18

"Hailey-Jade!" Oliver called me as I passed the kitchen, I sharply turned around on my heels before going over to him.

"Yes," I frowned at him and he came over to me before stuffing a newspaper into my hands.

"Look at this." He told me before watching me in expectation. I frowned at him before curiously reading the newspaper article he was pointing at.

THE NEW YORK INQUIRER

May 3, 2032

"Abandoned Farm or Secret Lab?"

By: Elliot Graves

NEW YORK- Strange reports have surfaced about Holloway Farm, a secluded property on the outskirts of the city, raising questions about its true purpose. Once a quiet agricultural estate, the farm has allegedly been repurposed for undisclosed government research under the "Proteus Initiative" a program shrouded in secrecy.

Local residents have reported unusual activity, including late-night convoys, restricted access, and distant, inhuman noises echoing from the property. Some claim to have seen figures in hazmat suits entering and exiting the barn, while others speak of people who went in and never came out.

Officials have dismissed these concerns as baseless conspiracy theories, but with no clear records of what goes on behind Holloway Farm's locked gates, one question remains: What exactly is being studied out there? And why is no one allowed to talk about it?

"This is Holloway farm isn't it?" I asked him while gesturing at the space around us and he nodded at me.

"Indeed it is, little sister." Oliver told me, he seemed fascinated by the fact that we might be standing on ground zero of the infection. But I couldn't stop the uneasy feeling that settled into the pit of my stomach.

"So, you're saying that this farm is where dad started doing human trials?" I asked him and he shrugged at my question.

"I don't know but that's what it seems like." He told me and a deep frown etched onto my forehead.

"I'm heading out to the barn later, you're welcome to join me. Ellie and Cooper said that they were heading out to go and scavenge for supplies, which leaves you, me, and Ronan behind. But I don't think Ronan's gonna be joining me anytime soon so-" Oliver told me before running a tired hand over his face.

"Okay. I'll join you." I told him.

"Any progress on Ronan?" He asked me so I shook my head at him.

"He's still not talking." Was all I managed to utter.

"Well he took a shower this morning, brushed his teeth and changed into some fresh clothes. So maybe today will be different." Oliver suggested before pursing his lips together in a thin line.

"I'll go check on him again-" I uttered and silently left the house.

I watched Ronan from a distance as he quietly sat in the rain. My attempt to talk to him yesterday failed miserably.

I don't even know if I should try to talk to him again. But after my conversation with Oliver, I'm thinking that I might stand a better chance at succeeding today.

I just hope he won't ignore me like he did yesterday? I nervously gulped down before walking over to him. The rain was harshly pouring down on me, blinding my vision but I refused to let it stop me.

I took Ronan's face into my hands as soon as I reached him. His lips had turned to a purple-blue shade and my eyes softened on him.

"Stop punishing yourself." I begged him and he looked up at me. "You're in your head too much- and we need you here." I told him before gently pressing my lips against his. My body ignited with sparks and butterflies.

A feeling of ecstacy.

I pulled back from Ronan and his eyes were still closed. He seemed serious then. A little more broken than he was before I kissed him.

"I'm sorry." I uttered before walking away from him. But he pulled me back to him by my waist and kept his hands there.

"Don't be," he said while staring deep into my eyes. I breathed out in relief and stared at him in amazement. Tears were stinging my eyes but they were tears of joy.

Ronan just talked! For the first time in days and it's so good to hear his voice again. And even though he just said two words- I knew that he was going to be okay. That he was going to heal and do better.

"How are you feeling?" I asked him in a concerned tone and he removed his gaze from mine.

"I don't know." He blankly stated.

"What do you mean you don't know?" I curiously questioned.

"Just that I'm feeling a lot of things at the moment." He shortly answered my question.

"Like?"

"Guilt and anxiety." Ronan explained. "Those are- the only two emotions I can feel at the moment. Everytime I think about Luke, I just-" He started but stopped talking mid sentence.

It seemed like he was having an internal battle with himself. Like he didn't know how to explain his feelings to me or that I wouldn't understand it if he somehow managed to get the words out.

His eyebrows furrowed together before he got up from where he was sitting. He briefly glanced over at me before picking up a rusty machete lying on the ground.

He wordlessly walked away from me and I sadly watched him until he completely disappeared from my line of view.

"Hailey-Jade!" I heard Oliver yelling at me in an urgent tone. I ran back to the house without giving it a second thought.

"There's a car approaching- fast." Oliver uttered before locking the door behind me.

"Where's Ronan?" Ellie asked me in concern.

"Outside, he went in the direction of the barn." I told them and Cooper frowned at me.

"We can't leave him out there." Cooper uttered before unlocking the door and going after his brother.

"Leave him." Oliver told me just as I was about to leave the house to follow Cooper.

"They're here." Ellie nervously uttered and Oliver locked the door again.

"Don't make a sound." He told us and we quietly watched the car that had stopped in front of our new-found home.

Who on earth could it be?