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Completed Everlasting Summer - Soviet Waifus, It's Heaven [NSFW]

Idiott

Arcane
Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
490
Location
Potatoland
Alright, the good end. Tomorrow - Miku.

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All we had to do was to reply "Thanks to the girls' help" after returning from strawberry trip and tell Ulyana that we want some food from Slavya. There are no dialogue changes.


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She took out her travel bag and started to rummage through a cabinet.
Meanwhile, I sat on the bed and started to gather my thoughts.

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Do you have any plans for after the camp? What are you going to do?
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Well, you know...

She raised her eyes to mine and gave me a smile.

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I'll go back to school.
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Ah... Yeah...
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And you?

~ What about me? It's not like I'm really considering going to high school for a second time... ~

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Me? Well, me too, I guess. Although... I don't really feel like going back to my city.

~ Seriously speaking, even I felt like going back, I had nowhere to go anyway. ~

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Why?
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Just because... Because there is nothing to do there. Nothing at all. And there's no one waiting for me there.
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But your parents?
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My parents... Well, you know... they are not there now.
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But where are they then?
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They're sort of... working abroad.
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Ah, so you're one lucky guy!

She smiled merrily.

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Why?
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They send you foreign stuff and all.

~ I wouldn't call my situation lucky as such. ~

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Well, anyway...
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Don't be upset!

~ She really looks like she doesn't understand what I'm saying. ~

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I'm not upset about it.

And it was true.

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Then what's up?
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Many things...
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For example?
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Well, for example...

I was about to begin a vast outburst about my situation and my wish not to have to part with Slavya, when the door was flung open with a bang and Zhenya entered.

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Yes, we're packing.
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I see... It's a good thing I didn't come ten minutes later, or I would have disturbed your... 'packing'.

Slavya blushed and kept on stuffing her things inside the bag anxiously.

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What's up, heroic loverboy?

That form of address gave me the creeps.

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What?
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Nothing...

She stared at me intently for some time.

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Watch it! Now more than just yourself depends on your choices.

I didn't reply and with those words Zhenya left the cabin.

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What did she mean?
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I think you can never know for sure.
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And yet...
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Well ... I wanted to talk to you about it myself.

~ I was able to start, but then... ~

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About what?

Slavya looked at me carefully.

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It's just, today we're leaving, right?
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Right.
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And we will move back to our cities.
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Well, yeah.
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And when will I see you again?

Slavya grew thoughtful.

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I don't know...
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And I don't know either.
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But you could write me letters!

She smiled, but her smile didn't bring me peace of mind.

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Yes, of course, but you know, that's not the same.
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What is it then?
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Can I go with you?

I decided to take a chance and speak plainly.

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And what will you do there?

Slavya seemed to not be surprised, but a bit vexed.

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Studying, my parents... And what will people say?

I wasn't thinking about the opinions of other people. And to be honest, they didn't worry me much.

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Well, we can always find a way!
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What way?
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We'll think of something!
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Semyon, we are too young for this...

~ In fact, I'm not. ~

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So what?
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Maybe after some time...
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How much time do you need? A year? Two years? Five?
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You say it as if... I don't know...

She seemed confused.

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So everything that happened here was just a holiday romance?

I started getting angry.

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No! Of course not! Just...
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What?
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I'm not ready to discuss it right now. Let's talk about it later.
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When later? We have only a couple hours left till departure.

Slavya said nothing and continued to pack her things.
I'd expected almost any kind of reaction from her, but not this.
In fact, she just pushed me away.

~ It turns out she doesn't need to continue our relationship. So, I'm not that important to her. ~

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It seems to me that it's hard for you too. But for some reason you don't think so.
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And what if I told you that I don't have a place to go back to, that since last Monday there is no more life for me and I have to start from scratch?
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I don’t know... That doesn't sound very reasonable.
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And it shouldn't! But it's true.
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And then what... Please, explain.
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I came to this camp by accident! Actually, I'm from another time, perhaps from another world. From the beginning of the 21st century. And I'm older than I seem.
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I don't really know how I got here.

Slavya stared at me, but said nothing.
The moments dragged on endlessly.
I waited for her to laugh at me, to call me sick, or something even worse.

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And why are you telling me all this?

She finally asked quietly.

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I want you to understand my situation.
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But it... It just sounds stupid.
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Of course! If I were you, I would react the same way.
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And what do you expect from me?
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I don't know... I just felt that I needed to confess.
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I’m not saying that you're lying and I don't think you're crazy, but you have to understand, I can't just accept it.
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Yes, I understand... I just thought that it would help you to understand my situation and my motivation for my actions.
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It didn't, to be honest.

I sighed in frustration.

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And my opinion hasn't changed.
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But...
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You'd better be off, you need to pack your stuff or you'll be late.
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There's...
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Let's talk later.

I wasn't going to argue.

~ If Slavya hasn't changed her mind after my confession then it's pointless to press on right now. ~

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The camp leader stood at the doorstep and looked like she was waiting for me.

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No, nothing. Just came to pack my things.
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Oh, come on, let it out. You might feel better.
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Well... How do you think I can prove that I'm telling the truth to somebody who doesn't believe me?
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Are you absolutely sure that you're telling the truth?
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Absolutely!
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Then perhaps they might just need time to consider.
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Except there's no time left.
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Then I don't know.

She shrugged her shoulders in dismay.

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Well, it's something at least.

I tossed my winter clothing into a bag and headed to the bus stop.

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But right now I wasn't in the mood to rejoice.
There was still plenty of time left until the bus departure time.
I sat down on the kerb and buried my head in hands.

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A familiar voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

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Just...
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Had a fight with Slavya?
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You could say that.
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And what's the reason?
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She doesn't believe that I'm an alien from the future.

I smiled ironically.

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I wouldn’t believe it either.

Said Lena seriously.

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If I were in your shoes, neither would I.
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It's not a big deal, you’ll make up from a quarrel!
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Yeah, but there's not much time left to...
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Left to what?
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To make the right choice...

...

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You're leaving our camp today and I'd like to tell you something in parting.

She was visibly nervous and desperately lost for words.

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I hope that you'll remember the time you've spent here for a lifetime and that you'll retain only pleasant memories about Sovyonok.
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I also hope that you became at least a little bit better, managed to learn something and found new friends...
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Just... come back next year.

The camp leader turned away. It seems she was trying to hold back her tears
I didn't expect her to get so emotional.
Although her speech sounded like a complete nonsense to me. As usual.

~ Of course, this is where I met Slavya. But now we were going through a tough time. And what will happen next is absolutely unclear. ~

So I didn't care about whether I'll miss this place and Olga Dmitrievna or not. Unlikely...
When the pioneers started to get on the bus, I pushed through the crowd to Slavya.

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Okay.

She said quietly.
I even thought that I saw the shadow of a smile on her face.

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I felt as familiar with all this as if it was my own homeland.
Anyway, the surroundings were the least of my concerns now – I was trying hard to find the right words to start a conversation.
We'd just been sitting there, probably for a couple of hours. But all attempts to strike up a conversation had ended with one-word answers.

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I understand.

She looked at me carefully.

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Even if I sometimes act the wrong way and talk nonsense... Regardless, the main thing for me now is to be with you! And it always will be. I understand that I acted too recklessly and planned stupid ventures. But we can try to make everything right. Together! You and me!

Slavya was still gazing at me.

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Do you realise that it will be difficult? That you can’t just run blindly into the dark? Because then there will be so many problems that we won't be able to solve.
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Yes, I understand that now! But for you, I am prepared for anything.

She didn't say a word but just kissed me gently and put her head on my shoulder.
It definitely meant 'yes'!

I didn't want to bother her anymore – let her sleep.
The point is that Slavya finally understood me, understood what she means to me. She realised that I'll do anything for the her sake.
And even if I'm overreacting or deciding too early, she's ready to put me on the right path.The path that we'll walk together!

...

Night started to claim its rights and the bus settled down to sleep.
At first I tried to fight it, but is there any use in enduring and wasting my efforts when the future had finally become crystal clear for me?

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This brings back memories...

I sat down and rummaged in my pockets, trying to find cigarettes. However the packet was empty.

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Fine...

I crumpled it up and threw it into the bin.

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Maybe I'll get healthier!

A lonely star was shining in the sky.
Today I read on the internet that, according to the calculations of scientists, one of the most beautiful astronomical events has already ceased to exist and we'll see it only decades later.
Maybe this star has already exploded as well and now it is only a beautiful image in the night sky? Somewhere near a lost planet on the edge of the galaxy.

However, why does one or another thing exist?
Is it simply because it's just there, has shape and can be touched?
Or is it because we believe that it exists?
At first thought the answer is simple. But on the other hand...

Even if this star is gone we can still see its cold light.
Maybe it helped someone to get out of a snowy winter forest, gave someone hope, or a bit of warmth to someone else.
Could a simple astronomical object, that exploded God knows when, do all this? Can billions of people believe in something that doesn't really exist?
But belief itself never made any object real. At least none that I've ever heard of.

...

The snowfall grew stronger, now it was a real snowstorm. Midnight.
Will my carriage turn into a pumpkin in few moments?
Maybe the return from Sovyonok is the end of my own version of the 'Cinderella' tale?
Even so, is it really a bad end?

Why, any tale contains at least a bit of truth.
I remembered Slavya, stood up, shook off the snow and went slowly into the night.
I felt no sorrow, had no regrets.

Maybe all this is just another episode of that tale, that warming dream, which I wanted so much to continue.
Why can't it repeat, if it happened once already?
And what if I meet Slavya in reality...?

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She stood with her back to me so I couldn't make out her face.

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Excuse me, has the last bus already left?

She asked without turning to me.

Where can she be heading to so late?
The 410 must be the most cursed route in this city.
Not only does it sometimes takes people away to another reality, but it can’t even arrive when you want it to.

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There is one more bus coming, just after midnight, I think.
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Thank you.

The smile was clear in her voice.
For some time I just sat silently, examining the girl.
Finally she spoke:

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Where are you going so late?

Is it really that interesting for her?

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Just having a walk...

I answered thoughtfully.

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And you... are you here for something important?
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Well, not really... Just going home.
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Where do you live?

I couldn't help asking.

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Far away...

She said vaguely.

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And I live nearby.
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It's a good area.

I would say there couldn’t be a worse one.

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I didn’t have too many options...
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You don't like it?
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Don't know, I got used to it by now.
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I think that people can be happy anywhere they want!
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Perhaps...
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Well, think of it! People live even at the North Pole... in stations, I mean. And in the Sahara desert! And in many other places. It's the people themselves that are the most important!
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It's difficult to disagree with you.

My comment sounded so philosophical that I unconsciously smiled.

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You don’t sound too honest to me.
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Now why would you say that, madam?

She laughed quietly.

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I think you're a good person!

Now she turned and...

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Slavya stood in front of me.
For a moment I lost the ability to speak, but just for a moment.
Of course it could just be a girl who looks like Slavya from my dream. Or am I experiencing the strongest deja vu...
This city is not a pioneer camp, I am not wearing a uniform, and it's not summer now.
Trying to convince myself that it's just an illusion, I decided to ask a question.

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Have we met before?

She carefully inspected me and smiled.

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I don't think so... but your face seems familiar.
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You... had you ever been to a pioneer camp as a kid.
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Of course not!

She laughed.

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When I was born, they'd already been disbanded.

Oh, right...

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Although... I had a dream recently...

She thought for a second.

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Me too. I mean, about the pioneer camp.
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Maybe that is where we've met.

The girl said seriously.

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Possibly.
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By the way, my name is Slavya. Actually, my full name is Slavyana but everyone calls me Slavya. You can do that too!

I was about to tell her that I know, but then I stopped short.
After all, is it that important to know why Slavya from my dream is standing right here, right now in front of me at this frozen stop of the charmed bus number 410?
After all, there are dreams that you don’t want to wake up from!

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And mine is Semyon...
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What a lovely name.
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Starts with an 'S' too.
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Yeah.
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So, you live far away, don't you?
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Well, not really...

She named the district.

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I thought it would be somewhere in the south.
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Why?
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Don't know... Maybe because you look like a pioneer.
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Oh you and your pioneers!

Slavya laughed.

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Maybe we wouldn’t ever meet if not for them.
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Why?

Her expression became serious.

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Just... a joke... Listen, do you agree that the world exists because we believe in it?
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That's like some kind of subjective idealism...

Slavya thought for a bit.

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This school of philosophy became close to me recently.
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Well, I don't know... I am not that good with these subjects.
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What are your subjects then?

She smiled.

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Different ones.
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No doubt!
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But it’s just been few minutes since we met!
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But seems like it’s been much longer.
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For some reason I've got the same feeling...

An awkward pause followed.

The snowfall has eased but there was still no bus.
I looked at my watch and assumed that it won't arrive at all.
Slavya seemed to feel even colder by now, as her cheeks grew more red and her hands were now moving frenetically, trying to warm her body.

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Seems like the 410 bus is done for today.
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I guess...

She said sadly.

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If you want...

I started, after pulling myself together.

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What?
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You can stay at my place...
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But we've just met.

She laughed.
She didn't seem frightened even a tiny bit.

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Yes, I understand, but it's so cold outside...
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Aren't you afraid?

Slavya looked at me playfully.

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Me? Should I be?
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Who knows... Who knows...
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I just suggested it, don't think anything of that sort...

I started to make excuses.

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I understand!

She laughed.

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If you don't mind, of course...

Even though it seemed impossible, she flushed even more.

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Should we go?
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Let's wait a bit longer, maybe it will arrive.
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Okay.

...

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So what do you do in your spare time?

Slavya asked after a while.

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I... well... Work at home, kinda.

I just couldn’t tell her that I do 'nothing'.

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Sounds good!
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Why?
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Don't know... You have a lot of free time, you don't have to go anywhere! And so on...
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And you?

I asked, trying to change the subject somehow.

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I'm studying.
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Getting an ethnographer's degree?
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What is that?

Slavya asked seriously.

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Never mind...
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I'll be an ecologist.
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Well, a career to be proud of...

We chatted about random things and the bus was still nowhere to be seen.
It was past one already. Time passed by so fast.
I guess Slavya understood my thoughts.

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Shall we go?

She smiled.

I stood up and headed slowly towards my house.
She carefully held onto my arm and looked into my eyes.

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You know, I'm sure that this year will be better than the previous one!

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Every story has its own outline, synopsis, contents, key points, a prologue and an epilogue.
And there is no book, which would not reveal the things you didn't pay attention to previously after you read it again.
Every story has its beginning and its end.

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:love:
 

Idiott

Arcane
Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
490
Location
Potatoland
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:fuuyeah:
Here we go.

First, let's do a quick recap of all our Miku encounters so far:

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Day 1.
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We don't actually encounter Miku until day 2, but to enter her route we need to select correct options. The first one is the choice during the prologue:

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Following the dream girl puts us in the 'final' route. That's because we encounter both girls in the same area. We need to decline if we want to see Miku.

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We need to take the keys. I have no idea why.

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Day 2.
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I opened the door and came in without hesitation.

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I've spent some time looking closely at every instrument, wanted to guess the time period they are from, but suddenly I heard the crawling sound coming from underneath the piano.

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She was standing on all fours in such a suggestive pose that I hesitated to talk at first.

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Excuse me...

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- BANG -
She tried to stand up but the piano's bottom prevented her from doing that.

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Ouch!

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Sorry, I scared you...
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It's nothing! Oh, you got a checklist, you must be new here?
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Ah? Yes.
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My name is Miku.
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No, really, I am serious! Nobody believes me, it's my real name. My mother is Japaneese. My dad met her when he was building... Well it wasn't him who was building, he's an engineer... And he was working on a nuclear powerplant there! Or a dam... Or a bridge?... Whatever!

She was talking so fast she just swallowed half of the words she tried to pronounce.

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I'm Semyon.
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Great! Want to be in our club? It's only me here now, but it will be two of us then! Do you play anything?

It's when I became antisocial that I bought a guitar and learned a few chords, but then I forgot about it – as I quit everything that required more than a couple of hours to learn.

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You know, I wasn't planning to do anything like that really...
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Oh it's ok, I'll teach you! Maybe a trumpet, for example? How about a violin? I know it all, honestly!

There was no point in arguing with an orchestra-girl, since there was only another cascade of words waiting to blast at me.

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Hey, I'll think about it, can you just sign it for now?
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Yes-yes, sure, give it to me! Be sure to come around! I sing too! I'll sing you some Japanese folk songs. Or maybe if you're not into that, something more contemporary?
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Suuure... thanks, gotta go now!
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Of course, come any time...

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It may be nice to hang around with a guitar in the evening, but in such a company...
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There weren't too many free seats.

There were few free chairs near Alisa, across the canteen, but I'd better starve for a week or two than risk my head near her.
There was also a seat near Ulyana, but I'm not into traditional chinese 'whatever crawls' cuisine.
Finally, a free chair near Miku.
Looks like I'll have to pick my poison...

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You mind if I sit here?

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Look, it's buckwheat today. Do you like buckwheat? And chicken! I don't like chicken. Well, not that I don't like it...
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But if you'd ask me, what would I prefer, say, stroganoff beef or ragout... No, maybe just a hamburger! Or a rump steak! Do you like rump steak?
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I'm not that picky about my food.

And that's a simple truth.

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Maybe you like eskimo better?

Dinner was starting to get on my nerves, thanks to such a company.
And I'm not a kind of person that can just ignore someone who's talking to you. Even her.

~ We're behind the same table after all. ~

ktqUq86.png
You know, I once bought a waffle cone and started eating, and then you know what? I found a screw there! A real screw, can you imagine that? Or was it a screw-bolt? I don't really know.
4tYoXDF.png
Screws are those that you tighten with screw-nuts, and screw-bolts are those that you drive with screwdriver, yes?

~ If there was a speed eating contest going on I would probably be in top 3 winners by now. ~

MnfQDOr.png
Right, I'll be going, bon appetit!

I got up and headed outside.
Miku was saying something, but her words drowned in a crowd of loudly dining pioneers.

VopEwDR.png
Day 4.
YkkB4OB.jpg

MywsC8D.jpg


Strange thought came across me – Shurik is in the same situation as me and so he decided to run away from this camp, maybe by the 410 bus.
It could really turn out to be true, if he got here by accident too.
Although the chances are quite slim.

~ But you never know! ~
~ What if the bus will really come... ~

However I could hardly believe in that.

9iBlXFE.jpg


- BUMP -
Somebody rushed from behind the gates and bumped into me. The impact was not strong, so I just staggered.

iFTFm3O.jpg


MnfQDOr.png
Oh, sorry...
oDNpmFR.png
It's alright! It's my fault! I was going to the music club, but got lost in thoughts about a new song... You know, thinking up the lyrics and music. I haven't realized how I got here.
oDNpmFR.png
So you don't have to apologize!

Her words per minute rate obviously exceeded the recognition limits of my brain.
I've made an attempt to retreat promptly.

MnfQDOr.png
Sure, sure... Gotta go... You know...
tl3s3tI.png
Oh, wait!

I wanted to leave as usual without having to listen to her, but Miku grabbed my hand.
Her grasp gave me the creeps as I've got a clear vision of agonizing execution by another rap session.

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Can you help me a little, please? Just a little little bit?

That definitely wasn't on my to-do list today.

MnfQDOr.png
Well, I'd be glad to, but it's...
GqPvyzV.png
Pretty please!

Miku looked at me with such puppy eyes that my heart started to melt.
She totally wasn't going to let go of my hand.

MnfQDOr.png
And what help exactly do you need?
oDNpmFR.png
You'll accompany me! I can't manage to compose in such a way! I can sing. Or play. I can't do both at the same time.

~ Even our orchestra-woman has her weak sides. ~

MnfQDOr.png
Well, you know, I can't really play any instrument...
oDNpmFR.png
Never mind that! I'll show you everything! Come on, let's go!

fD2ALMN.jpg

VopEwDR.png
Let's go with Miku.

~ On the other hand, I'm not losing anything. ~

However...
She dragged me along with her.

~ Nothing good will probably come out of that, but the only way to get her off me is to wrest my hand out of hers. ~

But that wouldn't be very nice.

~ Nothing bad will happen after all! Probably... ~

dzRLXcV.jpg


Miku took a guitar.

oDNpmFR.png
Here, have a look!

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I tried to follow her hands. The tune seemed quite easy.
It seemed quite easy to repeat it.

eMk4cv1.jpg


MnfQDOr.png
Kind of.
oDNpmFR.png
Let's try.

I took the guitar and started playing.
Didn't really work out...

oDNpmFR.png
Let me show you one more time.

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Looking at Miku, I mused.

~ Of course she was a chatterbox, she was naive and clumsy... However, she was utterly talented in music. ~

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I managed much better the second time.

4tYoXDF.png
Wow, that's much better!

She smiled.

It wasn't hard in fact – just repeat the same notes over and over.

~ Just don't lose the track! ~

oDNpmFR.png
Start by my command!
oDNpmFR.png
Okay...
oDNpmFR.png
Ready? Go!

oz1wUMt.jpg




Frankly speaking, I haven't understood a single word, but Miku's singing was quite good. In fact, it was outstanding!
She put her heart in every note, every word.

~ Yeah, music probably is the very thing to dedicate her life to. ~

It seemed like it wasn't her, who has chosen the music but the music has chosen her...
The last half an hour presented Miku in a completely different light.

...

4tYoXDF.png
Oh, thank you! Did you like it? I finally managed it with you, alone it's not so good. I either messed up with the text or missed the strings. And it's just perfect with you! Thank you so much.
4tYoXDF.png
You really have a talent, you know! Just to play like that without any preparation...

~ Nope, it seems I have changed my opinion about her too hastily. ~

MnfQDOr.png
Thanks for the song! Gotta go, see you!
4tYoXDF.png
Thanks too...

5aB8wbE.jpg


I leaned on the wall of the club cabin and sighed.
Miku's song was still playing in my mind.

It was 15 minutes till dinner, and the nurse still wasn't back.

~ I guess just leaving like that won't do. ~
~ She asked me after all... ~
~ And who knows what might happen if I leave... ~
~ Though who might want to steal anything from here? ~
~ Except for Alisa stealing activated carbon... ~

I opened the magazine again and began flipping through it for the nth time.
The fashion of eighties wasn't that fun anymore.
Yawning got me several times.

