As they approached the farm recommended by Brad, the atmosphere became more calm and quiet. The previously peaceful countryside now felt serene, with signs of new life evident from neatly parked vehicles along the road.

The farm itself appeared before them, a vast expanse filled with barns, silos, and grassy fields for livestock feed. The clear sky above cast a comfortable shadow over their impending arrival.

Brad drove the patrol car carefully, passing through the wide-open farm gate. Silence echoed as they ventured further into the property, with only the chirping of birds and gentle breeze audible.

Cody's heart beat calmly, filled with anticipation and caution. He observed his surroundings for any signs of life or safety. "Stay alert, Brad. We don't know what we might find here," Cody whispered, his eyes scanning from one bright spot to another.

Brad nodded in agreement, his hands ready on the steering wheel. "I've got your back, Cody. Let's proceed with caution," Brad said, his eyes focused on the road ahead.

As they turned, a figure emerged from behind a barn, prompting Cody and Brad to remain cautious. "Who's there?" Brad called out, his voice echoing in the quiet farm.

The figure stepped forward into the bright light, revealing a middle-aged man with a friendly smile. "Don't worry, friends. Welcome to Freedom Farm," the man greeted warmly, raising both hands in a welcoming gesture.

Cody and Brad exchanged wary glances before Cody spoke up. "We're just looking for someone. Have you seen a young girl named Lilly around here?" Cody's voice sounded calm, hoping for a positive response.

The man scratched his chin thoughtfully before nodding. "Ah, yes, I saw her a while ago. She seemed to be enjoying the view by the riverside," the man replied, his voice full of kindness.

Relief washed over Cody upon hearing the man's words. "That must be Lilly! Can you take us to where you last saw her?" Cody asked with a relieved smile, his eyes exuding joy.

The man nodded once again. "Follow me. I'll take you to her," he said, leading the way towards the riverbank on foot.

Cody and Brad followed closely, their senses heightened as they approached the area. The warm afternoon sun welcomed their arrival, creating a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere as they stepped forward.

Suddenly, laughter filled the air as they neared the riverbank. A refreshing scene unfolded before them, where Lilly sat with several other children playing by the riverside.

"We're here!" the man exclaimed with a kind smile, noticing the happiness on Cody and Brad's faces.

Cody embraced Lilly with joy. "Are you okay, Lilly? Have you made new friends here?" Cody asked, his eyes filled with happiness.

Lilly beamed, "I'm fine, Cody! They've been really nice to me. Thank you for bringing me here!"

The man smiled at the happiness on their faces. "Welcome to Freedom Farm, a place of peace and love. May you find serenity here," he said, expressing his hopes.

After warmly welcoming them, the man introduced himself as Thompson, the owner of Freedom Farm. He explained that Freedom Farm had the tagline "Providing Service as Pristine as Heaven." Thompson invited Cody, Brad, and Lilly to tour the farm while introducing it.

Cody initially thought the tagline was exaggerated, but after touring with Thompson, Cody began to see that the tagline wasn't far from the truth. The farm was very clean, quiet, and spacious. The livestock there were also very docile, as if they were in heaven.

Cody felt amazed by the tranquility of the farm amidst the chaotic conditions outside. He then asked Thompson, "Thompson, you know what's happening now, right? About the virus-infected people attacking the city?"

"I understand what you mean, Cody. You're wondering how I can keep this farm safe from them, aren't you?" Thompson replied to Cody's question.

"About that, don't worry, Cody. You will see the most advanced defense I've given to this farm," Thompson said confidently.

Thompson then took them to the edge of the farm, where he showed them a tall iron fence topped with spikes. "Do you see that fence, Cody? That's what I mean by state-of-the-art defense!" Thompson exclaimed proudly.

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"Not only equipped with sharp spikes, but I've also electrified the fence! I'm very confident in my defense, even bears wouldn't be able to penetrate this farm!" Thompson said with great assurance.

Cody was surprised by what he saw and heard. "How can a farm build such a tall and dangerous fence!?" Cody muttered to himself. "And what's the urgency for all of this? I don't know what's going on in Thompson's mind, thinking that building this fence was a good idea! He's a strange person!" Cody questioned Thompson's thoughts.

However, on the other hand, Cody also began to see the results of what Thompson had done. No infected people had managed to enter this farm. Cody also saw Lilly walking freely around the farmyard without being escorted or protected, indicating that this farm was very safe.

