Fentanyl E001: The Mysterious Experiment(Book 1)
Chapter 7: Shadows of Greenhills Part II

We had been walking for about an hour, and though it frustrated me, I refrained from complaining. Shawn continued to walk with his hand in the pocket of his shorts, appearing entirely unfazed by the journey. We found ourselves in a dense forest, and despite feeling out of breath, I managed to silently keep up with him. Were we truly heading to Greenhills? The thought of it made me uneasy, like I was marching toward my own demise.

"Chill. We're almost there," he reassured me, and I had no choice but to stand still as he continued walking. I tried to observe my surroundings, but I couldn't spot any wild creatures nearby. I found myself fixated on minor details, but it was intriguing that there seemed to be an absence of wildlife in this forest. Usually, even in well-maintained forests, there are still some wild creatures roaming around. However, in this particular forest, it appeared as if no efforts were made to care for its ecosystem.

Finally, Shawn confirmed, "We're here."

When I looked ahead, I noticed a black gate blocking our way. This area appeared to be off-limits. "Here's where we'll take a shortcut. We have no choice but to be cautious to avoid getting caught. The road through the pool area is usually crowded, especially with swimmers. So, this is the way we'll have to handle it," Shawn explained. I was still examining the gate when the inscriptions caught my eye.

'DO NOT ENTER

BY: PRESIDENT'

"No one owns Greenhills or this place. My father was the only one who had ownership without the owner's consent. He's guarding it because he's responsible for the safety of the students. He didn't want anyone to find out about this place. Something happened two years ago. A battle took place, claiming the lives of many people. All the people who died were laid to rest right where you stand. They didn't get the justice they deserved, and fate took their lives due to injustice, causing anguish to their families and leading to their deaths in vain," he explained in detail. I didn't know what to say in response. Should I express my sympathies for those individuals? Mentally, I shook my head. Instead of sympathy, they needed justice.

"How will they get the justice they deserve while other atrocities are being committed every minute?" I asked, seeking a response from him. He looked at me, contemplating my question before providing an answer.

"We will pursue justice for them when the time comes. But first, we must face battles, and in the process, many lives will be sacrificed before we can achieve that goal," he replied firmly. His words furrowed my brow. Is he insane? He averted his gaze and returned his attention to the gate.

"That's enough. Stop putting other people's lives in jeopardy. Life isn't meant to be squandered; it's meant to be cherished," I muttered, irritated with him.

"But, Nisha, we're dealing with the truth. We live in this city, and if we have to put our lives on the line to bring about change, we will," he said, taking a step closer to the gate. "Get ready to go. This place is littered with skeletons. Are you sure you want to see this?" he asked, concerned about my decision. If he had only asked for my opinion, he wouldn't have brought me here. However, after taking a deep breath and swallowing hard, I nodded in response.

He slowly opened it until I heard the creaking sound of the door. The gate's echoing screech revealed its age. I moved closer to Shawn as the gate finally opened. Staying behind him, he took my right hand and pulled me inside.

"We're going somewhere," he muttered as he dragged me along, and I simply followed. And, damn it, he's right! Skeletons are scattered all around the place. The stench in the air made me cover my nose. It's overwhelming. I regretted allowing Shawn to bring me here. I wanted to return to my room immediately. Shawn came to a halt ahead, and I accidentally bumped into his back. He appeared preoccupied with something in front of us. A bone caught my eye. It was from another skeleton, but this one was isolated from the others strewn about the ground. The skeleton was in a single position.

"She's my sister," he stated. I couldn't say anything after hearing it. I never expected him to show me his sister's skeleton. Nathalie made no mention of Shawn's sister, who was a member of the group seeking justice. "She died while trying to protect everyone. She sacrificed her life to help those in need. She gave up her life to save the girl who is now living in an exchange with my sister," he added, taking a breath. I had no idea he had such a complicated background. However, I am deeply moved by what he revealed. "I didn't feel angry about her absence since I knew it would be worth risking my sister's life," I'm not sure how to react. I'm intrigued by who this girl is, but I kept my mouth shut, allowing him to say whatever he wanted.

As he let go of my fingers and wiped his face, I turned to him. He's sobbing. I was at a loss for what to do, so I rubbed his back and consoled him in this way. I could feel the heaviness of the moment. This will be my first experience witnessing such an emotional revelation.

