Mimicry

Chapter 1

Michael followed after the two out the orphanage door, heading straight for a black car. It looked a little like a funeral car, and I shuddered from that thought. I remained in the orphanage, until I heard the car drive off.

I took one step forward and suddenly, Michael had me in an headlock, squeezing hard enough for me to choke and my eyes water. "I. Told. You. To. Go. Away!" Michael growled, his face red from exertion.

I tapped his hand hurriedly, with my vision covered in black spots. After a final squeeze, he let me go, and I fell to the floor, gasping for air. I turned back to find Michael plowing a hand through his hair, a frustrated expression on his old face.

"Anyways, that aside, I'm going to Solar to collect something. Wanna follow?" He asked in his gruff tone, stretching his hand to help me up. Accepting his offered hand, I pulled myself back to my feet, barely registering Michael's words.

"Hello? I'm not talking to the wall, am I?" Michael waves his hand in front of my face. "What?" I asked in an annoyed tone, swatting his hand away from my face.

"I asked you if you wanted to follow me to Solar, dumbass," he rolled his eyes. I almost stumbled in shock and surprise. I've never been to the capital before, and when Michael goes, I was forced to stay behind.

"Seriously? I can come?" I looked at Michael, who grunted. "I ain't repeating myself again, boy. Get ready. We're leaving in five." With that, Michael steps out of the orphanage, heading towards a modest shack near the building.

I turned back and walked further into the building, where an old rickety staircase that led to the bedrooms stood. I climbed it with ease and at the top, a hallway with doors lining the walls greeted me.

I trudged into the furthest room from the stairs, pushed the door open only to find a plain looking room.

There wasn't much, except a bed, a bathroom and a wooden desk. Hanging from the back of the door was my worn-out backpack, which used to be white but now turning grey.

I grabbed that, along with a couple wads of cash I'd saved up, as well as a beat-up hoodie. I stuffed the the items in my bag and rushed out the room. Almost tumbling down the stairs from excitement, I said a quick goodbye Sister Nora, who barely had time to wave back before I went running out the orphanage doors.

At the outskirts of Gord, I spied Michael's large silhouette, tapping his foot impatiently. "Boy, I swear you take forever to get ready," he muttered as I rushed next to him.

"Oh shut up," I rolled my eyes, folding my arms. The sun was setting already, with a few stars and the moon already visible in the pink sky.

"We'll be in Solar in a couple hours, so saddle up." With that, Michael brought forward a pair of white pack horses. One had spots everywhere, while the other was pure white, with a shaggy mane. Both were bridled and saddled, ready to go.

I immediately took a liking to the spotted one; he seemed to have a quiet strength to him, despite being just a pack horse. I hopped onto his back, and he gave a little snort as I rubbed his neck.

"That's Dust. He's small for his breed, but he's pretty quick," Michael told me, mounting the other pack horse. He turned his horse, nicknamed Sky by yours truly, towards the north, the general direction of Solar. I followed him closely, unable to hide my excitement. "Let's start moving. We have to get there before dawn," "Why so early?" I asked, curious. "Because that's when traders and travelling merchants start coming in, and it'll be very, very chaotic." Without another word, Michael rode off, and I followed a second later, the sight of Gord slowly growing smaller and smaller. 

***

Sometime during the ride, I must've fallen asleep, because the next time I opened my eyes, Michael had Dust's lead tied to the back of Sky's saddle, both the pack horses plodding along at a steady pace. The sun was barely visible, the moon slowly disappearing at the rise of the sun. "How long was I out?" I asked Michael, who turned back and said, "Quite a while, boy. Not that I'm complaining. Spared me hours of talking." "Haha, very funny, old man," I replied, patting Dust on the neck.