Sorry for the delay but, I am a lazy writter. I had lost of homework and I just arrived for the most amazing trip to Italy. BUt, returning to the story. I took the advoce of one of the reviwers and I wrote almost 3 chapters so I can update the story more often (And that means, next chapter on Friday; I swear) So, now enjoy the chapter :D
At the magician´s house Hugo had different tasks along the day. In the morning he had to wake up before the magician to make him coffee and to feed all the animals. He would wash the magician´s dirty laundry and then dry it. After that when the magician was finally gone to practice on his secret room, Hugo had to clean all the rooms and the kitchen. In the afternoon he only had to make him lunch because the magician would always go out with a friend or associate. Hugo spent all afternoon ordering the magician´s tricks on his suit and put the animals back in the cages. Also, he had to order the magician´s books that every morning seemed to multiply. Finally at night he had to go with the magician to the theatre to pick up the money from the tickets and also introduce each trick.
In each performance he had to use a funny suit with tons of color and some make up. The clothes were something like you could see in a pirate´s book and the make-up was a little bit to dramatic for his taste.
"It is to make your eyes look bigger and bluer." Would say the magician every time he put eyeliner on Hugo.
But Hugo missed France. He missed the sound of the train and the clocks. He missed Isabelle and her grandpa. He missed all the people that worked at the station and had helped him in a moment or another. Even though he hated to admit it; Hugo missed the way his uncle used to treat him at the station. Not that the man was abusive or violent with him. The thing that was driving Hugo mad was the psychological violence. Every time he burn the magician´s dinner he would say something like "It would be a shame to burn those two white hands like you did with the meat" or if he left the bunnies out of his cage he would say "I think I should lock you so you learn that wild animals can´t walk freely in the house." All those comments always left Hugo shaking like a leaf even though the magician never did things like that to him.
That was his life for the last 2 weeks.
"Hugo!" screamed the magician.
Hugo jumped from his seat and ran toward the stage. He was already dressed for the show and he was just waiting for the magician´s assistant to put him his make-up. When he got to the stage he could feel his heart beating like crazy. If the man was screaming like that, it only meant trouble for him.
When he got to the stage, Hugo was able to see that August wasn´t mad but he wasn´t alone. At his side there was a young man talking with him. He had brown curly hair and eyes as blue as his. Hugo walked closer and noticed that the man couldn´t be more than 20 years old.
"Hugo, I want to introduce you one of my old pupils; Abraham Liam." said August as he pulled Hugo toward the young man. The other one smiled pleased as he kneeled in front of him. Hugo stood quiet and immobile. "Abraham, this is my new acquisition; Hugo Cabret."
"I thought this little pirate would have another name." joked Abraham. "Something more like…Barbosa?"
August laughed noisily to the joke; Hugo stood quiet. That man didn´t look as frightening as August did but Hugo had learnt not to trust everyone; and less if he was friend with August.
"I heard your native language is French." Abraham tried to change subject as he saw how his joke was ignored by the little boy. "Could you talk to me in French?"
Now Hugo smiled slightly. "Arrête de me faire chier." By the way the man and August smiled at him Hugo was aware they hadn´t understood a word. The little guy gave them a bigger smile.
"I knew you would get along!" bragged August as he put his hand over Hugo´s shoulder and rubbed softly. Hugo didn´t move or react; he was used to August bipolarity; or better called, hypocrisy. "Hugo, do you want to know why I am introducing Mr. Liam?" Hugo didn´t want to know but he didn´t say a word. He liked happy August, at least happy August didn´t threaten him about encaging him in a wooden box.
"I am here to learn from my old professor. It seems that I am still not good enough so I returned to get better." said Abraham shyly. "After all; August is the master of all magicians." August laughed about the complement but didn´t denied it. That was another thing that bothered Hugo about the magician; his lack of humility.
"May I leave now? I have to get my makeup done before the show starts." whispered Hugo as he looked down submissive. In the last weeks he had learnt that if he made a puppy face and asked things politely he could avoid making mad August.
"There will be time for that. Now I want you to show Abraham the theatre and don´t forget to make him comfortable." said August as he pushed Hugo toward him.
Hugo almost fell but he was able to keep his balance at the last second. He could feel his knees now shaking. Why August wanted him to attend the younger magician? Was that a sign that he kind of trusted him or it was something more twisted? He knew that Augusts' tricks were good, but some of them were kind of creepy and twisted. Like when he cut his assistant in front of the audience or when he took a snake out of his nose. Hugo gulped as he remembered those images; if Augusts´ tricks were twisted, he feared his mind was as sick as them.
"Hugo!" called the magician. Hugo hadn´t noticed the conversation between the two magician´s. "Why don´t you show Abraham his room?" Hugo opened his mouth about to ask where his room was but then he remembered the secret bedroom August liked to use at every premier.
"Sure, follow me." said Hugo as he started walking toward the room. He could hear Abraham following him but he noticed August wasn´t with them. Hugo finally breathed relieved.
"So are you always this serious?" asked Abraham as he unpacked his stuff. Hugo was watching him silently as he sat on the floor with his back against the wall next to the door. The guy didn´t answered; as always.
"Well, I am what you could consider a shy guy but when I get in confidence I can talk non-stopping." Hugo noticed the guy was trying hard to make him talk; maybe too hard. "So in order to become friends I am going to tell you about myself. I am 19 years old, born and raised in England. I like candies and hot chocolate. I hate all vegetables and I like to read and go to the movies."
The last part caught Hugo´s attention. Every time he thought about movies and cinemas, he couldn´t help to think about his dad. He hated to think about his dad and more in those moments. Abraham noticed the change in the kids face. He had gone from grumpy and serious to sad. He sighed trying to think what he had said wrong. When he realized he hadn´t done anything he thought about another alternative to make the boy smile.
Abraham opened one of his bags and picked a candy from the bunch he had brought from his trips to France, Spain and Portugal.
"Does this candy can buy the little pirate a smile?"
The result he received was nothing he could have ever imagined. Hugo looked at him with an angry grin and then stood up with a jump.
"You think you can buy everything, right? Do I have a price tag that tells my price? Am I something you can buy on a store in a sale?!" screamed Hugo. Abraham stared at the boy puzzled. Obviously he knew the boy was a slave bought by August and he kind of understood his anger but he couldn´t understand why he was screaming at him.
"It wasn´t my intention." tried to say Abraham but Hugo didn´t stop screaming.
"Of course it was! But guess what, I am not going be bought again. Someone did that once and I am not going to be toyed by any one. I am stuck with August but that doesn´t mean you own me too."
"I never said that!" Abraham walked closer to Hugo but the little guy just ran away from the man. He cuddled in a corner and hugged himself. Abraham knew that corporal message. He was trying to protect himself.
"I am not a toy." he sighed as he cleaned a tear that was slipping through his left cheek. "I am person; right?" when he said that question he looked over Abraham with pledging eyes. The young magician messed his hair up as he tried to think of what to say now. "Am I a person?!"
"Yes, but not here!" that answered shocked both of the boys. Abraham took a deep breath and put his thoughts in order. "You are a person but as long as you are with August you are nothing more than an attractive for his show."
Hugo stared at him confused. An attraction? What was Abraham talking about?
"I need to explain you something about August." Abraham sat on the bed and let a sigh from his lips. "About why you are trapped here…"