We got up from under the water and went ashore. I drove to an abandoned city.
"Where are we going?"- Theia asked with childlike interest. Looking in the one sided bulletproof glass on landscapes unfolding outside: overgrown fields, lush green forests, rivers crossing our path. It seemed like it was all new to her. Pain stabbed in my heart, regardless of status, all people lose something. Poor people will have to face poverty and hunger, survival in a world with monsters where they will either be killed or lose their humanity. And others... Like this child, would never saw beauty of this world, under the big dome of the city. They will yearn it wholeheartedly or try to replace it. But desire will only grow until something inside of them will be broken irrevocably and sadly, even if they get it, they are not adapted for cruelty of it. My thoughts were interrupted:
"Charon, I asked, where are we going?"
"On your initialization, you wanted to proof that you are not child, so here is opportunity for you. From what I can tell, you don't have much experience with weapon?"- I looked at her through the rearview mirror and her eyes lit up with joy and smugness. Oh boy, bad sigh. And of course she started bragging:
"I get used to shooting, from my mothers pistol and had training fencing."
"Did you ever killed someone?"
"Wha... Of course not."- And then her face suddenly changed, it looked like she came to realization.
"In this world, you have only two path kill or be killed. You either way gonna kill monsters and monster's like humans. Do you ready to take it? You still can wait until your parents solve everything. But later, there will be no road back and only hell ahead."- She shook off her uncertainty took deep breath:
"I'm ready."-determination was in her eyes.
-At the town entrance-
We drove up to an abandoned city and memories began to come back. Damn how I hate this little town. It seemed empty, but I sensed monsters around.
"I've leaved here for most of my life. And had my initialization was here. Do you see this abandoned school? Its location where you need survive for one night, by any method and get me any book from it. As you know monsters more active, when it's dark, but they don't have night vision, so you could run, hide and fight if you crazy enough. Here is pistol with one bullet, I think you understand why there is only one bullet. Knife, I don't have rapier , so not so suitable weapon, but if you gonna survive, we will pick weapon for you. And yeah, don't wait help from me."- I instructed her and gave weapon. I saw her shaking like a leaf on the tree in windy weather:
"I did not expected your help."-Meritorious will! She turned around and quickly walked into the building. Nostalgic.
I looked around. closed car and went to the building opposite, quickly got up the floors, clearing it from monster and took out sniper rifle, began to observe school, immersed in memories.
-In school yard-
I quickly entered the school grounds, looking around, everything was silent. My heart was pounding like crazy and every part of me shake in fear.
This initialization, the only way for me to survive. I am grateful to the master who picked me up from the street and saved me from monsters, but how can I survive now?
I silently headed towards the door. But suddenly heard chilling laughter:
"Ke...ke...ke....ke..."- It was very deep, but without emotions. I saw a silhouette inside and quickly hid behind the door. This entrance is not suitable, maybe there are open windows. And it was there! one broken window. I looked inside, it was dark, but the moonlight barely illuminated the classroom. And there was no one and nothing special: just tables, chairs and board. I carefully climbed into it, trying not to step on ground. But suddenly something grabbed my leg.
I wanted to scream and run, but I calmed down and looked , what "grabbed" my leg, and it was curtain. I freed my leg and looked around. I took some glass and put it in my pocket and let my eyes get used to the darkness. I checked whole classroom, but there was no books. But luckily there was school plan and I found out, that there was library on the second floor. I went to the old door, painted white and carefully opened it. But it started to creak. I stopped. No sounds were outside. Door was opened and I slowly looked outside, no one was hear in the corridor. But when I was in corridor. I noticed that behind the door was monster. I held my breath, he looked in different direction. And slowly step by step, I found myself around the corner. Without light, it was very difficult to navigate, but tanks to this, it was also more difficult for the monsters to find me. The smell of bleach, chalk and blood was everywhere. I decided to try my luck and open another class. And what I saw... Shocked me, I wanted to scream, but it was way to the grave. Lots of dark red color in the middle, and lost of peoples completely torn apart. And in the center: on monster with a human face standing as if in a trance. A rotted smell hit my head, I wanted to vomit. But I managed to close the door. Then the sound came down the corridor, I reacted on it and hide between lockers.
Top...top...top...top...
And of course it was monster. The grimace of humans face was in pain, it looked around as crazy, as anyone could imagine. It started calling:
"Come...Come...Come out."- But it did not sound like human. I took a deep breath and was completely silent.
It started to walk around me:
"I...Saw...You..."- In a frightening, rasping voice, it called to me. I stand still. But Its face was right in front of my. I saw every detail if this face, it was stretched in painful unrealistic manner. Eyes was empty and from it's mouth stench.