"What did the two of you talk about?"
Entering my parents' room, I closed the door behind me as Oliver sat on the bed, facing me. Walking up to him, I sat myself next to him.
"Ralph found out that we are involved in a project, although I don't think he knows which one."
Watching Oliver's face, I saw no surprise flicker across his eyes.
"Did he want you to leave?"
Oliver tried his best to remain expressionless. However, a little guilt bled into his eyes and he soon forced himself to look away.
"Yes."
"So are you leaving the project?"
"No."
After a series of questions, he seemed to take a deep breath, closing his eyes as his chest rose and fell, before opening them to face me.
"I know it's a little silly asking you this since I dragged you into it. But are you sure that you don't want to leave the project? If you continue down this road, there will be no turning back."
Those near-obsidian eyes stared at me. Would I rather live in peace or risk my life for my beliefs?
Observing Oliver's facial expression, it was quite clear that what was talking now was the guilt and pressure in his heart. His shoulders were slightly tense, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, as he allowed his feelings to bleed through his usually expressionless mask. The corner of his shirt bunched up as the system made their opinion known.
"There's no way I'll leave. Not when I've finally managed to be able to do something for once. Even if it's just being a glorified errand boy."
I stared back at his eyes, meeting the reflection of me within those depths, before a blink brought us both back to reality, and Oliver broke eye contact once again. He didn't comment on my use of words, instead choosing to run away from the helplessness of it all.
"While the two of you were speaking, I called Zack and arranged our meeting with them. It'll be at the intersection between Middle Street and High Street, near the local shop, right below the cemetery. This way, if this meeting is leaked, they won't know which research facility we're going to."
Standing up, Oliver gestured for me to follow him, and I followed him as he physically ran away to our room.
"Will Zack and Flint not betray us and give up the names of Raven and the other researchers in Hope Research Center?"
Locking the door tightly behind us, I asked as we sat down on our beds. Hugging my pillow, I fought back a sudden urge to yawn as the tension in the room softened despite our serious conversation.
"Ava found out that another system had been keeping an eye on the Slims family for quite a while, so they naturally know the relationship between the three of them. It's safe to say that with how much Zack hates Jeremy, and by extension the Slims family, he would sell his soul to the devil for a chance to get back at them."
Oliver dug under his pillow and took out a slim stack of papers. Since it was hidden in such a place, the papers were wrinkled and roughly formed the indent of a head. Smoothing out the crinkles, he ignored them and read the words on the paper earnestly.
"What did the Slims do to Zack for him to hate them that much?"
Leaning over, I asked as I peeked at the paper. Throughout the whole time he had been here, I had never seen this paper before. Judging from how it was separated from the other papers, it seemed to have a very special meaning to Oliver. However, looking at the state of the paper, I couldn't help but doubt my own conclusion.
"According to that system, it has to do with someone named Emily. Zack briefly brought up her name back in the asylum, and based on his reaction, we think that she may be someone quite important to him. Like his family or -"
Noticing my gaze, Oliver paused as he followed my gaze to his paper.
"Are you curious about this?"
Straightening his back, Oliver used his palm to flatten the paper at its corners and allow me to properly read it.
"It's an insignificant thing that I should probably throw away. But it's the only thing left of my sister's belongings. Especially since High Street sealed off Andrew's house before I woke up."
On the sheet of paper was a chilling title, followed by a set of lines that I couldn't bear to finish reading. Signed off with someone's name.
Alex's diagnosis papers regarding her MDVA.
"Although it's a copy, and the original was stored with Andrew, I kept it on me at all times to remind myself of this fact. Andrew made our life at Bottom High Street so idealistic that I had to constantly remind myself of what was at stake. I didn't want to forget why we had to go through so much in the first place."
Oliver sighed as he read the paper finish, then stuffed it back under his pillow. Placing everything back in its place, the two of us were halfway off the bed when the sound of keys jingling broke the weird tension between us. Our parents were back.