It was already six o'clock, hence dinner has already started.
Of course I had to be on the watch till the end, but my stomach seemed to have its own opinion on this matter.
I stood up and steadily headed to the exit.
Some rustling sound came from behind the door.

~ Could it be someone else who got poisoned, broke their arm, or something even worse? ~

I sighed heavily and pulled the doorknob.

h8p5vtL.jpg


Seems it was just my imagination...

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To be precise, an apple appeared on the table.

~ But where from? ~

Fruits can't just materialize from thin air by themselves, can they?
Though in this camp everything is possible...
Chances are someone just brought it here.
Maybe Lena wanted to thank me.

~ Given that she's all shy and... ~
~ But wait! How could she just walk past me like that? ~
~ Lena wouldn't climb through the window after all! ~
~ So there must be something else... ~

I was suddenly overwhelmed by fear.

~ What if the apple is poisoned? ~

Though why would someone complicate things, when I'm here totally helpless and can be killed way easier?

~ Or! It might be the apple which Eve tasted in the garden of Eden? ~
~ In this case I certainly should not eat it! ~

The same second my stomach reminded of itself by wambling traitorously.

~ However, it would take time to close the infirmary, to reach the canteen, to take food... ~

My stomach is about to eat itself.

E7Di28R.jpg


~ No! Even assuming that this is a normal apple. In any case, I shouldn't eat unwashed fruits! ~
~ Just like that... ~

I found the reason for my fear and put the apple away.

It was time to go for a dinner.

0xMD5AT.jpg


MnfQDOr.png
How is it going? Did you find Shurik?
KKJRWe5.png
No, still no signs of him...
MnfQDOr.png
Don't worry... We'll find him!

I tried to cheer him up.

KKJRWe5.png
Too much time has passed! I'll just keep on searching.
MnfQDOr.png
What about a dinner?
KKJRWe5.png
No, finding Shurik is more important.

He uttered thoughtfully.
I left him at the crossroads and wished him good luck.

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I quickened my pace trying not to be the last one in the line, at least for today.

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I took my dinner quickly and sat at the table.
Tonight's dinner consisted of fruit soup and a pair of buns.
This set surprised me at first but tasting it was actually nice.
I concentrated on eating.

4tYoXDF.png
Lena, let's go here! Look – three free chairs!

obHlKqk.jpg


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Is it taken?

Wondered Lena.

MnfQDOr.png
No, take a seat.

~ Of course, I wish she was alone. ~

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Thank you...

h8VCivk.jpg


8HoK7d8.png
I'll sit here. There are no places left.

She said, putting her tray on a table and sat down not even waiting for my answer.

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Sure. Make yourself at home...

I muttered sorrowfully.

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What?!
MnfQDOr.png
Nothing...

To tell the truth I wanted to reduce the whole company to just Lena, though nor Miku nor Jenja weren't causing to much trouble.

Except one was too talkative and other was too arrogant.

~ But nevertheless they were absolutely harmless especially comparing to some others. ~

0bFYpZw.png
Oh, seems like I forgot a key...
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Don't worry, take mine!

I was surprised by Miku's short reply.

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Do you... live together?
CCOkQh9.png
Of course! Didn't you know? Together. Our cabin is the rearmost. I mean the farthest from here. I mean the last one.

I wouldn't be surprised if somebody told me that Lena lived with Slavya or with Zhenya at worst. Even Electronik.

~ But silent and shy Lena and excessively talkative Miku making a company... That's really a surprise! ~

8HoK7d8.png
Did you find your Shurik?

It's strange that Zhenya is disturbed by someone's problems.

MnfQDOr.png
No.
hjyoNmj.png
Sure he is at the village buying cigarettes. Or vodka.

She snorted.

MnfQDOr.png
Village?

That very moment conversation got much more interesting.

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Anything wrong with villages?

Zhenya looked amazed.

MnfQDOr.png
You mean there is a village near by?
8HoK7d8.png
I think so...

She said uncertainly.
I looked at Lena and Miku, but they were busy with their meals and did not pay attention to our conversation.

MnfQDOr.png
You mean you don't know exactly?
hjyoNmj.png
Why should I care!?

Zhenya stared at her dish.

MnfQDOr.png
But there must be localities nearby.
hjyoNmj.png
Listen...
MnfQDOr.png
Listening.
hjyoNmj.png
I don't know! Will you let me eat!?

~ Seems like I won't get anything from her. ~

Though, there is a chance that she really doesn't know...
The remaining time was spent, listening to Miku talking about some nonsense. I was just slowly going mad in silence.

sAeEZwe.jpg



Alright, let's go then.

RfDwjts.jpg

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Olga Dmitrievna looked thoughtful.

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Perhaps you're right... We'll go together tomorrow morning.

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Everybody seemingly forgot about Alisa and her terrorist act. Maybe due to the minor damage it caused.
Together with the camp leader we moved towards her cabin.
I tried to think why Shurik would go to the old camp.
He is interested in robots and cybernetics, not scary stories and ghosts.

~ What does it have to do with that boot?.. ~

I remember how I decided to wait until something extraordinary would happen...
And then I realized – this is it!

MnfQDOr.png
Olga Dmitrievna, I think I'll take a walk before sleep.
G31PX5e.png
Just not a long one!
MnfQDOr.png
Okay!

4w92OoG.jpg


But doing this in the dark!..
I didn't want to return to Olga Dmitrievna's cabin but I had to find a flashlight. For instance in the infirmary.

~ I was glad I didn't spend the whole time there reading the fashion magazine. ~

...

The flashlight was found quickly, and in few minutes I was again standing at the square putting myself together.
I just had to make the final decision before I enter the forest.
Moving along the pioneers' cabins, by the forest path into the abandoned camp...

2Oksx6l.jpg


Electronik told me that the old building was built immediately after the war.
It looked like a kinder-garden (or like barrack, as I expected) and definitely could fit less pionneers than today's camp.
It was abandoned for about twenty years.

...

cuzn6jW.jpg


The forest looked totally different at night.
Mysterious shadows were hiding behind the trees. Strange rustling and cries of night birds coming from everywhere, branches treacherously crunching under my feet.
The full Moon was shining so I decided to save the battery in the flashlight – sure I will need it some time soon.
The further I moved the less pleasant thoughts were coming into my head.

I wasn't afraid of the dark at all. I didn't believe in ghosts and other mystical crap, but at the same time, during the last few days I encountered so many incomprehensible phenomena that against my own will I started to look between the lines in the simplest things.
Obviously I felt exceptionally uneasy in the forest at night.

Everywhere I looked, every shadow, every tree or bush looked like weird creatures, escaping straight from horror movies or from Stephen King novels.
A branch seemed to be someone's hand, so eager to grab your shoulder. Lying log – someone's dead body, someone who failed to get out of the forest. In every ravine I saw a bottomless abyss.
If I would find myself in this forest under any other circumstances, without all these buses and pioneer camps, of course I would still feel myself uncomfortable, but then I would be able to explain everything with logic and be afraid of nothing, of course except for owls and mice.

But at the moment there were more than enough reasons to fear.
Despite all this I reached the old camp without any adventures.

...

reKeuNi.jpg


Paint peeled off the walls. Almost all windows were broken. Broken masonry here and there, holes on the roof looked like those produced by bombing.
In front of a building was a little garden, surrounded by a rusty fence.
Apparently, once it was a playground with a merry-go-round, swing, chutes and other soviet attractions.
But time is cruel. All of them were mutilated by corrosion and broken.
The grass was so tall that almost came up to my waist.

a2rVs8H.jpg


It seemed like everything came back to life: windows with new glass and walls, painted with fresh paint.
I herd a playful laughter. Saw translucent children joyfully running and frolicking in the yard. Harsh camp leader on the threshold, holding basket with ripe apples in her hands. Old cleaning lady Manja taking a nap in shade.
I got such chills.

Of course, my imagination was playing tricks, but the old camp itself was so similar to all post-apocalyptic pictures I have seen that these visions were of no surprise.
I stood undecided for a long time, before I dared to go further.

~ After all, I'm here to find Shurik! ~
~ Though I still don't get what he might be doing here... if he's even here... ~
~ Boot somewhere nearby doesn't mean anything! ~

However, if he was not eaten by wolves (for some reason it seemed like there were no wolves in this forest), this must be the only place where he might be hiding.
I accurately crossed the yard pushing the tall grass apart trying not to run into some piece of metal.

But I stopped in a doorway hesitating.
Impenetrable heavy darkness looked at me from inside.
Even the bright moonlight could not reach any object or silhouette.

My head was filled up with different thoughts that it's better for me not to go any further and run away quickly.
But I pulled myself together, turned on the flashlight and stepped over a threshold.

kTRkelF.jpg


I still remembered my childhood days and so everything here looked very familiar.
Sleeping room with lines of beds standing close to each other, large playing room, toilets, dinning room and utility rooms.
Signs of the past children's joy was seen everywhere. From time to time the flashlight helped me to draw my attention to a decaying doll or a plastic toy car or punctured rubber ball or broken rank of tin soldiers.

There was a faded with age book on a table.
I flipped through a few pages.

It was a story I read long time ago, back in my childhood. Something about the war...
Enemies destroyed the kindergarten and all of its kids hid in the little basement together with a bunch of adults, while bombs were exploding up on the surface.
I don't remember the end of the story, but as far as I remember, nobody died.
Looking at the illustrations, all emotions: fear, sadness, sympathy to the poor children and sense of hopelessness which I had experienced while reading this book came over me.
It's strange that under exactly these conditions, right here and now that found this book.

~ Probably there is somebody who manages the ongoing, who writes scenario for this absurd play, who sews costumes for local pioneers and draws sceneries like this abandoned camp. ~
~ To tell the truth he is very talented – attention paid to even the most minor of details. ~

Although this place was abandoned long time ago, everything here seemed to be untouched.
Of course, time didn't spare this camp, in so many years it was oftenly visited by the locals.
Just a perfect place for young people, hitting their puberty. They could drink alcohol, indulge in amorous pleasures or simply burn everything down just for fun.

Electronik mentioned this place is full of its legends. Legends of ghosts and devils living here...

Take at least the story about the camp leader who committed suicide.
In my world nobody would believe, that this could stop somebody. But in this reality everything is possible.
Certainly, the fear didn't disappear, but I decided that since I came here let's take it to the end.

The building was small, so it wasn't difficult to inspect it fully.
But I didn't find any signs of Shurik.

~ Maybe I should just call him out? ~
~ But on the other hand it's not a good idea. ~

Frustrated, I sat on a bench in the lobby, and sighed.

MnfQDOr.png
Ghosts, where are you?

I asked the camp.
And all of a sudden I noticed a strange deepening in the corner.
Small hatch ajar – adult would hardly squeeze in it.
And it seemed to me that it had been recently opened as the dust was cleared around.
And so it's here where I need to get scared.

~ So, Shurik reached somewhere... ~
~ What might be lurking beneath? A basement? What was he doing there? ~

I fully opened the hatch and pointed the flashlight into the darkness.
There was a ladder going down a couple of metres, jibbing into a concrete floor.
There was a low narrow corridor disappearing in the darkness.

I hesitated for a long time.
On the one hand, I had absolutely no desire to go down, but on the other hand, if Shurik was really there...
I swore loudly and began to descend.

Ufj425i.jpg


Low ceiling, wires extending along the walls, broken lamps, clad in iron bars.

0517YuD.jpg


I slowly started to move deeper into the dungeon.
Road went down and after a dozen of meters ended up with stairways with high steps.

X1YsNEw.jpg


There was a sign painted on it.
I looked closely and realized that it was a biohazard sign.

~ No wonder – if the old camp was built after the war and it lasted until the seventies. ~
~ So it's an ordinary bomb shelter and there is nothing to be afraid of. ~

However, these thoughts made me even more scared.
I made a decision and opened the door...

aMSIRjy.jpg


I shuddered strongly, so that my hands began to tremble and eyes darkened.
I regained consciousness after a few seconds and only then I realized, that apparently a strong spring was attached to the door.

JfABKu8.jpg


In the beam of the flashlight I could see a double bed, some cabinets along the walls and several devices of unknown purpose located in the far corner.
It seems that this bomb shelter was never used...
Nobody ever came here. The beds were made.
Which is strange by itself...

I carefully looked around the room several times.
The cabinets were filled with gas masks, chemical protective suits, dry rations, various domestic dribs and drabs.
Devices which purpose I could not at first determine were gauges of radiation, air pressure and temperature.
It was a typical bomb shelter, in short.
I've never been in such places, but that's how I imagined it.

The only thing remained unexplored was the door at the far end of the room.
I pulled the handle, but the door remained closed.

~ If someone recently came down here, and he wasn't found in a room, then it would be logical to assume that he is behind this door. ~

I called out in whisper.

MnfQDOr.png
Shurik?..

No reply.

~ Maybe he locked himself... But why? ~

It was unclear what to do next.
On the one hand, I could come back tomorrow with help, but for some reason I thought that behind this door I could find answers that can't wait to be found.

Once again, I walked across the room and took a crowbar from the corner.
I picked the door bottom with it and tried to rip it from its hinges.
Oddly enough, after a while I did it, good it was not as massive as the previous door.

r04xhxw.jpg


I took a breath and pointed a flashlight into the passage.

OyEXGg2.jpg


...

The walls were closing together, my head almost touched the ceiling, but I could not make out the end of the corridor.
I walked carefully, looking at the ground. This was the reason that I did not fall into the pit..

Ut7C38I.jpg


It seems that the hole was caused by an explosion.

~ It wasn't too big – I could easily get out later. ~

Ju8yMMf.jpg


Walls and the ceiling were reinforced with wooden beams.
The tunnel was so long that my flashlight was insufficient...

...

BCOQRX7.jpg


It's too dangerous to go further, I can get lost!
I decided that it would be a good idea to somehow indicate the place, from which I would begin the journey into the labyrinth, so I picked up a stone and made quite a big notch on the wall.~

~ So... ~

L4itHOH.jpg


It seems there is no end to these tunnels, like I am trapped in the Minotaur's labyrinth and the terrible creature will appear soon.
I was exhausted and slowly slid down to the ground, leaning against the mine's damp walls.

~ Where is that damn Shurik? ~
~ And how many hours have I been walking around here? ~

My eyes began to close.

1zcQm8U.jpg





:troll:


Cu3bZlh.jpg

D9wgc0I.jpg


One doesn't have to look it up on the internet, searching for an interpretation of a dream that invaded your dreamworld in such an rude manner. One doesn't have to assume that it's a sign, a prophecy, a prediction of the future.
Sometimes a dream is just a dream, a beatiful story that is just not going to happen in your real life, a fairytale sketched by your resting brain and painted by your imagination.
Sometimes a dream is just a dream...

Even if it comes in several parts.

bGYcgH8.jpg


LGINUEz.png
Huh?

SHjN93s.jpg


LGINUEz.png
What exactly are you tired of?
WAcrbLw.png
Everything!
LGINUEz.png
It's not like someone made you do this... or is still making you!
WAcrbLw.png
Well... It's not that simple!
LGINUEz.png
Oh, it is indeed quite that simple!
WAcrbLw.png
Damn, you're always...
DcPXZTm.png
Stop chatting! Come on, get to work!

A voice that would brook no objections came from far away.
The bus became empty in an instant.
The girl I was arguing with sulked like a child, turned abruptly, clicked her heels, and headed to the exit.
Her name was Masha.

G31PX5e.png
Ok, you ready?

UtoD9p1.jpg


LGINUEz.png
Yeah... Sure...
uadgSOU.png
Excellent!
uadgSOU.png
Then... Action!

MUhInJ8.jpg

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How long must I sit like that? Ten seconds? Twenty?
That should be enough.

OHXjFqZ.jpg


That's it, I haven't got the slightest idea why am I here!
What is this?! An Icarus? But why?
So, I have to put on the most surprised face that I've ever done!

I should imagine that I'm sitting in a toilet, reading a book and then the door suddenly swings open and I see Jean Reno with a gun.
Pardon me, do you mind that I'm - pardon my French - doing number two here?

VopEwDR.png
:lol:

He would surely be surprised!
I just couldn't bear it and laughed out loud.

DcPXZTm.png
Stop! Stop!

Yelled the director.

DcPXZTm.png
It's an outrage! We've already been shooting for a week, but we've still got less than nothing!

She jumped close to me.

DcPXZTm.png
What's the matter this time?
LGINUEz.png
You know, I...

Well, she would hardly appreciate my story about Jean Reno...

LGINUEz.png
I'm sorry...

It was hard to look her in the eyes.
It wasn't like I was really worried about me messing up yet another take, but mainly because I was afraid to break into laughter again.

G31PX5e.png
Ok, lunch break!

Our director took off her panama hat and began to fan herself with it.

G31PX5e.png
It's so hot...

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Shurik came out of thin air, proving himself to be quite observent.

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Duh, blockhead! You better take care of the camera!

Shurik calmly dodged the panama that was thrown at him and went back to his camera.
He's always like that – calm, wise and... boring, dull and quite predictable.

5b8oPlO.jpg

gk9JbGi.jpg


oDNpmFR.png
So?
LGINUEz.png
Nothing...
oDNpmFR.png
No surprise.
LGINUEz.png
Wanna have something to eat?

She stared at me for some time with an uncomprehending look.

4tYoXDF.png
Ok, let's go.

It's strange, seems that Masha has already visited the canteen – what is it, didn't she have time to have her lunch?
I examined her thoroughly from behind– her double ponytails were really long and dangled from side to side, now and then hitting whatever they encountered on the way.

g2uhJUr.jpg


I asked Masha when we've sat down the table.

4NeHLo0.png
What's the problem?
LGINUEz.png
Well, they're kinda... way too long, no?
WAcrbLw.png
It's a part of my character, dork!
LGINUEz.png
As if they were any shorter before that...

She threw an angry glance at me and proceeded to violently stir the contents of her packet of instant noodles.

WAcrbLw.png
One day I'm gonna get gastritis thanks to this diet.
LGINUEz.png
I already got it...
WAcrbLw.png
Oh, sure, I bet you have already drunk all the stage props together with these guys!
LGINUEz.png
And what's wrong with that? I'm not paid for this work, just so you know! And it's hard – the leading role, after all! I don't drink the cameras and filming tape!
TNhpehr.png
Oh, it's like you're going for an Oscar!
LGINUEz.png
Who knows... Who knows...

I reclined on the chair and lit up a cigarette.

3HQe2kF.png
Just for your information, it's a children's camp here, in case you'd forgotten!
LGINUEz.png
Yeah, you see any kids around?

Masha just sniffed and didn't reply.

LGINUEz.png
And, by the way, all the great ones had to start with something... Some of them, for instance, started with a graduation project...
oDNpmFR.png
Not a single sane human would ever think of shooting such wild garbage!
VopEwDR.png
If only the rest of this goddamn game was like this, and not like a tryhard anime taking itself so damn seriously.

She gazed warily around with an intimidated look, making sure that nobody except us was at the canteen, and continued.

oDNpmFR.png
Only our Olga Dmitrievna would.
LGINUEz.png
It's not like someone made you do it.
TNhpehr.png
Oh yeah?

Masha said slowly with bitterness in her voice.

GqPvyzV.png
Like I had any choice. Or you did. Or anyone else...
LGINUEz.png
Well, for starters, you could have proposed another subject.
WAcrbLw.png
To propose a subject... What subject...

All this time Masha had been sprinkling salt over her noodle cup, and it seemed she wasn't going to stop.

LGINUEz.png
I see you like it spicy...
oDNpmFR.png
Wha?

I directed my gaze at her cup.

OR28FIW.png
Damn!

She slammed the salt shaker down the table and sadly dropped her eyes to the small hill of salt that, like an iceberg fighting global warming, just refused to dissolve in the broth.

ktqUq86.png
Oh come on...

I suddenly felt sorry for Masha.
Anyway, I could hardly digest this crap – sandwiches are way better.

LGINUEz.png
Here.

I pushed my bowl in her direction.
She took it silently and began to eat.

LGINUEz.png
Won't you even thank me?
oDNpmFR.png
But it's completely your fault!
LGINUEz.png
What exactly?
WAcrbLw.png
You distracted me and I... Anyway, it's your fault!
LGINUEz.png
Ah, whatever...

Masha kept eating in silence.
I finished smoking and stubbed the cigarette out on the corner of the table.

LGINUEz.png
What exactly don't you like about it?
oDNpmFR.png
Well, it's actually fine, if you get used to it – lovely noodles.

I looked at Masha in a way that made clear exactly how silly and irrelevant her answer was.

GqPvyzV.png
Ah, you're talking about the movie...
LGINUEz.png
About the movie.
WAcrbLw.png
Take my character, for example! Although never mind using it as an example, it's the worst part of the script! Were you even reading this as you wrote it?

For the first two days, then laziness took over.

VopEwDR.png
:thumbsup:
LGINUEz.png
Well, I read it...
WAcrbLw.png
So what, does it seem normal to you?
LGINUEz.png
What exactly?
3HQe2kF.png
Character, my character!
LGINUEz.png
What's the problem with it?

I decided to play the fool till the end.

sRtVChA.png
Stop mocking me!

If looks could kill, my death would have been a pretty painful one.

LGINUEz.png
Alright, alright... Calm down.

Masha fixed her gaze on me.

LGINUEz.png
What's the matter with your character? Just a normal retarded girl... There are so many around anyway, no?
VopEwDR.png
:lol:

She turned red at first, then blue, then she turned green.
I am not sure that the changing of colours on her face during a fraction of second was really like that, but either way Masha looked scary.

oDNpmFR.png
You know, that's disgusting.

She said, suddenly getting a grip.

LGINUEz.png
I think it's perfectly normal... The cast of a movie - or a book, for that matter - can't consist only of cute, smart and sexy characters. We still need supporting roles.
oDNpmFR.png
Supporting, but not retarded!
LGINUEz.png
It's not like we don't encounter them in real life...
WAcrbLw.png
But I'm not like that!
LGINUEz.png
But you're not playing yourself after all!

Her stubbornness started to get on my nerves.

oDNpmFR.png
People will watch it and say: Masha is a retard!

I covered my face with hands and put my head down on the table.

LGINUEz.png
Okay, and what do you suggest now?
oDNpmFR.png
I don't know... Everything is just bad!
LGINUEz.png
Will it get better if you just keep crying and moaning?
3HQe2kF.png
I'm not moaning!
LGINUEz.png
Oh, like I can't hear it...