"We can't help but lose someone sometimes. When someone dies, a significant part of us is lost, and we have no idea how to rebuild. Shawn, this is life. We can only accept this and pray for their loss if we accept it. You stated that she made a self-sacrifice and that it was worthwhile. Then you must wait for that period of time. Make up your mind that she was on a mission and that her objectives would be completed at that point," That's what I said as I tapped his shoulder. He didn't move, which indicates that I can keep talking and he'll just listen. Because of what I said, I got his attention. "I lost someone," I said. He grimaced as he turned to face me.

"Who?" He inquired.

"I lost half of me," I grinned because he was just looking at me. It's the first time I've smiled in my life. I moved on after staring at the void. "Who am I? I thought to myself. I'm not sure where or how I'll discover anything or anyone who will complete me. It's quite difficult for me. The worst aspect was losing a piece of yourself and creating a large question mark about your life, which is exactly how I feel right now. I'm experiencing the worst of it. I'm a little perplexed. Finding myself is my goal," I continued, finding comfort in opening up to Shawn about my inner struggles. It was reassuring to know that I wasn't alone in facing such challenges. Taking a long breath, I returned my gaze to his. I could see admiration in his eyes, and I could tell he was proud of me. "My point is to figure out what you want to achieve. Fill up the blanks with your unfulfilled wishes. Don't let your sister down," I stated, offering him some encouragement.

In that moment, I felt a strong connection with Shawn, as if we were two lost souls trying to find our way in this strange and mysterious world. Together, we would support each other and face whatever obstacles lay ahead. It was a new beginning for both of us, and I was eager to see where this journey would lead us.

After a few more minutes of looking at each other, I noticed him smiling and nodding. He shifted his gaze to me while checking his clock. We both knew it was approaching dusk when I looked up as well.

"Let's return to your dorm room. Nathalie might have chastised us. We're going to the swimming pool. They've finished rehearsing, but no one will see us," I nodded in response to what he said. He linked our palms, and suddenly, an image unexpectedly entered my mind. I saw a scene of us running, with someone clutching my hands tightly. I couldn't recall the man's face, but the urgency of our escape was palpable.

I came to a halt, which caused Shawn to stop as well. I closed my eyes and clenched my jaw, trying to make sense of what I just experienced. It felt so real, as if I had lived it before. "Nisha, are you okay?" Shawn asked with concern in his voice, which I heard as if from a distance. Slowly, I opened my eyes as the headache that had suddenly struck me began to fade away. What was the significance of that vision?

"Hey, take a look at me. Is everything okay with you?" I noticed Shawn's distress as I looked at him. I simply responded with a nod. "Are you certain about that?" He inquired once more, his voice pleading for assurance.

"Yes, I am. My head began to hurt all of a sudden. Perhaps I'm in need of a nap. Let's go," I said and took a step forward. He didn't have much of a choice but to follow me. I allowed him to grasp my wrist, and we resumed walking. Despite the strange vision and the lingering headache, I couldn't help but smile in my head at his concern. He's a bit crazy, but in a caring way.

As we made our way back to the dorm, I couldn't shake the feeling that something unusual was happening to me. The visions and the headaches were unsettling, but I didn't want to burden Shawn with my worries. I decided to keep them to myself for now and try to get some rest. Maybe after a good night's sleep, everything would become clearer.

-

When we arrived at the pool area, he was correct. No one had been practicing lately. We moved in silence, with only the sound of our sneakers making noise. I glanced down and noticed mud on my shoes. I couldn't help but feel worried and spoke up as Shawn walked ahead of me.

"Don't worry, Nathalie will handle it," he assured me. His words intrigued me, and I wanted to know more.

"But earlier, you were concerned she might chastise us," I pointed out. His laughter in response irritated me.

"Oh, yes, I was concerned. We're not allowed to sleep outside at night, but she didn't say we couldn't come here," he explained. I was taken aback by what he said. Wow, he's right! Now I'm even more puzzled. I decided not to ask him about it, as I didn't want to offend him.

"Can I put my faith in her?" I asked him the question, and he came to a halt, turning to face me. He nodded with a pained expression.

"She may be a liar, but believe me when I say that you can trust her at any time. You can always rely on her. She's not one of our adversaries. You'll understand, but for now, be cautious, and we'll support you," he replied with solemnity.

Then, unexpectedly, he grabbed my arm and hugged me tightly, catching me off guard.

"Thank you so much. I'm confident that this will be worth it, and I'll work with you to get through it. Please believe me when I say that," he whispered. I was utterly dumbfounded.

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