chapter 8-9 why all this?

"Virtue cannot separate itself from reality without becoming a principle of evil." ~ Albert

"If we are strong, our strength will speak for itself. If we are weak, words will be of no help." ~ John F. Kennedy

...

"You are awake, my lady!" Alicia's voice brought me back to consciousness. She expressed her concern, scolding me for drinking alcohol. I immediately wanted to know where Alex was.

"Where is he?" I asked urgently. Alicia seemed puzzled by my question. She explained that my brother had brought me home from the hospital after a man dropped me off and left. The incident was a blur due to the intoxication.

"Haaaaahaaaa!!!!!" I shouted, overwhelmed by the memory of the dead body. My mother appeared out of nowhere and sternly told me to be quiet. My emotions were in turmoil, especially as the memory of Mr. Lucas's warning resurfaced.

"Keep quiet!" my mother snapped before leaving abruptly. Alex entered the room, and his touch and kiss reassured me. But Mr. Lucas's words haunted me.

"What do you want from me?" I asked, unable to hide my fear and confusion. Alex's response was unexpected. "Your heart, of course." Could I trust him?

I asked Alicia to leave us alone, and Alex sat beside me on the bed. Annoyed, I snapped at him not to sit on my bed without an invitation, and he promptly found a chair instead. His worried expression softened my heart.

"Tell me what happened," he implored, concerned about my wellbeing. My anger mixed with curiosity, and I questioned him about his relationship with Mr. Lucas. When I remained silent, he shared his knowledge of Mr. Lucas's dangerous nature, his family's enmity with him, and the ongoing research into his tragic story.

His words triggered a whirlwind of emotions. Unable to process it all, I stormed out of the room. Confusion and frustration consumed me. I confronted my parents, demanding answers about the prophecy, Mr. Lucas, his enmity with our family, and the recurring dreams that I had shared with my mother. But my father's anger and accusations only pushed me further away.

Running aimlessly, I tried to escape the suffocating reality. The guards pursued me, and Alex called after me, but I was determined to get away. Lost in a sea of people, someone suddenly grabbed my hand. It was James. Panic set in. No, I thought, not him.

Before I could react, I was enveloped in darkness as a black cloth was placed over me. My vision was obscured, and I succumbed to unconsciousness once again.

...

To be continued...