Luke then went out to the balcony.

Overlooking the city on the top floor, the wind whooshed the balcony of the penthouse with carefree morning air.

He could hear the cars honking in the distance and see tiny dots of people walking. He could see the smaller buildings, street poles, and high-tech billboards. He could see the city’s playground and imagine himself playing with Fred. But there’s only so much he could imagine before feeling a pool of disappointment in his stomach.

(Luke) Why can’t I go out for once? I could handle myself. Nothing ever bad happens in Clastine…

(???) Tell me about it, dude.

Luke jerked his head back to see a man who wore all black.

(Luke) W- Who are you?! Where did you come from? Why are you here? W-When d-did you come here…

Based on the man’s voice Luke believed the voice belonged to a teenager.

(???) Relax kid, I ain’t going to hurt you. You seem pretty weak anyway though.

(Luke) W-what?

Luke was taken aback by how nonchalant the masked man was, as well as how much of a little jerk he was too.

(???) I mean, you’re a kid, so it’s proven that you’re weak. Like come on my dude, I’ve seen tougher—nah, I’ve seen tougher girls stronger than you.

(Luke) Can you please be quiet?

(???) Haha, you can’t even tell me to shut up, how much of a pushover are you man…

The masked man kept on laughing while Luke huffed. Luke thought of him as a young adult, despite the man acting childish.

(Luke) … Why are you even here?

The masked man stops laughing and looks at Luke, shifting the tone from a childish and jerkish young adult to a more normal one that an adult would talk to a kid.

(???) Personally kid, you don’t want to know, but what I do have is a proposition for you.

(Luke) A p-proposition?

(???) Yeah, a proposition. I’m surprised you know that word for a 12-year-old … Anyway, here’s the thing, I have two choices you could take.

(Luke) Oh ok…

The man then kneeled on one knee, signaling that he was unarmed or didn’t have anything cooped up in the oven. Looking at Luke directly, Luke noticed that the man’s sunglasses that blocked his eyes were reflecting the sun's rays at Luke.

(???) Here’s the first choice. You could simply lay back on this balcony, drink Copsi or Squirte, play on your Gamegirl console or whatnot, or…

The man then stood up, revealing the absolute height of the man he was.

(???) You could choose the second option, in which you could explore the city if you go out through that door.

It was a black-or-white type of question. The choice between completely disobeying his parent's promise of not going out and fulfilling his need for living, or just indulging in the betterments of luxury food, with survival not even a thought for him.

Luke started sweating, his hands now clammy but not to the level when he woke up. He always obeys things that people ask him to do, even though he gets frustrated or a little angry when people make a fool of him.

Was it his dream to go outside? Is he going to go outside and completely dismay his parents' promise?

(Luke) I … I don’t know—

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

(???) Bro, it’s a simple yes or no question, do you want to get out of the penthouse or not?

(Luke) I…

He didn’t want to lose his trust in his parents, but he was always living under their careful watch 24/7. Even the amount of money that his father brings him isn’t enough to satisfy his needs, he doesn’t mind the games, TV, or the abnormal bookshelf in his room, what he wanted was …

(Luke) I want …

His heart, trying to bring his motivations and words out, was being held back by his vocal chords that tried to chain him down.

(Luke) I w—

(???) Are you ok bro?

Luke began sweating even more, clearly in conflict within himself as he was fighting with his vocals to say those words. Luckily, Luke had some help.

(???) For God’s sake bro, hurry your indecisive pushover ass up! Are you going to live with your heart or with your shadow?

A last push that Luke desperately needed, he said the words that he always wanted to say loud and clear.

______________________________________________________________________________

(???) Well, that’s settled then. Guess you got it in you after all…

Before Luke’s exploration, the masked man sighed in amusement at Luke's answer, partially because the masked man helped him unclog his words in his throat.

And upon hearing Luke’s answer, the masked man leaned on the balcony ridge. In his pocket, he took out a lighter followed by a packet of cigarettes. Opening the packet, as well as opening his mask a little, the man put the cig into his mouth, before lighting it.

(???) bleh, what the hell? How do people do this?!

Luke had to hold back a chuckle from the masked man’s display.

(???) Screw that!

The masked man, not looking back, threw the cigarette packet and lighter off the balcony, throwing it underhanded as if to try to impress the boy even more.

The boy didn’t budge, so the answer would be no.

(???) Anyway, if you are going to go outside, then there’s one thing that I should advise.

(Luke) Advise?

(???) It’s really simple advice. Wanna hear it?

Luke nodded. Putting his frame closer to the masked man, the man leaned into Luke’s ear.

(??? whispering) Whatever you do, don’t go to the downtown district.

Even when the man was masked, Luke could feel the way the man was staring at him.

(Luke whispering) Why?

(??? whispering) Trust me, dude.

The masked man soon stood up.

(???) Before you go, I want to give you this.

The man looked through his pocket to find a black banana seed. Holding it in his hand, he gave it to Luke.

(???) If you’re ever in danger, make sure to eat it.

(Luke) W-what is this?

(???) A banana seed, why?

Luke’s nose scrunched as he looked at the man with unconvinced eyes..

(Luke) What does it do?

(???) You’ll find out.

______________________________________________________________________________

As Mary got out of the bathroom, she was drenched with sweat from the turmoil that she endured in her fight with her stomach.

(Mary) I think that’s the last of my constipation…

Mary then decided to check up on Luke, hoping to see if Luke was in a good mood for both mother and son to talk. She wanted to apologize and hoped that she could let him choose dinner for today as an apology.

But Luke wasn’t watching TV.

(Mary) Luke! Are you in your room?

Mary then went to Luke’s bedroom to see that he wasn’t there either. Her heart beating faster, she started to check the closets, the balcony, the kitchen cabinets, anywhere...

(Mary) Luke! Come out now!

After not finding Luke anywhere, Mary then noticed that the main door to the penthouse was unlocked.

(Mary’s thoughts) Joseph locked it when he left…

Mary’s eyes widened.

(Mary) LUKE!!

Thus continued Mary’s search for Luke.

And thus begins Luke’s exploration of the city.