy children." Amilia said. "Don't feel bad about angering Mom."
Mikel felt nothing of the sort, but who was this Mr. Fenrose? Mikel prodded Jehan with a questioning glance.
"This orphanage belongs to Lord Fenrose. Mom takes care of us, but Lord Fenrose controls admissions and exits." He scratched the back of his head. "However, Mom has been known to have sway with the Lord. She has... expelled naughty kids before."
"Only those that deserve it," Amilia said with a raised finger. "Never ones who are troubled."
"Amilia here is our 'Pride and Joy', as Mom likes to call her," Jehan said, abashed.
"That I am," Amilia confirmed, proud. "because of this I can suggest certain things to Mom."
"You don't mean -"
"Yes. I came here to offer you two a chance to join me and the others in performing extra activities."
"Even me?" Jehan pointed to himself.
Amilia gave him a tired look but said nothing.
Mikel did not know what they were talking about, but the conversation kept the fires at bay so he nodded to prod them to continue.
Amilia elaborated. Mom assigned certain duties to certain trusted children. This group had privileges but was expected to carry out any and all 'extra activities' without quarrel. Jehan had tried being accepted for months but was never taken seriously.
"Mom wants me to take the measure of you, MIkel. And Jehan, since you're his Cheparone you get to come too." She finished, turned, and left.
Mikel only half listened to Jehan as he explained this amazing opportunity. The flames... Mikel could hear the crackling. He listened to Jehan, he gazed at the sky outside, he breathed in the cool morning air - nothing. He could still hear the flames crackling around him.
And among them, as he concentrated, a voice emerged.
Sinister. Wrong. Other.
Hello, little Mikel.
📚 READLIST 📚
I hope you are having a fantastic day! And if not, don't worry - the sun always rises. 🌞