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The Rise of Lucas Chapter 1
Lucas Drell stood in the dimly lighted cage, his pulse pumping with a combination of eagerness and fear. The iron clang of the prison door sounded across the short lobby as the guard approached. "Drell, pack your things. You're getting out today," the guard murmured, a note of apathy in his voice.Lucas, his name reverberating through the frigid prison air, felt a wave of emotions. Four years behind prison had carved lines on his face, yet tonight, a light of hope brightened his tired eyes. He grabbed his small possession – a few worn-out books, letters from friends, and a handful of personal objects that had survived the craze of prison life.The clothing he wore was supplied by the prison, shapeless and bland. But today, he would exchange them for a set of clothing that belonged to him, clothes he had not worn in years. His fingers fumbled with the buttons on the shirt as he dressed, enjoying the touch of cloth on his skin that wasn't coarse and prison-issued.The door cracked open,
The Rise of Lucas Chapter 2
The cab came to a stop on Mayfair street, and Lucas Drell, his enthusiasm evident, prepared to walk out into the next chapter of his life. The driver, still hiding doubt behind his worn countenance, turned to face Lucas."Here we are. That'll be 10 bucks," the driver declared, his tone rough but businesslike. He regarded Lucas, anticipating the money that would settle the fee.Lucas, glad for the drive that had brought him closer to his family, felt a flood of comfort as he reached inside his pocket. To his amazement, all he discovered was a single crumpled ten-dollar note. The weight of doubt came over him momentarily, his fingertips brushing against the sole piece of cash.With an appreciative grin, Lucas gave the ten-dollar money to the driver. "Thanks for the ride," he added, the sincerity in his voice bridging the distance between their worlds.The driver, caught startled by the sudden payment, stammered a curt response. As Lucas stepped out into the familiar but alien Mayfair st
The Rise of Lucas Chapter 3
With the weight of disappointment hanging on his shoulders, Lucas decided to make his way to his mother-in-law's residence. The idea that his family had moved on without him hurt, but he couldn't let sadness engulf him. He wanted answers, and he thought his mother-in-law may supply them.Looking around, he realised getting a cab was out of the question. The ten-dollar note he had used to pay for the last journey was all he had, and he couldn't risk being mocked for not having enough money for another trip. Determined, he vowed to go to his mother-in-law's residence, even though it was quite a way from where he now stood.Taking a deep breath, Lucas headed out on foot. The city streets stretched ahead, unknown and uncaring. He felt the aching in his legs as he walked, the physical strain a mirror of the mental struggle inside. Each step was a stinging reminder of the trek he had yet to accomplish.As he traveled, memories of his wife and child remained in his head. The gap between them
The Rise of Lucas Chapter 4
Lucas, unfazed by the severe rejection, insisted, "I understand if you're offended, but I need to locate my family. Please, just tell me where they are, and I'll be out of your way."Mrs. Groot's fury increased, and she gestured towards the gate. "I won't repeat myself. Leave immediately!"Refusing to submit, Lucas set his feet firmly. "I can't simply walk away without knowing where they are. Please, have some sympathy, mother.""Don't you dare call me that! I'm not your mother!" Mrs Groot screamed.Mrs. Groot's eyes furrowed, and with a dismissive sweep of her hand, she turned to the gatekeeper. "Carlos, release the dogs. Get this crazy man off my property."Fear grabbed Lucas as he begged one final time, "Please, please tell me where I can locate them. I'll leave immediately."Mrs. Groot, undeterred by his appeal, coldly said, "You should have thought about it before you wrecked our lives. Carlos, do it immediately!"Reluctantly, the gatekeeper, Carlos, stepped towards the gate, a f
The Rise of Lucas Chapter 5
As Joel, still confused by the rapid shift in the dogs' behavior, carefully approached Lucas, the atmosphere strained once more. The dogs, detecting a possible danger, came to attention, their prior behavior replaced with a defensive stance.Growls rumbled from deep inside their throats, and their eyes concentrated on Joel, a clear warning not to get any closer. The transition from passive to defensive occurred in an instant, reinforcing their commitment and loyalty to Lucas.Seizing the moment, Lucas, now with an unexpected advantage, told Joel sharply, "Stay back. It appears my friends here have their own thoughts about you."Joel, taken back by the rapid change of events, paused in his steps, recognising that trying to approach Lucas may end in an unpleasant confrontation with the guard dogs.Lucas, seizing on the occasion, seized leadership of the situation. "Here's the thing, Joel. You're going to drive me to where my wife and kids are. No arguments, no tricky moves. Get your car
The Rise of Lucas Chapter 6
As Lucas approached the table, the horror imprinted on his face grew when he discovered that the guy his wife, Tonia, was hugging so intimately was none other than the same crazy who had played a part in putting him to jail. The epiphany hit him like a lightning bolt, locking him in place for a minute as the pieces of a complicated jigsaw fell into a crazy alignment. Tonia, first engrossed in the hug, caught sight of Lucas who wasn't far from her. Her shock was clear, but she swiftly controlled herself, a short trace of discomfort crossing her face before being replaced with an air of nonchalance. Lucas, his voice tinged with a combination of amazement and betrayal, eventually managed to utter, "Tonia? What... what's going on here?" Tonia, playing innocence, answered with a studied casualness, "Lucas, I didn't expect to see you here. Meet Richard. He's been an amazing friend while you were gone." Richard, the individual in question, sported a smile that hinted at a deeper knowing.
The Rise of Lucas Chapter 7
The security guys, taken off guard by the abrupt action, paused as the unknown man posed as a solid barrier between them and Lucas.Lucas, equally shocked and interested by the unexpected ally, grabbed the chance to address Tonia, "I simply want to see my son, Tonia. That's all. Let me be a part of his life."The mystery guy, his attention remained set on Richard, remarked, "Let him see his son, what exactly is your problem."As Johnseethed with wrath, he pointed at Lucas and the strange guy, yelling commands to the security guards, "Throw them out! I want them gone, immediately!"The strange guy, cool and controlled, exchanged a nod with a few folks waiting near the door. With a subtle gesture, he beckoned for his own men to come forward. Their presence was fast and strong as they positioned themselves strategically around Johnand Tonia.In a forceful and dominating tone, the strange guy addressed the guards, "No need. We'll tackle this. You may step back."Richard, overwhelmed with
The Rise of Lucas Chapter 8
John groaned, understanding that Lucas's intuition was sharper than he had imagined. "Your father is suffering with some health issues, Lucas. It's been a challenging moment for him."Lucas, caught away by the news, felt a combination of astonishment and anxiety. "Health issues? Why didn't he tell me himself?"John stated, "He didn't want to burden you. Your father has always been secretive about his troubles. But I believed you needed to know."Lucas, while separated from his father, couldn't shake off the feeling of duty that came with such news. "Still he could have reached out to me directly. We may have our disagreements, but I would've loved to know."John, recognising the intricacy of the issue, answered, "Your father is stubborn, Lucas. He didn't want to interrupt your life, particularly with all that's transpired between you two."Despite the distance and the years of sour ties, a pang of pity coursed through Lucas. The information that his father was experiencing health issu