17

"Hailey-Jade?" Someone called me so I tiredly turned around in my bed. I saw Ellie standing in the doorway.

She seemed concerned as she closed the door behind her.

"What?" I asked her in confusion.

"I'm sure you have questions." She softly uttered before sitting down at the edge of the bed. I propped myself up against the headboard before looking up at her.

I guiltily looked back down to my hands and impatiently waited for her to talk.

"When you guys left, it was a shock to all of us. Luke didn't take it too well. So he started refusing to take the serums, seeing that you were no longer there. He told us that he didn't have a reason to live anymore. The serum completely left his system after a few hours and that's when the virus took over his body. He begged us to kill him, he said that he was in too much pain to keep living. But we refused, we didn't want to lose him. Then- he turned. He turned into a rotter and tried to kill his own brother. Oliver shot him just in time, you know-- before he could hurt Cooper." Ellie told me and I emotionlessly nodded at her in understanding.

"When did this happen? When did he die?" I numbly asked her.

"Two weeks after you left. It's been three weeks since he died." She softly uttered.

"It's my fault." I softly told her, my voice sounding hoarse from all the crying I've been doing this past week.

"No, it's not. Luke wanted to die before we even got to the facility and you know that. This was not your fault, Hailey-Jade." Ellie softly uttered.

"No, Ellie, I should've stayed. He begged me to."

"Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact that what he did was extremely selfish and inconsiderate. He refused to take the serums, knowing full well what his death would do to you, Luke, and Cooper. None of what happened was your fault. It was just unfair. To all of you." She told me in a gentle tone.

"It is unfair. Why him, Ellie? Why did it have to be Luke?" I asked her with tears in my eyes.

"I don't know. But I hope you know that Luke is in a better place now and that he's been relieved of this cruel world that we're living in." She quietly answered me.

"You're allowed to cry. You're allowed to stumble and fall from time to time. Because this is gonna hurt for a long time and you're gonna cry. You're gonna cry when you remember him, or when someone mentions his name. And that's okay. It's normal. But whatever you do, Hailey-Jade, don't stay fallen." She uttered and I looked up at her through blurry eyes before nodding in agreement.

"Okay." I softly uttered and she pulled me into a tight hug. I rested my head on her shoulder while holding onto her hand for dear life.

"Thank you." I softly told her and she nodded at me.

"Always." She said while rubbing my back in a comforting manner.

Ellie stayed with me until I was ready to go and take a shower. I brushed my hair and teeth while I was in the bathroom and put on some fresh clothes.

I don't even remember the last time I took a shower. But I felt much better once I did.

I quietly made my way downstairs once I was done getting ready. I was starving. I hadn't eaten something in five whole days.

I entered the kitchen and Oliver pulled me into a tight hug. I went over to Cooper and gave him a tight hug from behind before placing a kiss on the side of his head. He seemed tired, his eyes were red and swollen. Probably from crying.

All the life and joy was sucked out of his eyes. They seemed so weary now. His eyes. They didn't seem like Cooper's anymore. They were too empty. Serious...

"Where's Ronan?" I curiously asked them to stop my thoughts from running away with me.

"Outside." Oliver shortly responded before sliding a plate of food over to me from across the countertop.

"Eat, you need to build up your strengths." Oliver told me.

"Why?" I tiredly asked him.

"So that you can create a cure, Hailey-Jade. You studied biology, right? That means you're our last hope." Oliver said while looking into my eyes and I could tell by the seriousness in his tone that he wasn't making a joke.

"You have to finish what he started." He added and I silently looked at him with tears in my eyes.

"I can't." I uttered and Oliver's eyes softened on me. I let out a shivery breath before sitting down on a barstool and forced myself to eat something.

"I'll try." I uttered and Oliver squeezed my hand in his.

"Just- take it easy, alright?" He asked me so I nodded at him in agreement.

Maybe Oliver was right. Maybe I did need to finish what Luke started. Maybe that'll give me closure.

"And you should check on Ronan. He hasn't spoken since he received the news, he's been sitting outside in the same spot for days. Go talk to him, Hailey-Jade. We need him, he's our leader." Oliver tiredly told me and my heart sunk into the pit of my stomach.

"Okay," I breathed out.

I quietly left the house and made my way outside, desperately searching for Ronan.