Thirteen

This was a challenging read. I'm unashamed to admit I stepped away to compose my emotions on numerous occasions. Measure and bolster your emotional rationale before continuing into this story. If GA were to create a restricted section of the Story Archive, this should be one of the first entrants. It is not for the faint of heart. It is not your average story. It is not easy-going. It is dangerous. It is beyond unsettling. It will test your humanity.

If you have a single doubt as you read these words, I implore you to turn away and never look back. Trigger warning is not a strong enough phrase, in my personal opinion. Please. Read, analyze, and understand this story's main page and chapter page warning/note before moving forward. 

What I will say is this. The author is an artist. Daring, brave, and skilled. Throughout the centuries art has existed, some artists push boundaries. Sensitive topics have been tackled, but it must be done with grace and guile. Being an entry for the 2025 Secret Author contest, it is clear this author is unafraid. Artists test the line as to what stories need to be told, regardless of the medium and subject. Events that resemble this story's happens in our world. To tell this story, it serves as a reminder that these horrors-- these atrocities, do happen. It is one thing to hear about it in the news. It is another to experience it [by reading], and I believe that is the author's intention here. For this reason alone, I appreciate and thank the Secret Author. I am reminded that I must do whatever is necessary to help and protect those around me, whether they be family or stranger. 

As for my review, I want to hate this story. I desperately want to banish it from existence, but then I would be a hypocrite. This story's subject is something I, as an author, never intend to touch. I know I am not mentally strong enough, and I'm unsure if I ever will be. But, from an objective mind, I can't help but appreciate this tale at its core. I can't help but appreciate the author for their talent and bravery. I can, however, imagine the challenging struggle it must have taken to bring this story to life. I could never handle the ongoing and future critical feedback that will surely generate. The writing is very well done here. The ability to play with emotion and scenery is next to none.

Will I have trouble sleeping tonight? Probably, but I will become a stronger human for reading this story.

I give five stars for the quality of writing. This is well worth a read, but it left me a bit unsettled. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Judge for yourself.  

I rarely disagree with Bennie, but I read Lucas fairly clearly. This story has so many layers, it IS a painting on a canvas to me, meant to be interpreted differently by whoever is reading. While I personally dislike reading stories that force you to think a little too hard, I have to give this story it's dues. 

The writing style itself has poetic flair. The theme and content was a bold choice. But don't expect to leave this one with all of your questions well and truly answered (and that itself might have been an artistic choice). The only reason I gave it 4 out of 5 stars is because I didn't feel we understood enough while we were reading, we had more outer cues like the setting, atmosphere, the objects around the characters... but, we didn't spend enough time in Lucas's headspace and feelings to truly understand the choices he made, and that's why it didn't feel like he was the main character that the story description/summary led us to believe. It was like a detailed snapshot of photography from the surface instead of a hand-painted canvas baring a glimpse of the painter's soul.

Interesting comments on a story that I acknowledge could be seem as intimidating or even creepy. it was a momentous interlude in a persons life that resonated with me. Morris was wrong, no doubt but he helped a young man to crystallise his own inner turmoil. This story didn't bother me at all. Effect was not abhorrence,  more like both parties gained.  

Wonderful work and left the audience wondering where it was leading 

This is a very disturbing story

Definitely worth a read. I disagree with the other reviewers, however @Thirdly’s comment about interpreting it differently is spot on.

This story is uncomfortable, and it's very hard to read but I feel it serves as a warning to the venerable who aren't aware, and it's a warning that needs to be heard.

The story itself is very well written, with may layers, but it'll leave a bad taste in your mouth.  And it should, just for the simple fact some things shouldn't be kept secret.

Thanks Secret Author.

This is a well written story, but after reading it, i came away a little unsettled. Which given the topic isn't a bad thing.

A young teenager, brought up not to talk to strangers, ignores this advice and ends up at a strangers house.

Read on to discover more.

Unlike some of the other readers, I didn't see this story in quite the same negative light that they did.  Yes, the antagonist used some very deceptive methods, and the protagonist failed to heed many of the warnings that he'd been given while growing up, topics that were most likely discussed on multiple occasions.  Maybe those warnings had even been harped on prior to this encounter, but I didn't see the story in a completely negative light.  Since there was never any physical contact and no one was forced to do anything, I feel the antagonist only wanted to help a young gay boy accept who he is and to eliminate the feelings of shame about his attraction to other boys.  You, however, will have to judge for yourself, but I found the prose and descriptions wonderfully written, and it was merely the subject matter that made others uneasy, often, it seems, to the point of being overcome by an emotional reaction.