Chapter 4: Milk

       One week passed before we talked about the imitation subject again. “No more avoiding this. Listen up You Fuck.” Said Léam with a determined expression.

       “We’re doing this?” I asked trying to ready myself.

       “Yeah…” responded Léam. “Everyone that isn’t blind learns through imitation. You know this right?” I nod and he continues. “No one is born with the knowledge to do most things. It all starts with imitation. You see, children born under the category of imitators tend to learn physical activities like walking, throwing, etc. at a faster rate than most.”

       “I don’t remember that but let’s say it’s true. Then why did I fall behind if I was so ahead?” I asked with a stoic expression.

       “It’s the guidance, and comparison forced upon the favorable standards of one’s culture. You might not have noticed but you were shackled by the opinions of your loved ones and the guidelines placed on you,” said Léam with what I think was his most sympathetic expression he could muster.

       “You know, I kept telling myself that my parents would have eventually been proud of me. If I just tried harder to be the way, they wanted me to be. Was I wrong?” I asked curious to hear his take on this.

       Léam stared at me for a second before he took a deep sigh. “No one is truly ever proud of the puppet.” Replied Léam. I instinctively flinched at the word “Puppet.” Then it hit me why he was never impressed by my progress. I was resurrected to kill for him. I am just a tool to him as well, not much has changed, has it? “An imitator will always be a student,” stated Léam. I wanted to look away, but I resisted, reminding myself that I knew what my deal to continue to live was. For now, in order to survive I must embrace being the shadow. Always beneath lik-

       “Until the day that it can evolve into a thief or as I like to call it, The Plunderer.” Continued Léam. Prying me away from my thoughts.

       “The Plunderer?” I asked, not knowing what that word even meant.

       “We’ll continue this explanation once you have reached that stage. For now, let us begin with developing your dexterity.”

       For two months we worked on my ability to imitate. I couldn’t help but think Léam was lying to me. Imitating wasn’t coming easy to me like a talent would. One day we started with throwing a sphere like-rock and making it curve. He would start with a demonstration, hitting a target behind a tree. I then attempted it the way I saw him do it, but my throw had no curve and went straight towards two o’clock.

       “That’s not how I did it,” said the asshole.

       He then demonstrated again. I observed him and saw no difference. I think he is fucking with me, using magic or something to curve the ball.

       “That’s exactly how I did it.” I replied with an annoyed tone.

       “If that would have been exactly the same, the ball would have curved,” replied Léam in an equally annoyed fashion.

       “Yeah, yeah, yeah…” I replied.

       I attempted it again, but I was missing something because I felt clumsy and- well the rock kept going straight without curving. I then hunched and squinted my eyes at Léam.

       “You are not using magic, are you?” I asked.

       He just stared.

       ‘Ok let’s see what I’m doing wrong’. I thought as I decided to try different moves till one felt like progress.

       Every attempt I tried to fix or change something. My center of gravity, changing up my release, the strength I used, how far I stretched my arm, but nothing helped me improve. I was growing more irritated every time. Especially with Léam tilting his head slightly more every time after every attempt. Like if his head was the minute arm on a clock, moving three minutes after every fuck up. Once his head reached the fifteen-minute mark he decided that we should stop.

       “Child you are really anchored. Before we start Imitation training there are two things we will need to get rid of that keeps hindering your progress.”

       “And what is that?”

       “Your pride and your stupid habit of jumping to assumptions and speculations.”

       “My pride is important. It’s the worth I have in myself,” I replied.

       “No, your dignity is important. Your pride just makes excuses to protect yourself. It stops you from learning from your mistakes. A coping mechanism of the weak.” Said Léam as he walked away.

       The next day Léam let me know that the schedule had changed, and he must go on a self-imposed mission for two months. And for my safety he will drop me off in a “currently secured place” as he put it.

       “I can stay here, I’m old enough” I argued.

       “You are not adept in fighting yet and you know beasts roam these areas.”

       That statement alone brought some unwanted memories. I sighed in defeat and gave in easily due to my last experience with beasts. As soon as I packed my things, we entered his rip. Once out of the rip I spot an older woman who seemed to be in her early forties. She had soft features, beautiful purple hair, and a gentle smile.

       Léam then proceeded to greet her that’s when I noticed the name of the establishment.

       “YOU SON OF A BITCH, YOU ARE ABANDONING ME?” I yell.

        “No, I’ll be back in two months. Think of this as a daycare” Léam replied flippantly.

       Daycare? It’s a FUCKING Or-phan-age.”

       “Doris and I have an arrangement. Nothing to worry about You Fuck.”

       I turn to Doris, she looks shocked at the way we talk to each other. I turn back to Léam, get really close to him and grab ahold of his pants by the side of the waist. Just in case he intends to rip out of here.

       “Is this because of the two bad habits you spoke of?” I whisper.

       Léam just shakes his head. “I’m going now, this is a good opportunity for you to learn how to cast away your pride and restrain your assumptive nature. You might even meet potential comrades or friends.” Léam whispers back. Removing my hand from his pants, he turns to the side and opens a rip. “Be good now,” he adds.

       “Wait, before you go. I forgot to ask you. Where are you even going for so long that I can’t come?” I ask.

       As Léam enters the rip he turns his head towards me and says with a stupid looking grin.

       “To get milk.”

       The rip closes. Doris and I are left there both with wide-open mouth expressions. Doris and I turned to look at each other.

       “Sooooo…. you’re my mom now huh?” I awkwardly asked with finger guns, trying to sound funny and break the ice.

       “God no, and please refrain from talking in this manner that I just witnessed. We don’t want this rubbing off on the other children.” Replied Doris with an annoyed expression.

       “Yeah sorry, I’m not usually that way. He just irks me at times” I replied.

       Doris looks at me, exasperated, and says, “The gentleman that just left, informed m-”

       “Gentleman is stretching it quite a bit, no?” I interrupt.

       Doris, now irritated, sticks out her neck to me like a turkey would and continues, “As I was saying. The gentleman that just left informed me of how you have daily exercises that you must complete before you can interact or work on any activity of our curriculum. I trust that you are at least diligent enough to take care of them on your own.”

       I nod silently, since my attempt to break the ice failed. Doris then gave me a brief tour of the place, she showed me where I would be sleeping and introduced me to my new roommate Thea, who looked like she was moving in as well. Thea looked about the same age as me. She wore her hair to her shoulders like I did. Her eyes were purple, the kind that looks closer to pink than blue. She had green and light pink hair. Her presence seemed a bit unapproachable. Then again, I might look the same to her.

       “Hi, I’m Heli,” I initiate, extending my hand.

       “Thea,” replied my new roommate, ignoring my open gesture.

       “I expect you two to respect each other and don’t give me any reason to come and discipline you.” Said Doris as she closed the door and left us to get acquainted.

       I inspect the room only to see: a long table, two chairs, a closet divided in two and bunk beds.

       As I stared at the bunk beds, Thea looked at me and pointed.

       “You obviously get bottom.” She said trying to seem tough.

       “Why?”

       “Because You obviously don’t look like a top.” She replied.

       “What does that mean?”

       Thea just shrugged and continued unpacking. As I started unpacking as well, I tried to get a better look at Thea. Which, to my surprise, she is quite cute, but was trying a bit too hard to seem tough.

       “Did you just get here as well?” I asked, attempting to start a conversation.

       “No, I just got reassigned to a different room.” Answered Thea with an aggravated tone.

       “Oh, how come?” I pressed.

       Thea then put on her shoes and left. Ignoring me in the process.

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