The truck driver could hardly get a spare moment to think. His captor had him constantly running errands, especially in the day, and in the evenings wanted to blather to him endlessly. He couldn't even wrap his mind around it most times. This weird kid "Theodore," who had never even learned his name. How was he unable to escape? All that time in the truck and he couldn't just divert his path and go home? What was even going on? All he could do was talk back-- maybe the monster would decide to kill him and at least he'd be free.

       Jack sensed he wasn't going to be able to talk reason into Darren, so tried to just make some light conversation as they hiked their way through the woods to find the usual training ground.
       "So you're some kind of musician?"
       "...Yeah, some kind... I guess."
       "Hm. That's cool, what do you play?"
       "...Man you really don't know?"
       "No? I've just met you, hadn't really come up."
       "Are you not from Harlan or something?"
       "No, I am.."
       "Wow. The Belfries (gag) were pretty famous, locally at least. Didn't you read the alt papers?"
       "Well yeah, but just the comics and sex articles."
       "...I don't know whether to be relieved or not."