Opening the door, we filed out of our room to the scene of my father lugging a large suitcase through the door.
"Dad!"
Running over, we reached the two of them as my mother locked the door behind her and turned to face us.
"Boys. Just nice, we have something to show you."
Wiping his hands on his pants, my father squatted down to run his fingers over the combination lock holding the suitcase shut as my mother smiled at us.
"Is this suitcase..."
"Yes. It's Andrew's suitcase that was kept safe at Hope Research Center. The researchers there have already opened it once and checked its contents. This morning, they called to say that some of the things inside belong to Oliver, so your father and I snuck there to pick it up."
An audible click sounded in the middle of my mother's words, and my father laid the suitcase on its side, before letting go of it entirely.
"I don't know what the two of you are doing, but please be careful. Although High Street doesn't execute minors, that doesn't mean that they are willing to overlook it when you go against them. If you're enough of a thorn in their side, they'll wait for the day you lose that immunity to charge you. Be careful."
Looking us in the eye, my father warned us with a frown on his face. A flash of sadness raced across his face as his words seemed to dredge up some unpleasant memories. Immediately shaking it off, my father then took a step back from the suitcase and retreated to the area beside my mother.
"We will."
Stepping up to the suitcase, Oliver nodded at our father's words. He then kneeled to place his hands on it.
"Do you want me to carry it to your room?"
"It's fine. Since the researchers opened it first, there shouldn't be something too personal. If not, they would have gotten Raven to contact me instead of calling you."
Lifting the cover, he explained as he set his eyes on the stack of papers inside. Then, digging his hands into the space beside the papers, he flipped them over to show their contents.
"Adoption papers. I guess this suitcase is used by Andrew to hold his personal documents."
Glancing at the top document, my father mused as he tore his eyes away from it and glanced at my mother.
"If that's the case, do you want me to help carry it to your room?"
Oliver picked through several documents as my father offered. Pausing, he placed them back in again and closed the lid as he nodded.
"Thank you, Van.
"No problem."
Lifting the suitcase and placing it in our room, right next to the bookcase, we said goodnight to our parents as they retreated into their room and locked the door. Closing ours, I turned around to see Oliver reopening the large thing and shifting through the stacks of papers within.
"Are there really only personal documents inside here?"
I squatted down next to Oliver as he separated the papers into piles on the floor. Taking another paper, Oliver shook his head as he placed it beside him.
"From what I know, Andrew didn't have a habit of placing these sorts of documents into a suitcase. These papers should be unrelated documents retrieved, or stolen, from the police to camouflage the importance of what was actually inside the suitcase. Just in case someone managed to get their hands on it."
Reaching the bottom of the suitcase, Oliver wiped the sweat forming on his forehead and turned his attention to the piles of paper.
"Then what was in the suitcase in the first place to warrant this sort of caution?"
Offering my help, Oliver pointed to a stack and told me to sort them based on the date stamped on the front page.
"My best guess is papers related to the MDVA faction or a very important research paper. I'll pay Raven a visit tomorrow to find out. That thing should probably be in his hands for safe-keeping."
Carefully arranging the papers back into the suitcase in a specific order, we hurriedly cleared the several piles of paperwork and patted ourselves on the back for a job well done.
"Then I'll go search for people to help pass the research paper to all the streets. Tomorrow's a rest day for school so I'm free the whole day. For High Bottom Street, I'm thinking that Sky might have acquaintances there. She originally lived there with her son just barely a year ago and may still have some friends there. Another option may be Shirley. She frequents High Bottom Market to sell her wares, so she may know the right people for this. For Lucifer's territory in Bottom Street, we can pass them on to Joel and Jade. They look to be occasional visitors since the gatekeepers recognize them. The problem is the rest of Bottom Street."
Planning my route tomorrow, I explained things to Oliver as he shut the suitcase, made his way to the bookcase, and grabbed his clothes.
