Lancaster, Los Angeles/ State Highway
It’s very early and he only knows it’s very early because of how tired he feels. Like he’s going to fall asleep standing up. Lukas is staring at a very small bag of his belongings to take with him, the man he’s been sharing a cell with is up right now. He’s a bald man, the back of his head looks like a deflated ball, he gives him a gummy grin missing teeth in the front. He’s not sure if he’s excited or if he should be nervous about leaving. You don’t quite feel at home in this place. It feels alien and comfortable at the same time, sometimes the cold metal bars would make weird noises or you would hear whispering in the middle of the night concerned it was a conspiracy. It was cold in here. You’d think such a contained place would be warmer with all the bodies, but it isn’t. Yesterday was a busy day, making sure he had books checked in, already saying goodbye to at least some of the kids who transferred with him last year.
“Excited to see your family?” Jakobs ask, whenever he talked his mouth would make wet smacking noises, he always wondered if it had to do with his missing teeth. Jakobs one of the few adults that didn’t frighten him being here. Some of the adults were scary and hard to engage. Many of them had intense looks, expressions that made him nervous.
He promised others he wouldn’t let this place change him, though he’s scared it already has when the question hits him like overwhelming anxiety. He’s scared that Nadia or Robert have changed their minds about him. That the three years he spent in here, that Robert or Nadia started to believe the things they have said about him since he hasn’t been able to defend himself. But he knows those two aren’t like that. Yet, it’s the biggest worry he has.
“Yeah,” he forces a smile.
“You’ll get far, that’s what I always said about ya when you came. Seen it, said to myself kids going far,” Jakobs points at him and smiles. When a door is closed it echoes through the whole hallway. Resonating with the metal bars. The largest security officer he’s ever seen walks up to their cell. His heart is racing now and he can hear it in his ear. It makes his eardrum vibrate.
“Lukas Demaionewton,” the security guard, Mathison, addresses.
“That’s me,” does he sound desperate? He clears his throat, “I mean that’s me.”
Mathison just watches him, “You will follow me and you will follow every instruction you are given. Is that clear?”
Lukas nods as the bars are open. Just a little longer now and he’ll be outside. How much has changed? He’s pretty sure he’s not going to be seeing any hoverbikes, surprise you’re in the super future now. But the kids at their school, they’ll have their tales. The news might say something unpleasant for a few days, he’ll have to be prepared for that. He lets his feet drag, but with a slight skip following Mathison. Every door resonates with the walls. There’s a few others who have gotten up early to say goodbye to him. Connor’s some kid with some curly ginger hair that looks a bit like whipping cream sitting on top, he nervously looks over at him, “I won’t...forget you.”
That’s an odd thing to say. At least in the tone he says it.
“I’ll miss you too,” Lukas says, as they continue to walk down halls, doors, loud slamming. Till they stop in a room. He’s handed a shirt and a pair of pants. Robert’s probably pulled it out of the closet and handed it to the prison last night.
He’s just use to this. Here he's always watched even when you don’t think you are. He tried to abide by the rules, broke none of the rules and felt even more watched waiting for the moment he cracked. Slipping onto what is essentially his nightwear, Robert could have asked, sweats and an old sweater. Once he’s turned in his uniform he follows Mathison to the intake. The sally port is his last obstacle till he’s out and into Robert’s car.
“That sick kid,” he swears he hears before he’s standing before a window. A man with oval shaped glasses fixes them upwards.
“We have some paperwork for you to fill out,” the man tells him with little to no interest for him as an individual.
There’s a paperwork for how much he has earned from his job. There’s paperwork for a new fingerprint, his always turns out weird, a bit sucker shape, but no one seems to care. There’s another photo he has take for records or so he’s told. He’s eager to get out to the port at this point. All these formalities feel like it’s a prank, that they’re simply issuing him a new ID and telling him it was all a prank. The man thumbs twice through the paper. His heart is racing now. His chest is tightening. His eardrum is vibrating with the sound of his own heartbeat.
“Looks like everything is in order,” man says.
“That’s it? I can go?” Lukas ask.
Man doesn’t really emote, he just stares at him and makes a gesture to one of the guards to the sally port. It’s opened and he walks out, the last slam of metal he hopes to ever here. Squinting his eyes briefly, outside air. One not behind barbed wire. He’s looking for, Robert is leaning against the passenger side of his car and gives him a lazy wave.
“Was ‘fraid they were keeping you,” Robert tells him with a smile.
“For a moment, I thought they were too,” Lukas replies.
Robert nods his head, “Get in the car we shouldn’t loiter too long in front of a prison.”
He’s known Robert his whole life, but right now he’s feels distance. Shouldn’t there be more to them meeting like this in a long time?
“Nadia, didn’t come,” Lukas mentions opening the door to Robert’s tan sedan, noticing the backseat empty.
Robert just smiles, “Boy do we have something special for you.”
She’s at the apartment then. He wants to hug and kiss her, he hasn't in so long. They have seen each other during visiting hours, but it never really felt the same because this place makes you disassociate from the real world so much.
“One second,” Luka says turning to face the prison. Lifting up his middle finger high, “Fuck you prison.” Sitting in the passenger seat, buckling up.
