Truths and shadows

LUCAS P.O.V

MAX kneels in front of me, his eyes downcast as he offers his apology. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to steal her from you," he says sincerely. However, I was unconvinced by Max's apology and still feels a lingering resentment towards him for his actions in the past. Though Max seems genuinely remorseful, the pain of losing my girlfriend to Max still lingers, and it may take time for me to fully forgive and trust him again.

Max's gaze meets mine, tears welling up in his eyes as he recountsthe night he was brutally abused by Professor Thompson's crew. "Lucas, remember when I went missing last week?" he began, his voice trembling. "I was at the Eden residence, and when you found me, I lied about not remembering anything. That night, I was brutally abused by Professor Thompson's crew, and he forced me to steal your girlfriend. Please believe me!" Max pleads, tears streaking down his cheeks. I scoff, dismissing Max's words as nothing but a made-up story to garner forgiveness.

As I turn to walk away, Max is left kneeling on the spot, tears streaming down his face as he desperately calls out to me. "Lucas! Please! Believe me!" Max pleads, his voice trembling with fear. "He'll be killing me if I didn't do it!" But I doesn't turn back, my mind clouded with anger and suspicion towards Max, and I continue walking away, leaving Max behind. The weight of guilt and fear weighs heavily on Max, knowing the danger he may face by refusing Professor Thompson's orders.

As I walk away, I can hear Max's desperate screams fading in the distance. But before I can get far, Professor Thompson unexpectedly grabs me from behind, wrapping his arms around my waist. The sudden contact catches me off guard, and I stiffens slightly as the professor asks in a seductive tone, "Why are you here, Babe?"

My heart skips a beat, a mix of fear and confusion swirling within me. I turn to face Professor Thompson, our faces just inches apart.

My heart still racing from the unexpected embrace, shake my head quickly, trying to downplay the situation. "Nothing," I reply, my voice a little shaky. "I just heard some strange noise, probably just the wind or something." I step back slightly, creating some distance between myself and Professor Thompson. I try to maintain my composure, but the encounter has left me feeling uneasy and disoriented.

AS the night descends, I find myself lying in bed, unable to sleep. My thoughts are consumed by the conversation I had with Max earlier, the details replaying in my mind over and over again. I turn Max's words over and over in my head, trying to make sense of the situation. Doubt, confusion, and uncertainty swirl in my mind, making it difficult for me to find any sort of clarity or resolution. The weight of my concerns and doubts weighs heavily on me, keeping me awake long into the night.

I jolted out of my troubled thoughts by the shrill sound of my phone ringing. With a sense of unease, I answer the call, only to be met with the devastated voice of Max's father. The news that follows sends a chill down my spine—Max has been found dead. Lucas hangs up in horror, the color draining from my face. Without hesitation, I grab my keys and dashes out of my house, driving as fast as I can towards the crime scene. When I arrive, the sight that greets him is horrific—Max's lifeless body lies on the ground, surrounded by a pool of blood.

The police cordon off the area, keeping me and the bystanders at a distance as the ambulance takes Max away. I stand silently, unable to tear my gaze away from the pool of blood where Max had lain. My mind races with the events of the night, the memories of our conversation earlier fresh in my mind. "Maybe Max was right," I think, a mixture of horror and realization washing over me. It was becoming increasingly apparent that Professor Thompson was somehow involved in Max's death.

Fueled by a mix of curiosity and determination, I decide to take matters into my own hands. With Max's warnings and the suspicions weighing heavily on my mind, I resolve to investigate further. I decide to pay a late-night visit to Professor Thompson's house, hoping to uncover any possible clues or evidence that could shed light on the truth. With a sense of urgency and stealth, I sneak towards Professor Thompson's house, ready to uncover the secrets that lie within.

As I tiptoe toward Professor Thompson's room, I catch snippets of the conversation between Professor Thompson and another person—their words send a chill down my spine. "Good, good," Ethan states with a smug smile. "Now that Max is dead, let's make this more thrilling. Lucas's girlfriend is next... So I can make Lucas finally mine." I freeze in horror at Ethan's words, a sickening realization washing over me. The truth was slowly unfolding before me, confirming Max's claims about Professor Thompson and his sinister intentions.

In his surprise and shock at what I hear, I accidentally knocks against something, causing a noise that echoes through the room. In an instant, Ethan's attention is drawn to the sound, his face turning toward the direction where I was hiding. I freeze, my heart racing in my chest, knowing that I've been discovered. Ethan quickly hangs up the phone and strides towards the source of the noise, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. My mind races, trying to find a way out of this dire situation.

In a moment of desperation, spots a vase nearby and swiftly grabs it. As Professor Thompson approaches, unaware of my presence, I steel myself and swings the vase at the professor's head with all my strength. There is a sickening crunch as the vase connects, knocking Professor Thompson unconscious. I stand there, panting and breathless, looking down at the slumped form at my feet. I had managed to incapacitate the dangerous professor, but as I looks down at him, the gravity of the situation weighs heavily on me.

I was determined to escape, makes a beeline for the front door, only to find it locked. My confusion quickly turns to horror as I hear a deep menacing voice behind me. "Going somewhere, sweetheart?" Ethan's voice reverberates throughout the room, sending shivers down my spine. Before I can react, Ethan lunges, violently attacking me. The force of the attack send me crashing to the ground, my head throbbing from the impact. Darkness slowly engulfs me as I fall into unconsciousness, my bodylimp and lifeless in Ethan's grip.