301: ANSWERS
LUKE’S POV
“I can’t believe you would do that, Luke,” my mother spoke, with her arms crossed, and then she treads nigher to me.
“Do what?” I asked, not taking my eyes off her. And yes, I clearly had an idea of what she was talking about, but let’s see how this works out.
“You promised me.”
“Promised you what?”
“That you would help me talk to Catherine.”
“I did?” I raised an eyebrow, still playing dumb around here.
with you
“What the hell is wrong Luke? Why are you acting like this right now?”
“Acting like what?”
My mother let out a frustrated sigh. “It’s going to be ridiculous if we continue to go like this.”
“Then you can just end the conversation.”
“Luke, please just…” she sighed, closing her eyes, and her tone softened. “Please, just help me.”
“Mom,” I said, stepping closer to her, feeling the weight of the conversation settling between us. “I’ll help you talk to Catherine. We’ll figure this out together.”
She looked up at me, a mixture of surprise and gratitude flickering in her eyes. Thank you, Luke,” she whispered, her voice softening.
But before she could say anything else, I knew I had to address what had been nagging at me since the incident with Catherine. I took a deep breath, then plunged ahead. “Mom, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Confusion creased her brow as she waited for me to continue.
“When I found Catherine the other night,” I began, my hands sliding into my
301 ANSWERS
pockets, “a man in a black garment was chasing her. But then, he just stopped and let us go.”
My mother’s expression shifted from confusion to concern in an instant. “A man in a black garment?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded, watching her closely for any reaction. “Yeah. And… Ariel saw him, too.”
Her silence was deafening as she processed my words; her eyes were clouded with worry. “Do you… do you know who he might be?” I asked cautiously, already dreading her answer.
She continued to stare at me, her silence stretching on uncomfortably.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” I pressed, my own anxiety mounting with each passing second.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spoke, her voice barely audible. “Luke,
know who he is.”
you’re not telling me something,” I insisted, my tone pleading now. “Please, whatever it is, just
hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor, before meeting mine again. “I… I’ll tell you everything,
Not now.”
and there, but I could
we can work this out together. I have a feeling you know this. person. So please, just tell me who he is. I don’t want something bad to happen to us later on. It’s better we get the whole situation done as soon
this,” my mother sighed, her voice softening as she placed a hand on my shoulder. “You
her, searching for answers. “Is.. is he going to
10,” she reassured me, her voice
-
ANSWERS
garment–he’s very dangerous.”
he chasing Catherine then?” I pressed, my heart racing
her head, turning her face away. “I
time come?” I
inside me.
please,” she pleaded, her eyes pleading for me
more to the story. “Mom, I need
whispered, and her
don’t think I should be helping you with
“Are you serious?”
as my mother continued
“Luke, why are you so curious about this man?” she exclaimed, her
me. Because I want to protect my people! I
the tension thick in the air. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and my breaths coming in ragged gasps as I struggled to control
softened my voice barely above a whisper. “I just want to protect my loved
between us.
as she whispered, “I understand, Luke.
4/5
sorry, Mom,” I said, my voice catching in my throat as I fought back tears. “I just… I can’t stand by and
eyes glistening with unshed tears. “It’s okay, Luke,” she said softly, her voice filled with sorrow. “If you’re not going to help me talk to Catherine, I understand.
stomach. I watched her go, knowing that despite our differences, we both
as I was about to turn away, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to see Jack’s name flashing on the screen. With a
I said, trying to keep the tension out of
replied, his voice slightly muffled through the phone. “Where are you? We’ve got
repeated, furrowing my brow. “Isn’t it a bit early
us off guard too,” Jack admitted. “But they seem eager to discussi new projects
phone. It was indeed earlier than usual for such meetings. “Alright, I’ll head over
them know you’re on your
I cut
“What was that?”
replied, not wanting to delve into my inner thoughts over the phone. “Don’t worry about it. Just
301: ANSWERS
5/5
he sensed my hesitation
and stuffed my
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!