Chapter 4

Lillian's POV 

I could feel my pulse racing as I watched the car getting closer and closer. But just when it seemed like we were about to get hit, a police car pulled up beside us and blocked the drunk driver's car.

The driver was arrested, and we were able to continue to the cemetery without any further incident. But the whole experience left me feeling shaken and vulnerable.

As we arrived at the cemetery, I took a deep breath and prepared myself to say goodbye to my parents for the last time. But even as I stood there, surrounded by my loved ones, I couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness and loss that had taken hold of me.

The funeral was held in a quiet corner of the cemetery, surrounded by lush green trees and blooming flowers. Just me, Peter's family, and the government workers gathered to pay their final respects to my parents. The priest led us in prayer, and we stood in silence as he spoke about the importance of cherishing the memories of our loved ones.

The coffin, draped in a white cloth, was brought out by a group of pallbearers. The sight of it sent shivers down my spine, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes once again. The coffin was placed on a stand under a white canopy, and the priest began the final rites.

He spoke words of comfort and hope, assuring us that my parents were in a better place and that their memory would live on forever in our hearts. We stood in silence, listening to his words, as the tears continued to roll down our cheeks.

After the final rites were completed, we were each given a chance to say our final goodbyes to my parents. I approached the coffin with a heavy heart, my eyes still brimming with tears. I placed a bouquet of white lilies on top of the coffin, a symbol of my love and respect for my parents.

As I stood there, gazing at their peaceful faces, I felt a sense of closure and acceptance wash over me. I knew that they were gone, but I also knew that their memory would live on forever in my heart.

The funeral was a blur of tears and sorrow. I clung to Mr. and Mrs. Peters for support.

As the ceremony came to an end, I felt a sense of finality wash over me. My parents were gone, and I would never see them again. The reality of it all hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt the tears streaming down my face once more.

After the funeral, we made our way back to my parent's house, where friends and family had gathered to offer their condolences. But I couldn't bear to be around people, and I excused myself and retreated to my room.

I sat on my bed, staring at the wall, feeling numb and lost. The reality of my parent's death had not fully sunk in yet, but I knew that I had to start figuring out how to move forward.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It was Mr. Peters.

"Lilian, are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle and kind.

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face once more.

"It's okay to cry," he said, sitting down beside me on the bed. "You don't have to be strong all the time. You've been through a lot."

We sat there in silence for a while, and I felt a sense of comfort in Mr. Peters' presence. He had always been there for me, just like my parents had, and I knew that I could count on him to help me through this difficult time.

As the night wore on, I changed into black apparel and we sat down to discuss the next steps. The house was now mine, but I couldn't bear the thought of living there alone. Mr. and Mrs. Peters offered to let me stay with them for a while, and I gratefully accepted.

As I went to bed that night, I knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but I also knew that I had people who loved and cared for me. And with their support, I would find a way to move forward and honor the memory of my parents.

I was about to sleep when I heard strange noises from the living room and I walked there. It was all dark and I didn't see anyone there. I was about to walk back to my room when I saw a figure sitting on the chair, its legs crossed and hands on its chin.

My heart began to beat loudly at the sight of the intruder and with every passing step I felt heavier with each step.

Slowly and finally, I got to the switch and turned the lights on with a click. 

But what I saw when the lights came on was even more terrifying than the dark.

There was not just one, but a group of men dressed in black standing in the room. They all had cold and unfriendly faces, and they stared at me with an intensity that sent chills down my spine.

I stood frozen, unable to move or speak. My mind raced with questions. Who were they? Why were they in my house? And most importantly, what did they want from me?

One of the men stepped forward and spoke in a low, menacing voice. "We've been sent to take care of things, Miss Lillian. We suggest you stay out of our way and comply with our demands."

I felt a surge of fear course through me as I realized that I was in danger. But before I could even think of a way to escape, the men started moving towards me with purpose, and I knew that I had to act fast if I wanted to survive.

"W-Who are you?" I asked them all while holding a vase I took from the table beside me, aiming it at the faces. 

The man in black sitting on the chair raised his left hand and the other men froze in their tracks before returning to their former standpoint.

He placed his feet on the floor and looked at me, "Lilian Rowan," he called me by my full name and I looked at him in shock. How did he know my name?

 He continued speaking, "Your parents have sold you to me, Miss Rowan. You can either come with us willingly, or you can join them in the grave. The choice is yours."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My parents had sold me? How could they do such a thing? And who was this man? What did he want with me? Could this be a prank and he was lying?

I tried to reason with him, "Why would my parents sell me to you? And who are you? What do you want from me?"

The man remained stoic, his face unreadable. "Those are not your concern, Lillian. All you need to know is that you have no choice in the matter. Come with us, or suffer the consequences."

I felt a wave of panic wash over me as I realized the gravity of the situation. I had no idea what was going on, or why my parents had done this. All I knew was that I had to get out of there, and fast.

But as I made a move towards the door, the men closed in on me, blocking my way out. I was trapped, and I had no idea how I was going to get out of this alive.

The man in black walked towards me, grabbed my neck with a strong force, and whispered in my ear, "Think carefully, Lillian. Your fate lies in my hands." 

In a split second, the ring in his eyes shone with a bright red light for only a second before returning to its normal state. "Would you like to join your parents?" He asked with his grip tightening around my neck.

The room fell silent, and I was left standing there, choking, alone with the man and his men. I didn't know what to do, or where to go. All I knew was that I had to get out of there, and fast. The fate of my life depended on it.