The Mech-man

Chapter 2

Time passed quickly; Max began to get used to the life at Beckon orphanage. It seemed almost like home; he had friends there they helped each other to overcome difficulties and every night they would dream their wildest dreams. Becoming a protector, being an actor working in a circus, becoming a business person… Life seemed good.

One particular day, Max’s life changed. At dawn, Mr Beckon forces the children to do their daily morning chores.

“Davis and Michael, wait for me in the living room. Go quicker, chop chop.” Mr Beckon called loudly. While Davis and Michael moved nervously towards the living room.

“Lucas, come here too.” Mr Beckon ordered harshly. Lucas was one of the first orphans to arrive at Beckon orphanage. He was thirteen years old, the same age as Max. It wasn’t long until they became close friends.

Lucas gulped, thinking about what he could possibly have done wrong. “Did I mess up my chores yesterday? Nope. Did I say anything to anger Mr Beckon? Nope…”

“Good luck!” Max forced a smile sympathetically, knowing that this couldn’t be something good. Lucas looked back at Max, his blue eyes full of fear. Everyone in the orphanage feared Mr Beckon, even the servants.

“Davis, Michael and Lucas,” Mr Beckon started.

“Yes, sir.” Lucas replied, “Did we do something wrong?”

“I did not allow you to comment, Lucas!” Mr Beckon snapped, “Now, shut up or else…” Mr Beckon loved using the words “or else”. It was amusing to him to see the petrified faces of the orphans.

“Now, as I was saying, I met a nice old fellow in his fifties in a café. He promised me to give a good amount of money for some hard-working slaves. No, I meant ‘sons. So, I you three would be perfect sals—I mean sons to him.” Mr Beckon smiled cold-bloodedly. Michael opened his mouth to protest but only to force his complaints down his throat. The three orphans were horrified.

Finally, Lucas decided to say something, “But Sir, you can’t sell us, it’s illegal!”

“Why should I care about you little dirty children, always more and more trouble! One more complaint and you’ll regret it!”

“But —” Lucas blurted, but before he could finish, Mr Beckon had enough. His forehead twitched as he summoned energy and pushed Lucas as hard as he could.

THUMP.

Max, doing his chores, heard it all. “This is unhuman, s*****y! Its banned!” He thought angrily. The more he thought about it, the angrier he was.

“Calm down, Max.” Charlie, one of the orphans, put his hand on Max on Max’s shoulder, “We can’t do anything, once Sir made his mind up, we can’t talk him out of it.”

“No, we can’t, but we can do it by force!” Max whispered, “We can team up together against Mr Beckon. We can force him to give.”

“Max, this is a bad idea!” Charlie called as Max turned in the direction of the living room, “Don’t do it.”

Max had already turned and ran.