Chapter 8: The Faint Side of the Napkin Appears
The next day…
When Lukas arrived at the prison, unfortunately, he would again stay in the same room. He hadn't been there for a month. His roommates thought his prison term had ended, but Lukas had been through so much in just that one month…
Closing his eyes, he stepped into the room and found Frank waiting.
"I knew you'd come," Lukas said.
Everyone burst out laughing at the same time.
Everything was back to square one.
Lukas: "I'll serve my sentence and get the hell out of here, Frank, don't worry."
Frank: "Good for you, hahaha."
Lukas looked for an empty bed, but there was none.
Had they sent someone in after he left? If that were the case, they would have moved Lukas to another room.
Lukas: "Is someone staying here?"
A young man nearby replied: "No, but that's Frank's resting place."
Lukas gave a faint smile, showing his maturity, and sat quietly by the side of the bathroom door. People who watched him in amazement were shocked; his indifference and silence were very strange.
Leveling up, Lukas now wrote his notes in a notebook. The police had brought a notebook to each room, but there was one shared notebook for everyone. Lukas took out his pen:
— "I see you don't use this. No one writes. I'll write," he said.
Frank:
— Even if you write, it's useless, Lukas.
Lukas:
— Why are you bothering so much with me?
Frank:
— I don't have time to ask you. If you want to write in this, you have to do what I say first.
Lukas took a deep breath and, half-joking:
— What am I supposed to do this time, boss?
Frank:
— Get me a pack of cigarettes.
Lukas:
— Where am I supposed to get that? If you find it, let me know and we'll smoke it together.
Frank, unable to contain himself, grabbed the notebook from Lukas:
— Then you'll do what I say every day. Otherwise, I won't give you an ounce of peace!
Lukas nodded:
— Okay, boss.
But he wore a sarcastic expression.
This time Frank got angry:
— First, go and make me some tea!
Lukas had a very clever plan in mind. No one could ruin his mood. If he didn't do what Frank said, Frank wouldn't leave him alone. Lukas went, made the tea, and said:
— Any other requests?
Frank couldn't enjoy making Lukas do things this time. He only enjoyed it when Lukas got annoyed. That was what made it fun for him. He quietly sat down and carefully watched Lukas in secret.
Frank thought to himself:
"Somehow, I feel like I've seen him before… those dark circles under his eyes, the way he moves his eyes rapidly… I feel like I'm reminded of someone," he muttered.
He took a photo from his bag and stared at it.
After Lukas finished writing, he went over to Frank:
— Do you want to read what I wrote?
Frank didn't say anything; he just looked at him carefully… at the photo… at a Lukas…
Lukas: Hey?
Frank, lost in the photo, reflexively dropped it to the floor.
Lukas bent down to pick it up and paused for a moment, staring at the photo.
Lukas: You… took my photo?
Frank, surprised but trying not to show it:
Frank: Yes… but I was going to put it back. I can do it now.
He opened Lukas's bag, secretly slipped the photo inside his pocket, and put the one he was holding into Lukas's bag.
Lukas: I don't want to see things like this again, Frank.
Frank: I'm sorry…
Frank's apology surprised everyone in the room. Lukas slung his bag over his shoulder and went to the bathroom. Frank stood frozen in the middle of the room, staring at the ceiling.
After a while, a guard came.
Guard: Frank All—
Before finishing his sentence, Frank immediately jumped in:
Frank: I'm here, let's go.
Guard: I hadn't finished my sentence yet…
Frank: Sorry, sir. Can we go now?
Guard: Aren't you going to ask what's going on?
Frank: No. Let's go.
As Lukas exited the bathroom, everyone watched him. There was a strange sense of mystery in the air. Frank linked arms with the guard:
Frank: Let's leave immediately. I feel sick…
He closed the door and went to the visiting room.
After Frank left the room, there was a sense of relief; it was as if he were fleeing from Lukas. The person visiting Frank was his mother. He hadn't seen her in years.
Frank carried anger and resentment inside.
Frank: What are you doing here?
His mother: I came to see you, my son…
Frank: You only thought of me now? After forty-five years, huh? Tell me, is this the first time you remembered me?!
When he said "came," what did he mean? Did Frank have a sibling?
A loud conversation started between them. The guard came in, telling them to be quiet and that they had 2 minutes left.
Frank said to his mother:
Frank: Leave. Don't come here again.
He returned to the room with his sadness and anger. People watching him were scared because Frank's face was always stern, but this time it was a completely different kind of anger.
Lukas, without hesitation, went up to him:
Lukas: Are you okay, brother?
Hearing this surprised Frank and unsettled him. He went straight to his bed without saying anything to Lukas.
Lukas sat by the bathroom door. Seeing this, Frank stood up:
Frank: You'll catch a cold sitting on the floor, come on.
Lukas: What's gotten into you all of a sudden? What's with this conscience of yours?
Frank: Is it always your conscience that hurts? I'm human too!
Lukas got angry at this:
Lukas: You're human? After everything you've done, what changed? Tell me!
Frank: I'm just trying to digest my pain this way, understand?
Lukas: Your pain… start with yourself first, digest yourself!
Frank: Is that your final word?
Lukas: Yes, it is! Now get out, go!
Frank's Background
Frank was the first child of the Allen family. One of America's wealthy families, they hadn't wanted a child due to a past mistake. But when they realized it was a boy, they suddenly changed their minds…
Frank was born with PEV disease. His feet turned inward, and without surgery, walking would be extremely difficult. The surgery cost $30,000. Even though the Allen family was wealthy, this was their annual savings. But to preserve their family name, they paid for the surgery. Frank had the surgery, but in return, the company slipped from their hands.
The suddenly bankrupt Allen family harbored hatred for Frank. "We wish he had died so the company wouldn't have been lost," they said. Yet a helpless baby—was it worth their wealth?
Frank grew up in immense pain, without familial love. When he turned five, he had a younger brother named Jake.
Frank was thrilled to have a brother. He wanted to be a good older brother, but his family wouldn't allow it. Since his brother's birth, they ignored Frank completely. Even doctor visits, he had to go alone. Tired of taking care of Frank, the Allen family…
When he turned seven, he was given up for adoption to another family. Since then, Frank had grown up with hatred toward his brother and his family.
But what about later? Did his brother live a perfect life?
Prison
It was Monday. Lukas had filled all the pages of his notebook with his story. He had no other notebook to continue writing, so he tore some toilet paper and began writing the continuation of his story.
Frank sat with a cup of tea, watching the news. Others were minding their own business… some playing Okey, some sleeping.
After a while, someone called out to Lukas:
— Lukas, look at the TV!
— What? What is it?
— Someone with the surname Black. Could they be your relative?
Lukas quickly jumped out of bed and watched the TV closely.
The broadcast said:
"Two people responsible for the abduction of Lukas Black, imprisoned about 40 days ago, have been caught. One is his wife, the other a friend. They will now be transferred to prison."
Lukas whispered to himself: "A friend?"
At that moment, Frank approached:
— Were you married?
Lukas turned angrily:
— What does that have to do with anything now?
— Nothing, I was just curious.
— Don't, Frank. Stay away from me now.
— Sorry, it wasn't my place…
Lukas thought to himself:
"What happened to this guy? He's like a lion turned into a monkey…"