Well, I'd prefer if I couldn't.

3HQe2kF.png
You know what?!

I opened one eye and looked up at the enraged Masha.

LGINUEz.png
What?
3HQe2kF.png
You're just an insensitive bastard!
LGINUEz.png
As you say, mademoiselle!
3HQe2kF.png
And...

She didn't manage to finish the phrase – the door burst open, and a cheerful shout reached us.

Q1TJzQk.jpg


VopEwDR.png
:desu:
Oh, here comes another raving lunatic...
Oh Lord, what have I done wrong...?

aAtXe0V.jpg


VopEwDR.png
:lol:

Sasha. One of the main characters.
If we compare Sasha in real life with the character she's going to play, then Masha's words about the injustice of this world don't seem that meaningless.
However, on the bright side, one can't ignore Sasha's acting talent – she really becomes a totally different person on the screen!

oDNpmFR.png
I told you like a thousand times – don't you ever call me Masha-nyan!

Masha gritted her teeth.

K4NGxj7.png
Ok, then it would be Mashyan! Can I, can I?

Sasha snatched the chair, moved it closer and sat beside me.

3HQe2kF.png
Freaking cuckoo... How do people like that enter college in the first place...?
K4NGxj7.png
Nya! Nya! What are you talking about?

Sasha seemed to ignore Masha's opinion of her professional impropriety.

LGINUEz.png
Oh, we were just discussing what exactly Masha-nyan doesn't like about our script.
sRtVChA.png
Just you wait till I beat the nyan out of you!

She tried to land a punch on my forehead, but I dodged, and her fist slammed down the table.
Sasha gave a brief cry and started shivering.

LGINUEz.png
See how discontented she is? A curious young mind, which doesn't seek any compromises, ready for long, painstaking work, for self-sacrifice and denial of the fragile material world. And all for what? For the truth!
K4NGxj7.png
Wow, you're so smart!

Sasha murmured and hugged my arm.

Too bad you are not...

oDNpmFR.png
Nooo, you're hopeless...
LGINUEz.png
I'll take that as a compliment.

Masha fetched her phone out of her pocket and checked the time.

oDNpmFR.png
Ok, time to get going.
LGINUEz.png
Where are you going? You only appear starting day two.
WAcrbLw.png
It's you who should get going, dork!
K4NGxj7.png
Me too, me too!

Sasha jumped around, still clinging to my arm.

LGINUEz.png
I guess so...

I got up, pushed the chair back under the table and looked over at Masha.

LGINUEz.png
See you.
oDNpmFR.png
Oh, get going...

She snorted and turned away.

K4NGxj7.png
Ittekimasu!
WAcrbLw.png
Getlostu...

Just as that reached my ear, Sasha shot past me with empty noodle packets trailing in her wake...

VopEwDR.png
Suffering previous routes for this one - totally worth it.

...

6ff4ExV.jpg


So which idiot wrote this?
Oh, yeah, that would be me...

I put aside the stack of sloppily-stapled printed pages and fixed my sight outside the window.
Indeed, it was really hot.
Even without Shurik being Captain Obvious – it was hot.

Let's take the asphalt, for example. It doesn't give a damn that just yesterday it was winter according to the script – you know it has to be melting right here and now.

And the grasshoppers don't care – they just keep rehearsing.
By the way, which of them do the chirping? Is it the crickets or the grasshoppers? Or cicadas? Nah, those screech...
Damn, I don't even have any internet handy for a quick check...
Though why would I? The script is all agreed on and approved and can't be edited at all.
And anyway, who would care about the grasshoppers in our movie?

Although, it would be a splendid idea for shooting a horror flick in the spirit of fifties' US B-movies.
Like, for example, 'My Cousin is a Grasshopper'. Or 'The Cricket Day'. 'One Flew Over the Cicada's Nest'...
If I have to spend five more minutes here, I'm gonna turn into an insect myself!
Oh, why were there no air conditioners in old Soviet buses...?

vYyxHGv.jpg


A loudspeaker was pointed at me and right behind it I recognised the face of Olga Dmitrievna through the melting air.

LGINUEz.png
Please leave your message after the...

I felt a blow.

LGINUEz.png
Hey! You can't just smack the protagonist like that! Have you even read my tour rider?
Bj7V6PQ.png
Shut up! This has to be the last take in the bus!

I wanted this pretty bad myself – after all, it's better to be outside than stuck in this moving man-melter.
Shurik's camera was hanging over me.
I acted as if I was really desperate about what's going on, raged across the bus, dashed outside, ran all around it and, finally, collapsed down on the sidewalk...

h5gogvq.jpg


Olga Dmitrievna smiled approvingly.

uadgSOU.png
Well, seems like you are able to do it when you really want to!

Sure, it seems that will is the most important thing.

uadgSOU.png
And now – meeting Slavya.

HmQrHNL.jpg


Router prayed.

uadgSOU.png
We ain't here for a vacation! Off you go to your camera!

He hung his head and shuffled off to his place.

uadgSOU.png
Action!

I stared at the camp gates.
I held my gaze on the statues of the pioneers and took a few steps forward.

eIicVJl.jpg


K4NGxj7.png
Hi, Semyon-kun! My name is Slavya! Yoroshiku-ne!

A stunned silence descended upon the set.
It seemed like even the grasshoppers suddenly stopped their song and looked up at Sasha with fascination.

G31PX5e.png
I have just one question for you.

The dreadfully calm voice of Olga Dmitrievna reached us from behind me.

G31PX5e.png
Have you even read the script?
FhZThlh.png
Sure I did, but it's so boring!

It was pointless to cry, swear, go into hysterics – we couldn't find another actress here.

G31PX5e.png
We have only three weeks in this camp and you...

She sat down on her director's chair and began to fan herself with her panama hat.

G31PX5e.png
Guys, don't you get it that we won't make it in time if we keep strolling around like this! We still have lots of stuff to shoot! Could you get at least a little more serious? It's like I'm the only one who cares...

A stick certainly won't work with Sasha, so may be we should try a carrot instead.

FhZThlh.png
I'm sorry... I'll try again.
G31PX5e.png
You'd better.

I tried hard to imagine the protagonist surveying the unknown environment, as millions of theories fly through his head. He's shocked, he doesn't know what to think of it all, his brain's ready to explode, his consciousness starts to wander, and there you go – a girl, your average pioneer, appears and she has not the slightest idea of what's happened to him.
She just greets the protagonist and sends him to the camp leader...

I took a few steps forward, and Sasha appeared from behind the gates.

rBiv4dZ.jpg


LGINUEz.png
...

I caught sight of the lens of the camera pointed at me from out of the corner of my eye and tried hard to make a really surprised face.

t6Dhpqp.png
If so, you need to go to our camp leader...
uadgSOU.png
So, you can do it! If you really want to!

Olga Dmitrievna wiped the sweat from her forehead.

G31PX5e.png
I'm gonna turn grey before my time with all these fripperies of yours! And we still have to do the editing... Hah...

She checked her watch.

G31PX5e.png
Ok, let's call it a day.

I'd hardly call myself a workaholic, but even I felt that it's way too early to stop, given we're already falling badly behind schedule.

LGINUEz.png
Don't you think that...
G31PX5e.png
I do! But I feel absolutely done!
LGINUEz.png
Eh, as you wish...

I shrugged and headed into the camp.
Evening was closing in...

...

bz2KL1H.jpg


There was a huge bowl full of fried potato slices with mushrooms right in front of me.
One of the perks of summer – fresh vegetables from the garden.

oDNpmFR.png
You better show that much effort during filming.
LGINUEz.png
Oh, you seem to prefer instant noodles over this?
1yFcyDN.png
What are you talking about, Sasha is a great chef!

Mumbled Alisa.

WAcrbLw.png
Didn't anyone ever tell you that it's impolite to talk with your mouth full?
1yFcyDN.png
And you're always complaining...
FhZThlh.png
I... I'm...

Sasha was about to burst into tears.

oDNpmFR.png
Oh Lord... Come on, chill out! Everything's delicious!
K4NGxj7.png
Nyaa! Masha-nyan, do you want me to make something...

Masha gave her such a dirty look that it became obvious even to Sasha that she shouldn't continue.

oDNpmFR.png
But anyway, just tell me honestly...
LGINUEz.png
I won't!
WAcrbLw.png
But you don't even know what I'm about to ask you!
LGINUEz.png
I know...
oDNpmFR.png
So, what's it going to be?

She stared at me with a triumphant look.

LGINUEz.png
Why did I come up with such a rubbish script...
WAcrbLw.png
Damn!

Alisa and Sasha laughed.

WAcrbLw.png
Oh, I see that you're both okay with it!
s8OpRpU.png
What's the matter? It's summer, we're surrounded by nature, there's a beach here, everything looks great!
WAcrbLw.png
You might as well visit Turkey, why did you come here?

Alisa glanced at Masha blankly and started to dig into her plate.

oDNpmFR.png
So?

She pointed her fork at me.

LGINUEz.png
Fear not the fork but the spoon, one blow and your skull is doomed!
WAcrbLw.png
Now you tell me – is he even normal?
K4NGxj7.png
Semyon-kun is kawaii!

Sasha hugged my arm and nodded vigorously.

1yFcyDN.png
What's the matter, anyway? He just got us a free vacation.
oDNpmFR.png
I don't understand what I am even doing here.
LGINUEz.png
Well, it's not like anyone's holding you here.

I said coldly.

oDNpmFR.png
Oh, if only what I wanted mattered...
LGINUEz.png
And you, what are you doing all this time? You just keep nagging others and yet there's still a lot of time before your appearance according to the script. You must be preparing for the role, eh?

I interruped her.

WAcrbLw.png
Oh, maybe I am preparing!
s8OpRpU.png
Double standards!
3HQe2kF.png
Triple, damn it!
LGINUEz.png
So, what are you doing, for real?
oDNpmFR.png
Well what would you expect me to do?
LGINUEz.png
Me? Nothing. Just curious.
ktqUq86.png
Reading books...

She answered timidly.

LGINUEz.png
And every book about how to master acting...
WAcrbLw.png
Stop it, okay? We are sitting out here, God knows where – no internet, no phone signal. Nothing at all! If I hadn't brought the mosquito repellent with me...
K4NGxj7.png
I brought it, nya!

Masha gave her such a look that Sasha suddenly started to take up much less space than usual.

1yFcyDN.png
I just don't get you... What's the point of complaining all the time...? You could have stayed back home...
oDNpmFR.png
Ah, did I even ask you!?

R1pBlhN.jpg


FhZThlh.png
Masha-nyan is upset...

Said Sasha in a distressed tone.

s8OpRpU.png
Eh, if she got 'upset' just now, then wait until you see what she's gonna be like towards the end of the shooting...

JTFuSfW.jpg


Curiously enough, I really couldn't comprehend why Masha keeps freaking out.
Sure, since the very beginning she'd had no real enthusiasm for either the script or the whole idea of shooting our movie in a godforsaken pioneer camp.
But still, she wasn't that aggressive.

Maybe it's the heat that's to blame? Or the grasshoppers?
Sure, that's it! Grasshoppers! They're giving us hell instead of a good sleep!
I wish we just had a button to release some sort of a poisonous gas – and presto...

K4NGxj7.png
What are you thinking about?
LGINUEz.png
About the grasshoppers!
n8EL3Rp.png
What's wrong with them?
LGINUEz.png
Might as well ask "what's right with them?".
FhZThlh.png
Grasshoppers – they're not nya.
LGINUEz.png
Why?
FhZThlh.png
Well, they're so... scary...
LGINUEz.png
You just don't like insects in general?
FhZThlh.png
Nope!
LGINUEz.png
Me neither...

A heavy silence fell.
No matter what's going on in Masha's head, at least she can always keep the conversation going. Even if it's about the grasshoppers.
I imagined her talking about her hatred towards these hellish creatures who dare not only to plague this already imperfect world, but also keep chirping all night long, this time interrupting your own inner rest and gentle soul...

RanVHWD.jpg


G31PX5e.png
Ready for the night shooting?
LGINUEz.png
Night shooting? It's not like we've even completed the first scenes yet... And you also mentioned that we are done for today...
5y7aQ4M.png
We have to make maximum use of the time! Or else we won't make it at all!

I couldn't say that I was completely dead-tired, and besides, I had to show at least a spark of commitment to the success of my own project.

LGINUEz.png
Alright. What are we shooting?
G31PX5e.png
The night scene with Slavya in the woods.
K4NGxj7.png
Nani-nani?

Sasha heard that we were discussing her character and jumped in.

G31PX5e.png
Just pleeeease...

Began Olga Dmitrievna in a strained voice.

G31PX5e.png
Stick to the script this time!
K4NGxj7.png
Wakarimashita!
DcPXZTm.png
And stop that already...

She gritted her teeth, turned around and left us.

1yFcyDN.png
What's that scene about?
LGINUEz.png
Haven't you read the script at all?
s8OpRpU.png
Of course I haven't!

Said Alisa proudly.

s8OpRpU.png
I'm more than ok with just reading the scenes where I appear.

I wasn't going to trouble her with meaningless talk about the necessity of getting the whole picture to fully understand one's character.

LGINUEz.png
I'm watching Slavya dancing by the side of the lake in the woods...
K4NGxj7.png
Nya-nya! It's so romantic!
LGINUEz.png
...and she strips down in process!
nDpULtG.png
Nya?

Sasha stared at me with a look of incomprehension.
The meaning of my words dawned on her after several moments.

r42XJeB.jpg


LGINUEz.png
Relax, not completely.
lsPb7fJ.png
Well, if it's gonna be you...

She blushed.
Sure, seems like this girl has not only been watching too much anime recently, but also is not the smartest one by birth.

Just why did Olga Dmitrievna cast the characters like this?
As for me, I'd rather cast Masha to play Slavya, and Sasha as Miku.
Anyway, it's up to the director to decide, and Olga Dmitrievna is the only director we have.

pUuHdud.png
By any chance, will there be that?
nDpULtG.png
What?

Sasha gave Alisa a blank stare.

LGINUEz.png
No.
pUuHdud.png
What do you mean, nothing at all?
LGINUEz.png
Not in this scene.
pUuHdud.png
Ah, so you will be doing that later.

Alisa showed off a sharp grin.

LGINUEz.png
If it sparks your curiosity so much, you should go and read the script already!
s8OpRpU.png
Nah, I'm not curious at all.

Alisa got up from the table.

s8OpRpU.png
Ok, I'll be going.

AWkXgdC.jpg


LGINUEz.png
It's nothing. Go get yourself ready – the sun's already setting.
K4NGxj7.png
Nya-nya!

Sasha got up and dashed to the exit.
I finished my plate of potatoes and gave a heavy sigh.
Well, at this rate we won't manage to shoot even half a movie.
I guess we can just put 'to be continued' at the end.

And turn everything into an epic saga, created by the students of a third-rate local cinema and television college.
Suddenly I understood that, really, I don't care anymore...

GKr0nQY.png
Ready?

ohaAwAx.jpg


LGINUEz.png
It's not like I have anything to prepare... Do you think you can manage these night shootings?
F5KDurP.png
Oh... Somehow...
LGINUEz.png
Ack, let's get going then.

...

xP8U0vs.jpg


I was sitting on a stump and trying to keep myself warm in my thin top, while others were aligning cameras and lights.

bANBupO.jpg


Masha was setting up a light reflector cloth between the trees.

X9DqBkm.jpg


TNhpehr.png
Well, you could bring on more people for this! Everyone would have been happy to participate in the production of such a masterpiece.
DcPXZTm.png
Are you complaining about something?

Olga Dmitrievna gave her a menacing look.

oDNpmFR.png
N... not at all, I'm fine...

Our director was probably the only person here that Masha hesitated to argue with.
I wonder why?

...

L7xgD7V.jpg


GKr0nQY.png
What do you think, any chance we'll get it in only two or three takes?
LGINUEz.png
I have no idea... It's not like it depends on me...

I nodded towards Sasha. She was jumping up and down energetically by the lakeside, warming up for her role.

F5KDurP.png
Oh, I see...

Shurik heaved a doomed sigh and headed to his camera.

G31PX5e.png
Alright! It's time.

I hid myself behind a tree.

G31PX5e.png
Camera! Action!

qp0Y4oC.jpg


I couldn't help noticing that given all this extra lighting, combined with the moonlight, she looked plain stupid.
But that's the cameraman's concern anyway – it's probably for the best.
I slowly emerged from behind the tree and followed her.

Sasha went slowly along the shoreline, almost hovering above the ground, taking off her neckerchief and unbuttoning her shirt on the way.
In fact, it actually looked amazing.
I bet she could've been a great actress of the silent cinema.

68MqHQE.jpg

aVcR3Na.jpg


Sasha immediately dashed back from behind the trees.

K4NGxj7.png
So? So? How is it?
uadgSOU.png
Excellent! Perfect! If only you could perform like this every time – on the first take! Then we would have it all finished in time!
LGINUEz.png
You're saying it like we're not gonna make it on time.

I noted sceptically.

uadgSOU.png
We'll make it, you bet!

1gQA32z.jpg


Masha suddenly appeared next to me as if out of nowhere.

G31PX5e.png
You wanted something else?
WAcrbLw.png
We've spent like three hours in preparation for only one minute of footage?
DcPXZTm.png
It's cinema! Cinema, you know! Art! One can be hunting a single shot for years! One could keep shooting a five-minute movie for decades!

Olga Dmitrievna looked particularly funny, waving her arms like that.

oDNpmFR.png
Sure...

Mumbled Masha in a wasted voice.

oDNpmFR.png
That's it?
G31PX5e.png
Yeah, that's it for tonight.
oDNpmFR.png
Then good night, everyone!

She threw that piece of reflector cloth to the ground, and hastened off towards the camp.
I quickly mumbled my goodbyes to everyone, grabbed a script printout, and rushed after her.

...

j73Hu2W.jpg


It was at the square that I caught up with her.

4TeGg8e.jpg


A look of extreme fatigue was on Masha's face.

LGINUEz.png
Maybe... maybe you wanna take a short walk before you head off to sleep?
4NeHLo0.png
Why would I?

She glanced at me, apparently misunderstanding me.

LGINUEz.png
Well, it's just... it's still so early! I bet you wouldn't even think of going to sleep at this time in the city.
oDNpmFR.png
In the city... This isn't the city here, you know. Here three days count for one.
LGINUEz.png
Oh, come on! It's still early!
4tYoXDF.png
Oh, fine...

She gave me a bright look and smiled.

4tYoXDF.png
Just not for too long!
LGINUEz.png
Ma'am! Yes, ma'am!
oDNpmFR.png
Why do you carry that all the time?

She pointed at the stack of paper I held in my hands.

LGINUEz.png
Well, you never know what might happen...

...

hQRARhF.jpg


4tYoXDF.png
What a lovely moon!

Masha started to strip and dashed off towards the river.
I don't know what was I expecting, because she had a bikini on under that pioneer uniform of hers.
Fascinated, I stared as she paddled her legs in the water, which caused ripples to splash around her.

LGINUEz.png
So, you're still able to have fun!

I shouted.

cboI4cN.jpg


ktqUq86.png
Yeah, it's like recently you all think that I'm just an old hag.
LGINUEz.png
Of course you're not... But you're still one hell of a moaner.
WAcrbLw.png
I guess I have my reasons!
LGINUEz.png
Not sure... I don't see any particular ones.

Masha got up and moved several feet away from me.

LGINUEz.png
Oh, come on!
rYvv0bb.png
Don't 'come on' me! It's just... one can't be such... such a...
LGINUEz.png
Such a what?
ktqUq86.png
You never see anything...

She put her head down on her knees and added quietly:

ktqUq86.png
And you never understand...
LGINUEz.png
Yeah, that's me – cold-hearted, dumb and dull.

Masha gave a barely audible laugh.

4tYoXDF.png
Yeah, exactly...
4tYoXDF.png
Let's go swimming?
LGINUEz.png
It's cold in there!
4tYoXDF.png
It won't take long.
LGINUEz.png
Oh... okay.

...

The water was surprisingly warm, so indeed we were hardly going to freeze.
I sat down at the towel that somebody had left behind and took a deep breath of the soft night air.

f6tRj2f.jpg


0dKbDhS.png
Am I disturbing you?
LGINUEz.png
N... not at all...
0dKbDhS.png
I just felt kinda tired.

She looked straight into my eyes, but I averted my gaze.

0dKbDhS.png
Why can't it all be the same as before?
LGINUEz.png
How so?
0dKbDhS.png
Come on...
LGINUEz.png
That was a joint decision, you know...
0dKbDhS.png
But nevertheless...

She put her arms around my waist, and I felt even more ill at ease.

0dKbDhS.png
Why have we come here in the first place?
LGINUEz.png
To shoot a movie!

I tried to put it off with a jest.

0dKbDhS.png
Still if it wasn't for you, I would have never gone to this college in the first place... We could have already...

She sighed.

0dKbDhS.png
But now...
LGINUEz.png
I still think that digging up the past in this context is hardly a good idea.
0dKbDhS.png
You might think so. As for me, I still think that we shouldn't have...
LGINUEz.png
But you were the one who wanted it in the first place!
0dKbDhS.png
I never wanted it!

Said Masha resentfully.

LGINUEz.png
Oh, yeah! So, it was me who insisted?!
0dKbDhS.png
Yes, it was you!

She turned away but didn't get off of me.

LGINUEz.png
You're always like that... You don't like this... You don't like that... Why can't you just adopt a simpler approach to life? Take a look around, it's a splendid summer! It's a beautiful night! We're shooting a remarkable movie! In fact, everything's great...
0dKbDhS.png
Do you really believe all that yourself?

Her question was indeed one worth asking.

LGINUEz.png
I do... kind of. It's not like everything's always ideal... But what's so bad about it?
0dKbDhS.png
Everything is bad...

She seemed ready to burst into tears.

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This stupid camp... That script of yours. Everything! Everything is bad! And you are not a child anymore! You could have already started a family, gotten a job...
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Hey! We discussed it all like a thousand times!
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Yeah... And broke up exactly because of that.
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That was your call, mind. Precisely because of your 'everything is bad' attitude.
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Oh, but you go like "everything's great" to make up for that! Only fools rejoice about everything around them.
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I'm not rejoicing... Or, rather, I'm rejoicing about things that are worth rejoicing about! I like my work. I find pleasure in films.

