There was a peculiar spark in Lane's words, one that seemed to pierce even the suffocating darkness of the dungeon. Luca slowly lifted his gaze and looked at Lane's outstretched hand. Waves of suspicion rose within him; he couldn't decide whether to trust this stranger or not.
In a cold and detached voice, Luca said, "I don't know you."
He looked directly into Lane's eyes and added, "You can call me whatever you want, I don't care about that. But... why did you come to me?"
A faint smile appeared on Lane's face. He replied, "I saw you sitting all alone in that dark corner. The expressions on your face... they were very strange. To be honest, for a moment, you looked quite terrifying and haunting. You seemed so scared and shaken."
Luca narrowed his eyes. To hide his true feelings, he quickly draped that mask of innocence over his features again.
Luca: "Is that the only reason you came to me? Because I looked scared?"
Lane: "No, that's not it. You stood out from this entire crowd. Everyone here is either screaming or has given up, but you... even in your silence, you seemed different. That's why I came over. I wanted us to be friends. Can't you be my friend? It's better to have each other's company than to stay alone in a hell like this."
Luca looked at Lane's hand and then at his face, but he didn't say a word. His silence was deeper than the very walls of the room.
Seeing Luca's silence, Lane assumed that he had no objection to his presence. Lane moved a little closer and said, "You didn't say anything to me... and you didn't refuse either. So, are we friends? Can I stay here with you?"
Luca still remained silent. Lane sat down, leaning against the stone wall, completely unaware of what was actually going on in Luca's mind.
Luca watched Lane sitting beside him and thought to himself— "His behavior here will put him in great danger. I don't think he will survive here for very long."