Song: The demand of man – secession studios

On a crisp evening that held no hint of darkness to come, Alexandra Lacroix and her family stepped out to celebrate her medical school graduation. They dined at "Le Cygne Doré" (The Golden Swan), an upscale restaurant renowned for its exquisite French cuisine and serene ambiance, nestled in the heart of Paris. It was Alexandra's favorite venue, chosen for this special occasion. The night promised a blend of luxury and familial warmth, the table alive with laughter and the clinking of glasses.

As the evening unfolded, the family transitioned to the grand opera house, where they were to see "Raymonda," Alexandra's chosen performance. The tragic story of love and betrayal resonated through the ornate hall, mirroring none of the real-life horrors that awaited them.

The return home was supposed to cap off a perfect celebration. Instead, it marked a night of unbearable tragedy. The Lacroix family arrived at their estate to a scene that would haunt them forever. Isabel's parents, Bellamy and Aliénor Delune, lay motionless on the opulent foyer floor, their bodies framed by a stark pool of blood.

"Maman! Papa!" Isabel cried out in French, her voice breaking the eerie silence as she collapsed next to her parents. Henry and Xavier rushed to the elderly couple, desperately checking for signs of life but finding none. Aldéric, his face pale, held his mother back gently but firmly, trying to shield her from the gruesome sight. Damien, visibly shaking, fumbled to dial the police as Celine and Alexandra stood frozen, tears streaming down their faces.

The police arrived swiftly, their presence a stark contrast to the mansion's usual tranquility. "It appears to be a burglary gone violent," one officer explained, his tone clinical. "Your grandparents must have confronted the intruders. There were signs of a struggle."

Isabel, her sorrow momentarily overtaken by fury, responded in rapid French, "Pourquoi eux? Pourquoi mes parents?" (Why them? Why my parents?)

The officers explained that despite the family's wealth, the motive seemed to be a targeted attack, leveraging the family's high profile. The Lacroix and Delune names were not just synonymous with wealth but also with a certain level of vulnerability due to their public personas.

That very same night, after the police had left and the silence settled like a heavy shroud over the house, Alexandra stumbled outside. Her brother Damien's voice echoed behind her, a distant call lost to the wind, "Alexandra!" But it was swallowed by the louder, internal screams of her own heart. She barely registered the direction she was headed, her feet moving with increasing urgency.

It was her fault. That single thought pierced through the cacophony of her emotions as she broke into a run. Tears blurred her vision, streaking her face as she raced past the familiar landscapes that bordered her grandparents' estate. The grief was a tangible force, propelling her deeper into the woods.

She ran until her breaths became sobs and her sobs became a desperate cry. "It's my fault. It's my fault. IT'S ALL MY FAULT!" Her voice shattered the stillness of the night, carrying with it an intensity that seemed to resonate with the very earth beneath her feet.

Suddenly, the ground trembled, a subtle but unmistakable quiver. The wind whipped through the trees with renewed vigor, as if echoing her turmoil. Small stones at her feet stirred, levitating ever so slightly, hovering a few centimeters above the ground in a display of fledgling telekinetic energy that she scarcely noticed.

Her final cry tapered off into broken sobs, her physical and emotional energy spent, leaving her to collapse onto the forest floor. There, surrounded by the chaos of nature seemingly responding to her anguish, Alexandra lay overwhelmed and exhausted, the reality of her new and uncontrollable power dawning on her through the haze of her grief.