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,
I don’t know who he
only fueled my suspicions. “Mom, you’re not telling me something,” I insisted, my tone pleading now. “Please, whatever
dropping to the floor, before meeting mine again. “I… I’ll tell you everything, Luke,” she promised, her voice barely a whisper. “But
Not now.”
but I could see the fear
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
shouldn’t be stressing yourself out over this,” my mother sighed, her voice softening as
locked eyes with her, searching for answers. “Is..
Luke, 10,” she reassured me, her voice
-
ANSWERS
garment–he’s very dangerous.”
then?” I pressed, my heart racing with each
head, turning her face away.
come?” I pushed, feeling the frustration
inside me.
her eyes pleading
was more to the story. “Mom, I need to know,” I
end to this conversation,” she whispered, and her voice was
tell me, then I don’t think I should be helping you with your conversation with Catherine.”
“Are you serious?”
over as my mother continued to withhold crucial
looked at me surprised, her eyes widening in disbelief. “Luke, why are you
the weight of my emotions crashing down on me. Because I want to protect my people! I want to protect you, Mom, and everyone else.
other in silence, the tension thick in the air. I could feel my heart pounding in
I softened my voice barely above a whisper. “I just want to protect my loved ones, Mom,” I confessed, the weight of
between us.
mother’s expression softened, her face turning sad as she whispered, “I understand,
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a sense of resignation. ” I’m sorry, Mom,” I said, my voice catching in my throat as I fought back tears.
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
and walked away, leaving me feeling a pang of guilt in the pit. of my stomach. I watched her go, knowing that despite our differences, we both wanted the same thing: to
retreating figure with a mix of frustration and concern. Just 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
replied, his voice slightly muffled through the phone. “Where are you? We’ve got some unexpected guests at the office, and
brow. “Isn’t it a bit
off guard too,” Jack admitted. “But they seem
It was indeed earlier than usual for such meetings. “Alright, I’ll head over
know you’re
he started to say something else, I cut him off, whispering
“What was that?”
to delve into my inner thoughts over the phone. “Don’t worry about it. Just
301: ANSWERS
5/5
sensed my hesitation but chose not to push further.
ended the call and stuffed my phone
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