(Luka)
The floor collapsed and we lost sight of Shan who was somewhere behind. Artom screamed, but we still kept running. Because the seemingly invincible beast still was soon on our heels.
Thunder seemed to crack outside.
Out of breath, we reached the roof. In the distance, my friends were struggling to cut loose some securities and crank the gangway as a bridge open.
On the other side of the tumultuous river is a small maintenance building up a hill, or a cliff above waters rather.
These two buildings have this tiny bridge that once could connect them and be removed.
Now there are just dangling cables from the communication tower that fall here to some supply container, and the other side...
But we can't climb that...
We run under the rain, fully aware the narrowed end corridor and door behind won't stop that monster.
We're fucked...
Shan's fire won't continue hurting it for long under the rain. We're panicking as we get together. I can't manage to say where I've left Shura.
The roof cracks and collapses, or rather blows up, as the monster comes through.
The rain seems to make it madder, burning it like acid even more than it does to us.
Artom and Orel yell, trying to get its attention away. While I was trying to catch my breath from the run, I just lost control of what was happening.
Before I knew it, they were fighting and running further away along the circular building's roof. Morgan and Yura broke their nails and patience, trying to get the thin bridge open and set across, cranking levers and valves to move the rusty mechanism.
After a few more gasps, I went to help them. It's dreadful.
I feel like beyond the rain and now thunder, I really begin to see the end of the world.
~
Artom stepped back. The monster follows Orel over the tower. It's really a hollow electric tower and antenna.
The building is too damaged. We're all scared.
The monster is apparently being dissolved alive by the rain. It seems more damaged and hurt by the water droplets than our bullets.
Orel rushes his way across the thin ledges. We're all holding our breath in fear.
And the worse happens.
The tower makes an awful noise and begins to collapse, with him still on it. I held my shriek, petrified.
Morgan didn't. She screamed and then cried.
The building was damaged again, but we got the bridge out. Looking at the desolation and the lost friends we had to leave behind, it was crushing...
Artom himself couldn't find a word to say. We took what was left of our belongings and headed toward the isolated northern side of the city.
We walked mortified under the rain along other streets and roads long abandoned.
The university campus of Krikfalgorod wasn't far. But we couldn't walk further. We all were feeling the exhaustion to say the least, and we were hurt all over. We couldn't go much further.
We crashed inside the first decent building we could find. A kind of damp warehouse. We reached some offices upstairs where we just sat and sobbed.
Even Artom shed some tears. Even adults cry...
A - I'll start looking around... Take your time.
Artom left us for a while. Probably to be a little on his own as well.
I bet that was not the end he had in mind for himself and her...
Stumbling around, blind, against forces so outrageous and impossible to comprehend apparently...
M - How could such a thing be...
L - I... I don't know.
Y - I have no idea either... It's more than mutagenic properties. It's the fastest and most resilient metabolism that could ever be, and...
I didn't say about who he had been, before turning into a monster. With the rain and distance, maybe they didn't see the clues.
And now I think that it's probably better if they didn't.
I'm holding this shut inside. I'm sorry guys...
~
Artom returned at nightfall, carrying food, medicinal supplies and even some ammunition.
L - Where did...
A - The supply crates. Some are open here. I think we're not alone.
Morgan and Yura raised their sights to him and me hearing this. People with the keys are around?
Somehow that wasn't that great a piece of news, hearing we weren't alone any longer.
At least we had enough to treat our wounds and get ready, as much as we could, to face the next shit hitting the fan, together.
We've eluded or plainly stated there had been a cover up, along the creation of the Lazaretto. And even before with the secret laboratory they escaped in the past.
It was to be expected at some point, that some people holding rifles and hazmat suits would pop up around here.
Either to investigate the same things, or to bury them and any witness even deeper.
We don't know yet which is it.
But if they can open the supply crates scattered in town and around, it likely means they came in with the right keys and instructions with what to expect.
Artom shared with us the bullets and weapons with an unusual alloy apparently specific to around here.
Most likely something meant to better take down these things...
He also shared with us a few of his remaining palliative pills.
We'll be ready as we could be...
A - Try to sleep, I'll keep watch. Tomorrow, we'll investigate the university...
Without anything better to suggest, that's what we would do.
M - But where would they be coming from? Lone Down? Or just Cordov?
A - I don't think so. The lazaretto was forbidden access to everyone as well, and shrouded for good reasons... I think there might still be another laboratory in the area, still operating.
Y - And they might have everything we need... A cure for the poisons they created?
A - Possibly...
He doesn't want to raise our expectations too much.
He and I want to find out the truth. There's also wishes for vengeance.
But we're aware that finding justice is another thing entirely.
And it's rather impossible now. It's too late.
We will never have justice...
But maybe we can get a satisfying sense of revenge for everything we've lost.
M - You want to burn them...
A - The thought has crossed my mind.
M - Count me in...
If we're going to die anyway... Maybe we can make the last people responsible pay.
It's sad, but it gives us some strength.
~