Chapter Text
My name is Kate. Can't say I'm special in any way. I came to the zone thinking I'd get rich here. Stayed because... well, it's quite a life to have. There's something keeping me in, the same thing that's calling everyone from the big land. Easy money goes just as fast as it comes, so can't be it. The thrill? I am not the kind who's happy he gets to kill people, so what would it be? I am in no condition to answer for sure. I just know that it's something and something real.
Yesterday I accepted some job. A group of duty members needed more gun power for a retrieving operation. Nothing unusual, so I didn't mind. Besides, who wouldn't want to get paid for a simple walk, right? If they were loners, I don't know if I'd agree to it. Weird, but unlike them, people from Duty or Freedom were more reliable. Probably comes with an increased moral compass... and ego. The area we had to go through wasn't my favorite, however. It was the forest area to the East of the bar. From what I've heard, it's somewhat full of bloodsuckers if you don't stick to the road. For safety reasons, and I had to specifically ask about it, cause otherwise I wouldn't go, we wouldn't go off the road. Just along the road and to the abandoned bandit base, where some stalker left "something important". None of my business.
I woke up early and met up with the head of the squad, lieutenant Zmeev. He seemed like a tough guy. Most "military" guys did. I would never become like one of them. No need, since people like me know only the "aim and shoot" strategy and it's more than enough. Usually it is.
Besides the lieutenant, there were five Duty guys and one loner by the name of Filter. Didn't look like anything other than a typical guy. He wore a gasmask, so I didn't see his face, but other than that he was dressed in a Seva suit. What I did notice was multiple holes in it. Holes that resembled those that were left by the bullets. And the amount of them was hinting at this attire being a battle trophy... Hopefully, he wasn't the reason whoever owned it died. A walk in the forest with a psycho was not on my list of life accomplishments.
I checked my AK and put it behind my back, ready to go. Zmeev led us and I walked next to the loner. He kept a pistol in his hand. Probably useful just in case something comes out of nowhere, but I wouldn't worry too much. Mutants rarely attack big groups of people. That's one thing I learned. Walking around the zone with someone is safer since these creatures can be as rational as us sometimes.
On the way to the base we barely met any danger. The biggest threat was a bunch of anomalies, but only rookies have trouble avoiding those and we were all experienced men there. Though gotta be honest, walking past the gates of the abandoned base gave me creeps. Some parts of that place had bloodstains and even human body parts.
— What's up with all that gore..? — I asked trying to hide my nervous tone.
— Signs of the past battles, — Zmeev replied. — Back in the day this place was considered the key point of the forest. Now it's usually avoided by stalkers. Too many mutants.
I just followed the leader of the group quietly. The order was to stick together. Despite mutants usually being away from the buildings for fear of catching a stray bullet, safety was a priority, even if it'd make the search take more time. As we approached the building with a desk filled with papers Zmeev sighed.
— Alright, we've gotta split these sheets. You know what we're after. The stalkers shall stay near the entrance and make sure no danger comes inside.
I nodded and moved to the door. Filter stood next to a window and leaned against the windowsill, looking into the distance. Oddly enough, there being no hostile life around made me only more anxious.
— What a life, huh? — Filter suddenly sighed.
— I suppose...
— ...
He said something. My brain didn't clock it. I saw his lips move, but I heard no sounds. I heard the rattle of papers nearby, the wind blowing outside, but what he said I didn't hear.
— What did you just say?
— Nevermind... If you didn't hear it, you are not the one.
Filter looked nonchalant, but I got curious. Was he trying to pull a joke? I wasn't so sure. I've witnessed a lot of oddities in the zone, so if he wasn't joking, I had to find out what this all was about.
— No, tell me what you said.
— You. Are. Not. The. One.
— Jesus, fine...
I crossed my arms in annoyance. I didn't like the guy. I was hoping the Duty guys would find whatever they needed soon since I wanted to go rest for the rest of the day at the bar.
Suddenly I felt weird. Something about the situation felt wrong. The birds stopped singing. The wind stopped blowing too. The weather was changing. I tried looking out of the window, but I couldn't notice any danger.
— Hey, Kate... Did you notice it too? It's... Quiet.
— Yeah, outside it is.
— Just outside? You seemed smarter when I first saw you.
That's when I realized what he meant. No rattle, no footsteps. There was not a single sound behind us. I turned around.
The papers were lying on the table all scattered. None of the Duty guys were there. The only door was behind me now and nobody passed through it.
— Flight or fight it is, Kate... I'll pick the same as you.
— Why pick? Nothing happened yet.
— It's the zone. We both know that either they got moved somewhere or each molecule inside their bodies exploded. Hell, we may be already dead and not realize it. So what shall it be?
I turned back to the door. It was closed. A second ago it was open. I looked at the window. It was all black and no longer see-through.
— Fuck...
— This is something... Kate, stay close. It's safer to stick together.
I didn't have any objections to it. One of my general rules was that relying on someone else could safe my life in most cases. This was clearly one of them.
He walked to the desk with documents on top. They looked neatly put in two piles. Weird, considering they were supposed to be scattered after the search. Filter took a closer look, but immediately dropped the paper from his hands.
— Don't touch them! Step back slowly.
He started creeping backwards and I just followed the suit. In a normal situation I'd think he was insane, but then so was I if my eyes didn't fool me.
— This should be far enough. — Filter kept his body towards the desk and turned his head to me. — I can't tell you much, but know we're fucked. I'll try to get us out, but I can't make any promises. This place is an anomaly of some sort, but unlike everything you've ever seen, this one... It's created artificially. There's a set of rules to follow. They always change. If you notice that something works... If one or two things follow it, it's a rule.
His voice sounded very unsure. He was as scared as me, but I couldn't fully understand what he was trying to say.
Just follow the suit...
— Got it.
— Okay... I didn't look left. It's important. Do NOT look to the left. Keep looking forward.
— What? Why?
— We have only one chance at it. Just trust me. Turn right and try to carefully open the door and move outside. If we're lucky, we'll avoid this whole fuckery.
I was hoping he was right. I didn't even know why I was so scared, but the unknown was pressuring me too much. Following his instructions, I turned the handle and quickly moved ahead. My foot hit something and I fell down. I felt grass under my face.
Grass. I was outside again. I recognized the nearby buildings. I was just outside the abandoned bandit camp again.
— We did it! But how did you... — He wasn't there. — Filter?