Exhausted eyes of Olya were aimlessly wandering around. She was surrounded by starving, thirsty and exhausted people... just like her. If not more!
Ever since they managed to get out of the city... Things were calm for them. But they were driving almost non-stop for a 26 hours or maybe even more. They encountered ELIDs once, but after a short chase, ELIDs just dropped it.
The one behind the wheel was Roman. A one of a few people here who could do anything at all, but even he was running low on strengh.
Nikolai sitting on a next to Roman... Or better say that he is sleeping, as exhaustiong got to him.
Danila - How are you holding up girl?
The one who got beaten the most. Danila! Hand is wraped in rugs, beaten face and pained expression gave away his worries. But non the less, he is still found strengh to stand on his legs. Some other people her would find a problem to even stand straight up.
Olya - I miss Petr... I miss Boris... Damn it...
Withered voice of close friend were hitting on Danila's head. He missed them too, and the list were really long one. Names in this list went far beyond just Petr and Boris.
Danila - Yeah... I get you.
WIth a little rigid moves, Danila slowly sat down near Olya.
Danila - It was one hell of a ride!
Olya - Maybe... I don't know anymore... How can you do this?
Exhausted eyes stoped wandering around. And finaly Olya closed her eyes.
Danila - Do what?
Olya - Somehow... You always find a way... to half fill an empty cup and call it half-full!
Without opening her eyes' Olya kept talking. If she could fall asleap, she probobly would. But she already spent most of a day sleeping.
Danila - Oh... This... Well, that is my whole secret... I used to, playing a tough guy. But truth is... I am barely hanging on myself! And right now... It's just nowhere to run. So i guess i can keep up the act till the very end!
Olya - So that's it? This whole time. You made an act?
Danila - Yes... I just couldn't find any other way to live in this nightmare.
Olya - Ha! So turns out, Danila, the greatest and toughest guy, was just keeping an act.
Little pained smile appeared on Olya's face as she leaned against Danila's shoulder.
Danila - Yes. Most of the time, i am scared just like everyone else, if not even more!
Nearby, little girl was looking through her backpack. And managed to find a mostly empty bottle of tea. Girl looked around, seeing how everyone were in sorrow state, she closed her backpack and runned up to Irina and Maksim who were sitting near a driver window and having a conversation.
Irina - ...It's like he was in another world... But standing right in front of me, behind a thin glass.
Maksim - Well... Sorry if i am...
Irina - No, no, no! It's okay! It is just something i am already used to!... Oh hey there girl!
A small bottle with a little bit of tea appeared in front of Irina. And a little girl were holding it.
Maksim - What... Is that for us?
*Little girl slightly noded*
Maksim - No need! Keep it...
Little Girl - Why?
Irina - Look at that! She can actualy speak!
Little smirk appeared on Irina's face
Maksim - We are old people. What would it mean if you save us a few more hours? You would need it more than me. Heh... Always wanted to say something like that to my kids...
And now a saddened smile appeared on Maksim's face
Irina - Oh come one! You can count her in... We all like a family here!
After saying that, Irina pated little girl's head a little.
Irina - But he is right. Keep it. You would need it more then us.
With a saddened face. Girl put the bottle in to the backpack once again. Irina and Maksim kept looking at girl with relieved smile.
As the road kept moving on. At one of the bumps, whole the whole truck shook. Nikolai head slipped from his hand and hit panel, waking him up!
Nikolai - GAH! Damn it! Who the hell! ROMAN!
Roman - Sorry! Just a bumpy road!
Nikolai - Ah... Forget it. Where the hell are we?
Road were leading the truck through the thick forest. Snow were covering trees tops and bits of a road. And only after seeing the snow. Nikolai felt a little cold.
Roman - I don't know. But we better getting somewhere. People are starving and getting exhausted. Just like you and me. We don't have anymore spare fuel. So this is probobly the last few hours we will be traveling by truck. The rest is by the foot.
Nikolai - No... I don't think people out there in the back would be able to walk. Especially Danila, he got roughed up real bad. Makes me wander if he taunted the whole universe or something.
Roman - I think it's mot just him. Our whole group is just to stubborn to give up. So the universe is taking it personal. Some just take it harder then others.
Nikolai - Just give us a break...
Just as Nikolai said that. Road took a turn left, and right to the open plain space. Just a few kilometers away, towering metal walls appeared.
Roman - Green zone... I guess that is our deserved "break"
With a smirk on his face, Roman looked at Nikolai, whow sigh in relief and then startet laughing.
Nikolai - Guys and Girls! Green zone!
Without breaking his line of sight from the walls, Nikolai shouted in to the trunk window. Everyone who were in the back, started liveup a little. Just a few more minutes. And they will be fine!
Nikolai - Damn it! I was really doubting that we will find any green zone over here!
Roman - You know... I was doubting such things a little while ago too...
Nikolai - So what now? We are going to that damned ironwork as a manpower?
Roman - That what rumors said. Let's just say hope that most of it is a true!
Truck were getting closer and closer to the walls. Soldiers, turrets were appearing closer and closer. Massive iron wall that supposed to protect everyone inside from horrors that run on yellow zone. A luxury life for some... And a boring life for others. But none the less, Truck came to a stop near the gates. And a few soldiers came closer.
Roman - Now all we need to do is to explain why are we here.
Nikolai - I will do the talk!
With that, Nikolai walked out of the truck.
And finaly, soldiers came close enough. One of soldiers were having shoulder straps with one thick line. "No stars around here huh?" Nikolai thought to himself.
Nikolai - Good day, sergant! Mind if a small group of refugees will join your little green zone?
Sergant - Who are you, and why you came here?
Nikolai - Our group heard rhumors that this green zone is accepting people to work at somesort of ironworks. And we went a great lengh to come here to join this little advertisement.
Sergant - Rhumors were wrong! So it's best you and your people to just turn around...
Nikolai - Wait..
As Nikolai made few quick steps forward, few soldiers nearby readied their weapons.
Nikolai - We made a long way here, we lost every bit of supply and lost a few good men on our way here. There is no way we would be able to go back now!
Sergant looked at Nikolai for a few seconds, then he noticed a small girl, looking at him, leaning from the truck. Then his attention returned to Nikolai.
Sergant - Look. We reached the required limit of invited people just a few days ago. So we are not taking in anyone right now. If it's supply, i can provide you with a contact of a brooker nearby.
Nikolai - Sergant! We came here knowing what awaits us!
With his healthy hand, Nikolai pulled out a credit token, then offered a handshake to sergant.
Nikolai - All people inside this truck can and willing to work! This is an offer you can't just pass by!
For a while, sergant was looking at Nikolai's hand, with credit token, at the truck, and at the gates. He was thinking for a while, and then accepted a handshake, taking a credit token from Nikolai's hand.
Sergant - Fine... I'l need to make a full inspection of all people and the truck. Then, if everything and everyone is alright, we will open the gate. Get your truck to inspection platform first.
Nikolai - Thanks Sergant! You are the best!
Sergant turned around to his man, and ordered to lower the weapon. Meanwhile Nikolai returned to the truck.
Nikolai - Alright. Get the truck goind Roman! They are willing to take us in!
Roman - Sweet!
With increasing enthusiasm, Roman turned the key. But engine were resisting to turn on. Engine kept burpting and making weird sounds untill Olya's face didn't appeared behind Roman.
Olya - You better stop! Truck is out of gas! The only thing you are doing is damaging the engine!
WIth a sigh, Roman stoped trying to turn on engine.
Roman - Then i guess will have to make everyone walk!