“If the guards start coming out, you know I’ll have to let you go,” Robert jokes.
“Well it made me feel better,” Lukas says as Robert peals out towards the road, while Lukas fiddles with the radio in the car for the first time in years.
An advert plays, but he let’s it. He hasn’t heard something try to pander to the human lizard brain in years either.
Sound of someone sniffing the air.
“Oh, oh I didn’t notice you were there,” a woman’s voice nervously laughs, “I wish they invented smelling speakers, because you wouldn’t believe how unbelievably amazing my house smells.”
Takes a big whiff in.
“It smells just like peeling oranges,” she says, “I’m glad for my Spray and Scent plug in scentinator. It gets rid of bad smells and well.”
She takes another sniff and exhales, “You just feel a sense of oh what’s that word again, relaxing.”
Spray and Scent plug in scentinator. Just plug. It sprays. And well makes your house smell simply amazing. Spray and Scent sold separately from oils.“I hate that commercial,” Robert groans.
“I haven’t heard it,” Lukas remarks. Roberts pulls a face.
“Right, sorry,” Robert keeps his focus on the road. Things feel awkward right now.The drumming beat of a radio station jingle begins to play.
“And welcome back listeners to the Dan and Jeremy show, it’s currently 8:30 am in the morning, traffic on the highway is fairly light today,” the hoarse, smoker voice of Dan plays through the speaker.
“So Dan,” Jeremy voice is lighter, a lot more nasally, “While we were on a break, a breaking news story was just posted on RightNews.net.”
“Woah woah Jeremy you can’t just plug in other people’s platform on this show, we’re not associated or affiliated with RightNews and they didn’t ask for us to talk about this,” Dan said, “It’s just so you to have your phone out while we’re on break.”
“What was I supposed to do Dan, listen to the Scent and Spray for the hundreth time,” Jeremy retorts.
“Okay, okay we’re getting off base here, what’s this article you want to talk about,” Dan responds.
“They are calling it the most controversial release ever,” Jeremy says, “Nineteen year old Lukas Dema-how the fuck do you say this last name?”
“Just say Newton,” Dan says passively.
“Is being released out of state prison, after his brutal execution of eight people three years ago,” Jeremy continues.Robert’s hand inches towards the radio. Is he sick to be curious?
“Let it play,” Lukas mentions to Robert.
“But Lukas,” Robert says.
“I’ll be fine,” Lukas tells him.
“Perhaps we should fill in for the listeners who have been avoiding the news or have been living under a rock,” Dan says, “What roughly three years ago, a sixteen year old boy walks into a telecommunications company called Ion Communications. Right?”
“Yes, that’s right Dan,” Jeremy says.
“Kills the guards, and then executes-excuse the gross imagery here listeners- a man, bullet through the skull,” Dan continues.
“Yeah,” Jeremy said, “What I won’t understand is what motive the kid had, you know Dan. Michael Peterson was just a stereotypical guy like you and I. He had nothing associated to his name. Or it’s really well covered up annd this kid just goes in - murders a bunch of standards.”
“My theory on this Jeremy, you want to hear my theory,” Dan says.
“Go on,” Jeremy says, “Curious.”
“My theory is that when an Ultra gets their power it corrupts their minds turning them crazy,” Dan says.
“Genius, well said should work for the scientist,” Jeremy says.
“I know,” Dan replies, “Anyway, what’s your take on this dear listeners? What’s your view and take on releasing this monster back into-Robert changes the channel. It isn’t how it went, he’s told people time and time again how that night went, but none of them ever believed him. Sometimes it felt like the criminal system, no that is exactly what the justice system was. Guilty until proven innocent. But who would provide the defense towards his case three years later? Robert only briefly glances at him.
“Look as much as it might sound fun, finding the person who did this to you,” Robert pauses, “I want you to focus on getting things straightened up. Get your GED, find a college, normal people stuff. Don’t let this thing define or consume you.”
Get your life straight? What a way to put it Robert.
“But we are going to find the person who did this?” Lukas ask him.
“Yeah sure,” Robert makes a face. It sounds more like Robert wants him to put all of this behind him. Not to mention it again. Allow it to fade into the background.
“You can tell me the truth, you don’t really want me to do so,” Lukas mentions.
Robert grumbles, “Let’s not talk about this. You just got out of jail and you’re already discussing about breaking more crimes. Just lie low for now. Have a few dates. Do things people do. At least for a little while. Can you do that for me?”
“Fine,” Lukas huffs and lies his head on the window of the passenger. He’s so tired from being up so early. He’s a little nervous going back. Going back to their apartment. Interacting with the people. Only so few believe he was telling the truth and listening to the talk show, there’s a lot of people who believe his guilt just because someone told them he was guilty.
Get your life straight, huh. Put it behind him. Never to try again. Not sure how he should feel about that. Or what is the right course of action. Of course he believes in balance, you can’t always be absorbed by your super identity and vice versa. To put it behind him. Lukas closes his eyes. To have a normal life. When they aren’t even human. What’s that mean? Once again everything is different while remaining the same. Like life changing events are in limbo, slow to register or process and the right decisions are obscure.