Do I, really?

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So that means you didn't find pleasure in me?

She got up and leaned against my chest.

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Ahem, maybe we shouldn't...?
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What's the matter? Don't you want to?

I couldn't make up my mind on how I should reply.
On the one hand, I didn't want to open old wounds, but on the other hand – I clearly understood that I'm not in a position to refuse.
And by now I didn't care if someone who might not be sleeping might see us...

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But why? What comes after?
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Who cares...
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Well... In that case...



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...

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I don't wanna sleep alone...

She murmured quietly.

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What, afraid of the grasshoppers?
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It's not the grasshoppers, it's the crickets! And I'm not afraid of them...

She averted her gaze and blushed a little.

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It's just... well... unusual.

You might have got used to it, given the amount of time.
I suddenly thought that there's nothing wrong with this idea. Especially given everything that happened...

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Okay...
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But where?

Masha gave me a questioning look.

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There are a couple of unoccupied cabins, reserved for further scenes. Well, we could use these props for a while, I guess.
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Let's go.

She smiled, got up, took my arm, and we slowly headed to the square...

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Idiott

Arcane
Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
490
Location
Potatoland
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I wasn't able to stretch – Masha was sleeping on my left arm.
I barely managed to pull my limb from under her head and massaged it for a long time, trying to restore the blood flow.
Scratching my stubble, I reached for my shorts to find my cigarettes.
Perhaps we shouldn't have gone that far yesterday after all.

Now she definitely won't leave me alone.
Well, probably not... That's not in her nature.
But a bad aftertaste will still remain.
And now she has an argument to scold me with, if I just give her one chance to.

Yet another argument – it's not like she's short on them.
Unable to find the cigarettes in my shorts, I thought that I must have left them behind in my cabin, so I clumsily dressed and went outside.

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And it's like this day and night, night and day...
Rubbing my eyes, I plodded down the trail and didn't notice somebody coming until they ran right into me.

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Hi Semyon!
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Hi there!

I shouted after him.

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Would you care to explain?
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What's the matter?
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Where did you spend the whole night?!

She looked more than menacing.

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I was with Masha... And what's the problem?

After all, everyone got it already, so it makes absolutely no sense to hide it.

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With who?

Olga Dmitrievna gave me a surprised glance.

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With Masha.

I repeated calmly.

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We don't have any Mashas here.
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A group of Russians and not a single Masha among them? Yeah, right.
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Now it's my turn to be surprised...
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Semyon, your behaviour is unbecoming of a true pioneer!
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Ah, are we shooting it already? But where are the cameras?

I grinned.

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Semyon!
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Oh, come on...

I headed to my bed and opened the drawer.
However, my backpack wasn't there.

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Erm... Have you seen my backpack?
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A backpack?

She looked at me in surprise.

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Yeah. It was here.
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But you arrived here without any luggage...
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What?

I broke into a silly smile.

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And I still haven't finished yet!
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Olga Dmitrievna, I get it that you're in the finest of moods this morning and you have an eagerness to joke around, but...
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How can I feel fine when a pioneer, a future Komsomol member, is acting like that?!

A pioneer? A Komsomol member? Something is definitely going wrong.

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Olga Dmitrievna, have you slept well? Are you ok?
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How dare you speak to me like that?!
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Ahem, what's your problem?
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To sum up, you need to be at the lineup in half an hour! As for me, I still need to find Miku.

Miku? It looks like they just want to play a prank on us.

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Ma'am! Yes, ma'am!

I saluted and marched out of the cabin.

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Masha, you won't believe what they've...

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What happened?

I leaped to her side.

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Lena just came in...
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Lena? But she wasn't planning to come for another three days...
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It wasn't our Lena... This... It was just something that looked like her...

Masha was trembling, and an expression of horror was on her face.

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Calm down! Let's take it slowly!
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She was talking about some kind of a lineup, cleaning up the grounds, about the library, about the music club...

Her breathing became rapid.

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And... and... it wasn't a joke! I'm sure of it!

I recalled the recent conversation with Olga Dmitrievna at once.

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Ok, calm down! I still haven't got a thing!
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It wasn't our Lena... It was... the Lena from your script!

She raised her tear-filled eyes to me, I understood right away that this wasn't a joke, and my courage vanished.

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That's ridiculous! It just can't be...

Though, recalling the conversation with the director...

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No! No! I'm sure!

She threw herself into my arms.
I tried to calm her down.
We have to think logically.

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We have to think logically! It's just them trying to pull a prank on us, that's all! I was just talking to Olga Dmitrievna, and she...

And she's what? Also looked unusual to me?
Nah, I can't just say that to Masha...

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In the end, they will have their laugh and then quit it.
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No, something has happened... Something horrible... I'm sure of it...

Masha was sobbing in my arms.

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Ok, let's get down to it. Let's talk to someone. For example, to Router – he surely isn't the main stand-up comedian in our hood.

To tell the truth, at this point I was interested myself in finding out what kind of joke this was, one that can bring Masha, who is always calm and prepared for everything, to hysterics.

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Okay...

She wiped away her tears and got up from the bed.

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Calmed down now?
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I'm trying...

Masha smiled faintly.

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Let's go...

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Olga Dmitrievna was talking about some kind of a lineup. Let's go to the square – most likely they will be there.

Masha took my hand, but let it go it right away.
I chose not to look in her direction because I already knew what expression she had on her face, and just headed to the square.

...

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I didn't recognise even a half of people gathered here, and that fact was extremely strange on its own.
Olga Dmitrievna tried to line them all up.
I chose not to linger, and went up to her.

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[olsmi] Oh, and Miku is here too!

She interrupted me.

[olsmi] Excellent! We'll talk after the lineup.
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What lineup are you talking about... Isn't that enough playing games? For God's sake, it's not funny anymore!

She looked at me in confusion.

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What are you talking about?
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About that!

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Olga Dmitrievna, it really isn't funny anymore...
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I don't understand you two...
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Let's seriously get back to the shooting!
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What shooting?

I looked at her attentively and for the first time realised that perhaps she wasn't joking.
Olga Dmitrievna was never a decent actress, so I doubt that this expression of surprise and incomprehension was fake...
What a mess...

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Okay, let's assume... Tell us your version.
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Version of what?

She was still blinking her eyes while looking at my mouth.

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I got it.

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Hey, hold on! Where are you going?
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We have to find someone less insane.

Olga Dmitrievna's shouts followed us, but I didn't pay any attention.

...

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According to the script, it ought to be right here.

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Let's go.

Masha didn't reply, just followed my lead.
I opened the door abruptly and walked in.
Router was there, as I had expected.

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Oh, Semyon! And you're not alone! Hi there! Have you come here to join our club?

It seemed that there was something wrong with him too.

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Why aren't you at the lineup?

I asked mischievously.

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Ahem... Well, I've got something to finish here.
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Ah, whatever, just tell us what's going on here.
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Am I missing something?

Just like Olga Dmitrievna, he stared at me with no sign of understanding.

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Why the heck is everyone around acting like we're real pioneers in a real pioneer camp?
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Isn't that the case?
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Is it?
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Well, actually...
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And what about the film?
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What film?
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The film... The one we're filming!
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Semyon, I really don't understand what are you talking about...

It's only now that I realised that everyone around is calling me Semyon...
Well, Sasha was always calling me 'Semyon-kun' too...
But that was clearly a joke, while here...
It's not a big thing, but my name is definitely not Semyon!

I stepped back in horror and tripped over Masha.
She let out a short scream.

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And you, Miku...

I wasn't listening...

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I let go of her hand and sat down on the edge of the road.

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Looks like the two of us are in trouble...
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...
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Don't you get it? Everyone here behaves exactly the same as it was written in my script!

She stared blankly at me for some time, then she recovered:

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Yeah, a fair guess... But what... why?
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Like I would know...
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So, what are we gonna do?
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I don't know...

Masha was on the edge of bursting into tears.

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Oh, stop it! I really have no idea! How can I come up with ready-made solutions in this situation?
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I understand, but...
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After all, there is still a possibility of it all being a silly joke... Well, an overdone one.
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But what if...?
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Well, if... Then we'll act in accordance with the circumstances.

I sighed and quickly stood up.

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Let's go eat something at least. I think that whatever is happening here, food will still be served.

Masha gave a barely noticeable smile and followed me.

...

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Even at the lineup I noticed that there were many more people than there were yesterday.
Did all these children really come here? To an abandoned camp?
No, there's something really wrong about that...

However, food was being distributed, so me and Masha took trays and sat down seperately from the others.
I ate intently, trying not to raise my head up from the plate and not to look at the surrounding people.
However, it didn't help me much – in a couple of minutes someone showed up near our table.

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Can I...?

She asked quietly.

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Yeah, suit yourself!

While I was thinking as to how I should answer, Masha pulled out a chair beside her and invited Lena to sit down with a gesture.

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You weren't yourself this morning...

She began anxiously.

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Well... Got up on the wrong side of the bed...

Masha laughed nervously.
Lena glanced at me and then quickly looked away.

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So, how's it going?

I started with more general questions.

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Fine.
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I see...

I genuinely had no idea of what can we discuss with her.
Plus, Lena indeed looked pretty odd – while she was usually all fun and high spirits, now she looked extremely timid and shy.

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Did you hear anything about Slavya?
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What happened?
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Well, nobody has seen her since yesterday... It's like you two disappeared first... Now you are here... But Slavya is...

She left long pauses after each of her sentences.
I still didn't get it – either it's completely perfect acting, or the being sitting in front of us wasn't our Lena.

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Nope.
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We haven't seen her.
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Well, I hope she will be back eventually.
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Yeah, we hope so too.

Slavya... Sasha indeed could lose her way in broad daylight – that's hardly surprising.
I was just finishing eating the rubber-like oatmeal when suddenly Olga Dmitrievna ran into the canteen, waving her hands.
She looked around emotionlessly, and after a glance at me she finally headed towards our table at a fast walk.

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She hissed below her breath right at my face.
Seemed that objecting wasn't worth it, so I got up, nodded to Masha, and we headed after Olga Dmitrievna.

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So, where were you last night?
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Should you care...?

I shrugged.

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I should! Did you know that Slavya is missing?
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Just heard that from Lena.
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Exactly! I went searching for her and... found her!

It looked like she was desperately fighting back tears.

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That's good news then.
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Come, let me show you.

She said quietly and headed in the direction of the forest.
I looked at Masha.

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Maybe we shouldn't?
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What's wrong with it?

However, my inner voice was agreeing with her.

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Alright then... But I'm afraid.
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Everything will be fine...

I tried smiling, but even without a mirror it was obvious that my smile was so fake that it made me sick.

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Olga Dmitrievna pointed at a tree.

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:what:

Masha peered out from behind my shoulder and screamed in terror straight away.

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Don't look!

She burst into tears and rushed into Olga Dmitrievna's arms.
I made a considerable effort: I had to look behind the tree to ensure that it was indeed Slavya.
Body parts were lying there: an arm, a leg, ruptured in several places, a piece of flesh from the chest, a head with hair clotted with blood and deeply sunken glassy eyes.

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:what:

I felt like vomiting and instinctively averted my gaze.

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How would I know?

Said Olga Dmitrievna in surprisingly stone-cold voice.

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Throughout the camp, you're the only ones without an alibi.

Masha continued to cry, now on my shoulder.

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What, you seriously think that we were able to do... this?!

I gazed at her in fury.
Now it didn't matter that much what was happening here – silly jokes or something more serious – a person had been murdered!
A person who we knew. Slavya or Sasha – it makes no difference!

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Well, no...

She hesitated.

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But someone did it after all!
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I would say some wild animals. Probably wolves.
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There were never any wolves around...
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So, you think a human could have done it?!
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Well, there is no one else to blame...
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No, that makes no sense at all... It just can't...

I hugged Masha tighter.
Her sobbing became quieter.

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Anyway, we have to call the police.
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Of course we have to! Let's go!

...

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Night was falling.
I was sitting at the square and watching the sunset.

Masha was sleeping in Olga Dmitrievna's cabin.
It all shocked her much more than us. For many reasons...

There were two main questions in my mind: first – what is happening here, and second – who murdered Slavya. Or Sasha. Anyway, who's the murderer?
The first one could be postponed for the time being. But I still had no clue how to deal with the second one.

Despite all the confusion, the conclusion of her being savaged by wild beasts seemed to be the most reasonable explanation.
I don't care if there are any wolves here or not... It could even be a bear! Or a badger... But certainly not a human!
No one would be able to do something like that without additional tools.
And the type of wounds made it clear that the unfortunate victim had been dismembered with bare hands (or paws).
Though, it's true enough that an enraged human can gain nearly superhuman strength...

But of all the people gathered here, who would be able to do something like that? Router? Lena? Maybe Olga Dmitrievna herself?
No, that's stupid.

But even so, there were many children apart from them in the canteen and at the square.
But am I really going to interrogate every single one of them? That's a job for the police!
Then what's there to be afraid of? Maybe I'm not afraid for myself... But for Masha...
Right, I need check how's she doing!

I was just about to get up when suddenly I sensed someone's presence.

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Oh, I didn't want to scare you...
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It's okay...
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Can I sit here?
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Yes, sit down, please.

She fixed her skirt with a neat move, sat down, and started staring at the sunset.

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How sad this all is...
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Yeah, not much to rejoice about.
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What do you think, who could have done that?
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How should I know? Certainly not me.
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No, no! It's not like I suspect you or anything!

She began waving her hands in a funny manner.

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Well, thanks for that.

I smirked sadly.

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But that must have been done by a very cruel, very evil person.
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Well, not necessarily...

Lena glanced at me in confusion.

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Maybe it was a one-off delusion. After all, in everyday life maniacs can be the nicest of people.
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So, you are saying that...?

Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped a little.

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That it could have been done by any one of us...?
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Well, I'm not asserting that, that's for sure... But the circle of suspects is quite large.
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No... None of the children could do that... No one...
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Anyway, it's up to the police to deal with it...

We spent some more time sitting in silence.
I was about to leave, when Lena suddenly whispered:

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:what:
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What?

An unnatural grin appeared on her face.
A devil's grin – so I thought.

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Could you have murdered Slavya?
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Of course not!
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But you two didn't get along very well...
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Why do you think so? We were getting along just fine.

It suddenly became clear that Lena, most likely, is not talking about me.
More precisely, not the me from yesterday. And not the Slavya whose name is Sasha.
I was sure about that.

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No, it wasn't me!
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Okay, okay, relax, I am not accusing you...

She gave me a look, and for a second her eyes seemed red to me.
Maybe it was just a reflection of the sunset...

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I'm glad you got everything right.
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But it was you who said that everyone is worth suspecting.
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I didn't tell you to 'suspect everyone'! I meant that we don't know who the criminal is! Yet...
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Oh, I see. Well, I hope I don't become the next victim!

Lena said loudly and burst out laughing.
The way she did it gave me the creeps.

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Ok, it's time to go.

She got up and swiftly left the square.
I chose not to linger and headed to Olga Dmitrievna's cabin.

...

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Masha was still sleeping, so I decided not to wake her and quietly climbed in next to her.
Our director (or the camp leader, as the local residents kept referring to her) was still nowhere to be seen.
If she enters now, it will all get very uncomfortable. Well, it might, at the very least.

Anyway, who cares? A person has been murdered – it's not the time for such trifles!
And anyway, we still have to find out what's going on – why does everyone keep acting like they are pioneers?
It seems to me that until it becomes clear who the real criminal is, this whole ridiculous carnival won't stop.
The real question was, what is the cause and what is the effect...?

Either everyone keeps pretending because Slavya was murdered (I still couldn't accept that Sasha was the victim, so I've kept telling myself that it was indeed Slavya), or Slavya was killed because everyone keeps pretending...
Damn it! I got lost entirely, and such brainstorming is not going to get me anywhere.

The door creaked faintly.

Cautiously, I rose on my elbows a bit and peered into the darkness.
A few torturous moments passed, but ultimately no-one came in.
Well, I guess it's no use to just lie down and wait.
Right now it's probably just the wind blowing or something like that, but this late at night, when everyone is asleep...

I stood up, grabbed my trousers in the dark and looked around.
It was hardly probable that I might find something that could be used as a means of self-defence here.
But I at least had to give it a try.

Rummaging through the cabin's contents, I stumbled upon a locked drawer inside the cabinet.
Sure, I'd love to find a gun or at least a some kind of heavy crowbar there. However, I totally understood that I really shouldn't hold my breath for one.
But it had to be locked for a reason!

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Oh, could this be the reason why we needed to take the keys during day 1?

I pushed the cabinet from the wall, estimated where exactly on the back side that drawer was, and gave it a sharp and precise (so I would not wake Masha up) kick with my leg.
The plywood cracked, and some things spilled forth from the drawer.

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Nevermind.

Underwear... More underwear... Matches.
Oh, they might just come in handy.
I shoved the matchbox into my pocket, and at the same moment I heard some strange noises from outside the door, as if some wild animal was scratching on it.

Surely if that is the real criminal, I won't stand a chance against him...
But one shouldn't shrug off the possibility that it was the work of a local 'pioneer'.
Who may have gone crazy or who was just insane from the start...
Anyway, I should be still able to knock out any of the local residents. Even if he came at me with a knife...

Thinking about a weapon gave me the creeps.
No, I shouldn't be so overconfident!
If I get into an encounter with someone who is, for example, armed with a knife, then I must shut the door, barricade all entrances and wait for help!
You probably couldn't get hold of a firearm here... Although...

The door creaked once more and opened up about an inch.

I closed my eyes for a second and violently pulled it open, gathering all my strength.

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Oh, it's just you...

I heaved a sigh of relief.

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Don't scare people like that! Want me to give me a heart attack?

She got up, dusted her clothes off slowly, and glanced at me guiltily.

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I'm sorry...
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It's fine. It's just... It could be dangerous to walk alone around the camp during the night – what with all the stuff that's happening...

I stopped short.

'Happening' implies an ongoing process. As if something was still going to happen...

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I mean, happened...
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That's why I came...

Alisa was looking at the ground and trembling slightly.

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It's already late, but Ulyana is still nowhere to be seen.

She raised her eyes to me, and I saw tears running down her cheeks.

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Where could she have gone?

It wasn't like I was really concerned, but I asked because I felt that I had to calm the situation.
It was perfectly clear that there's absolutely nothing to do in this camp at night – if there's electricity available then everyone watches movies on their laptops, if not then they just read books by candlelight.
Wandering under the moon shouldn't be on that list...

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I don't know...
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Okay, let's think through it without any fuss...

I walked over to the table and picked up the clock.
It's midnight. Sure, everyone should be already at their cabins by this time.

A scary thought suddenly flashed through my mind. Where's Olga Dmitrievna...?

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Let's go outside and talk there. Don't want us to wake up Ma... Miku...

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Alisa stood beside me, wringing her hands with a pained look on her face as she watched the full moon rise.

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We have to call the police.
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We've already called them.
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But back then it was only Slavya, and now it's also Ulyana...
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And Olga Dmitrievna. Have you seen her?
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No... But what, is she too...?

Alisa burst into tears.

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We still don't know anything, but...

But nevertheless, it's clear that something's going on here!
Even if they're not just pretending to be pioneers and something really has happened to the world, right now I could have quite a good chance of departing from it without getting any answers for my questions.
So I have to focus on survival...

'Survival'... The word hit like a sharp pain to the back of the head.
'Survival'... Just yesterday I didn't need to give the slightest consideration to anything like that...

The quiet summer night was reigning over everything around us – not a breath of wind, not a rustle of grass or a whisper of moving leaves could be heard. Nothing.
Just the reflection of the moonlight in the cabin's windows, sparse clouds up in the sky, and yet impenetrable darkness all around – they say that when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.

And the grasshoppers! These damned critters are pulling a double-shift of DJing!
As if they're constantly on duty – as the day shift winds up, the night shift, who got enough sleep, begins. Then the night ones knock off and...
I have to find some insecticide after all – at least I can wipe out a couple of divisions, with any luck that would get me some quiet living space around this cabin.
Sure, I can't destroy 'em all...
What the heck, there are probably more of them than there are humans in the entire world...

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Can you hear it...?

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What?

I strained my ears.
It seemed that somebody was slowly walking down the path to our cabin.
I couldn't make anything out in the dark, but the steps grew more and more audible with every second.

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Ok, don't sweat it... He won't dare to attack the two of us...

Although I wasn't really sure about that.
My hands instinctively started to search for something I could use to defend myself.

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Hey!
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Sorry...

Soon enough I found a piece of water pipe underneath the bench.
It's not much help, of course – it's way too thick and uncomfortable to wield properly - but it's still better than going out empty-handed.
The mere sight of this monstrosity would make anyone pee themselves! Most likely from laughter...

There's nothing I can do – we're as good as sitting ducks here, so I'd rather move out towards the enemy.
I couldn't say that I was bursting with courage and valor, in fact it was quite the opposite – I was really freaking out.
It just seemed that I had no other choice...

I took a deep breath and slowly headed into the darkness.
Soon enough I could make out more features of the stranger's silhouette. Not very tall, weird hairstyle, a skirt...

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I lowered my guard.

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What are you doing here this late at night?
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I... I...

Lena's face was stained with tears.

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Come on.

I led her to Alisa.
As Lena was coming back to her senses, she tried to explain what happened.

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I was just sitting alone and... it's already quite late and... but Miku's still missing... yet I... and what happened to Slavya... and I...

I still just couldn't reconcile this image of Lena – a sobbing girl sitting in front of me – with the one that I saw at the square a few hours ago, with the grin of the devil and hellish flames in her eyes.
Maybe it was just my imagination... Or maybe not...

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By any chance, do you know where Ulyana and Olga Dmitrievna are?

She raised her surprised eyes to me.

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No, why... are they also missing?
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Well, so far we can't be sure...

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Semyon...

At first I didn't realise that she was addressing me.

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Huh?
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Don't you think that it's way too quiet in the camp?
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It's night, everyone's sleeping, aren't they...?

I strained my ears. Indeed, there were no sounds besides these damned grasshoppers.
I mean, no sounds whatsoever!

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What is this place usually like?
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Quiet...

Whispered Lena.

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Quiet, but not this quiet.

I couldn't let girls fall into panic.
Although I was starting to freak out myself.
Yet there were a lot of reasons to: humans disappearing into thin air, horrible murders, friends that pretend to be the pioneers until the very end.
I was ready to lose it...

