For the next few days, Nicolas lived a life he had never imagined. His days were filled with hard work alongside Jay and Uncle Shawn, but there was an unexpected sense of peace that had settled into his life. He woke up each morning to the sound of birds chirping and the sight of the sun rising over the fields, a sight that seemed almost too good to be true given the life he had left behind.
But one morning, as the sun filtered through the curtains, Nicolas was awoken by the subtle moans of Jay. Concerned, he immediately turned over to check on him. Jay was lying in bed, his face flushed a deep red, sweat beading on his forehead as he tossed and turned. It was clear that he was in pain.
Nicolas felt his heart race with worry. He reached out to touch Jay's forehead, and immediately recoiled at the heat radiating from him. His skin felt like it was burning up, his temperature dangerously high.
Panicking, Nicolas jumped up and rushed downstairs to find Uncle Shawn.
"Uncle Shawn! Jay's sick! He's burning up!" Nicolas called, his voice strained with fear.
Uncle Shawn, who was tending to the small kitchen, immediately stood up, his face hardening with concern. He rushed to Jay's side, his hands moving quickly over the boy's forehead as he assessed the situation.
"He's running a high fever," Uncle Shawn said gravely. "We need to get him some medicine."
"Where's the medicine?" Nicolas asked, feeling the weight of the situation press down on him.
Uncle Shawn nodded toward the cupboard beneath the sink. "It should be in the medicine box. But hurry. We need to act quickly."
Nicolas rushed over, his hands trembling as he opened the cabinet. He found the box and pulled it out, but when he opened it, his heart sank. The bottle of fever medicine was empty.
"There's no medicine left," Nicolas said, his voice barely a whisper.
Uncle Shawn sighed, frustration flickering in his eyes, but there was no time to waste. "It's okay. I'll go to the market to buy some. You stay here with Jay."
"But Uncle Shawn, you're not well," Nicolas said, his concern growing. "You're hurt."
Uncle Shawn paused, his face grim. He shifted his weight to one leg and winced. Nicolas noticed the way he was holding his back and knee, as if they were causing him pain.
"I'm fine, just a bit of old age and wear from working the farm," Uncle Shawn replied with a faint smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I'll be alright."
But Nicolas wasn't convinced. Uncle Shawn had been working tirelessly in the fields, and the years were taking a toll on him. His body was showing signs of strain, and Nicolas could see the exhaustion etched into his face.
"I can go," Nicolas said suddenly. "Let me go to the market for the medicine. You stay with Jay."
Uncle Shawn hesitated for a moment, but then nodded, his eyes softening. "Alright. Be careful, Nicolas. The market's not as safe as it used to be. You'll need to keep a low profile."
Nicolas nodded, determined. He grabbed the money from Uncle Shawn's old wallet, then headed out of the house.
As he stepped outside, the cool morning air hit his face, a stark contrast to the heat inside the house. The farm lay ahead of him, peaceful and serene, but beyond it, the world was a different place. He had been so caught up in the safety of his new life that he had forgotten about the dangers that lurked beyond the borders of the farm.
The town was just a short walk away, but Nicolas kept his eyes peeled for any signs of trouble. The government's reach was far and wide, and he wasn't sure how much longer Heaven could stay hidden from the rest of the world. As he passed by fields of crops and houses that seemed to be stuck in time, he couldn't help but think about what Uncle Shawn had said the other day. "You're not from here. You're not documented." Those words echoed in his mind as he hurried along the dirt road, feeling like he was carrying the weight of Heaven on his shoulders.
By the time Nicolas reached the market, his nerves were on edge. The marketplace was bustling with people, but there was a certain coldness in the air, an unease that Nicolas couldn't shake. He knew better than to stand out, so he made his way through the crowds as quickly as possible, keeping his head down. He found the pharmacy and bought the medicine Jay needed, though his hands shook as he counted the money and handed it over.
The walk back to the farm was even more tense. His heart raced, and he found himself constantly looking over his shoulder. What if someone recognized him? What if the government found out where he came from? The questions gnawed at him, but there was no turning back now.
When he finally returned to the farm, Uncle Shawn was already waiting outside. He took the medicine from Nicolas and headed straight for Jay's room.
After giving Jay the medicine, Uncle Shawn turned to Nicolas. "Thank you. You did well." He paused for a moment before adding, "But remember, this life... it's fragile. You have to be careful, all of you. The government won't stop until they've found what they're looking for."
Nicolas nodded, a deep sense of fear settling in his chest. He had only just begun to live a life worth fighting for, but he knew the peace they had here was temporary. And with every day that passed, the threat of the outside world loomed larger.
