Prologue: Whispers in the Shadows

In the serene town of Willowville, where the streets were graced with the shade of old oak trees and the houses appeared frozen in time, our tale found its beginnings. It was an early spring day, the sun's warm rays bathing the town, and the air filled with beautiful birdsong. In this beautiful haven resided two young souls whose stories would intertwine, drawn together by an inexplicable yearning for a life different from the one they knew. The first young soul was Ethan, a 16-year-old young man with a mane of dark brown hair that always looked proper, matching the depths of his dark brown eyes. Restlessness was etched across his face, and he carried the heavy burden of feeling imprisoned in his own home. His parents always fought and sometimes even hit him. There was one thing Ethan always wanted: to go on an adventure, a life free from the shackles of rules and limitations, and a life without his parents who always fought and abused him. The other young soul was Lily, just 14 years old, with long, sun-kissed blonde hair that cascaded down her back and eyes as dark blue as the depths of the ocean. Yet, beneath her innocent appearance lurked a formidable darkness. Lily grappled with bipolar disorder and a psychopathic personality disorder that at times unleashed a torrent of anger within her and make her feel less guilt and empathy if she hurts someone. Her parents, with the best of intentions, had tried to guide her through this tumultuous storm in her mind, but the inner demons sometimes proved overpowering. This is why at a young age, she went to multiple foster homes and had multiple foster parents. But none seemed to lighten the darkness within her. As the story unfolds, their shared journey begins. It starts in the hallways of Willowville High School, where Ethan's school days were as silent as always. The textbooks on his desk often served as an escape route to his own world. Lily, on the other hand, was a young artist with a sketchbook that was her refuge. The pages of her sketchbook housed vibrant, imaginative drawings, breathing life into the fantastical worlds that danced through her mind. Ethan is a very smart guy. Not only is he good with words and a great planner, but he also possesses a lot of general knowledge. Look out, though. Even though he has such skills and is very quiet, he is a master manipulator. He knows exactly when you're telling the truth and sometimes manipulates his classmates or teachers, making them do things for him indirectly. Ethan always excels in his class because of these skills, though he doesn't get along with his classmates. He is often picked on by bullies and called a nerd. Ethan has only one friend, and that's his childhood friend Lily. They live on the same street and have been playing together since they were little. Sadly, Lily isn't in the same class as Ethan since she is two years younger than he is. They always meet after class to hang out until midnight. But enough of the narrator's storytelling; let's dive into the story.