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Ok, let's think rationally.

The girls gave me a few questioning looks.

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People can't just disappear without a trace!
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That means...
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Nope, it doesn't mean anything!

Suddenly we heard a rustle in the bushes behind the cabin.

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Ah, here you are!

He didn't seem to be all that concerned by all the stuff happening around.

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Oh Lord, stop jumping out at people like that! The girls are gonna have a heart attack at this rate!

Although I wasn't sure who was more frightened – them or me.

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Yeah, I apologise...
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Why have you come?
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Have you seen Shurik?
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We haven't...

It looks like half of the camp just disappeared in the last few hours.

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Plus, it's too quiet around here...
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We noticed that already!
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There's no light anywhere, dead silence...
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Oh, don't you start whipping up the tension here! I feel sick already!
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What am I doing? I'm not doing anything...

He flashed a mysterious smile that gave me the creeps.

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Ok, you stay here and I'm gonna scout around the camp!
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Alone?

Yeah, that probably wasn't exactly the brightest idea... I have to think first, then speak.

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Ahem...
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I'll go with you!
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Okay, then you just stay here! And don't forget that Ma... Miku is still sleeping in the cabin.
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Sir, yes sir!

What a dork! If he gave me that dopey smile in any other situation...

...

...

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All the cabins were empty... It looks like there are only the five of us left in the camp.
I limped along with that pipe of mine.
It appeared to be so lightweight at first, but after carrying it for some time I've learned that one can get worn out even carrying a bag of feathers.

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Alisa appeared to be more or less calm. The horror of the first minutes, when we were going from one empty cabin to another, had already passed.

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Well, at least we can be sure that it's not the same case... as whatever happened to Slavya!
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Why is that?
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Just think... Where are the bodies?

I said in a whisper, fearful of scaring her.

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But where is everyone then?
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Disappeared...?

Hardly a credible explanation... But if you think about it, nothing whatsoever that's happened during the last 24 hours has been credible.

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They couldn't just go and... just like that...
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It's not like anything's up to us now. And, in any case, tomorrow is still another day.

I tried to put on a smile.

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Let's rejoin the others!
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Yeah...

Agreed Alisa with a hint of indecisiveness.
We'd only taken a few steps when a rustle in the bushes came from behind.
I instantly turned around and peered towards the source of sound.
Alisa clung to my hand so hard it hurt and I tightened my grip on the pipe.

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Who's... there...?
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No idea...

I strained my eyes but still couldn't make out anything in the darkness.

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Hey!

I had no idea what to do next.
The rustling suddenly cut off, and the night returned to just the usual cricket fiddling.

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Could it be some wild animal...

I wondered with a feeling of insecurity.

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Wild... animal?

She gripped my hand even tighter.

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But there are no wild animals around here!
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Uhm, a squirrel, for example, I don't know...
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A squirrel?
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Yeah, a squirrel.
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Well, maybe...
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Shall we go?
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Yeah...

...

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So, how is it?
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No-one out there.
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What do you mean... no-one?
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Everyone's gone...

Said Alisa through her tears.
The girls rushed into each other's arms, and I sat down next to Router, finally dropping that abhorrent pipe of mine to the ground.

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It's just that simple?
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Just that simple...
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But how?
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I really don't know... Maybe it's an alien abduction?
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What nonsense!
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Wanna play detective, Sherlock?
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Well, it could be the same maniac...
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It's kind of... way too much for just one man, don't you think so?
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I guess you're right... But who... what is it then?
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It still could turn out to be just a stupid prank...
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And Slavya too? That's all just a stupid prank?
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No, she was definitely murdered by someone.
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But who?

He gave me a narrow gaze.

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I have no idea! Maybe it was you!

I was starting to get wound up.

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Or you!
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Not me for sure.
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How can you prove it?
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Why on Earth should I have to explain myself to you?
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You're the only one without an alibi!
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Ah, so you do have an alibi, eh?
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I was in my cabin at night – Shurik can prove it!
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Sure, but Shurik's temporarily unavailable...

Router gritted his teeth and turned away.

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Anyway, I'm the one with an alibi here. I am not going to justify myself here! I'm sure about myself!
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It's great to believe in yourself... I'm also sure about myself! And Miku can prove me right – I was with her all the time.
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Not exactly the best witness...
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Just as good as yours!

I have no idea how long we could have argued like that if Lena hadn't intervened in the conversation.

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Boys, come on, that's enough...
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You're right, sorry...
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Yeah...

Indeed, now is not the best time for something like this.

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Anyway, we should stick together...
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Would it help keep us from disappearing...?

Asked Alisa timidly.

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I'm not sure about all that disappearance stuff, but at least it should help us to stay alive!

I glanced at my watch – it's almost four o'clock! The sun will be rising soon.

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Ok, squad! Time to hit the hay, or we're gonna end up totally wiped out.
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But...
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No buts!

Nobody else tried to object, and we entered the cabin quietly.

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It's ok, keep sleeping...

But she was already sitting up on the bed and staring blankly at our little party.

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Well, you see, there's...

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Lena burst into tears and flung her arms round Masha's neck.

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What? What's going on? Can you speak clearly?
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Well, long story short...

I cracked my neck and compulsively reached for the cigarettes in my pocket. Finding none, I heaved a sigh of frustration and said:

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It looks like there's just five of us left in this camp...
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Meaning everyone in this room!
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Rejoice! Captain Obvious has returned! You're gonna keep watch first!
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Eh?
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Oh, nothing! Do you really think that it's safe for everyone to sleep at the same time?
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Well, it isn't... but...
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Exactly!

I handed him the pipe and slowly approached the bed where Lena was still sobbing in Masha's arms.

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Well, if you don't mind...

I slipped my boots off, climbed over the girls and turned towards the wall.

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But how...
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Anyhow... Sleep!

I was so exhausted – both physically, and, more importantly, emotionally – that I was unable to do anything, think anything, communicate with anybody.
I was desperate to get some sleep... Way too desperate...
Masha's whispers, Lena's sobs, Alisa's voice – all that has somehow melted in one quiet lullaby, and so I fell asleep.

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I was forcibly awakened by someone doing their best to shake me.

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Wha?
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It's your turn now!
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How long've I slept?
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About at hour.
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Only an hour? Stay on your watch...
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I'm already dozing off...

Yeah, an infinite power source wouldn't hurt for our Router! Although it wouldn't hurt for me too...

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Oh, fine...

I rose with considerable effort, climbed over Lena and Masha who slept with their arms around each other and jumped down to the floor.
The room seemed slightly brighter.

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The morning's coming...
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Yeah...

Router tried to get to my place, but I grabbed him by the collar, threw him down on floor and gave him a blanket and a pillow.

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So, you can...
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And you can not!

Come to think about it, why can't he...? Anyway, it's not that important now.
I took the chair, dragged it to the door, sat down and started to wait.

'Anticipation' seemed to be the best word to describe what I was feeling.
Any moment now the door will burst open and a maniac will break into the room... Or the last residents of this camp will disappear... Or I will disappear...
In any case, something will happen – I deeply felt that.

Router was snoring his head off, the girls were sleeping securely, and I was starting to doze off too.
I clenched the pipe harder – the feeling of cold metal against my bare skin somehow brought me back to my senses.

I must not sleep!
I'm their only hope now. And my own too...
But it's so hard to resist... Just a couple of minutes...

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What are they still up to...?
Maybe it's the grasshoppers to blame?! They fell upon the camp like a swarm of locusts and devoured everybody...
A vision of me being devoured by grasshoppers unfolded in my mind... A disgusting storm was brewing in my head.
Their long legs, their wings, a huge head and the eyes... filled with darkness!
Eyes reflecting the abyss.
Just look a grasshopper in the eye – and you'll never be the same again...

...

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I'm desperately jumping over the pits and gullies, climbing hills and rocks!
They don't care – they've got wings! Yeah, these filthy wings that make that nasty rattle.
Probably they wouldn't need their teeth anyway – they just have to flap these horrible wings faster and faster, summoning the sonic wave of the apocalypse.
No! I just can't block out this hellish noise anymore! I'm falling, desperately trying to cover my ears with my hands...
Please, stop it! Somebody...

MJD6nFF.jpg
 

Baron Dupek

Arcane
Joined
Jul 23, 2013
Messages
1,870,765
Well shit....

and :salute: for taking Mik anyway.

That dance give me Twin Peaks / Deadly Premotion vibes.
 
Last edited:

Idiott

Arcane
Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
490
Location
Potatoland
22HXW7D.jpg

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Opening my eyes, I realised that I was lying sprawled on the floor.
It looks that I fell asleep and slipped off my chair...
It was nine o'clock.

God damn it, it looks like I was sleeping for five hours straight! Anything could have happened!
Horrified, I patted myself down, and everything seemed to be in its place.
Fuh... That was close.

I shook our squad awake.

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You sleep too much! While I've been sitting here... all night long...

Sure, that was a lie, but telling them that I spent the night running for my life from the grasshoppers definitely wasn't an option.

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I'm sorry...

Router hung his head.

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Don't worry about it...

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Masha stretched out and gave me a cute smile.

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And why are you all here?

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Nope, what's the matter?

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Said Alisa gloomily.

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Say what?
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Everyone's gone... Vanished into thin air...

Masha glanced out of window and said nothing. Seems like she remembered now.

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Well... Getting something to eat is indeed a fine idea!

Nobody was going to object.
It's not like I was in the mood to eat, same as everyone else, but ultimately everyone knew that we had to keep ourselves running.

...

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Inquired Masha quietly.

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Let's wait for lunch. For now it's fine.

She gave me a disappointed look.

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Okay, so what are we gonna do?
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We have to get out of here.
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But the police...
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We have to get out of here!

I repeated stubbornly.

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But how?
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Bus.
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It's highly unlikely that one will come. It doesn't run too often...
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At least there should be a timetable somewhere around here.

I tried to remember if I've ever seen the bus map or its timetable somewhere. Probably not...

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Then we'll go on foot! Anything's better than staying here!
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But it's a long way to...
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Well, we might hitch a lift.
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Here, in the middle of nowhere? I doubt that...
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Oh stop with that drama!

Although thinking about it, it's exactly the right time for drama...

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I'm not being dramatic, but...
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That's it, end of story.
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What are we gonna say when we reach the city?
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We'll tell them the truth – we came to shoot a movie, and then...
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What movie?
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Ok, stop fooling around, will you?

I buried my face in my hands, feeling run-down.

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Even if it was kind of funny yesterday (although it really wasn't), you can stop it now!
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I don't get you...
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Oh, you're still going to keep on pretending that you came here, not to shoot a movie, but to role play as a pioneer?
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I don't understand a thing...

Alisa swept her surprised gaze across everyone.

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But we are pioneers...
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What pioneers for God's sake?!

Masha, who had kept silent so far, butted in.

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It's the 21st century out there! Yeah right, pioneers!
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Twenty...
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First?

Looks like we're indeed in a deep mess...

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So, you're all gonna say that you are... well, we are... normal pioneers who just came here on vacation for a week or so?

A heavy silence followed.

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Well... yes...

I cast a look at Masha.
It looks like she doesn't know how to react either.
I signaled to her, pointing at the door.

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Excuse us for a second...

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What do you think?
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Well...

She adopted the pose of the ancient Greek Thinker.

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It looks like they genuinely believe that. And some folks, named Semyon and Miku, were in our shoes until yesterday.
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Some...
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Well, I guess you're more familiar with them than I am!
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Oh, come on!

I interrupted her.

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Couln't you come up with a more feasible theory?
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I still have absolutely no theories at all... I no longer know what to think...
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Me neither...
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But, anyway, all hell is breaking loose here even without taking pioneers into account! Murders! Dozens of people disappearing without a trace! That ought to be our top priority now.

I looked closely at Masha.
I wonder how can she keep such a cool head under these circumstances? Sure, I'm also trying to keep calm, but...

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That means...
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What?
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Let's leave this issue for later.
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But at least a wild guess?
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I guess it's somehow connected to the disappearances. It's safe to assume that one... or even two or three... humans couldn't deal with so many people at once...
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Agreed.
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It might be that this phenomenon somehow affected them.
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Might be...
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Anyway, it's easier to believe in that than, for example, that we're in a parallel reality or something.
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You know, by now I'm willing to believe in anything...
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Then let's stick to this theory for now.
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Okay...
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Let's go?
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You go ahead, I'll be back in a minute.
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It's dangerous to be all alone...
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Seriously, what's so dangerous? Broad daylight, and everyone's around here.
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Okay.

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She gave me a faint smile and headed back to the canteen.
But still, her behaviour is also quite odd.

It looks like the last few days changed everything and everyone! Including Masha...
Yesterday – shock, fear and trembling. Today – cold and sensible reasoning.
Damn! She's even more self-assured than me!
Could it just be a good sleep? No, there is something wrong with her too!

Sure, she doesn't think that she's a pioneer like everyone else does, but still...
If something has happened to them, then maybe it also happened to me...
No! No, it can't be, everything seems to be fine...
I've double-checked my body and found no abnormalities.
Ok, I have to keep calm and control myself...

I got up and was about to return to the canteen when suddenly I heard a tiny voice from behind my back.
As if somebody was calling for me.
I got down from the porch and took a few steps towards the voice.
Somebody was peering at me from behind a tree.

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:what:

No, not Ulyana, but something that looked like her...
I froze in my tracks.

Half of her face was torn and hanging down in shreds. Her grinning jaw trembled nervously as if in laughter. A bloodshot eye, hanging half out of its socket, suddenly swivelled its pupil to look at me.
I stopped breathing. It felt like I was gonna die right now due to the shock.

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Semyon...

The thing that seemed to be Ulyana was calling for me.
My legs began to give out.
I tried hard not to collapse, tried to scream, tried to run away...
But my consciousness had already left a body that now was just a rag doll, moving by the will of an invisible puppet master.
One more second and...

[ma] Hey!

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But she was gone...
Masha seemed to notice the deathly pallor upon my face and jumped over to me in the blink of an eye.

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I... I just saw Ulyana... There...

I pointed my finger towards the tree.

Sure, the sight of the butchered Slavya was indeed gruesome...
But at least she was dead and not walking around in broad daylight with her face torn apart, and she wasn't calling me by name (even if the name wasn't my own).
The last ounces of my strength deserted me and I collapsed to my knees.

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What? Where?

Masha was shaking me by the shoulders.

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It wasn't her... That was... I don't know...
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Get a hold of yourself!

- SLAP -

I felt a round-arm slap his me in the face and gave Masha a questioning look.
My cheek burned, but I slowly started to regain my composure.

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Ulyana was there... with her face... Basically, it was a zombie. Yeah, zombie Ulyana. That's the most rational explanation I can give!

Masha looked at me dumbfounded.

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Anything can happen here...
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If you'd seen her yourself...
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Thank God I didn't! Come on, I'll get you some water!

...

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Science? It's outrageous devilry happening here! The hand of Satan! I wish we had a church nearby... To light a candle...

Lena said nothing, resorting to quiet sobbing.
I'd almost completely recovered and now I was able to think straight.

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Now it's perfectly clear that we have to get out of here!
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Well, I'm not a real scientist... Let alone a paranormalist, but, if I recall it correctly, all these demons and spirits are bound to a certain place. Therefore, if we get away from this place...
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Now that's an excellent solution!

Masha grinned sceptically.

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I agree.

I exclaimed, ignoring her.

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Yeah!

Lena just gave a barely noticeable nod.

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So, it's all settled!

I slammed my fist on the table and surged to my feet.

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Hold on! It's not like we all agreed on that...
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Why would we hesitate?! I seriously wouldn't want a second encounter with a thing like that!
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Where will we go? Do you even realise how long will it take to reach the city on foot?
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Dammit, do you really think that nobody ever rides that road? A car, a bus – whatever, we'll get something eventually!
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I wouldn't be so sure...
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So you think that it's better to stay here?
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Well, I didn't say that...
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It's scary here... Especially at night...

Lena whispered quietly.

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That still doesn't mean that we have to go anywhere!

Said Masha out loud.
I gave her a narrow look. No, something has surely changed in her.
Perhaps I should have a gentle talk with her about it.
Or perhaps I shouldn't? Maybe she's also...

LGINUEz.png
Ok, let's take a vote!

I said that in quite a confident tone, yet I still had my doubts.
What if Masha's right? Perhaps we shouldn't be running around aimlessly?
On the one hand, I have no idea what awaits us beyond the gates of this camp. On the other hand – it's really all hell breaking loose here...

WAcrbLw.png
Okay...

She shrugged.
And still, I won't stand for another minute here!

LGINUEz.png
Leaving!
oDNpmFR.png
Staying.
DhcYyLS.png
Let's try it – maybe we'll indeed get lucky and catch a ride.
KKJRWe5.png
Leaving...

Everyone turned their eyes towards Lena.

8AJwoqi.png
I don't want to stay here...

It seems like my decision wasn't going to affect the outcome anyway.
So, let's get going!

LGINUEz.png
Well!

I sprang to my feet. Everyone else remained seated with their heads down.

LGINUEz.png
Since we decided...
WAcrbLw.png
Well, since we decided...

Masha got up slowly and looked at me.

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What about our stuff?

Asked Alisa awkwardly.

KKJRWe5.png
Do you really think that we should care now?

Mumbled Router gloomily.

DhcYyLS.png
Well, you're probably right...

Well, in my case, my stuff has already vanished somewhere...

...

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y6dDSqB.jpg


Masha gestured at the horizon.

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It was there the day before yesterday...

I grinned.

mzfFewt.png
Yeah, that way.

Router confirmed.
We paused in silence for a few moments, and then slowly headed off towards our destination.

...

...

a29rcUn.jpg


Everything a few hundred feet away – the road, the trees, the grass, the sky – was melting in a bright heat haze that looked more like a burning fog.
I was streaming with sweat and was starting to think that I was getting sunstroke.
Sure, it would have been a great idea to bring more water with us, but back when we were setting only thing we could think of was getting our asses as far as possible from that damned camp.
Eventually I felt like I was about to lose consciousness.

Only the wretched trills of the grasshoppers kept me in touch with reality.
Of course! This hellish noon is indeed their favourite part of the day.
They couldn't care less about the scorching heat, zero humidity, or the lack of any kind of air movement.
On the contrary, they felt great – it was a perfect backdrop for the final act of their last apocalyptic symphony...

We probably should have stayed in the camp after all.
Or at least we should have started this hike later, closer to the evening.
Although wandering the unknown country road at night is hardly a good idea either...

The sound of a stifled cry came from behind me.
A hundred feet away, Alisa was barely holding up Lena, keeping her from collapsing to the ground.

5mo1HaN.jpg


LGINUEz.png
What's the matter?
V7HfeNE.png
She's fainted!

I helped to carry Lena to the roadside. There was at least some shade from a small grove.

WAcrbLw.png
And that concludes our hike...

Said Masha in a gloomy mood, sinking down to the grass.

WAcrbLw.png
I warned you!
LGINUEz.png
Fine, but what does it change now...

We'd been travelling for at least a couple of hours, so thinking of heading back to the camp was pointless. Well, at least until the evening, when the heat will decrease a bit.

KKJRWe5.png
And we still haven't seen a single car...

I turned around and looked at Router. He pulled off his shirt and began to wring the sweat out of it.
Alisa was trying to revive Lena.

LGINUEz.png
If that's sunstroke...
aoSMgfo.png
Stop!

She shouted at me.
If that's indeed sunstroke, we've gotten ourselves in deep trouble – she won't make it anywhere.

qInDell.jpg


Nothing but the same asphalt thread leading beyond the horizon, with no signs of civilisation. Or any signs of human presence at all.
It was like we're the only people left, not only in the camp, but in the whole world.
Though if you think about what has happened before, it's really not a big surprise.

Q4774zD.jpg


LGINUEz.png
I guess we have to scout ahead.

I looked at Router.

LGINUEz.png
To check what's ahead... Maybe we could find something... And you just stay here for a while.
DhcYyLS.png
But...
LGINUEz.png
She can't go anywhere right now anyway.

Lena was lying with her eyes closed and gasping for air.

oDNpmFR.png
Okay, go ahead.

Said Masha calmly.
It just occurred to me that I'd planned to have a talk with her... But it's definitely not the time for that now.

LGINUEz.png
Let's go?

Router shrugged his shoulders and followed me.

...

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He asked quietly.

LGINUEz.png
I don't know!

I replied in an annoyed tone – I really wanted to refrain from talking now.

The endless fields stretched to the horizon, sparsely sprinkled with patches of trees and hills.
The landscape looked so typical and tranquil that, in fact, it caused anxiety.
If we'd found ourselves on the plains of Hell, at least we would expect to be attacked from just anywhere, so we could brace ourselves and prepare for the worst.
Now we felt just like little droplets of paint on the canvas of an nameless painter who paints the summer in central Russia. Or wherever we are now...
All this only made our fear stronger...

eqRXMiA.png
Look!

Yelled Router.
I narrowed my eyes and saw that the road took a turn.

LGINUEz.png
So, what's so special?
eqRXMiA.png
There must be something there!
LGINUEz.png
What makes you think that?
eqRXMiA.png
Well, since there's a turn... We've been walking straight forward all the time and now...
LGINUEz.png
Okay, let's go and take a look.

oOyoSoR.jpg


I collapsed down the kerb and buried my face in my hands.
I didn't feel scared. In fact, I didn't feel any emotions at all, just the fatigue and the void inside of me.

eqRXMiA.png
But... but... how?!

Mumbled Router.

LGINUEz.png
No idea... Besides, what's the difference anyway? It's not like this is any stranger than anything else that's happened to me in the last few days.

I looked up at him, feeling exhausted.
Router's lips were trembling, an expression of deathly horror was plastered on his face.

LGINUEz.png
Let's go back and fetch the girls.

I didn't wait for him and just shuffled off back to where we left them.

...

uDcnTfr.jpg


Asked Masha, chewing on some strawberries of uncertain origin.

LGINUEz.png
We did... a camp...
4NeHLo0.png
What camp?

She looked surprised.

LGINUEz.png
Our... camp...
4NeHLo0.png
Wha?

Masha looked so silly now, so I couldn't help flashing an ironic smile.

4NeHLo0.png
But you were going forward, not backward.
LGINUEz.png
Forward... And Sovyonok is there.
WAcrbLw.png
Hey, stop joking!

She exclaimed.