Cody decided to abandon his intention to question Thompson about it. "Ah, never mind. I don't need to think about unimportant things! As long as Lilly is safe and sound, I'm okay with it," Cody muttered resignedly. However, Cody still harbors doubts in his heart.

Thompson continued their tour, introducing Cody, Brad, and Lilly to various parts of his farm. They saw clean and tidy animal pens, fertile fields, and clear, fresh water sources. Everything looked very harmonious and well-organized.

As the sun began to set, they all returned to the main farmhouse to rest. Thompson offered them to stay overnight at Freedom Farm, considering that the journey back to the city had been quite tiring.

"Would you like to stay here overnight? We have comfortable guest rooms and complete facilities," Thompson offered warmly.

Cody and Brad glanced at each other briefly before Cody replied, "We appreciate your offer, Thompson. We will take this opportunity to rest for a while before continuing our journey."

Thompson smiled contentedly. "Alright, let me show you to my house," he said.

They went together to Thompson's house and decided to stay with his family.

That night was filled with peace and silence. Brad was outside, sitting by the campfire, enjoying the bright night sky filled with stars. Cody approached Brad after putting Lilly to bed, expressing his concerns to Brad.

"To be honest, I still have some doubts about Thompson, Brad," Cody confided in Brad.

"What do you mean, Cody? Thompson reunited you with your sister. You should be grateful to him for taking care of Lilly so well, even providing the safest place for both of you. What more do you need, Cody?" Brad replied, trying to dispel Cody's doubts.

"I don't know, Brad. I just sense something off about him," Cody expressed.

"Ah, that's just your mind playing tricks on you, Cody. You've been paranoid ever since you lost your sister. Try to relax and think positively," Brad reassured Cody.

"I just want Lilly and myself to be safe, Brad," Cody said with worry.

"If you want yourself and Lilly to be safe, Cody, you need to learn to protect yourself. Given what happened back at your home, it seems like we lack self-defense skills. I'll teach you that along with how to use weapons," Brad suggested to Cody.

"Alright, Brad. I owe you one," Cody said gratefully.

Cody and Brad then started practicing self-defense and learning how to use weapons.

The following day, while Cody was outside observing the daily activities at Freedom Farm, he noticed something very suspicious. One of the residents, who usually appeared relaxed and calm, suddenly moved secretively, sending a message through a hidden communication device in his pocket.

Cody watched him closely, trying to digest what he had just witnessed. "There's something very strange here," Cody muttered to himself, trying to understand the meaning of the gestures he had seen.

Meanwhile, Brad also felt something was amiss. She had gathered some information from overheard conversations among some of the residents of Freedom Farm. There were suspicious plans, but not enough evidence to confirm what was actually happening.

Cody and Brad met in a hidden spot at the edge of the pasture, trying to formulate their next plan. "Something's not right here, brad. We need to act before it's too late," Cody said seriously.

Brad nodded in agreement, "I've gathered some suspicious evidence. We need to find more information before exposing all this."

They both planned to investigate further that night, as darkness enveloped Freedom Farm. However, before they could proceed further, a horrifying event occurred.

Lilly, Cody's sister who had just been found and declared safe, suddenly disappeared. Cody and Brad searched around the farm but found no trace of her. Their anxiety grew as they realized Lilly might have been kidnapped.

"Someone must know that we've found her. There's a betrayal among us," Cody said with a worried voice.

Brad looked at Cody seriously, "We can't tell anyone. We need to find out who can be trusted before revealing anything."

They decided to investigate further that night, but before they could proceed, they suddenly discovered something shocking.

While exploring the farm, they stumbled upon a warehouse filled with weapons. Their hearts pounded as they took in the sight of rifles, ammunition, and various other weapons stacked high. "What the hell is going on here?" Cody whispered to Brad, his voice trembling with disbelief.

As they continued their investigation, they discovered something even more horrifying—a pile of corpses far behind the farm. The stench was overwhelming, and the sight of the bodies made Cody's stomach churn.

"Oh my God, Brad, what have we stumbled upon?" Cody said, his voice shaking.

Before they could fully process what they had found, they heard Lilly's distant scream. Panic surged through them as they sprinted towards the sound. Just before they reached her, they were ambushed and captured by Thompson's men. They found themselves trapped, with no clear way out of the terrifying situation they were in.