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 street, the taxi moved away, leaving him alone on the pavement, the sound of its fading motor merging with the ambient hum of the city.

With a heart bursting with anticipation, Lucas ran down Mayfair street, each step moving him closer to the spot he had called home. The familiar sights and noises heightened his enthusiasm, the thudding of his footsteps mirroring his anticipation.

As he approached the front of the home, he didn't waste a minute. Lucas lifted his fist and hammered on the door with an excited determination. "Tonia! Tonia!" he exclaimed, his voice overflowing with the thrill of joy. "I'm home!"

The echo of his words remained in the air, the anticipation of the long-awaited hug pulling him forward. He pounded again, his knocks a rhythmic song of hope and desire. "Tonia! It's me, Lucas! I'm finally home!"

To his amazement, the door flew wide, displaying not the loving embrace of his wife but a stranger with a furious face. The woman's face, carved with displeasure, glared back at Lucas as if he were an unwanted visitor.

"What do you want?" she hissed, her voice shrill and filled with displeasure.

Lucas, briefly taken aback, stuttered, "I—I'm looking for Tonia. Is she here?"

The woman's attitude turned even more angry, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Tonia? Who the heck are you? I don't even know who that is. Now get lost!"

The shock of the unexpected meeting left Lucas temporarily speechless. He searched the surroundings, his eyes looking for any hint of recognition. The home, once a refuge, now felt like a stranger's reign. The excitement that had powered his movements minutes earlier faded to perplexity and a hint of worry.

Undeterred, Lucas collected his thoughts and attempted to explain, "No, you don't understand. I reside here. This is my house. Where's Tonia? Where's my family?"

The lady, unconvinced by his statements, sneered dismissively. "Your home? You must be nuts. There's no Tonia here. Now go before I call the cops!"

As the truth of the situation struck in, Lucas felt a knot tightening in his gut. The warmth of expectation grew cold, replaced by the frost of uncertainty and disillusionment. He stood on the entrance of what was meant to be his house, confronting a stranger who viewed him not as a spouse returning after years but as an invader upsetting her serenity.

Defeated but still determined, Lucas made his way to the landlord's apartment, his footsteps heavy with the weight of doubt. The corridor, previously a familiar journey, looked longer, the walls echoing with the hollowness of his unanswered enquiries.

He knocked on the landlord's door, a feeling of urgency fueling his efforts. The door opened, showing a middle-aged guy with a suspicious stare. "What do you want?" the landlord inquired, regarding Lucas with mistrust.

"I'm Lucas Drell. I used to reside in 2B. I recently came out of jail, and I was trying to locate my family," Lucas recounted, his words a combination of despair and optimism.

The landlord, however, answered with a sneer, scepticism emblazoned over his features. "Lucas Drell, huh? You're the criminal they imprisoned up? What do you think, folks? Should we allow him in?" he cried out to invisible neighbors, a sarcastic smirk flashing on his lips.

The neighbors, interested faces peeking from behind half opened doors, exchanged looks. Whispers of judgment and mistrust flooded the air as they watched the figure standing before them.

Lucas, mindful of the stigma that clung to him, sought to maintain calm. "Please, I simply want to know about my family. Are they okay?" he urged, his eyes searching the landlord's face for a crumb of pity.

The landlord, meanwhile, appeared to relish in the chance to insult Lucas. "Your family? Oh, they're long gone. Your wife packed up and left not long after you was locked up. Smart move, I'd say."

Lucas felt the earth under him disintegrate as the words struck him like a physical blow. "Gone?" he muttered, the realisation settling in.

"Yeah, gone. Can't blame her, really. Living with a criminal and all," the landlord hissed, enjoying in the misery he was creating. "You may want to start searching elsewhere, buddy. Your wonderful house is only a memory now."

The door slammed shut, leaving Lucas alone in the hallway, his world broken once again. The voices of condemnation persisted, the weight of his history crushing his soul. In the echoing corridor, he battled with the terrible fact that his quest towards freedom had taken him not to a homecoming but to a terrifying sense of irreparable loss.

While Lucas waited outside the home, coping with the hard truth of his broken existence, the unknown man in the car kept his unobtrusive posture from a distance. The sleek car, its windows darkened to disguise the watcher inside, was parked not too far from where Lucas's was standing 

Inside the vehicle, the mystery guy remained quiet, his attention fixated on Lucas as if analysing the aftermath of the interaction with the landlord. 

As Lucas went out into the fading daylight, the guy in the vehicle altered his position, ensuring he remained unobtrusive. His vigilant gaze followed Lucas, charting his moves through the busy streets.