LGINUEz.png
I'm dead serious...
DhcYyLS.png
But...

Said Alisa quietly.
She was sitting down on the grass and cradling the head of Lena, who was still sleeping.

LGINUEz.png
Yeah, just like that...

I said tiredly and dropped down to the ground.

oDNpmFR.png
Ok, it means we're heading there!

I looked at Masha keenly and suddenly realised that I can't wait anymore.

LGINUEz.png
Hey, what's happening with you?
WAcrbLw.png
What do you mean?

Her look screamed that now isn't the time for breezy chatter.

LGINUEz.png
You were scared to death yesterday, yet today you have 'this happens to me all the time' attitude.
oDNpmFR.png
But what's the point in panicking?

She cracked a barely visible smile.

LGINUEz.png
If I didn't know you...

I went quiet, bit my lip and turned away.
But really, do I know her that well? Sure, we spent so many years together, but...
If you get down to it, I always thought more about myself. Or rather, I always believed that she was completely satisfied.
And she was always the same to me. The same at just about anything, even when were breaking up. As if she wasn't a real person, just my favourite article of clothing.

Thinking about it, I have no idea what's going on in her soul. I just never cared about it!
Thus, her behaving like this under the circumstances doesn't seem more bizarre that anything else that's happening to us.
And if you think about that talk at the beach two evenings ago...
She probably really is stronger than me.

WAcrbLw.png
Hey! Are you listening to me at all?!
LGINUEz.png
Oh, sorry, I got carried away. So much has happened...

She looked at me sternly.

3HQe2kF.png
Let's get going to the camp! Or wherever you were... If that's the same old camp...
LGINUEz.png
Alright...

In fact, it's not like we had any other choice – a few more hours in this scorching heat would only yield more casualties...

oDNpmFR.png
But we have to carry her along.
LGINUEz.png
Yes... Just a sec, let me figure it out...

I found two fairly long and sturdy sticks in the nearby grove.
Coming back, I ordered Router to take his shirt off.
He tried to object but soon enough he realised that there was no use in arguing.
I took off my shirt as well, and we made a sort of a stretcher, attaching the fabric to the poles.

oDNpmFR.png
Will it hold?

Masha gave our device a questioning look, but ultimately gave it a few strong pulls, ensuring its strength, and smiled.

LGINUEz.png
It will, at least until we reach the camp...

...

It was hard to go in this heat, but it was even harder to carry the injured – that is, Lena.
Several times I almost fainted and barely caught myself half-way to the ground.
Router felt even worse – both Masha and Alisa were swapping places with him every now and then.
Still, my pride won't allow me to ask them to carry Lena even for a minute.

Sure, it's silly to act like this under these circumstances, but I couldn't help myself.
This is yet another flaw in my personality, along with coldness, inattentiveness to the others – even my loved ones - and other less-than-noble traits.

bMnvvrQ.jpg

evUNENc.jpg


Masha lingered on the words.

4NeHLo0.png
And indeed, it looks the same.
DhcYyLS.png
We have to carry her to a cabin.

Alisa mentioned quietly.

LGINUEz.png
Yeah...

I got up with considerable effort and prepared for the last run.

...

kZ0PDl5.jpg


Most likely because we managed to come through the last night here without major problems. At least we are still alive...
Me and Router were sprawled exhausted on one bed, and the girls were undressing Lena on the other.

3HQe2kF.png
Don't look!

Said Masha sternly.

LGINUEz.png
It's not like there's anything worth looking at...

I snorted and turned away, giving Router a harsh poke in the ribs, making him follow my lead.

oDNpmFR.png
We're gonna get some water. And probably rummage through the canteen too...
LGINUEz.png
It's dangerous to go alone...
TNhpehr.png
Wanna come along?

She grinned.

LGINUEz.png
No thanks... At least take that pipe with you.

I said uncertainly.

UOkh8E8.png
Do you really think it will help?

I sighed heavily and closed my eyes.

LGINUEz.png
Well... Be careful then...

320ftao.jpg


mzfFewt.png
You asleep?

Router's whisper reached me.
LGINUEz.png
As if one could sleep here...

All at once, I heard Lena moan from the other bed.
I sat up on my elbows and looked at her.
Lena was tossing and turning under the blanket.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes and abruptly turned to face me.

m3BPSnC.jpg


rimI4ED.png
Hot enough for ya, eh?

She burst into laughter.
I felt a shiver run down my spine. My ability to speak vanished.

LGINUEz.png
You... you...
EGeVfLa.png
What?

Asked Router through his sleep.
I turned to him sharply.

LGINUEz.png
Look!

I waved my hands, pointing at Lena's bed.

EGeVfLa.png
What?

He got up and looked where I was pointing first, then back at me.
I turned and just saw Lena sleeping peacefully.

VopEwDR.png
Up7aban.gif

LGINUEz.png
Didn't you hear it?
EGeVfLa.png
What?
LGINUEz.png
Her... Lena was awake... and said...
EGeVfLa.png
Oh, it seems like you've got sunstroke too...

He turned towards the wall.
But I'm absolutely sure that I heard and saw it...

Well, it could be true that the heat got to me at last...
But it all seems to be exactly like that time. And it wasn't Lena!
At the very least it's not the Lena I knew! As if she's possessed by the devil!

o6ScfkN.jpg


I really wanted to sleep, but the realisation that I might never wake up again if I fall asleep now was keeping me up and running.
I'm not sure how long I spent lying like that, trembling at every rustle, but eventually the door burst open and steps resounded in the room.

vwbvJ1p.jpg


oDNpmFR.png
I see you went a bit cuckoo here.
LGINUEz.png
Yeah, sorta...

I replied with a trembling voice, trying to flash a smile.

LGINUEz.png
Everything's ok?
oDNpmFR.png
Seems like it.

I glanced at Lena yet again, but she was still sleeping quietly.
Maybe it was indeed just my imagination?
Sure, given a condition of such extreme emotional stress and physical fatigue, I might be seeing things...
I got up with considerable effort, took a cup from the table and scooped up some water.

LGINUEz.png
So, what are we doing next?
oDNpmFR.png
We'll have to stay here for now.
1yFcyDN.png
But Olga Dmitrievna has called the police...

Muttered Alisa.

oDNpmFR.png
Yeah, but everyone disappeared after that.
LGINUEz.png
In any case, until Lena comes her senses...

Although if I ever happen to see her like that again, I would frankly rather that she doesn't wake up...

Dw2uuH3.jpg


4tYoXDF.png
Get some sleep.

She gently stroked the top of my head.

LGINUEz.png
Can you really sleep with all this happening...
4tYoXDF.png
We'll keep guard. You look really tired!

I guess she was right.

Ok, but just a nap! Wake me up before evening.
She didn't said a word, just smiled instead.

LGINUEz.png
Promise!
4tYoXDF.png
I promise!

Replied Masha quietly.

8eJR9ZU.jpg


...

Here they come again – the grasshoppers.
This time it's their king, a huge swamp-green monstrosity with really long curved legs, wings that would match the wingspan of a large airliner, and enormous pitch-black eyes.
He was hanging over me, grinning and spluttering something really loud.
I still didn't understand anything of their language, but, judging by the tone, it wasn't anything nice that you would hear on the morning news.

I wanted to get away, but he clutched me tightly with his wretched claw.
I could hear my bones cracking, feel my ribs breaking, piercing my internal organs with their sharp splinters.
I felt hundreds of hammers smashing inside my skull, my vision faded and the next moment fountains of blood and flesh were spraying all over the place...

...

RJEuFo3.jpg


It took me several seconds to clear the dimness from my eyes.
I looked around frantically and realised that it was evening already, and it was completely dark outside.
Good grief, we didn't turn off the light yesterday...

Masha was lying asleep next to me, while Router was curled up on the floor.
Lena was lying on the other bed, tightly wrapped in the blanket.
Yet Alisa was nowhere to be seen.

LGINUEz.png
Hey!

I woke Masha up with a few rough prods.

WAcrbLw.png
What?

She slowly came to her senses.

LGINUEz.png
Didn't I ask you?!
ktqUq86.png
Sorry... I fell asleep...

She had such a guilty expression on her face that I felt sick.
I shouldn't have relied on her. At least I could have set up an alarm...

RY1mZO0.jpg


LGINUEz.png
Where's Alisa?
17MX41X.png
I don't know...

Said Masha worriedly.

LGINUEz.png
Well who does know? We were all asleep!
17MX41X.png
Well, she was sleeping here and then...

Her eyes darted around guiltily.

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And then you fell asleep!

She hung her head and let out a heavy sigh.

LGINUEz.png
Oh, perfect, just perfect!

I pounded my fist on the table, making Masha jump.

LGINUEz.png
Ok, you sit here and we'll go and find her!
17MX41X.png
Alone...?

Her face suddenly took on an expression of fright.

LGINUEz.png
Alone! Wasn't it you who told me that it's not worth panicking?!
17MX41X.png
Yeah, but it's not...
LGINUEz.png
Oh, fine! I'll go alone!
17MX41X.png
But...
LGINUEz.png
Or do you really want to sit here with only Lena?

Masha kept silent.

oC4FGp1.png
It's dangerous to go alone...

I noticed that Router seemed to have fully awakened.

LGINUEz.png
And it's not dangerous for her to sit here all alone?

I felt that there was no point in arguing, so I got up, grabbed my trusty pipe and headed for the door.
In any case, given that people have been disappearing into thin air, one can't feel safe anywhere or in any company.
Of course, it still could turn out that Alisa just went somewhere. To the toilet, for example.
Although, given how frightened she looked, I guess she would have woken up Masha or just have held it till morning...
Damn, anything but going all alone through the camp!

I braced myself, pulled the handle and went outside.

tuTM8t2.jpg

FJGb9WR.jpg


VopEwDR.png
:what:

A sharp pain pierced my temples and I collapsed to the ground.
The horror was so overwhelming that I literally felt my whole body being bound in steel chains.
Blinded with fear, I barely managed to crawl back into the cabin and close the door.

o0G0GFP.jpg


Masha rushed over to me.

LGINUEz.png
Don't look!

I grasped her arm.

LGINUEz.png
Don't go outside!
OR28FIW.png
What's the matter?!

She reached out for the door handle. I attempted to stop her, but I was so weak that I could only let out a groan of despair.
Opening the door, Masha screamed and froze in her tracks.
Gathering my last ounces of strength, I got up and kicked the door shut.
The next moment Masha fainted and fell back into my arms.

I carried her to the bed and put down next to the shaking Router.
His face told me that he's definitely not interested in knowing what happened there.

2Es63Vw.jpg


5Y9a7OS.png
What's happening...?

She asked in a whisper.

I didn't know how I should reply.
I felt a scream rising up in my throat but I managed to muffle it to a hollow sigh.
Lena was horrified, but she still didn't realise what exactly had happened here.

LGINUEz.png
Don't... go... outside...

I moaned.

Unlike Masha, she wasn't one to argue.
An oppressive silence ensued.
Even the grasshoppers seemed to quiet down in order to add suspense to the situation.

Masha was still lying on my lap, Router was quivering in the corner of the bed, and Lena was sitting in front of me with an expression of doom and despair on her face.
I stared at the door with an unblinking gaze, waiting for the moment it will burst open and...
My fear couldn't manifest in any concrete form – a homicidal maniac, a monster, an alien... It was the horror of the unknowable, darkness and emptiness.
I wasn't afraid that I would be torn to pieces just like Slavya, or I would become a zombie like Ulyana.
I was afraid to disappear, vanish without a trace from this world...

Masha let out a quiet moan.

17MX41X.png
I just had such a nightmare...
LGINUEz.png
It wasn't a dream...

She opened her eyes wide and looked at me with horror.

ceYf73s.png
Then... there?!
LGINUEz.png
Don't look!

I shouted and hastily embraced her.

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Long minutes dragged on in agonising silence.

ceYf73s.png
So... what are we going to do now?

Asked Masha through her tears.
She didn't seem so self-confident now. Although, we were all in the same situation...

Time passed, yet nothing happened.
We had to make a decision.

I couldn't say that I came back to my senses after what I saw, but I still felt my mind clearing up a bit.
I knew one thing for certain – we can't stay here! And it wasn't because it was more dangerous here than anywhere else...
It's just because I can't endure staying near the corpse of Alisa.
I bet it's even more of a gut-wrenching experience for the girls...

LGINUEz.png
We have to go...

I said quietly.
I felt Masha and Lena hugging me even tighter.

6Yaaq4x.jpg


Router stopped shaking and left the bed.

LGINUEz.png
How are you feeling?

I asked Lena.
She said nothing.

LGINUEz.png
Can you walk?
8AJwoqi.png
Probably...

I gently escaped their embraces and got up.

LGINUEz.png
We have to run! At night it will be easier to go.
rYvv0bb.png
But we...

Masha tried to make a humble objection.

LGINUEz.png
Yeah, I know that we decided to stay, but... Now we have to get out of here!

I turned to Router.

LGINUEz.png
You do realise that... they shouldn't see all that.

He gave a barely visible nod.
Although Router didn't know what happened to Alisa, it was obvious that his vivid imagination had conjured up so many gruesome theories during this time that he was probably even more depressed than me.

LGINUEz.png
Ok, we're gonna hold hands and go. I'll go first and lead the way. Masha goes next, then Lena, then you.

I looked at the girls.
They were sitting with their heads hanging down, sobbing quietly.

LGINUEz.png
Ready?

Nobody replied – this was obviously a useless question – one can never be ready for such a situation.
I took Masha's hand, turned around and gave Lena and Router a serious look.

LGINUEz.png
Ok, now shut your eyes and don't open them not matter what, you got that?
KKJRWe5.png
Yea...

Lena nodded.
I steeled myself, burst open the door and went out, holding Masha's hand.

LGINUEz.png
Watch out for the steps!

cplQqm6.jpg

gNbuYQC.jpg


What I saw now didn't sent me sprawling on the ground, although my heart was racing frantically, I was feeling sick and dizzy and my stomach turned.
She was hanging about five metres above the ground. Several neckerchiefs tied together in a string were tightened around her throat.
Bulging eyes, protruding tongue, putrefaction's already at work on the body – it looked like she didn't die a couple of hours ago but at least a couple of days.
An expression of agony and inhuman suffering was permanently frozen on her face.
It was clear that she couldn't have done such a thing to herself.

My God, who came up with all this? Maybe we are in hell...?
I hastened my steps away from the diabolical scene, dragging the others along.

...

ltVGdkx.jpg

oV7Crj0.jpg


Asked Masha, not letting go of my hand.
I've just nodded.

1KZjzop.png
Who?! Alisa?!

Lena cried out loud and burst in tears.
Masha embraced her and tried to comfort her.

D3304PI.png
What happened to her?

Muttered Router with a faltering tongue.

LGINUEz.png
I bet you don't want to know that.

For a while I just stood there and looked at the moon.
Lena was sobbing, Router was pacing in circles around us, and Masha sat down the bench and buried her face in her hands.

LGINUEz.png
Ok, it's time...

I said quietly, yet nobody moved.

LGINUEz.png
We can't stay here!

I walked to Masha, leaned over and took her hand.
She raised her eyes filled with tears at me and nodded.
We slowly proceeded to the bus stop...

1boGAGE.jpg


Along the way, I noticed that the grasshoppers were almost quiet.
Keeping silent for some time, now they resumed their nasty song, but this time it was much quieter and, I might say, a little bit more respectful.
Their daytime progressive noise changed to a nocturne for violin and orchestra.
Is there any chance they're conscious about what's going on here...?
Of course, if we assume that there are grasshoppers in hell, too...

XQgrPfN.jpg


17MX41X.png
So, where are we going?

Asked Masha, wiping her tears.

LGINUEz.png
Ok, we already tried going to the right... Let's go to the left.
17MX41X.png
But there's no town there...
LGINUEz.png
And just a couple of days ago there was no camp to the right...
5Y9a7OS.png
Maybe we shouldn't...

Lena sobbed quietly.

LGINUEz.png
We have no choice... I won't stay here any longer!

We were just about to get moving when we heard noises approaching us from far away.
I strained my eyes and caught a glimpse of someone coming here down the road.

eqRXMiA.png
A bus!

Exclaimed Router with joy in his voice.

LGINUEz.png
Shut up, you fool! That's not a bus! People are approaching!

I hissed at him.

OR28FIW.png
Lots of people...

Said Masha anxiously.

It was utterly clear that we shouldn't stay here any longer.
I turned around and saw someone approaching us down the road from the other direction too. The noise was getting louder.
The chirping of grasshoppers... Although not their usual one – a much louder, distorted version, as if it had been passed through a guitar amplifier.

LGINUEz.png
Run!

I shouted, but nobody moved.

LGINUEz.png
Oh, screw it!

I grabbed Masha's and Lena's hands and darted off back into the camp.

3SCKXBK.jpg


Having dashed to the square, I stopped to catch some breath, and only then did I realise that Router had been left behind.

OR28FIW.png
We have to go back to get him!

Masha screamed and shifted towards the bus stop.

LGINUEz.png
Are you nuts?!

I pulled her hand and forced her to stop.

LGINUEz.png
You want us all to meet the same fate?!

Lena was trembling so wildly that I felt my right hand shaking as it held hers.

LGINUEz.png
Keep running!
OR28FIW.png
Where to?!
LGINUEz.png
Don't know, into the woods!

Returning to Olga Dmitrievna's cabin wasn't an option.

My self-preservation instinct also suggested that we shouldn't stay in the open area as well.
We dashed towards the woods.

08nKyew.jpg


They ran with difficulty, especially Lena who was swaying and weaving. She fell a few times, but I quickly picked her up, spurring her on with shouts, and dragged her on.

Passing through the trees was the hardest part.

Though the full moon was shining up in the sky, in the dark I was still constantly running into snags, branches, falling into pits.
Nettles were slashing my legs and leaves were hitting me in the face, leaving painful scratches.

My heart was pounding heavily. Every breath I took whistled painfully in my lungs. The blood was pounding so heavily in my head that it seemed like my skull was ready to burst from the pressure any moment.
I stopped feeling my body – my legs carried me forward by themselves.

8mHuomC.jpg


Exhausted, the girls fell to the ground, and I sat on a fallen tree.
Who were they? People, or demons? Or something else?
And where was that chirping sound coming from?
I couldn't make them out in the twilight, but that was probably for the best.

After I slightly recovered my senses, I walked up to the girls.
Lena was lying dead-white on the ground. Seems like she'd completely lost it.
Masha was sitting, hugging her knees and rocking from side to side.

w0U9K2K.jpg


I said as I sat near her.

rYvv0bb.png
It's too late... We're gonna die...

She whispered in a hollow voice.

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We're still alive, that means there's still hope.
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No, there's nothing now... It's all over...

I put my arms around her and held her tight.

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No, it's not...

I sat, staring into the darkness of the forest.
The grasshoppers could barely be heard now.
If not for Masha's labored breathing, I would think I was dead.

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Forgive me...

She whispered quietly.

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For what?
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For everything... For me being like that... For whatever we failed to achieve...
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It's not the right time for that now...

I said tenderly.

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We don't have much time left... So I'd say it's the right time.

She looked up at me and faintly smiled.

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Forgive me, if only I hadn't been so selfish in the first place...

I looked into her eyes, her bottomless sorrowful eyes, and I felt a hot tear crossing my cheek.

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No, it's me who should be sorry...

I was totally ignorant of what to say in such a situation.
I did so much wrong to her, caused her so much pain and now, at the last minute, I can't think of anything other than an empty 'I'm sorry.'
I was overwhelmed with anger at my helplessness, at being unable to protect the only person I held dear.

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You know, I always loved you...
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I know...

She said quietly.
Masha smiled again, although her face was trembling and tears were running down her cheeks.

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And I still love you...
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I know...

I couldn't stand it – I longed to turn away, to close my eyes...
But I can't afford weakness at this last minute!
I leaned down and kissed her hard.

Time stood still for us. This cursed pioneer camp, the dark night, all those hellspawn and even the bloody grasshoppers just ceased to exist!
The whole universe ceased to exist – just two of us were left...

...

Just when I was almost willing to believe that it was all just a bad dream, the woods came alive with rustling.
The foliage far away quivered and a swarm of vague silhouettes emerged from the darkness.

I still couldn't make them out but I was certain that they are the same creatures that we'd seen at the bus stop.

My whole body was stricken with dismay. I was afraid to breathe.

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Said Masha quietly and held me tighter.

No, this is not the end!

Suddenly I've realised that I will fight for her till the last drop of my blood.
As long as there is a slightest chance of survival!

I jumped up, tugged her off the ground and rushed over to Lena.

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I started shaking her by the shoulders.

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Get up!

There was no reaction.
I gave her a few slaps and she let out a dull moan.

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Get up! Now!

As I roused Lena, she stared at me with a spaced-out look.

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Let's run!

I grabbed the girls by their hands and rushed aimlessly, the further from 'them', the better.

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The light flickered in the distance.

...

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What is that?

I stammered.

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The building of the old camp...

Said Lena faintly.It seems that she was slowly coming back to her senses.

I stopped, hesitating.
Sure, it was quite naive to think that we can find shelter there – it was obvious that we can't be secure anywhere with all the stuff that's happening.
On the other hand, we were on the verge of collapsing. Especially the girls.

I took a few hesitant steps towards the building, when the rustling from behind reached my ears. I froze in my tracks, unable to turn around.
The rustling was growing louder, and suddenly we heard the diabolical chirping.

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A crowd was behind me... A crowd of little girls.
Or rather, a crowd of Ulyanas...

They were all exactly the same as that Ulyana I saw this morning – with the same torn face and horribly distorted smile.
And all of them made the same hellish sound, the chirping of grasshoppers, a diabolical noise that chilled my heart.

We froze where we stood, unable to take even a single step away.

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:what:

A grimace of horror was permanently frozen on his face.
I almost fainted as she started to talk:

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Hi there, Semyon! How are you doing?

Her voice felt like a bullet piercing right through my brain. I screamed and fled towards the old camp building, dragging the girls along.

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Maybe they were also screaming, maybe were shackled by horror – I do not know.
The most important thing now is to get as far away as possible from these monsters.

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...

...

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My whole body ached, especially my legs, but somehow I still managed to get up, leaning against the wall.
The sound of the 'Ulyanas' was nowhere to be heard, which calmed me down a little.
I called out in a thin voice:

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Masha... Lena...