The day had barely begun when Nicolas realized his necklace was missing. The small silver pendant that his mother had given him before she passed, the only thing left that connected him to her, was gone. Panic surged through him as his fingers instinctively went to his neck. He searched his room frantically, checking the floor, the bed, even the corners, but it was nowhere to be found.
He felt his heart drop, a sense of loss weighing heavily on him. His mother's memory seemed to slip further away with every passing second, and he couldn't bear it. He needed that necklace. It was the last part of her that he had left.
"Uncle Shawn!" Nicolas called out, voice shaking.
Uncle Shawn appeared at the door, concern etched on his face. "What's wrong?"
"My necklace," Nicolas said, his voice cracking. "The one my mother gave me... it's gone."
Uncle Shawn stepped into the room, his expression softening. "It's okay. It must be somewhere around here. Let's just look around, we'll find it."
But Nicolas was already feeling that deep emptiness inside. "No, you don't understand. It's gone. I can't lose it."
He turned away from Uncle Shawn, walking toward the door. He couldn't shake the feeling that without that necklace, he was losing a piece of his past, a piece of his mother.
"I have to go back," he muttered to himself.
Uncle Shawn's face darkened. "What do you mean, 'go back'? To the city? Nicolas, it's too dangerous out there. You can't—"
"I have to," Nicolas interrupted, his voice firm. "I can't stay here like this. I need to find it."
"No, it's too risky," Uncle Shawn insisted. "You don't know what's out there. The world is different now. You can't just go wandering back into the city."
But Nicolas was already determined. "I'll be careful. I have to do this."
Uncle Shawn hesitated, looking at him with a mixture of concern and reluctance. "Alright," he finally said, "but you need to stay hidden. Don't talk to anyone, and don't make a scene. If they find you…"
"I know," Nicolas cut him off, nodding. "I won't get caught."
Without another word, Nicolas grabbed his jacket and left the house, stepping out into the bright daylight. He had no clear plan other than to return to the place where he'd last seen the lady — the one who had bumped into him on his way to the pharmacy. Something told him that she knew something about his necklace, or at least, might lead him to it.
The walk to the city was long, but Nicolas's determination kept him moving. The world outside the farm was different — quieter, almost. The thought of leaving the safety of Uncle Shawn's farm behind made him uneasy, but his need to find the necklace outweighed that fear.
When he finally reached the commercial area of the city, it felt like stepping into a different world. The streets, bustling with life earlier that day, were now alive with neon lights. Everything was illuminated, casting long shadows across the pavement. The crowd was thicker, more energetic. There was music in the air, laughter, and the feeling of people living their best lives. It was as if the city had never known hardship, and Nicolas felt like an outsider — someone who didn't belong in this world of false cheer.
He weaved through the crowd, his eyes scanning the faces around him. And then he saw it — the stage. It was set up in the middle of a busy intersection, with people gathered around, looking up at the speaker.
Nicolas froze.
The man standing on the stage was all too familiar. His face, plastered across billboards and posters all over the world, was unmistakable. The politician. The one who had sold the world the idea of peace and prosperity under the unified government. His face was everywhere, his words constantly broadcasted in every corner of the city.
Nicolas had seen his speeches on the television. He had heard people praising him for his "vision" of a united world, yet Nicolas could see through the facade. This was the man who had helped create the conditions that led to his mother's death, and the poverty and hunger that Nicolas had faced. The one who now stood on a stage, smiling broadly as if he were some kind of savior.
The politician's voice boomed over the crowd. "Let us all live in harmony and peace," he said, his words dripping with false sincerity. "Together, we will create a better world for all. Thank you."
The crowd cheered. They clapped, their faces glowing with admiration.
Nicolas felt a surge of anger welling up inside him. His fists clenched. How could this man stand there and pretend everything was fine, when so many people were suffering, when he had caused so much pain? How dare he smile and talk about peace, when it was his kind of thinking that had led to the world being as it was?
His voice caught in his throat, but the anger remained. "Harmony and peace?" he muttered bitterly under his breath. "He's the one who caused all this. He's the one who made us suffer."
Nicolas wanted to shout. He wanted to push through the crowd and confront the politician, but he knew better than to make a scene. The world was still a dangerous place, and he couldn't afford to attract attention. Not now. Not when he was so close to finding his answers.
So, with a heavy heart, he turned away, pushing through the sea of people. The politician's voice faded behind him, but the anger burned inside.
Nicolas had come to find his necklace, but now, he was starting to realize that there was something bigger at play. It wasn't just about a piece of jewelry. It was about everything — the world that had taken his mother, the system that had ruined so many lives, and the corrupt politicians who stood on stages pretending to care.
He didn't know what to do next, but one thing was clear: he couldn't stop now. He had to keep moving, keep fighting. The answers he was looking for were out there, and he would find them — no matter the cost.