Conrad and Tom were like,
"Oh, you'll kill us?"
The boy quickly shook his head.
"No, I won't..."
"But they will."
Conrad frowned.
"Who are they?"
The kid took a deep breath.
"Let me tell you the story of Bulltown."
"It is named Bulltown because what happens here is just like bulls."
"There is a higher authority here connected to the people from Bloodtown, which is the worst district."
"They made someone the king of this place."
"And what he did was create the Rule of Day and Night."
"Nobody is allowed to be outside during the daytime."
"At night, everyone lives their lives."
"So basically..."
"Day and night are reversed."
"Sounds pretty cool, right?"
"But there's another catch."
"You have to stay completely inside your house from sunrise to sunset."
"You can't be seen by the outside world."
"If anyone from the King's crew sees you..."
"Or if someone reports you..."
"You're marked."
"And once you're marked..."
"You're called onto the streets that same night."
Conrad looked confused.
"And then what?"
The boy's expression turned dark.
"What happens next..."
"...is a nightmare."
"You see these streets?"
"They look normal."
"But with the press of a button..."
"They turn into giant cages."
"The person who was marked has to run inside that cage."
"Against ten wild bulls."
"And these aren't ordinary bulls."
"They don't just stamp on you or throw you into the air with their horns."
"They chase you."
"They make you run."
"They wait until you're completely exhausted."
"And then..."
"They break every bone in your body."
"Tear you apart..."
"And eat you alive."
"While your blood spills all over the streets."
"And all of that..."
"...is entertainment."
"The King..."
"King Serloth..."
"And his crew..."
"They enjoy watching it."
Tom suddenly understood.
"So that's why they have those automatic water cleaners."
"So the streets don't stay bloody..."
"And they don't stink."
The boy nodded.
"Yeah."
"Exactly."
He then looked at both of them.
"You guys didn't see anyone taking your picture, did you?"
Conrad shook his head.
"No."
"We were quiet..."
"But we explored most of the city."
The boy sighed.
"That might put you guys on the chopping block."
"But it isn't a guarantee."
"Oh..."
"I almost forgot."
"My name is Steve."
"Steve Charles."
Conrad smiled.
"I'm Conrad Butcher."
"And this is Tom."
Steve scratched the back of his head.
"What I said earlier..."
"About you guys being killed..."
"I mainly said that to scare you."
"But honestly..."
"It still might happen."
"So you both have to be smart."
"And stay hidden the whole time."
"During the day..."
"No one is ever allowed on the streets."
"Not even if there's an earthquake."
"Not even if there's an important meeting."
"Nothing."
"No one knows the real reason why."
"So if you hide during the night..."
"And move during the day..."
Tom quickly interrupted.
"Yeah."
"That's good."
"We'll escape right now..."
"And never come back."
Steve looked at them.
"You guys don't get it."
"This place is like a maze."
"The path you came in from..."
"Isn't the same path that leads out."
"This city is always moving."
"Actually moving."
"No one has ever escaped..."
"Except one man."
"And nobody knows how he did it."
"It takes almost an entire day just to reach an exit."
"But at night..."
"You're trapped inside your assigned area."
"So the only chance to escape..."
"Is to start during the day..."
"And hopefully reach the exit the next day."
"But that also means..."
"You'll still be outside at night."
"And once night falls..."
"You're finished."
Steve looked directly at Conrad.
"So..."
"Do you still want to escape?"
Conrad smiled.
"We won't escape."
"We'll make this place a place where days are days again..."
"And nights are nights again."
"We'll make sure all of you can finally live happily."
"And we'll kick King Serloth off his throne."
"Then..."
"We'll make you the new King."
"The King who'll turn Bulltown..."
"Into a new town."
Hearing those words...
Steve became emotional.
For a moment...
He saw someone else standing in front of him.
Not Conrad.
But his older brother...
Henry.
The same determination.
The same smile.
The same heart.