You kill, I revive.

You bless, I cry.

I am the shadow of your light.']

Somebody was chanting it. People wearing black dresses, covering their faces with hoods, they were chanting it. They were circling a woman who was in labor. She was wearing a thin white gown. There were droplets of sweat formed on her forehead. She was in lots of pain. Some hooded women were clutching her hands from both sides of the bed. The was screaming in pain but her voice drowned in their chants. Everything was vague and everything was messy. There was darkness. The only source of light was a candle with two whips present in the middle of the circle. There was blood too. Lots and lots of blood.

Alyssa woke up gasping for air. She wiped the sweat from her head and took long breaths to calm her down. She was afraid. Though the dream she saw was blurry and she didn't remember much, but the lingering feeling she got from the dream made her afraid. She doesn't know what was she afraid of. But she was very much scared. Alyssa spent the remaining hours awake, clutching tightly to her blankets. She felt relieved when she saw faint sunlight and chirping of the birds from her window.

Alyssa woke up and after doing her routine she went to her school.

It was now three days from the football match

Six days from graduation ceremony and

Eight days from the royal ball.

The royal ball will take place for three days. On the third day will be the day when she will turn eighteen and her name will be written in 'The Book Of Names'.

Alyssa was excited for that day and was nervous at the same time. She was very cautious in every step she was taking. Who knew when and where she will fall into Violet's trap.

Just like yesterday, Jacob was being odd. she wanted to confront him but it was not her place to do so.

"Eat". Alyssa said to Dianna who was just stirring the soup.

"I don't feel like eating," Dianna spoke and tried to smile which came out crocked.

Alyssa sighed. Then she spoke, "If his behavior is disturbing you so much, why don't you go and speak to him?"

"I tried" Dianna continued, "But he isn't answering any of my calls nor replying any of my text messages."

Her voice choked at the end and the rims of her eyes became red.

Alyssa balled her fist. She knew something was not right in their relations.h.i.+p. It was not the first time that they quarreled or to simply say a lovers spat, but he never behaved this way. Even after a fight, he used to sit beside her and used to talk with them. And after a few minutes he would start touching and flirting with Dianna. But this time he behaved totally unlike himself. Now he was outright ignoring their existence, Dianna included. And now he was even laughing with others when someone mocked them.

With her best friend feeling down, she felt down too. It is one of the friends.h.i.+p goals. If your friend hates somebody you automatically hate the supposed person too and even with much intensity than your best friend.

Best friends had been there for you through the good times, the rough moments, and everything in between. They pick you up when you're feeling down and lift you even higher when you're on top of the world.

A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden. A good friend is like a four-leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.

Seeing Dianna so down Alyssa thought of confronting Jacob by herself, "There is nothing I would not do for my friends." She held Dianna's small hand in her hand and said, "I may not always be there with you, but I will always be there for you. Remember that."

Alyssa was feeling low. She didn't want to continue her cla.s.s. There wasn't much to be taught now. They were mainly doing self-study or revision. But she still stayed because she didn't want to get demerits when she was so close to graduate and leave this h.e.l.l, called school, forever. After the school was over, she decided to buy some groceries, parts of refrigerator, electric room heater, and other electrical appliances. She bought a tent and foldable beds for herself and Noah.

Feeling low Alyssa arrived at her secret hideout. She greeted Noah and gave him some food. She sat on her desk and before Noah can utter anything, she got a notification.

'I DON'T LIKE TO BE IGNORED'

Alyssa was not in a mood to entertain anyone, not when someone was hacking her laptop continuously.

She typed. 'STOP HACKING!!!'

'STOP IGNORING'

SOME PEOPLE HAVE LIFE TOO' 'BTW WHO'R U?' Alyssa asked

I CAN'T SAY.

THEN STOP BOTHERING ME. Alyssa said.

I HAVE A JOB FOR YOU.

Alyssa was tired and irritated because of this unknown person. She had two choices either ignore him, which was difficult, or know his intensions and reject him once and for all. She chose the latter.

'WHAT JOB?'

I WANT TO HACK THE 'ROYAL DATABASE'.

ARE YOU CRAZY? SRY CAN'T DO. Alyssa said.

I ASKED YOUR FAV NO, ACTUALLY, THAT WAS THE PRICE OF YOUR WORK.

Alyssa's eyes s.h.i.+ned, she can get billions with some useless task. But a question occurred in her mind and she decided to ask him.

WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT?

CAN'T SAY.

ARE YOU A CRIMINAL?

NO.

WHY DO YOU NEED IT?

CAN'T SAY.

WHO ARE YOU?

CAN'T SAY.

Alyssa was really infuriated. She really wanted to pick her laptop and slam it against the wall. She took long breaths to calm herself down.

WHAT DO YOU NEED EXACTLY?

INFORMATION ON THEIR FINANCE, SECRET AGENDAS. PAY ATTENTION TO LEONARD.

Alyssa was startled. Many questions start swirling in her mind. She knew the king was corrupt. She had experienced it first hand. But what about Leonard? According to her information, Leonard wasn't even in line of the throne. It will be pa.s.sed to his elder twin sibling Xander.

Putting all the questions at the back of her head, she asked.

WHAT WILL I GET IN RETURN?

YOU ALREADY SAID 'ZERO'. Reinhard smirked sitting on the other side.

I CHANGED MY MIND. CAN'T ACCEPT YOUR JOB. Alyssa declared.

NAME YOUR PRICE.

8 BILLION. 6 BILLION IN ADVANCE.

DONE.

DON'T HACK MY SYSTEM ANYMORE. Satellite no- 110098536896

soon after their chat, she received a notification from her bank indicating transfer of 6 billion dollars.

"Rich much. I should have asked for more." she murmured quietly.

then she started doing her investigation on each and every member related to the Royal family. hacking their emails their transaction history and everything one can think of. Every piece of information shocked her to the core.