"For the rest of Bottom Street, we'll have to find some other people. I'll also ask around. However, the researchers in High Street don't leave the street very often, and those who used to live there left many years ago. It'll be unlikely to find the right contact."
Trailing behind Oliver with my own clothes, I saw him shake his head.
"Then we'll try to find someone for them later. For now, I'll just give them a heads-up."
Discussing this topic for a little longer, the two of us came to an agreement before washing up and heading to bed.
The next day, waking up to the scream of my alarm clock, I turned my head to the cold bed in front of me and yawned as I got up. Washing up, I quickly said goodbye to my parents as I left the house to head for Middle Middle Market.
"Dan!"
Taking a step out of my apartment, I raised my hand to lock the door when Camellia's voice called to me from my right. Glancing over, I quickly locked the door before bounding over with an equally cheerful smile.
"Camellia! Good morning!"
I stood in front of her as she locked her own door. Then, the two of us headed towards the stairway together.
"Here's today's paper."
She passed me a little booklet. Receiving it, I flipped to a random page and saw the familiar black text and blocky format stare back at me.
"Although I won't have time to curate the list for you, the least I could do is to supply these to you. Then you won't have to head to Bottom Street to pick them up on your own."
Climbing down the stairs, I gave Camellia my thanks as I tucked the booklet under my arm.
"For the days we can't meet, you can go to the nearby police station to collect these. An acquaintance of mine just recently moved up from Bottom Street to Middle Street. He used to be a newsboy for this newspaper's publication. I've asked him for a favor in retrieving at least one copy from Bottom Street every day for you."
I gave Camelia a thankful smile as I perked my ears up at her words. Non-government contracted newspapers were considered illegal, so it was easier to get them in Bottom Street where the laws were 'loose' at best. If this person that Camellia knows had the confidence to smuggle these newspapers from Bottom Street to Middle Street, they might have the contacts needed to spread the news from Middle Street down to Middle Bottom Street and the rest of Bottom Bottom Street.
"Do you know whether he's in the faction?"
Seeing my shining eyes, Camellia chuckled as she patted my hair. Reaching the bottom step of the stairway, we paused to finish up our conversation.
"He's not. However, you might be able to convince him to help out. His name's Cedy, and he would do practically anything for money. If you fork up enough cash for him, he can be a good assistant for whatever project you're in right now."
"He's part of the Black Market circle in Bottom Street, so his lips are as tight as can be."
Bending down to my height, she whispered into my ear. Nodding my head, I thanked her before the two of us parted. She headed left, while I walked straight.
Watching her silhouette leave, I couldn't help the sigh of relief that escaped my lips as the tightly coiled dread within me relaxed. After our last conversation, I thought that I would never be able to meet Camellia again. However, seeing her today, it seemed that she was currently still under High Street's radar.
I waited for her back to disappear around a bend, before I continued to the market. Weaving through the crowds of adults and children taking this off day to enjoy themselves, I rushed to Vicky, Sky, and Jasper's furniture shop. The building blended in with its peers, unassuming but professional looking. Opening the wooden door, I heard the bell ring out above my head and immediately headed towards the reception counter facing the door.
"Vicky? Sky?"
The reception counter was empty, the two women nowhere to be seen. Patiently waiting at the counter, I closed my eyes and focused my ears, trying to pinpoint where they might be. After a couple of seconds, a pair of footsteps sounded from nearby and I turned to stare at the door leading to the storeroom. Soon, it opened to reveal the two of them.
"Dan!"
Seeing me, Vicky exclaimed in joy as she closed the door behind her. She then placed her hands around Sky's waist, supporting her as they slowly moved towards me.
"Did Sky injure herself?"
Walking up to them, I asked as I gazed worriedly at the pair. In response to my question, the two women exchanged glances with a smile, before Vicky leaned forward to announce to me in an excited whisper.
"Sky is pregnant!"