Flicker: The Game Of Chance

Chapter 19 | You

POV: MATEO
As the Princess Laurier arrived at the Piasau Port and docked itself there in a calm manner, twilight had already bestowed upon me; as I stepped out of the stupendous ship, I felt a strong gush of the glacial season's arrival pass over me.

I looked up at the heavenly orange and pink skies to see that winter had already made an appearance, as snowflakes gently fell from the sky and placed themselves down on the bitumen.

"Mateo! Long time no see, bud. Where have you been this whole time?!", I could hear the shout of a middle-aged man and his footsteps slowly approaching me.

"Mr. Jean-Claude, sir", I replied in a respectful manner and quickly bowed my head down. "No need for such formalities, young man", Jean-Claude said as he walked over to my right side and put his arm around my shoulder.

I had immense respect for the man - he had given me and my sister a place to rest our heads for almost 7 months after our parents had passed away and we had nowhere else to go. The man provided us with proper love, care, food and everything. For this one reason, I could never feel angry or dissatisfied with anything this man would ever do; in fact, I'd usually just stick up for anything he decided to do even if it wasn't the brightest of ideas.

"You just arrived from the Princess Laurier, bud? Where were you? Out on a vacation? Ahahaha!", the man's piercing yet contagious laugh had rung throughout the port. I brought my head back up and faced Jean-Claude before I spoke to him. "No, sir. I was... I was out getting supplies for me and my sister." Of course I couldn't tell him that I was part of a twisted killing game.

"Ahh! For Mila, huh?! I'd seen her around last week. She seemed to be worried about your whereabouts."

"Is that so...?", I replied with a sad hint in my voice, knowing that my sister probably wouldn't forgive me for leaving her alone like that for almost a month. "Ahh, buddy, no need to get to downhearted! She said she wanted you to be safe, and she wanted you to come back with no injuries and whatnot".

"She said that...?", I looked at Jean-Claude curiously, covering the wound on my stomach with one of my hands. "She sure did, pal. She's not how she actually acts, you know? She may keep shouting and screaming at you for small reasons, but deep inside she really does love you".

I looked away from him for a moment and looked straight ahead, straight at the suppliers and captains getting ready for their ships to depart. I had recognised most of them - a lot of them have worked here ever since I was a little boy. Jean-Claude also looked at the same direction I did, and I could see him smiling to himself.

"Do you know where Mila is now?", I mumbled, hoping that he'd heard me. "Hm? I'm quite sure she's right where you told her to stay, pal". I nodded and looked back at him, trying to give him a bright and reassuring smile. "Thank you, sir. For everything you've done for me", I quickly bow down again as I say this. Jean-Claude pats my back and tilts my body so it faced up again, then he smiled and nodded the same way I did.

"Go meet your sister again, bud. But before that, wait here for just one moment."

Jean-Claude quickly rushed over to one of the many small buildings and after two minutes or three, he'd rushed back to me with a set of winter protective clothing.

"The temperature is below 0°C, pal. A t-shirt and pants won't do", Jean-Claude laughed resoundingly and handed me the set he'd brought. I nod and smile before accepting it from him with both hands, "thank you, sir." I bow down to him once again, showing my undying respect for the man. A few moments later, I'd rose my head and then wore the things he'd given me: the jacket, jumper, boots, gloves, hat.