Chapter 102: The Experiment

AARON Veronica loved to push my buttons when it came to Helena, and while it was uncomfortable, it was just part of our unfortunate dynamic. 'Yes, yes it is." I said, trying my best to sound nonchalant. She held my gaze for a moment longer, smiling knowingly. But before she could say anything else, Helena stepped in, and for once, I was grateful for the interruption. 'Come on, you two. Dinner's ready," Her voice was warm and inviting. She gave me a little smile that made my heart squeeze again, like it hadn't happened around 10 times already. 'Luna's been in the kitchen all afternoon." I raised my brows. 'That sounds interesting. Has the kitchen burned down yet?," Aaron said as we all moved to the dining table. The table was set simply, but had a beautiful touch to it. The familiar smell of warm foods made my stomach growl loudly. I was genuinely impressed. 'Good work Luna." I teased, smiling slightly. 'Don't you dare." She glared at me, and I laughed. 'Alright, let's dig in." As we ate, the conversation flowed easily, with Veronica keeping up her usual banter, but I didn't mind. Over the few months I'd actually grown to enjoy it, and tonight was no different. At least. 'So, how long are you staying V?" I asked, forking down a piece of meat. She glanced up from her hushed conversation with Helena. 'Just the weekend. I'll probably leave tomorrow." Her tone was a bit too serious. 'Damn. That's short. Why?" Luna asked, setting plates for another dish. 'Well, I just came to visit, and I still have some work to finish." Hm. 'Oh, alright then. Goodluck." The nerves that had been swirling in my stomach earlier seemed to have relaxed, as I let the warmth of company wash over me. At one point, Veronica leaned over to whisper something in Helena's ear, making her laugh. I raised an eyebrow, curious. Veronica caught my gaze and shot a sly grin. 'Don't worry, Aaron. It's a girl's thing." she said, her voice overly sincere, and tinged with giggles. 'So, Helena tells me you guys are moving to Lunaville soon." The switch in conversation was so abrupt, I had to look at her for a second before responding. Helena avoided my gaze. 'Yeah. I have to return." I said simply, grabbing a glass of water. 'Damn. I'll really miss you guys. Especially your annoying ass." She retorted with an overly sincere grin. I rolled my eyes, 'You know I'm only moving to Lunaville, right? It's not like I'm disappearing off the face of the earth." 'Still," She sighed dramatically, 'It won't be the same without you around for me to torment." Of course. 'You'll survive," I shot back, feeling more comfortable now. She grinned and raised her glass. 'To new beginnings." I hesitated, 'To new beginnings," I echoed, letting the words settle in. We clinked our glasses together, and for a moment, I just allowed myself enjoy the simple pleasure of the evening. Whatever was coming next, knowing that I had them was more than enough. We would face it head on. HELENA. I leaned back in my chair, reeling at the remains of dinner that still clung to the air—a mix of herbs, spices, and laughter that filled my stomach with an endearing warmth. It had been a good night, one of those rare evenings where everything felt normal again. Aaron had cracked jokes, Luna had laughed, and Veronica, after being away for so long, had finally seemed at peace. No more paranoid eyes. Her legs had healed completely too, almost so well I couldn't notice the slight limp in her step. She said it would go away in a bit. I ascended the stairs to my room with Veronica behind me. She was on her phone, reading some article about viruses. The sense of tranquility had begun to slip away, because I knew our conversation from now on would be more serious. Veronica had always been intense, but tonight there was something different in her eyes—an excitement that was tinged with something darker, something I couldn't place. 'So," I began as we stepped into my room, closing the door behind.'What's the big news? You were practically buzzing at dinner." Veronica chuckled, settling herself by the window where the moonlight cast soft shadows across her face. 'Why don't you tell me about yours first?" She asked, that familiar undercurrent of mischief running in her tone. 'Mine?" I feigned ignorance. 'Come on. I saw those tiny looks you two kept exchanging during dinner. And I saw your hands under the table. I'm not stupid Lenny…" She drawled, and I couldn't help it. I blushed so hard. Curse Aaron and his love for physical touch. I ended up telling her everything that happened, from the kiss to the camp night to the confession and everything. Even my decision for Lunaville. 'Wow. In the space of two months? I was barely gone." She muttered. 'Oh well. Goodluck to the both of you." She nudged me. 'Thanks, hehe." I smiled. 'Alright, now for my findings…" she reached over and grabbed her suitcase, flipping it open. 'Remember when I said I discovered something huge? Yeah it wasn't just the cure for cancer. It was something even better." My curiosity piqued. Veronica had always been passionate about science, but the way she spoke now, with such zeal, made my pulse quicken with admiration and excitement. 'Tell me," I urged, leaning forward. She hesitated, reaching into her bag. She took out a small vial filled with a dark silvery liquid that glistened under the moonlight. She held it up, smiling with satisfaction. 'This is part of my newest experiments, the one I told you about. I think it has the potential to do something extraordinary. Asides the one for cancer." She pulled out another vial with a green liquid. 'This one is much more hazardous, so I'll place it back." She put the green vial back immediately. I narrowed my eyes, examining the black vial. There was something about the liquid, something familiar. 'What is it?" I asked, lowering my voice. 'I'm not entirely sure yet," She admitted, the excitement in her voice still the same. 'But it reacts in a way I've never seen before. It reminds me of something primal, something powerful." Just like Aaron and Luna. I reached out and took the vial carefully from her hands. I slowly turned it in my fingers, watching the movement of the liquid. The liquid inside moved sluggishly. 'Have you tested it?" I asked, trying to shrug off the weird feeling creeping up at me. 'Not fully," Veronica replied. 'But the preliminary results have been...unexpected. I think it might be linked to something biological, maybe even connected to the essence of life itself." The more she spoke, the more my unease became more prominent. There was something about the liquid, something that pulled at the back of my mind. And then, cold realization hit me.