I heard a movement nearby and felt someone gripping my leg.
I instinctively jumped back, but at the same moment a faint voice came from below:

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Seems like it.

I helped Masha get up.

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Where did you get that...?

Lena came closer, limping.

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I took it just in case... yesterday...

I took the flashlight from her and shone it around.
We were in some kind of tunnel – the walls were lined with wires, unlit lamps were hanging from the ceiling.

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Where are we?
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I don't know... Looks like some kind of bomb shelter...

I looked up and saw a pretty formidable hole, beyond which one could barely make out the hallway of the old camp building.
The floor had probably rotted with age, and we fell down here.
At first glance, there was no way to climb back – too high, and there is nothing to grab.

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So what is there, go further?

I asked, not really expecting an answer.

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I don't know... But we'll have to check.

I shone the flashlight ahead of us and took a few uncertain steps.
My whole body was covered in bruises and scratches, but I could still walk.

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Ouch...

Lena cried out behind me.

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What is it?
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I think I sprained my ankle...

I was honestly expecting the next line to be something clichéd like 'leave me behind, I'll only be a burden', but of course she could never say that.

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Okay, lean on me.

I went over to Lena and offered her my shoulder.

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Let's have a break!

Masha begged.
I carefully lowered Lena to the ground and sat down nearby.

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Well, at least those monsters are nowhere to be seen...
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But for how long...?

I sighed heavily and closed my eyes.

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What do you think is going on here?

Masha's voice was trembling but she still sounded more or less confident.
Looks like she's so exhausted and devastated that there's just no strength left for fear.

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I don't know... And honestly, I don't want to know!
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But we're... gonna get out?
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Definitely!

I couldn't see her face but I was sure that she's smiling.

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Lena was nowhere to be found!

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Lena's disappeared...

I whispered.

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What?

Masha grabbed me by the sleeve and stared at the spot where Lena had been sitting a moment ago.

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How? But how?

She started to cry quietly.

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We will die... We will definitely die!

I also very much wanted to burst into tears.
Darkness surrounded us all around, closing in.
The flashlight was gradually dying - and with it, our chances of survival.

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Get up, time to go. The battery will die soon.

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What the hell, is this some kind of labyrinth too?

I hissed under my breath.

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Let's go back, maybe?
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No. No way.

Masha pressed against me even harder.

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Where to, then?
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I don't know...

But we had to choose anyway.
And I decided to go right.

Soon we came to another fork.

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Where to now?
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Let's stick to the direction we chose before...

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I was so terribly thirsty I was ready to lick the moisture from off the walls.

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Let's sit... just a little... a bit...
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We can't! We must keep going!
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But just a minute...

Masha begged in anguish.

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Fine...

She lowered her head onto my shoulder.

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This is it...

...

I don't know how much time passed.
I desperately wanted to sleep. My eyes were closing by themselves.

How did we first meet...
That was so long way ago...

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Do you remember...?

I asked in a whisper.

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What...?

Masha's voice was trembling.

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How we met...
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Yes...

She tried to laugh but immediately began to cough.

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I will sleep for a while, okay?
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Just for a while or you will sleep through the whole day again...
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Well, but you will wake me up...?
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Of course...

I kissed her and closed my eyes.
Oblivion was getting closer but I didn't care – I was transported back in time to that very day...

...

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Idiott

Arcane
Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
490
Location
Potatoland
22HXW7D.jpg

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Perhaps my brain couldn't rest peacefully because it was distracted by thousands of signals from my nerve endings.
Somehow I rose and woke up Masha.
After all, we were planning to survive...

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Fork after fork, tunnel after tunnel.
Masha was whispering something all the time.

'To the left'... 'To the right'... 'To the left'... 'To the right'...

It seems that I won't be able to handle even one more turn...

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Masha was pointing somewhere into the darkness.
I flashed the light there and saw a neckerchief lying on the ground.
This is not...
No! Let's go!

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There were broken bottles all over the floor, pipes stretched along the walls and at the end of them were rusted valves. A mess of graffiti was scrawled all over the walls.

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At least it's a change of scenery.

I sighed.

The flashlight had almost died and I had to shake it up every 10 seconds to slightly recover the battery.
Exhausted, Masha dropped to the floor.

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We can't stop. I'm sure there is the exit somewhere here!
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How do you know...?

I looked at her.

She obviously had no energy anymore – Masha was struggling with her exhaustion and could lose consciousness any second.

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I just know it!

I smiled, trying to look encouraging.

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Well... If so...

She leaned against the wall and stood up hardly.

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Sit here for now, I will see what is further on...
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I'm afraid...

Masha trembled.

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I'm not going far!

She raised her eyes to me, full of hope, and nodded almost imperceptibly.

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My attempts to open it came to nothing – it was completely rusted shut.

Ugh, I wish that pipe was here now...
But there was no other choice!

I braced my leg on the wall and threw all my weight against the handle. My muscles bulged, my forehead was awash with sweat, my vision darkened...
But the door didn't budge, just gave off a hollow rattle.

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It's alright, wait a second...

I shouted over to Masha, gasping for breath.

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I need to find some kind of stick.

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There is definitely an exit behind this door!
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Huh...

She looked at me wearily.

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I panicked and began to blunder around, trying to find the way back.
However I kept running into walls and couldn't remember at all how I got here.

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Masha! Masha!

I screamed, hoping that she would hear me.

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I was rooted to the spot by fear.
I heard a seemingly familiar voice.

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Her face was disfigured by an inhuman grin.

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I've come for you!

This was the same Lena that I saw at the square last evening.
The same as in Olga Dmitrievna's cabin.

That was Lena, and at the same time, not Lena...
This creature was more like those 'Ulyanas'...

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I am coming for you!
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You... you... who are you?

I squeezed out.

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It's Lena! Don't you recognise me?

She burst into devilish laughter.

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You completely forgot about me while having fun with them?
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I...I...

Words stuck in my throat.

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It's alright! There is nobody left now! Just the two of us!
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So you... you did everything...?
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Bingo! Not everything of course...

For a second her face became guilty, but then she grinned again.

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Slavya was first! She was always so annoying! She was Ms. Reliability! Diligent, hard-working, always everywhere, agreeing with everyone! Yuck! Boy did she scream when I was tearing off her arms, huh? It's a pity you didn't get to see it all!

Her mouth began to tremble, her saliva dripped out of it and her eyes rolled up.

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And then Alisa... 'Everybody is annoying me, I don't need anyone'! Now she's hanging peacefully alone on a tree! However, it wasn't easy to lift her up there, but it had a much greater effect! How you all screamed, huh? Like pigs in a slaughterhouse!

Lena's face was twisted by a grin of sick pleasure.

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Alright, just that bitch Miku left to deal with – and then it's over!

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Well, actually...

It seemed to me that she was lost in thought.

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I don't know what that crap in the form of Ulyana was... Her and the other pioneers weren't killed by me... But does it really matter now?

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Wait here, I will be quick!

Her devilish laughter came from behind me.

That means she went after Masha!
I must do something quickly!

But I have absolutely no idea which way to run – the darkness completely disoriented me.

Screw it!
I ran the way I assumed Lena went.

After only a short way I painfully smashed into a wall. I turned around, trying to move slowly, but I stumbled over another obstacle, fell down and screamed in pain.

Trying to rise, I realised that I couldn't put any weight on my left leg. Seems like I twisted it...

I tried to crawl but it worked out badly – the whole mine floor was covered with sharp stones, rusty rails and broken boards.

After only a short way my arms were torn to bleeding pieces of meat and my eyes couldn't be opened because of the dust and sand.

I fumbled in my pockets and pulled out the matchbox.
I tried to light a match with my shaking hands, but couldn't get them to light.

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Calm down... Calm down...

I muttered.

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I quickly oriented myself and worked out which way I have to run.

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I rushed towards them, screaming, and dived forward.

My hands suddenly collided with something. I fell to the ground and began smashing everything around me.

Most of my punches didn't hit the mark but then my hands met something soft. I heard a moan and dead silence set in.

I rolled onto my back and started breathing heavily, inhaling the dry air greedily.

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Masha?

I called.
I heard quiet sobs.

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Are you still alive?
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Yes...

She whispered.

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Did she get you?
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No...

I began to fumble in the darkness and soon found the torch and a lighter.

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I was going to finish her.

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Masha crawled right over to me and grabbed my leg.

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But we can't just...
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You don't need to...

Of course Lena wasn't to blame for everything...
But she's the devil incarnate!

There's no way we can let a human like her (if she can still be called a human) live.
But when I looked at Masha I realised that I can't... I just can't...
I took up the cleaver from the floor, and twisting it in my hands, I decided that it would make a perfect crowbar.

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The door creaked and opened. Fresh air streamed into the room.

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We're saved...

I returned to Masha, helped her to get up and we left the room, leaving Lena lying unconscious.

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I climbed up and pulled on it with all my strength.
The grating fell down with a crash and we climbed out.

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Again this square, again this camp...
The bright red dawn was breaking in the east, burning the tops of a distant forest.
The last stars winked at me, unaware of everything that had happened here, in this hell.

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I wish we were there...

Though we got out of dungeon, nothing is over – crowds of zombie Ulyanas are wandering through the camp, an insane Lena is lying underneath and heaven knows how much more devilry we will encounter here.

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I really want to sleep...

I didn't know how to answer her.
Because I don't know where to run, don't know where can we be safe.
Don't know how to return to our world...

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Sleep...

I patted Masha's head.

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Listen, this would make a great script for a film!

She laughed out loud.
I looked at her in horror.
Masha was smiling.

But her smile wasn't diabolical like that one of Lena's. It was pure, honest, maybe even childish.
All her exhaustion had gone away and her eyes were shining with a cheerful spark.

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What... happened to you?

I could hardly speak.

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Everything is fine!

She lay down on my shoulder again.

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That was the last scene!

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I was lying in silence and only the sound of Masha's breath could be heard.
Not the grasshoppers' chirping – like all of them had died at last – but only Masha's steady breathing.
And her smile...

...

...

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Bright moonlight reflected on the water, cheerfully skipping on the waves, a light night breeze was blowing and somewhere far away an owl was hooting.
I looked at Masha who peacefully slept nearby, covered by my shirt.
What a dream...

My mobile phone dimly showed the time – 3 a.m.!
We'd better go to bed, or tomorrow Olga Dmitrievna will make us...

I'd just decided to wake Masha up, but I suddenly noticed an opened script and a pen next to her.
I quickly went through several pages and was horrified – it was completely identical to what happened in my dream!
Bile rose in my throat and my eyes darkened.

Masha rolled over, opened her eyes and looked at me.

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Did you... write this?

I asked, thick-tongued.

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Yes, what's wrong?

I didn't know how to answer. I just couldn't understand what was going on.

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You were sleeping so cutely that I didn't want to wake you. And the grasshoppers were chirping so loudly... So I...

She smiled.

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Wait, but we are here now?! I mean, we're not pioneers, we are filming here and all that kind of stuff, aren't we?
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Yes, of course we are.

Masha looked at me uncomprehendingly.
Maybe I woke up, read what she wrote and then fell asleep again...?

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You're drenched with sweat!

She fumbled in the pockets of the pioneer uniform lying next to her and gave me a handkerchief. A typical Russian handkerchief embroidered with colorful flowers.
I took it and suddenly felt a surge of warmth. The same warmth you feel when someone dear to your heart gives you a present.

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Shall we go?

Masha started getting dressed.

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Yes... let's go...

I barely stood up and went down to the river.
Cold water revived me and that dream stopped seeming so real.
After all, it was just a dream, wasn't it?
On our way back Masha held my hand and chattered about everything non-stop.

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I hope those creatures will let me sleep at least tonight...

She said thoughtfully.

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Who?
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The grasshoppers!
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Ah... yes, that'd be great...
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Well, I'll go...

She looked at me keenly, turned around and was about to leave.

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Wait!

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Because sometimes, a dream is just a dream...

And reality is reality...

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Every story has its own outline, synopsis, contents, key points, a prologue and an epilogue.
And there is no book, which would not reveal the things you didn't pay attention to previously after you read it again.
Every story has its beginning and its end.

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n2pAmCP.gif
 

Nevill

Arcane
Joined
Jun 6, 2009
Messages
11,211
Shadorwun: Hong Kong
A shame. A goddamn shame. There was some potential for When the Grasshoppers Cry there.
 

Idiott

Arcane
Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
490
Location
Potatoland
Miku's route seems more real than any other anyway.
And now, the final route. May gods have mercy upon our souls.

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Some background on how to get there.
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Choices we need to make include finally leaving the keys in the cantine:
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And doing some stuff unrelated to other girls on day 3.
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~ Whoever that is, what's the big deal? I have better things to do. ~

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Olga Dmitrievna was lying lazily on her bed and reading a book.

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~ That's what I could ask her too. ~

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I've forgotten something... And so I came back.
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You were absent at the lineup!
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Oh, yeah. I apologize...
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Alright. Nevertheless, you should do something useful today.

Just as I planned. But I have my own vision of what 'useful' means.

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Like?
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You could go to the square, to help with cleaning. Slavya is in charge there.

~ Strange, I've just been there and haven't seen anyone. ~

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Or you could visit the boys at the club of electronics – they asked me for a hand.

~ Those 'Fathers of invention' again! ~

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Finally, you could help at the sports club.
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What are they up to?
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They're renewing the pitch: fixing the benches, changing the goal nets and so on.

Honestly, none of those options suited me.

~ Why is she always trying to burden me with some work? ~
~ Seriously, except Slavya, no one ever works here, while some particular people are enjoying their free time with youthful spirit. ~

Every leader's attempt to make me busy seems to be following the only purpose – prevent me from finding out my current location.
Really, all deep and vital questions concerning my existence are swept away by a broom, together with all rubbish and litter.
In my case taking some time to work would probably pay off, but same with someone suffering gangrene and rejecting the amputation – I will stand by my beliefs.

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You know, I already had my own arrangements.
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Oh, really? What kind of arrangements?

She bucked up.

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Well...

~ I can't just tell her what I'm really thinking about! ~
~ On the other hand, why not? ~
~ But it's too dangerous! ~
~ At least, now I keep a fragile balance and nothing is threatening me. Everything seems that way. ~

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Just as I thought!

What exactly she thought remained secret.

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You probably have not realized yet, how important it is to participate in social life. This is the only way to become an role model pioneer.

I didn't want to attend another long lecture, so I decided to accept one of the offers.

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So? Should I choose for you?

The leader's voice turned authoritative.

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I can do it myself, thank you...

Mumbled I into the beard then went out of the cabin.

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That surely was a hard decision to make.

~ Indeed, is there any reason to hook up an extra time with weird chaps fond of early-to-mid-20th-century sci-fi? ~
~ But what if I'll manage to find out something useful from them? ~
~ At least I can try. ~

Standing on the threshold of the clubhouse, I hesitated for a while. Finally, all doubts were swept aside. I opened the door and came in.

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Hi there, cyberneticists! How is it going?

I was itching to behave as friendly as I could.

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Hi! We were waiting for you!
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How did I know...

Electronik obviously intended to be called 'the Oracle'.

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So, what do you need?
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You'll help us to complete the robot.
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No way. That's out of my range.
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Don't worry! We'll show you around. The more you hate me, the more you will learn. I am hard...
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...but I am fair!

Electronik joined in cheerfully.

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Life can be more than fun and games, dudes. There's a topic to discuss... I've got a question, and you seem to have an answer.
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What's the question?

He inquired with a grain of salt.

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Do you think it is possible to travel in time?
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Why would you think of such a thing?

Electronik suddenly became serious.

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That's not only my idea... I took a book in the library yesterday – 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells. You must have read it. So, well, I'm thinking it over.
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A-ah...
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Wanna leap to the future, see how life is there?
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Nah, not really. I'm more into travelling back in time.
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Why is that?
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I don't know. Why not... Well, and what do you think about it?
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General Relativity Theory postulates existence of worm holes, also known as tunnels in space. But you won't understand it all anyway.

~ I bet I won't. ~

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Anyway, in any such supposition we'll encounter a whole bunch of paradoxes. For example, if you'll travel to the past and will kill yourself then it would mean that you from the present won't be able to exist.
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Well... It seems so...
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Put it in a nutshell, it's all too unscientific.
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I see, but what if it would be possible?..
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I mean, do I need some kind of a machine, a device or an application to get into the past? Or it's enough just to fall asleep in a wrong place and wake up in another time and reality?
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I'm sure that modern science has no answer for your question yet.

~ Oh, yep! He sounds just like 'Popular Mechanics' magazine. I've seen a couple of issues lying around my shelves too. ~

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I see.

~ It appears that coming here was a bad idea... ~
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However if we assume that known laws of physics are incorrect... Or vice versa – the laws themselves are correct but we don't know all about them... Then it's definitely possible.
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Okay...
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Or it could be somebody, for example, a more advanced race than humans that possesses superior knowledge of the nature of things.
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Okay...
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They could build a time machine or travel through time by some other means.
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Okay...

~ So, that means that I was thrown into the past by humanity's big brothers? ~
~ An interesting idea. And it seems that it's reasonable, if you think of it. ~

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And how would one find these... the ones you've been talking about... if you're already in the past?
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How on Earth would we know?!

They both laughed loudly.

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Well, thanks, guys!

I was about to leave.

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Hey, hang on! And what about our robot?..
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I'm sure that everything would be just fine with it!

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It was 15 minutes till dinner, and the nurse still wasn't back.

~ I guess just leaving like that won't do. ~
~ She asked me after all... ~
~ And who knows what might happen if I leave... ~
~ Though who might want to steal anything from here? ~
~ Except for Alisa stealing activated carbon... ~

I opened the magazine again and began flipping through it for the nth time.
The fashion of eighties wasn't that fun anymore.
Yawning got me several times.

It was already six o'clock, hence dinner has already started.
Of course I had to be on the watch till the end, but my stomach seemed to have its own opinion on this matter.
I stood up and steadily headed to the exit.
Some rustling sound came from behind the door.

~ Could it be someone else who got poisoned, broke their arm, or something even worse? ~

I sighed heavily and pulled the doorknob.

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Seems it was just my imagination...

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To be precise, an apple appeared on the table.

~ But where from? ~

Fruits can't just materialize from thin air by themselves, can they?
Though in this camp everything is possible...
Chances are someone just brought it here.
Maybe Lena wanted to thank me.

~ Given that she's all shy and... ~
~ But wait! How could she just walk past me like that? ~
~ Lena wouldn't climb through the window after all! ~
~ So there must be something else... ~

I was suddenly overwhelmed by fear.

~ What if the apple is poisoned? ~

Though why would someone complicate things, when I'm here totally helpless and can be killed way easier?

~ Or! It might be the apple which Eve tasted in the garden of Eden? ~
~ In this case I certainly should not eat it! ~

The same second my stomach reminded of itself by wambling traitorously.

~ However, it would take time to close the infirmary, to reach the canteen, to take food... ~

My stomach is about to eat itself.

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~ There is nothing wrong, I guess... ~

Once again, I tried to remember if this apple was here before.

~ In the end, it must have appeared from somewhere! ~
~ Maybe it got here through the window? ~

Shutter was slightly open.

~ So, someone must have put it here. ~
~ Nothing serious! However... ~

Finally a hunger prevailed, and I started chewing on a ripe green apple with an appetite.
Its taste seemed usual.

~ Though I don't think that even the strongest poison can be tasted. ~
~ But it's too late to think about it... ~

It was time to go for a dinner.


Hold on to your butts.
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Olga Dmitrievna looked thoughtful.

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Perhaps you're right... We'll go together tomorrow morning.

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Everybody seemingly forgot about Alisa and her terrorist act. Maybe due to the minor damage it caused.
Together with the camp leader we moved towards her cabin.
I tried to think why Shurik would go to the old camp.
He is interested in robots and cybernetics, not scary stories and ghosts.

~ What does it have to do with that boot?.. ~

I remember how I decided to wait until something extraordinary would happen...
And then I realized – this is it!

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Olga Dmitrievna, I think I'll take a walk before sleep.
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Just not a long one!
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Okay!

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But doing this in the dark!..
I didn't want to return to Olga Dmitrievna's cabin but I had to find a flashlight. For instance in the infirmary.

~ I was glad I didn't spend the whole time there reading the fashion magazine. ~

...

The flashlight was found quickly, and in few minutes I was again standing at the square putting myself together.
I just had to make the final decision before I enter the forest.
Moving along the pioneers' cabins, by the forest path into the abandoned camp...

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Electronik told me that the old building was built immediately after the war.
It looked like a kinder-garden (or like barrack, as I expected) and definitely could fit less pionneers than today's camp.
It was abandoned for about twenty years.

...

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The forest looked totally different at night.
Mysterious shadows were hiding behind the trees. Strange rustling and cries of night birds coming from everywhere, branches treacherously crunching under my feet.
The full Moon was shining so I decided to save the battery in the flashlight – sure I will need it some time soon.
The further I moved the less pleasant thoughts were coming into my head.

I wasn't afraid of the dark at all. I didn't believe in ghosts and other mystical crap, but at the same time, during the last few days I encountered so many incomprehensible phenomena that against my own will I started to look between the lines in the simplest things.
Obviously I felt exceptionally uneasy in the forest at night.

Everywhere I looked, every shadow, every tree or bush looked like weird creatures, escaping straight from horror movies or from Stephen King novels.
A branch seemed to be someone's hand, so eager to grab your shoulder. Lying log – someone's dead body, someone who failed to get out of the forest. In every ravine I saw a bottomless abyss.
If I would find myself in this forest under any other circumstances, without all these buses and pioneer camps, of course I would still feel myself uncomfortable, but then I would be able to explain everything with logic and be afraid of nothing, of course except for owls and mice.

But at the moment there were more than enough reasons to fear.
Despite all this I reached the old camp without any adventures.

...

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Paint peeled off the walls. Almost all windows were broken. Broken masonry here and there, holes on the roof looked like those produced by bombing.
In front of a building was a little garden, surrounded by a rusty fence.
Apparently, once it was a playground with a merry-go-round, swing, chutes and other soviet attractions.
But time is cruel. All of them were mutilated by corrosion and broken.
The grass was so tall that almost came up to my waist.

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It seemed like everything came back to life: windows with new glass and walls, painted with fresh paint.
I herd a playful laughter. Saw translucent children joyfully running and frolicking in the yard. Harsh camp leader on the threshold, holding basket with ripe apples in her hands. Old cleaning lady Manja taking a nap in shade.
I got such chills.

