## Chapter 1
Luke leaned back into the old creaky chair, staring at the boxes scattered around his small new apartment. The room was filled with the scent of change. At age 27, he was at the peak of his career, having just received a promotion that would take him to another state.
But he was not as excited as one might expect due to concerns and responsibilities.
Luke was an only child, raised by a single mother who was a fierce disciplinarian and a loving caretaker.
His father left when he was young, and his mother had taken up the mantle and burden of raising him alone.
Despite the challenges, she had instilled in him a strong work ethic and an unwavering sense of duty. Her recent accident, a fall that fractured her leg, made it difficult for her to move around.
"Luke, you have to take care of yourself too," his mother had insisted during his previous visit. "I don't want you worrying about me all the time."
"I know, Mom," Luke had replied, a hint of frustration in his voice.
Luke ensured she was well taken care of, sending money home regularly to cover her medical expenses and daily needs.
His thoughts drifted to the new apartment he had found in the city where his new job was. It was a far cry from the spacious house he had grown up in, but it was affordable.
The high cost of living near his workplace had left him with few options. He had chosen the cheap building out of necessity, hoping to save money for the future.
Luke sighed, pushing himself up from the chair. He had just finished unpacking the last box when his stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since breakfast. He grabbed his keys and headed out, planning to make a quick trip to the grocery store.
The building's elevator was out of order, so he took the stairs. The dimly lit stairwell smelled faintly of mildew, and the echo of his footsteps added an eerie feel as he descended.
As he reached the parking lot, he heard a noise that made him stop in his tracks. It sounded like someone screaming.
"What the hell?" he muttered, his heart beginning to race.
Instinctively, Luke's mind raced to the worst-case scenario. His heart pounded as he followed the sound, his footsteps quickening. As he rounded a corner, he saw three figures: two men and a woman.
At first, he thought the woman was being attacked, and anger surged through him. But as he got closer, he realized what was happening.
The woman was moaning in ecstasy, not pain. The sight shocked him.
"Are you kidding me?" Luke said under his breath.
He watched, stunned, as the trio continued their public display. The woman, her back arching against one of the parked cars, seemed lost in her own world.
The two men were equally engrossed, their hands and mouths exploring her body with a boldness that left Luke speechless.
He watched as one of the men lifted the woman, pressing her against the car while she gave a handjob to the other. The woman's eyes were closed, her face a picture of unrestrained pleasure. Luke could hear the sounds of their breathing and soft murmurs.
"Youth of nowadays," Luke murmured, shaking his head in disbelief. This wasn't what he had expected to find in his new neighborhood, and to be honest, it was shocking.
Feeling a mix of relief and disgust, Luke turned away and headed to the grocery store. The streets were quiet, the hum of distant traffic the only sound breaking the silence.
Luke's mind wandered back to his mother and the life he had left behind. He hoped she was doing well, though he knew she would never admit if she wasn't. As he walked, his mind kept drifting back to the scene in the parking lot. He couldn't shake the images from his mind. It wasn't just the shock of witnessing such a public display of intimacy—it was the way it made him reflect on his own struggles with relationships.
"Why can't I be more like that?" he muttered to himself. "So confident, so free."
His mother's strict discipline had left him with a complicated view of women and intimacy. She had always emphasized self-control, and any hint of immorality was met with harsh reprimands. This upbringing had made it difficult for Luke to form romantic relationships. He often felt awkward and unsure of himself around women, worried that he might do something wrong or inappropriate.
The scene he had just witnessed was a stark contrast to his own experiences. The ease and confidence with which the trio engaged in their tryst was foreign to him. He wondered what it would be like to be so uninhibited, to be able to express desire without fear of judgment or reprimand. But these thoughts only deepened his sense of unease and discomfort. He wasn't sure he would ever be able to let go of the ingrained lessons of his upbringing.
Lost in thought, he didn't see the construction sign warning of a pit ahead. The caution tape flapped in the breeze, but Luke's eyes were focused elsewhere. Before he knew it, he missed a step and fell. Time seemed to slow as he tumbled into the hole.
"Ah, damn!" he cried out, the pain exploding through his body as a metal rod, part of the construction debris, pierced the back of his neck. The impact was swift and fatal, leaving Luke with no time to process what had happened. His life, filled with promise and potential, ended in a tragic and unforeseen manner.
The following day, his body was found. The news of his death spread quickly, leaving his new colleagues and old friends in shock.
"I can't believe it," one of his coworkers said, shaking his head.
"Such a waste," another murmured. "He had so much going for him."
"come to think of it a lot weird stuff has been happening has of late" a third coworker said while sighing