The world beyond

Chapter 2- first labour

Claude took a seat on the bus, still stunned by what had just happened. His mind was racing, replaying the incident over and over again. He couldn't believe what he had done, what he had been driven to do. He felt an overwhelming sense of guilt, like a heavy weight on his chest, constricting his breath.

He glanced around the bus, but didn't make eye contact with anyone. He felt like a pariah, unworthy of anyone's attention or compassion.

As Claude sat on the bus, lost in his thoughts, a tall man slipped in and sat two rows behind him. The man was wearing a long, dark coat and a hat that covered his face. Though his features were hidden, his keen eyes were fixed on Claude, observing him with intense scrutiny. It was as if he'd singled Claude out, his gaze unwavering.

Claude's guilty conscience flared up again, the weight of his actions heavy on his heart. He decided that he had to be punished for what he had done, and he resolved to get off the bus at the next stop and turn himself into the police station.

Claude got off the bus, his mind still in turmoil. He walked quickly down the sidewalk, the weight of his guilt pressed heavily upon him. He knew deep down that he deserved to face the consequences of his actions, and he had resolved to surrender himself to the police. As he walked, lost in his thoughts, he became aware of a presence following behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a tall, mysterious figure wearing a long coat and hat.

The man quickened his pace and fell into step beside Claude. The stranger's voice, deep and ominous, cut through the silence like a knife. "You've been summoned," he said simply.

At first, Claude assumed that the man was talking to someone else - perhaps on the phone - and he continued walking, barely registering the words. The man, seeing that he now had Claude's attention, took a step closer to him, his eyes locking onto Claude's. He spoke again, his voice firm and cold, "You don't belong here. You can't run forever." This time, Claude could not ignore the clear message.

The man's words stung like a whip, cutting through any remaining resistance. Claude's heartbeat quickened, his chest constricting with fear. But he knew it was useless to run, the man was too fast, too strong. With a gasp, he stopped in his tracks and submitted, his shoulders sinking in defeat.

Claude, still rattled but now less panicky, looked at the man who blocked his path. "You're not one of Ray's men," he said, his voice firm. "So who are you?"

The man held out a small green stone, its surface shimmering in the dim light. As Claude took the stone in his hand, his emotions shifted from vulnerable to feeling more secure. He realized that the man was not his enemy, but he was still puzzled about the man's identity.

He had so many questions running through his mind, but he was cut off before he could ask any of them. The man's gaze held a sense of urgency as he stated, "We need to go somewhere."

As Claude followed the man, his attention was fixated on the gleaming greenstone in his hand. A sense of familiarity washed over him - he had felt something like this before. It was a strange feeling, as if the stone held a hidden power or memory that he couldn't quite recall. He wanted to speak up, asking more questions about the stone or the man, but something was holding him back.

As they walked through the quiet streets of Highland Park at 3 am, Claude was struck by the emptiness and stillness of the surroundings. He couldn't help but wonder how the mysterious man knew about his uncle's house, which was located in the heart of the neighborhood.

When they approached the imposing colonial house, the man turned to Claude and simply said, "Move inside." Nodding, Claude followed the man into the house, bracing himself for what was to come.