"Are you scared of running away?" Ewan asked quietly.
The man released a heavy sigh. "To be honest, I am," he admitted. "If my escape plan fails, the consequences will be unimaginable. They might even go after my sister."
Ewan fell silent, his eyes empty of emotion.
"You seem strong," the man continued carefully. "If I share my plan with you, maybe we can escape successfully together."
Ewan's gaze dropped to the bottle of alcohol in his hand. "If I leave this place, I have nowhere to go. What's the point of escaping then?" he questioned flatly.
The man paused for a moment. "You can stay with me," he proposed. "I can guarantee you'll live comfortably."
Ewan gave a slow nod. "Then meet me tonight. We leave today. I'd like to see the outside world—at least once," he declared.
The man's face lit up instantly, a bright smile spreading across his lips. "My name is Lucian. I'm glad you agreed to cooperate with me." He extended his hand for a handshake.
