Chapter 20: Unraveling the Truth
As I sat in stunned silence, my mother's words echoed in my mind. The Order of the Red Hand? A secret society that's been hiding in plain sight for centuries?
I felt like I was living in a dream. Everything I thought I knew about my family, my past, and my identity was a lie.
My mother reached out and took my hand. "I'm so sorry, sweetie. I never meant to hurt you."
I pulled my hand away, feeling a mix of emotions: anger, sadness, and confusion. "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, my voice shaking with emotion.
My mother took a deep breath before speaking. "I was trying to protect you, Alex. I didn't want you to know about your biological parents' past. I wanted you to have a normal life, free from all the drama and danger."
But now, it seemed like that was impossible. The Order of the Red Hand had found me, and they would stop at nothing to get what they wanted.
I stood up, determination burning within me. "I need to know more," I said. "I need to know about my biological parents, about the Order of the Red Hand, and about what they want from me."
My mother nodded, a small smile on her face. "I'll tell you everything, Alex. But you have to promise me one thing."
"What's that?" I asked.
"You have to promise me that you'll be careful. The Order of the Red Hand is ruthless, Alex. They'll stop at nothing to get what they want."
I nodded, determination burning within me. "I promise," I said. "I'll be careful."
But as I looked at my mother, I knew that I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
My mother took a deep breath before speaking. "Your biological parents were part of the Order of the Red Hand," she said. "They were high-ranking members, and they had access to a lot of power and information."
I felt a shiver run down my spine. What had my biological parents been involved in?
"What did they do?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
My mother hesitated before speaking. "They were involved in some shady dealings," she said. "They were part of a plot to overthrow the government, and they had ties to some very powerful people."
I felt like I was living in a thriller novel. A plot to overthrow the government? Ties to powerful people?
It was too much to take in.
But as I looked at my mother, I knew that I had to keep going. I had to uncover the truth, no matter how dangerous it might be.
"What happened to them?" I asked, my voice firm.
My mother took a deep breath before speaking. "They were killed," she said. "Murdered by the very people they were working with."
I felt a surge of anger and sadness. My biological parents had been murdered? By the people they trusted?
It was too much to take in.
But as I looked at my mother, I knew that I had to keep going. I had to uncover the truth, no matter how dangerous it might be.
"I need to know more," I said, my voice firm.
My mother nodded, a small smile on her face. "I'll tell you everything, Alex. But you have to promise me one thing."
"What's that?" I asked.
"You have to promise me that you'll be careful. The Order of the Red Hand is still out there, and they'll stop at nothing to get what they want."
I nodded, determination burning within me. "I promise," I said. "I'll be careful."
But as I looked at my mother, I knew that I had no idea what I was getting myself into.