The next morning, the sun rose early, casting a warm glow over the quiet farm. Nicolas rubbed his eyes and slowly got out of bed, his muscles sore from the previous day's work. He could hear the faint sounds of birds chirping outside, and for the first time in what felt like forever, there was a peace in the air that he hadn't known. It was a strange feeling after all the chaos, the hunger, and the fear he had lived through.
Jay was already up and moving around the small kitchen when Nicolas came downstairs. "Morning," Jay greeted him with a small smile. "Ready for a full d--"
Uncle Shawn suddenly stopped Jay from talking, his face serious. "I want to talk to you about something first, Nicolas."
Nicolas, who had been quietly making his way to the kitchen, froze in his tracks. The tone in Uncle Shawn's voice was different—more solemn, heavier than usual. He could sense something wasn't right.
Jay raised an eyebrow but said nothing, simply nodding in agreement.
Uncle Shawn sat down at the table and motioned for Nicolas to join him. "Sit down, both of you," he said. "We need to have a conversation."
Nicolas hesitated but did as he was told, sitting across from Uncle Shawn, his stomach tightening with nerves. He didn't know what was coming, but the look on Shawn's face told him it wasn't going to be good.
Uncle Shawn leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep sigh. "I've been thinking about your situation, Nicolas. I know you've had a rough life, and I know you've had to survive in ways no one should have to. But you need to understand that this place, this life, can't be permanent."
Nicolas frowned, confusion clouding his thoughts. "What do you mean? I thought... I thought I could stay here. I thought I could have a chance for once."
"You can stay here," Uncle Shawn said quickly, almost as if he were reassuring himself. "But there's something important you need to know. There are people out there, people who are always watching, always looking for ways to control who comes in and out of places like this. People will come here, Nicolas. And if they find out about you—if they find out you're here—it could all be over."
Jay shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glancing from Uncle Shawn to Nicolas.
Nicolas felt a chill run down his spine. "What do you mean? Who would come here? Why would they care?"
"The government," Uncle Shawn replied, his voice low. "The people in power, the ones who run things. They don't care about small places like this, not unless it becomes a problem for them. And right now, you're a problem. If they know you're here, they'll come for you, and they'll take this place apart. No one will be safe—not you, not me, not Jay. It will be the end of everything."
Nicolas's mind raced, his heart pounding in his chest. The government—the ones who had caused so much pain, so much suffering—couldn't be trusted. They were always looking for control, always searching for ways to dominate. He had been living in fear of them his entire life, and now that fear was creeping closer, threatening to shatter the fragile peace he had found.
"Then what do we do?" Nicolas asked, his voice shaking slightly.
Uncle Shawn's eyes softened, but there was a grim resolve in them. "We keep your presence here a secret. As long as no one knows, you'll be safe. You'll work with us, and you'll keep your head down. You won't leave the farm unless it's absolutely necessary. You'll stay hidden, stay quiet. And most importantly, you'll never tell anyone who you are."
Nicolas nodded slowly, processing everything. He knew the world outside was dangerous, but this was different. He had been given a chance to live, to survive, to have a future—something he never thought he'd have again. But now, that future seemed uncertain.
"What happens if they find out?" Jay asked, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, but the tension in his posture was clear.
"If they find out," Uncle Shawn said, his voice grave, "we'll all have to run. We'll have to leave everything behind and go into hiding. I can't guarantee we'll be safe, but we have to be prepared for anything."
A heavy silence hung in the air. Nicolas looked out the window, his thoughts clouded with worry. He didn't know how to feel. Part of him wanted to rebel against the idea of staying hidden, of living in fear forever. But another part of him knew that for now, this was the only option. If he wanted to survive, he had to play by their rules.
"I understand," Nicolas finally said, his voice quiet but steady. "I won't tell anyone. I'll keep my head down."
Uncle Shawn looked at him, a small, approving smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Good. We'll take this one day at a time, okay? But you need to understand—this life we've built here is fragile. One wrong move, and it could all come crashing down."
Nicolas nodded again, his heart heavy with the weight of the secret he now carried. He wasn't just hiding from the dangers of the outside world. He was hiding from the very people who controlled it. And in this place, in this so-called heaven, safety was never guaranteed.
After a moment of silence, Uncle Shawn stood up and clapped his hands together. "Now, enough of this talk. You two have work to do. Let's focus on keeping things running smoothly. We'll deal with tomorrow when it comes."
As Uncle Shawn moved to the door, Jay followed him, giving Nicolas a reassuring look. But Nicolas couldn't shake the feeling that the world outside was closing in, that his time here—his peaceful, simple life—was already running out.
"Uncle Shawn," Jay began, his voice steady but filled with an undercurrent of concern, "why aren't you hiding too? You're just as much at risk as Nicolas, right? I mean, you took him in and all. Why are you still here, so out in the open?"
Uncle Shawn paused for a moment, his hand resting on the gate as he looked out toward the horizon. The sun was rising, casting long shadows across the fields. It was peaceful, almost idyllic, but that peace was hanging by a thread. Uncle Shawn took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing slightly as he turned back to face Jay.
"You're right," Uncle Shawn said, his voice low but calm. "I'm at risk too, Jay. But the thing is, I don't need to hide like you think. You don't know this, but when I first took you in, I did something to make sure you were safe. I didn't just take you without thinking of the consequences."
Jay blinked, surprised. He had never known the full story of how he came to live with Uncle Shawn. He had always assumed it was just luck, that things had simply worked out for him. But now, hearing Uncle Shawn's words, it seemed there was more to it.
"What do you mean?" Jay asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Uncle Shawn sighed and sat down on a nearby stump, motioning for Jay to join him. "When I decided to take you in, I made sure you were officially documented in the system. You're not just someone living off the grid anymore. You've been processed. Your adoption was registered, and your papers are all in order. I paid a lot of money to make sure of that. More than I should have, to be honest."
Jay's brow furrowed in confusion. "So, you're saying... I'm safe?"
"Yes," Uncle Shawn nodded. "You're alwasy part of Heaven, legally recognized to be my son. You have papers that say you belong here. It's one of the reasons I did what I did—because I knew you'd be safe, and that you'd help me on this farm. It wasn't just about taking you in, it was about giving you a future."
Jay opened his mouth to speak, but Uncle Shawn raised a hand to stop him.
"I didn't mind the money. It was worth it. And besides," he said with a slight chuckle, "you've turned out to be a great help to me. I couldn't have kept this farm going without you." He paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in. "And you've got a place here, legally. But Nicolas... he's different. He came from outside, and that means he hasn't been documented. He's not part of the system. And if anyone finds out, it could be bad for all of us."
Jay sat back, absorbing Uncle Shawn's words. He had never known the full extent of what Uncle Shawn had done for him. The money, the paperwork, all of it had been done to ensure his safety. It made him realize just how much Uncle Shawn cared about him—like a father would.
The weight of the secret Nicolas now carried pressed heavily on his chest as he followed Uncle Shawn and Jay out into the quiet morning. The work on the farm continued, but in the back of his mind, the question remained: how long could they keep hiding? How long until the government found them?