A/N: Late in the day update for you, lovely readers!
Things are revealed(sort of)! Minds will be blown(maybe)! Questions will be asked in the review section(likely)
Speaking of which, thanks to Bloodylilcorpse for reviewing the last chapter. :)
Enjoy!
The trip was pleasant. Mike rode in a carriage with Manitoba, Brick, Dakota and Trent.
"I love your dress, Dakota. You look really nice," Mike complemented.
"Oh, thank you! I like that shirt you're wearing."
"What, this?" Mike gestured to his plain green shirt he'd had to hand-wash in the dark the night before. He hadn't worn it for a while, he'd never had reason to. It was too expensive to wear when he was doing housework, which was all the time.
"Yes, it's totally your color of foresty green. It works."
"Thanks."
"If you want my personal opinion, I would put you in more of an aqua blue, to contrast with your tan skin and accentuate your brown eyes," Brick cut in.
"Ok…." Mike had had an aqua blue shirt, but it was ruined after he'd cut his hand open. "Maybe I could get one while we're in the capital, but I don't have much money."
"Please, me and Zoey can whip something up in no time. We fixed your other clothes, and we already have your measurements."
"Really? You'd do that? Thanks."
The rest of the few-hour ride was nice. There was much talk about the show, what everyone would do in their down time between performances, seeing some royalty.
They reached the outskirts of the capital, where they were SLAMMED with some heavy carriage/horse traffic. It took them two more hours to reach the downtown area where they were staying.
"You have to love rush hour traffic," Trent said jokingly.
The place the cast would be sleeping for the next two weeks was a decent-looking establishment near the theater and the castle. The owner was a rather...chubby man with short blonde hair and a smile plastered on his face all the time.
"Welcome! You guys are gonna love it here! Especially the food," he greeted them.
"Owen! My man!" Trent high-fived him.
"Trent! Dude! It's been too long!" Owen gave him a crushing one-armed hug. "How've you been?"
"Good, good. How's it been here? Business good?"
"Always. We get all the performers that pass through the theater. Can't wait to see what you guys have."
Owen began to help everyone with their things. Mike was helped out of the carriage and sat on a chair inside. "C'mon guys, I can carry things-"
"No," was Trent's simple reply.
"Ok…" Mike watched everyone else bring things in. He noticed that every time Duncan brought something in, he eyed him carefully.
After Duncan finished putting all his belongings in the room he was sharing with Zoey, he approached Mike. "Can I talk to you about something?"
"Uh, sure, Duncan."
"Maybe we could take it somewhere less..public?"
"Where would that be?"
"Outside? I'll help you get there."
"Ok." Mike stood up, and leaned on Duncan as he led him out.
They say on a bench opposite Owen's place. "Ok, so this is about your brother…"
"What about him?" Mike asked defensively.
"Some things you may not know. It's been what, six years since he 'disappeared?'
"I was told he was nearly dead."
"Ok, but I'm here to talk about some stuff before that. I knew him."
"How?"
"Uh...we were in prison together."
Mike stared. "No, that can't be right. It must've been someone else."
Duncan shook his head. "When you and I first met a few years ago, I could tell you were the Mike he always talked about. You two look so alike."
"We always did. People thought we were twins."
"But you two aren't alike in the slightest. I watched him break someone's arm just by squeezing it. He used his fingernail to slice into someone's cheek. He was strong, really strong… Then the army guys came in."
"What? The army?"
"They took him away, called him a threat to anything and everything around, and sent him somewhere. Never heard about him again, except in fearful whispers."
Mike took it all in, then closed his eyes and breathed. "When did all this happen? How old was he?" He asked, a bit shakily.
"He was thirteen. I was sixteen or seventeen."
"I don't want to hear any more. Stop trying to scare me. It's not going to work.'' It was obvious Mike was lying as he said it.
"It's the truth, Mike. Just hear me, there's something else-"
"No! I'm not listening."
"-about your step-father."
"How do you know about him?"
"Manitoba told us before we came to get you. He's not who you think he is. He-"
"I won't hear any more. I already know that Noah is a terrible person. Saying something negative won't change my view of him. I've come to accept the way I have to live. If it's with Noah, then so be it."
"You can't just ignore this, Mike." Duncan had a hint of desperation in his voice.
"I can. I'm sorry, but I have to get rested for tomorrow. If you'll excuse me." Mike stood up and walked by himself back to his room in the inn.
Duncan sighed in frustration. At least he got it off his chest. He just wished Mike could understand the severity of all this...
He heard in his memory a distant scream, a memory of the time when he'd lived in fear of crossing paths with the Malevolent One...
Review! Theorize! Rethink your life! Question my sanity if you want to.
See y'all next Monday!:)