Chapter 16: Lucas – The Optimist in the Shadows

Lucas leaned back in his chair, his shield propped against the wall, and stared out the window of Ethan's cluttered apartment. The faint hum of the Forge still buzzed at the edges of his mind, a constant reminder that even in this fleeting peace, they were never truly safe. But that wasn't what troubled him.

"Lucas," Ethan said, snapping his fingers in front of his face. "Earth to Captain Sunshine. You zoning out, or is this you meditating on how to be even more cheerful?"

Lucas blinked, shaking himself back to the moment. "Sorry. Just thinking."

"That's dangerous," Ethan teased, tossing him a bottle of water. "What's on your mind?"

Lucas hesitated, twisting the cap off the bottle and taking a sip. He could brush it off with a joke or some casual remark, but something about Ethan's tone made him pause. This was the guy who'd fought a Horde Commander and come out the other side cracking jokes—Lucas figured he could handle a little honesty.

"You ever wonder why we're here?" Lucas asked finally, his voice quieter than usual.

"You mean in my apartment?" Ethan quipped. "All the time."

"No, I mean the Forge," Lucas said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "Why us? Out of all the people in the world, why did the system choose us?"

Ethan tilted his head, genuinely considering the question. "I always figured it was bad luck. Like getting picked last in gym class but way worse."

Lucas chuckled, though the humor didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, maybe. But I can't help thinking there's a reason. Like… maybe we were chosen because we're supposed to learn something. Or fix something."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "That's a pretty optimistic take."

"Maybe," Lucas said, shrugging. "But it's better than thinking we're just here to suffer."

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Chapter 16 Part A) A Life Left Behind

Lucas hadn't always been so optimistic. Before the Forge, he'd been just another guy living a life that was comfortable but unremarkable. He worked as a construction foreman, overseeing crews and managing projects in the heat of the summer sun. He was good at his job—reliable, steady, someone people could count on. But outside of work, his life felt… hollow.

He'd grown up in a big family, the middle child of five siblings. His parents had worked hard to provide for them, instilling in Lucas a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility. But when his father passed away unexpectedly, the weight of holding the family together fell on his shoulders. Lucas stepped up without hesitation, taking on extra shifts and doing whatever it took to support his mother and younger siblings.

By the time his siblings were grown and his mother was stable, Lucas realized he'd spent so much time taking care of others that he'd never figured out what he wanted for himself. His life was a cycle of work, eat, sleep, and repeat, with nothing to break the monotony. He didn't resent it—not exactly. But there was an ache in his chest that never quite went away, a quiet yearning for something more.

Then the Forge happened.

The first night, he woke up in a crumbling wasteland with nothing but his bare hands and a rusted piece of rebar. The monsters that came for him were faster, stronger, and more ruthless than anything he'd ever imagined. He fought desperately, swinging wildly and enduring blow after blow, until he somehow managed to survive.

When he woke up, battered and bleeding in his own bed, he realized his life would never be the same.

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Chapter 16 Part B) Strength in Hope

Unlike others who cursed the Forge for pulling them into its deadly world, Lucas saw it as a strange kind of gift. It wasn't just about survival—it was a chance to become someone better, someone stronger. For the first time in years, he felt like he had a purpose. He wasn't just another construction worker going through the motions—he was a fighter, a tank, someone who could take the hits so others didn't have to.

That's what drove him: protecting people. He couldn't save his dad, and he couldn't fix all the things that had gone wrong in his family, but in the Forge, he could make sure no one else got left behind. That's why he always volunteered to hold the line, to be the shield that stood between his team and whatever nightmare the system threw at them.

But that optimism—the thing that made him who he was—was also a mask. Lucas carried the weight of every failure, every loss, and every dreamer he hadn't been able to save. He kept smiling, kept cracking jokes, because he knew if he stopped, the grief would swallow him whole.

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Chapter 16 Part C) A Bond Forming

In Ethan, Lucas saw a kindred spirit—someone who used humor to keep the darkness at bay. But where Lucas leaned into hope, Ethan seemed to resist it, keeping everyone at arm's length with his sarcasm. It was frustrating, but also understandable. Lucas had spent enough time around broken people to know when someone was scared to trust.

That's why he kept trying. Whether it was lightening the mood during a raid or offering encouragement after a tough fight, Lucas made it his mission to pull Ethan out of his shell. He didn't see himself as a leader—Karis had that role locked down—but he could be the heart of the team, the one who reminded them why they kept fighting.

"Do you ever stop being so cheerful?" Ethan asked, breaking Lucas's train of thought.

Lucas smirked. "Not if I can help it. Someone's gotta balance out Karis's death glares."

"I heard that," Karis called from the other room, her tone dry.

Ethan grinned. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. Keep it up, Captain Sunshine."

Lucas leaned back, feeling a little lighter. Maybe the Forge wasn't all bad. Sure, it was brutal and terrifying, but it had brought them together. And if there was one thing Lucas believed, it was that they were stronger together than they ever could be alone.

"Thanks, Ethan," Lucas said, his tone unusually serious.

"For what?" Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"For not giving up. On yourself. On any of us."

Ethan shrugged, but Lucas could see the faintest flicker of a smile. "Yeah, well… someone's gotta make sure you don't get yourself killed."

Lucas chuckled, the weight on his chest easing just a little. For the first time in a long time, he felt like maybe—just maybe—they could get through this. Together.