Really?

Pete looks at me as if I have grown two heads, "Do you have any connection with the outside world, mate? There hasn't been an attack in centuries, man..." he shakes his head.

That's true.

I have read some old newspapers... you know, those l-o-n-g paper things with daily news written all over them... if you are from way behind our time, you may know them. Or maybe, you still read them. Who knows.

But we don't have newspapers. Pete doesn't know what newspapers are. We have 'NewsMails'. Everyday, we receive emails containing loads of links of news.

I have read some old ones. Safely archived by my Dad, in his closet.

...And, oh God...

Crimes, crimes and more crimes. People getting murdered everyday. Children getting kidnapped, women getting violated... forests getting wiped clean... and...nobody cares.

That's why our world is like this, now.

On those days, people had independence. Total independence. But could they use it properly?

No.

And therefore, we don't have total independence. We can't read what we want. We can't go where we want. We can't do what we want...

But outside people don't think like me. They think it's for their good. They dream, one day, they can again be happy. One day, emotions will again flow through their black, brown, blue, gray eyes...

They keep dreaming.

Hope. Hope springs eternal in the human breast. Hope. That's what keeps them alive. Hope. That's what couldn't escape from Pandora's Box.

But I know, it's just a dream. Not reality.

The reality is, they will forever stay this way. Poor. Hopes in their chests. And people like my Mother will forever stay rich. Maybe they will get more rich...

"Are you on Earth, mate?" Pete waves his hand in front of my face.

"Huh?"

Ohh... okay, sorry. I got distracted again. Anyways, the truth is now-a-days, no crimes happen. Even if they do, our NewsMails contain no such thing. Development. That's all they keep writing about...

"So, will you go?" Pete asks, impatient.

"Why the hell are you so eager to go?"

Pete looks uncomfortable, "What's the problem, mate?!" he says, "It's just a visit..."

I stay silent. Contemplating my choices.

"C'mon, you don't overthink things... why now?" he asks.

Pete is my best friend. He never betrayed me and I can't even imagine he doing anything bad for me. So I don't doubt him. But I also don't think it will be a good idea to appear in Dragon Streets like this.

I'm not overthinking, I'm just being cautious and realistic.

"I don't think it's a good idea," I say, "I won't go; nor should you."

I look at his eyes. Directly. He stares back.

He won't give up this easily...