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
you’re not telling me something,” I insisted, my
I’ll tell you everything, Luke,” she promised, her voice barely a whisper. “But not here.
Not now.”
her further, to demand answers then and there, but I could see the fear etched
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 as
over this,” my mother sighed, her voice softening as
eyes with her, searching for answers. “Is.. is he going
her voice trembling slightly. “But the man in
-
ANSWERS
garment–he’s very dangerous.”
Catherine then?” I pressed, my heart racing with each
her head, turning her face away. “I can’t
not? When will the time come?” I pushed, feeling
inside me.
pleading for me to drop the
I knew there was more to the story. “Mom, I need to know,” I
put an end to this conversation,” she whispered, and her voice was barely audible over my
I don’t think I
“Are you serious?”
my frustration boiling over as my mother continued to withhold crucial information about the man in
her eyes widening in disbelief. “Luke, why are you so curious about this man?” she exclaimed, her
weight of my emotions crashing down on me. Because I want to protect my people!
could feel my heart pounding in my chest and my breaths coming in ragged gasps as I struggled to control
eyes, I softened my voice barely above a whisper. “I just want to protect my loved ones, Mom,” I confessed, the weight of my words
between us.
softened, her face turning sad as she whispered, “I understand, Luke. But
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sense of resignation. ” I’m sorry, Mom,” I said, my voice catching in my throat as I fought back tears. “I just… I
filled with sorrow. “If you’re not going to help me talk to Catherine, I understand. And
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 protect our loved ones at any cost. But why was she hiding this from me? This was clearly not
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
keep the tension out
his voice slightly muffled through the phone. “Where are you? We’ve got some unexpected guests at the office, and they’re
“Isn’t it a bit early for that?”
Jack admitted. “But they seem eager
glanced at the clock on my phone. It was indeed earlier than usual
them know
something else, I cut him off, whispering to myself, “Oh, these guys.”
“What was that?”
inner thoughts over the phone. “Don’t worry about it. Just entertain the guests for now, and I’ll be there
301: ANSWERS
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tone indicating he sensed my hesitation
the call and stuffed my
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