My exam is in twenty five minutes—and I hadn’t even looked at chapter five and six, ” Lucas Ross stood up from his bed, his heartbeat galloping like a runaway horse.”He got out of the bed, nearly tripping over the pile of notes and empty snack wrappers scattered on the floor.His T-shirt was twisted, half hanging off one shoulder,"Twenty five minutes…Twenty five minutes," he muttered, grabbing his clothes from the hanger and putting them on.Lucas's room looked disorderly. Clothes were scattered on the floor, some hanging over the handle of a chair, others at the edge of his bed."I can't believe my final exam is today," Lucas said to himself, feeling happy and excited. "I've worked so hard to graduate with a first-class degree, and God has helped me all the way. What a great day to be alive.”Five years ago, Lucas Ross began his journey at Washington University as a freshman. As an orphan with only an elderly man who raised him, he committed himself to his studies, determined to ac

Lucas’s fingers started shaking as he touched his forehead. Lowering his hand, he saw it stained with fresh blood."Oh no,""What have you done to me?” Lucas said, turning to the man standing over him."You should have listened to me," the security officer replied.Without hesitation, he bent down, his right knee pressing against Lucas’s back as he put the handcuffs around his wrists.As the officer tightened the cuffs, he lifted Lucas’s head, revealing a deep wound from which blood oozed from the wound in a slow trickle.The invigilator, having witnessed the incident, signed heavily. He turned back to the students , addressing them once more."Young ladies and gentlemen, I trust you all witnessed what just happened in this examination hall. Now, tell me—how does someone who claims to be innocent choose to run rather than submit to an investigation? If he truly has nothing to hide, why would he flee?”Students continue mummering among themselves.Meanwhile, blood continued to ooze fro

Sophia stepped back while Adam moved forward, raising his hand to hit Lucas. But Lucas was faster. He caught Adam’s wrist in midair and twisted it.Adam shouted in pain, struggling to free himself from Lucas.“Let go of my hand!” Adam cried out.Lucas looked at him angrily.“You were my best friend, Adam,” Lucas said. “ But instead of supporting me, you betrayed me and cheated with my girlfriend. Are you even human?”Adam’s face paled, looking guilty.“As if that wasn’t enough,” Lucas continued. “You went ahead and ruined my law degree. Everything I worked for is gone within a few minutes. ”“Please leave me alone, Lucas” Adam pleaded, trying to push Lucas away with his free hand, but he couldn't.Without hesitation, Sophia went to the kitchen. A moment later, she returned, holding a sharp black knife in her trembling hands.“Let go of him, Lucas” she ordered, her voice shaking as she took a few steps toward Lucas. “Accept your fate, Lucas, and leave him alone.”“Hope you guys know yo

Inside the dimly lit prison cell, Lucas sat on a broken chair, barely balanced on its remaining one leg. He flipped through a stack of old newspapers, their pages yellowed and fragile with age and dampness. He wore a faded yellow shirt tucked into a pair of black trousers. Stamped boldly across the back of the shirt in block letters were the words: Lucas Ross, Number 189.The cell was silent, except for the soft rustle of paper. On the metal table in front of him lay the shattered remains of the shattered glasses of a mirror.At the corner of the room was a sink with a mirror so scratched you couldn’t see your own face.Lucas signed heavily, scratching his head with his left hand.“I….. I'm starving,” a voice said, the words echoing in the room. This distracted Lucas’s attention and he turned his head toward the bunk across from him. It was Raymond Scarlett, his cellmate. Raymond was sitting on the top bunk, his back against the wall while his legs were hanging in the air.“Won’t they

"My parents are dead," Lucas said, lifting his right leg a little higher.” That’s what you told me, Master.”The old man, Lucas's master,stood a few feet behind him, his hands shaking.“Let me explain everything to you, Lucas,” he begged. “I know you’ve lost trust in the people.. I know everything feels hopeless right now. But please… Please don’t do this. There’s something important you need to know.”“Say it from there,” Lucas muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know why I’m still alive. I don’t know why people are so cruel and wicked. Why does it feel like pain is the only thing waiting for me every day? Why can’t I just end it all?”The old man took a step forward. “Don’t,” he pleaded “You deserve the truth, Lucas. About your father, your mother and everything you’ve believed. It's not the whole story.”“I’m sorry,” Lucas whispered, a tear rolled down his cheek. “I know you tried your best. You took me in when no one else did and you raised me like your own son.