Of course, my imagination was playing tricks, but the old camp itself was so similar to all post-apocalyptic pictures I have seen that these visions were of no surprise.
I stood undecided for a long time, before I dared to go further.

~ After all, I'm here to find Shurik! ~
~ Though I still don't get what he might be doing here... if he's even here... ~
~ Boot somewhere nearby doesn't mean anything! ~

However, if he was not eaten by wolves (for some reason it seemed like there were no wolves in this forest), this must be the only place where he might be hiding.
I accurately crossed the yard pushing the tall grass apart trying not to run into some piece of metal.

But I stopped in a doorway hesitating.
Impenetrable heavy darkness looked at me from inside.
Even the bright moonlight could not reach any object or silhouette.

My head was filled up with different thoughts that it's better for me not to go any further and run away quickly.
But I pulled myself together, turned on the flashlight and stepped over a threshold.

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I still remembered my childhood days and so everything here looked very familiar.
Sleeping room with lines of beds standing close to each other, large playing room, toilets, dinning room and utility rooms.
Signs of the past children's joy was seen everywhere. From time to time the flashlight helped me to draw my attention to a decaying doll or a plastic toy car or punctured rubber ball or broken rank of tin soldiers.

There was a faded with age book on a table.
I flipped through a few pages.

It was a story I read long time ago, back in my childhood. Something about the war...
Enemies destroyed the kindergarten and all of its kids hid in the little basement together with a bunch of adults, while bombs were exploding up on the surface.
I don't remember the end of the story, but as far as I remember, nobody died.
Looking at the illustrations, all emotions: fear, sadness, sympathy to the poor children and sense of hopelessness which I had experienced while reading this book came over me.
It's strange that under exactly these conditions, right here and now that found this book.

~ Probably there is somebody who manages the ongoing, who writes scenario for this absurd play, who sews costumes for local pioneers and draws sceneries like this abandoned camp. ~
~ To tell the truth he is very talented – attention paid to even the most minor of details. ~

Although this place was abandoned long time ago, everything here seemed to be untouched.
Of course, time didn't spare this camp, in so many years it was oftenly visited by the locals.
Just a perfect place for young people, hitting their puberty. They could drink alcohol, indulge in amorous pleasures or simply burn everything down just for fun.

Electronik mentioned this place is full of its legends. Legends of ghosts and devils living here...

Take at least the story about the camp leader who committed suicide.
In my world nobody would believe, that this could stop somebody. But in this reality everything is possible.
Certainly, the fear didn't disappear, but I decided that since I came here let's take it to the end.

The building was small, so it wasn't difficult to inspect it fully.
But I didn't find any signs of Shurik.

~ Maybe I should just call him out? ~
~ But on the other hand it's not a good idea. ~

Frustrated, I sat on a bench in the lobby, and sighed.

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Ghosts, where are you?

I asked the camp.
And all of a sudden I noticed a strange deepening in the corner.
Small hatch ajar – adult would hardly squeeze in it.
And it seemed to me that it had been recently opened as the dust was cleared around.
And so it's here where I need to get scared.

~ So, Shurik reached somewhere... ~
~ What might be lurking beneath? A basement? What was he doing there? ~

I fully opened the hatch and pointed the flashlight into the darkness.
There was a ladder going down a couple of metres, jibbing into a concrete floor.
There was a low narrow corridor disappearing in the darkness.

I hesitated for a long time.
On the one hand, I had absolutely no desire to go down, but on the other hand, if Shurik was really there...
I swore loudly and began to descend.

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Low ceiling, wires extending along the walls, broken lamps, clad in iron bars.

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I slowly started to move deeper into the dungeon.
Road went down and after a dozen of meters ended up with stairways with high steps.

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There was a sign painted on it.
I looked closely and realized that it was a biohazard sign.

~ No wonder – if the old camp was built after the war and it lasted until the seventies. ~
~ So it's an ordinary bomb shelter and there is nothing to be afraid of. ~

However, these thoughts made me even more scared.
I made a decision and opened the door...

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I shuddered strongly, so that my hands began to tremble and eyes darkened.
I regained consciousness after a few seconds and only then I realized, that apparently a strong spring was attached to the door.

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In the beam of the flashlight I could see a double bed, some cabinets along the walls and several devices of unknown purpose located in the far corner.
It seems that this bomb shelter was never used...
Nobody ever came here. The beds were made.
Which is strange by itself...

I carefully looked around the room several times.
The cabinets were filled with gas masks, chemical protective suits, dry rations, various domestic dribs and drabs.
Devices which purpose I could not at first determine were gauges of radiation, air pressure and temperature.
It was a typical bomb shelter, in short.
I've never been in such places, but that's how I imagined it.

The only thing remained unexplored was the door at the far end of the room.
I pulled the handle, but the door remained closed.

~ If someone recently came down here, and he wasn't found in a room, then it would be logical to assume that he is behind this door. ~

I called out in whisper.

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Shurik?..

No reply.

~ Maybe he locked himself... But why? ~

It was unclear what to do next.
On the one hand, I could come back tomorrow with help, but for some reason I thought that behind this door I could find answers that can't wait to be found.

Once again, I walked across the room and took a crowbar from the corner.
I picked the door bottom with it and tried to rip it from its hinges.
Oddly enough, after a while I did it, good it was not as massive as the previous door.

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I took a breath and pointed a flashlight into the passage.

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...

The walls were closing together, my head almost touched the ceiling, but I could not make out the end of the corridor.
I walked carefully, looking at the ground. This was the reason that I did not fall into the pit..

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It seems that the hole was caused by an explosion.

~ It wasn't too big – I could easily get out later. ~

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Walls and the ceiling were reinforced with wooden beams.
The tunnel was so long that my flashlight was insufficient...

...

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It's too dangerous to go further, I can get lost!
I decided that it would be a good idea to somehow indicate the place, from which I would begin the journey into the labyrinth, so I picked up a stone and made quite a big notch on the wall.~

~ So... ~

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I was trembling with fear and couldn't move even one step further.
I was woken from my stupor only by the thought that it could be Shurik.

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Shurik!

No answer...

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Of all the overused weeaboo shit...

Someone was sitting on a stone. Or maybe something...
I stopped dead.

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What are you doing here?

I heard a lovely voice:

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Catching mice.

I opened my mouth... but couldn't say anything.

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...
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Did you see any here?
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No, but I'm sure there are plenty of them...

I shined the flashlight at her face...

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Catgirl. Why'd it have to be a catgirl? And why is she wearing a fucking rag and white underwear? Fuck. Time to turn brain off. I didn't expect it to keep Miku's level but I didn't expect it to faceplant this fast either.

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And how many have you caught?
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Not a single one.

She answered seriously.
She didn't look hostile. SubconsciousIy I felt that I shouldn't be afraid of her, but at the same time I had absolutely no idea what to ask her, how to ask her, who she is, or what she is doing.
But on the other hand, normally if you suddenly met someone in a deserted mine you'd have a heart attack from shock.
And the girl in front of me was definitely not a pioneer from the camp!

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And you... Who are you?
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You're probably looking for him...
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For who?
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That boy...
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Well... Yes...

I answered after a small pause.

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But still...

The girl interrupted me.

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He has been walking around here for a long time. I tried talking to him, but he didn't hear me.
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And where is he now?!
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I don't know... Maybe he is still wandering somewhere.

It seems she wasn't interested in this conversation at all.

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And you... How did you... get here?
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The same way you did. From the surface.
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Without a flashlight?
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Why not?

She gave me a perplexed look.
I completely lost all comprehension.

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~ I don't know who or what she is, but it seemed like she could help me find the answers. ~

It's the strangest thing, but I wasn't scared of her. I just felt that this girl wouldn't do me any harm.
But now I must find Shurik!

~ I have a feeling that this is not the last time I will meet this girl... ~

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Nobody was here except...

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Shurik!

He stared at me with eyes full of terror.

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Shurik, it's me! Semyon!
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I won't give up just like that!

He got a piece of a reinforcement bar from behind his back and started waving it around!

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Shurik, what's wrong with you?! Calm down!
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First you bring me here! Then take me through this mine! And now you're pretending to be Semyon!

~ He must have gone nuts completely. ~

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Shurik! Calm down! Nobody pretends to be me! I am actually me!

I tried to talk as calm as could, but was felling nervous almost more than him.

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He squinted.

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Is that really you?
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Yes! And now tell me what happened? How did you get here?

Shurik recovered his breath and started to talk:
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I needed some parts for the robot. And I heard that there is a bomb shelter in the old camp... And there could be some instruments there. So I got up in the morning and went...

He stopped for a minute, trying to deal with tremor in his hands.

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I found suitable parts but then...

I've read a primal fear in his eyes.

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The voices... They told me to go here... I went down the mine... Then they were telling me to go to the right, then left, then right, then left, then right, then left...

He started to laugh hysterically.

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But now they won't get me! I'll be sitting here! They won't find me here!

He once again started to wave his pipe in the air.

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Shurik... There is no one there... I wasted quite a lot of time walking in the mine like you but haven't heard any voices.

He fixed his eyes on me.

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Then you are with them!

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I was just barely able to dodge him.
But the flashlight wasn't as lucky – and took a full force of Shurik's strike.

- CRASH -

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Now it was my time to lose my mind.

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What have you done, idiot?!

I swayed with hand in the way were I expected Shurik to be but with no avail.

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Now we both will die here!

I got nothing but silence in return, and then quiet hysterical laugh.

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It's alright... That's fine... I know where the exit is! Follow me!
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Follow you where?! I can't see a damn thing!
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Follow my voice.

I had no other choice.

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Here...

Shurik's voice was heard somewhere further.

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How do you know where to go?
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I walked here all over...
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Then why didn't you leave?
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The voices... Quiet! They can hear us!

In theory I could believe that there are some supernatural forces here.
In 'Sovionok' camp it's just a daily thing to happen.
But there were no reasons to panic yet.
Though my hands were shaking without stop.

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Here...

I was following his voice slowly and eventually lost a track of time.
It could be we were roaming a few minutes... or few hours.
Finally a dim light appeared in the distance.

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We're here...

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I pulled myself up and recognized the square from the bits of landscape I could see.

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Pick me up!

Shurik obediently followed my request.
I started to hit the grating with my fists so hard that just a few strikes later all my arms were covered in blood...
But grating in return gave in and folded aside.

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When I saw this grating before I had no idea that there could be catacombs below it...

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I fell to the ground tiredly.

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Who?
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They will come!

Said Shurik again and ran away...
I was so exhausted that I could not even think about some voices, recalling some forsaken camp, bomb shelter or the mine.

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But I couldn't go to bed right away.

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Olga Dmitrievna...

Started I tiredly, attempting to cut the explanation to its minimum.

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You said you are 'going for a walk', but instead!
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And I... I was going to go and call the police! And...
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Olga Dmitrievna, can it wait until tomorrow? I'm really really tired.

Camp leader eyed all over me.

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Ok, fine...

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I saw her so clear it was as if she was really in front of my bed.

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~ But still, why didn't I get scared back then? I just went and spoke to her normally. Just like that. ~
~ All the answers are here. That cat-eared girl knows something for sure. ~

Maybe I was too exhausted because of the old camp, mine, and labyrinth and my nerves were stretched to breaking.

~ I should have asked her about something ~

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For example, there are such widespread occurences of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) among children, where when you walk on the road you have to step on the tiles precisely, avoiding the cracks.
It seems like nothing special, but if one doesn't get rid of it in time – just forgetting, or forcing oneself to step over the tiles – it could become a really big problem in the future. For instance, one will only stare down and will get hit by a car...
I never had anything like OCD, but minor events in my life often led to major troubles.

Really, what's wrong with meeting a strange girl with cat's ears in a pioneer camp on the edge of time and space, or possibly even between the worlds...?
Doesn't seem like a big deal.

Although, perhaps I just got used to thinking that nothing really existed for me before this week. There was only this camp and this life.
That's why something like a cat-girl was just par for the course in this wonderland.
She's just another character in this play, neither better nor worse than any other.
But somewhere deep in my soul I knew that wasn't so.

All the camp inhabitants seemed normal, sometimes even too normal, with absolutely nothing remarkable about them.
Geez! You could even say that my life here was simply boring.
And now...

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The camp leader's cabin was the same as usual.
Outside the window a bird monotonously cheeped, trying to burst the capillaries in my eyes with her singing.
The clock showed 11 a.m.

Why didn't Olga Dmitrievna wake me up? Though who cares...
I slept enough at least.
However I didn't feel like I'd fully recovered.

The whole world was seemingly laughing at me – the bright sun outside, the lightly-blowing breeze, gently whispering to the crowns of the trees, and this nasty bird had brought some fellows with her, obviously trying to ruin my mental stability.

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While washing my face, I realised that I forgot my toothbrush, tooth powder and towel in the cabin...
Strange I didn't forget my head...

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At that moment I thought it was the worst day of all that I have spent in this camp.
Although there weren't a lot of choices: little more than a hundred hours, not enough time to get the full image of a new home.

Home... This word struck my mind painfully.
Do I have to stay here forever?! But why, how, what for...?

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Suddenly I remembered that girl. I wonder how many more fantastic characters I will meet here?

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I couldn't even be bothered to raise my head.

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Yeah, couldn't be any better...

I answered, keeping the same pose.

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Why so sarcastic?
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Sarcastic?

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Is it my imagination? No, I heard that for sure...
Maybe I'm losing my mind?
That underground mine, Shurik, voices, the cat-girl, more voices... Is there anything here I can be sure about?!

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You surely are a whiny cunt, Semyon-kun.

I punched the washstand painfully hard and immediately jumped up, holding my hand and cursing.

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Damn it!

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This character art :lol: Her sprite is fucking atrocious. How can you fuck up so bad? I mean, just compare her to the one from the mine :decline:

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Hi!

It was the girl from yesterday.

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Hi...

I didn't know what to say.

~ I didn't know what to expect from her. ~

She's probably a hell beast and came here to end my life. That is, of course, only if it hasn't ended already...
The cat-girl stared at me.

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It hurts?

She looked at my hand.

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Yes...

I answered timidly.

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Then why?
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Why what?
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Why did you punch it?
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Cause I was angry...

I was completely unsure how I should talk to her.
Perhaps one wrong word, phrase, or gesture could be fatal for me.

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Angry at who?

But the girl wasn't showing any signs of aggression – it seemed that she was just wondering what is happening.

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At myself.
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I see.

She smiled faintly.

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Listen... I don't know how should I put it, but I must ask...

I kept silent for a moment, gathering myself.

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Who are you...?

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:prosper:
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I am me, of course!

She said confidently.

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No, no doubt about that, but... How should I say it...? You just don't meet a human with cat ears and a tail every day, you know.

The cat-girl carefully examined the aforementioned parts of the body and asked:

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Why?
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I can see that conversations with her will be amazing. And I though Ulyana's route was bad. Fuck.

I was totally confused.
If in the first few minutes I thought it was necessary to be afraid, to be very careful, now she seems more like a good spirit being than a hostile monster.

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Because in my world...

I was absolutely convinced that I shouldn't hide anything from her.

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In my world, this only happens in fairy tales.
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What is a fairy tale?
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Well... It's a story which cannot happen in reality.
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So I don't really exist?

The girl laughed.

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I'm not even sure that I exist
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But I can touch you – so you exist.

Just thinking about the fact that she will touch me, I felt uncomfortable.

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Well, let's say I exist, yes...
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I wish you both didn't so this would be over by now...

I stepped back.

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Goody-goody!

The girl smiled and waved her tail.
There was an awkward silence.

All the time I'd spent in this camp, I lived as if in a dream.
Sometimes when you sleep you realise that everything that happens in your brain is just a figment of your imagination, and you need just to wish...

I'd thought so for the last five days, this thought constantly existed somewhere deep in my soul.
However, it seems that everything is happening in reality. At least, I couldn't just wake up...

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I just want to understand...
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What?
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How can writing plummet so hard after the best route in this goddamn game.

The girl was still smiling.

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How I got here... And how to get out of here.

Suddenly, I heard voices by the road side, so I turned around.
Slavya and Zhenya were slowly approaching the washstands.

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And you...

But the girl had disappeared.

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Like I just needed someone to confirm the existence of this creature. Then I can convince myself that I'm not going crazy.
What an irony – to go mad while in the Land of Oz... Though just arriving here is already a ticket to the loony bin.
And even if I wake up right now, I still wouldn't be sure that it was all a dream.

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See what?

The girls looked at me blankly.

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Anyone beside me...

I could hardly speak.
So, an illusion, huh? So I'm actually...

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You should get your head examined, seriously!

Zhenya snorted and passed by. Slavya smiled apologetically and hurried after her.

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I wanted just one thing now – for someone in this nightmare to believe that I'm still sane!

This whole camp and its pioneers did not seem as real as yesterday.
In the end, less than a week ago I lived the completely normal life of an ordinary man of his time, and now...
Maybe everything that happened made me think that all is going the way it should? That it's normal – just to be, to exist here.
And now the last leftovers of my common sense desperately clung to this catlike girl with the ears, trying to prove to the locals that I'm not crazy.

See – you don't exist, you! It's me in your tale, not you in mine...
My head was about to explode.

If not for the signal for dinner, perhaps I would have run to the library, searching for medical books with lobotomy instructions.

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For the first time I looked at all the local pioneers from a slightly different angle.
Indeed, why is everything so... correct?
As if someone created this pioneer camp by carefully compiling material from the internet, without bothering to visit such a place himself.

It was just like an old Soviet movie – the strict camp leader, the exemplary pioneers. Even Ulyana. And even Alisa...
All within the normal range.
So where does that strange girl come from?
She seemed like a smear of paint that just happened to be on the picture due to the shaky hands of a sloppy restorer.

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Hey there!

He smirked.

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Hey...
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What are you thinking about?
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Just...

There was absolutely nothing wrong with speaking openly to anyone. Not any more...

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Did you happen to see anyone strange here?
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Strange?
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Well... Not quite human.
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I don't really understand.

Electronik laughed.

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A girl with cat's ears and a tail.

I said shortly.

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A girl with ears and a tail..?

He began to think.

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How do you know about her?
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Well, let's assume I saw her.

This conversation was starting to get interesting.

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Let's assume, or you actually did?
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Is it really so important?

Elektronik stared at me seriously.

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There is a legend here about a cat-girl. She steals food, small bits and pieces of stuff and avoids people.
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Really. A legend? So what does this girl look like?
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I never saw her myself. They say that she has a tail and ears, as you described.
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What else?
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Well, this legend is old, and I don't know much about it.
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Does this legend mention if we can bang her?
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Who do you think knows more?
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Ask Olga Dmitrievna – she's been in this camp many times, even before she became a camp leader.
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Alright, thanks.

I stood up and went to find the camp leader.

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Perhaps Olga Dmitrievna was the only element that was somewhat out of place in the picture of an ideal camp – she certainly was not a role model camp leader.

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Semyon... Slacking again?
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Actually, yes, but anyway. I wanted to ask you something.

She stared at me, and I hesitated a little.
Maybe I shouldn't be so straightforward about everything?

It was like my internal firewall had triggered, and I just could not tell the camp leader that I had seen the cat-girl today.
Maybe I got quite used to hinting at something, avoiding straight questions, lying and keeping words back.
In just four days! Although, I guess I'd been doing that my whole life...

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Oh FFS man, just start talking to her. We don't give a shit about your thoughts anymore.
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Olga Dmitrievna, I was at the dinner... spoke with Elektronik. And he told me a legend about a cat-girl, that supposedly lives here. He also said that you would know more...
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Why do you need to know that?

The camp leader gave me a piercing look and stood up.

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Just curious! I like stuff like this!

I tried to smile, but it didn't seem to make things any better.

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We have a completely normal camp.

Sure you do! Completely normal! Don't even want to imagine what you'd call 'unusual' – I suppose something with zombies and maniacs.
'A Nightmare on Sovyonok Street'...

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Yes, I understand, but... Electronik said that you visited this place before.
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Yes...

The camp leader was thinking about something.

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However, there is indeed a legend. That somewhere in the surrounding woods a strange cat-girl lives, sometimes stealing food and small items from cabins. She is afraid of people, and if someone accidentally sees her, she runs away.

That was quite different from what I saw this morning.
That girl was more like watching me, studying, trying to understand, but not afraid at all.

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And you...
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Have I seen her?

Olga Dmitrievna interrupted me.

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No, I haven't, but I was quite close to doing so several times. Bottles, milk, tooth powder, and plenty of other things disappeared from my cabin sometimes. Mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

I'd completely forgotten about the fact that all the pioneers here do not actually exist, and just listened attentively to the camp leader.

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I was curious where this stuff disappeared to before. But in the end, there is no evidence of her existence...

She smiled, as if implying that this conversation is over.

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And if there was?
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Why are you so interested in this?
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Who wouldn't be interested in stuff like this...?

Though I still had many things to rack my brains for.

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I don't know...

The camp leader thought about something for a second and then returned to her usual Mother-of-all-camps state.

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Well, seems like you've decided to become completely laid back! Do something already...

She paused and stretched herself in such a way that wrinkles that shouldn't even be there at her age came out.

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Go on... Get down to business!
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We'd rather go down on you :smug:

I just sighed and went out.

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Well, I should probably find her!
I'd already recovered from this morning's shock events, and existential thoughts have by now stopped pressuring my brain, so it was possible for me to take a reasonable position, more or less.
It was necessary because I still had a lot of questions: how did I get here? For what reason? Why? And where is this 'here'?
And the cat girl is the catalyst for it all.

But I didn't want to start theorising about parallel worlds, aliens, experiments, and the afterlife again.
I was fed up with this after just my first few hours in this camp.

Perhaps I just need to put aside the theories and look at the physical reality.
Even if I assume that this world exists regardless of my will and I have to live here, my arrival here is inexplicable. It's more worthwhile to concentrate on studying this world and on analysing possible events which may happen to me here.
I'll do that until the opposite is proven. Until then let's assume that I'm stuck here. For the long haul, if not forever.

The deckchair melodiously squeaked with my every movement, lilac branches tried to strike me in the face and the vile morning birds were silent for a long time, apparently tired of the summer heat.
The tree tops seemed like sharp peaks of the high walls of a medieval castle, lost in the boundless woods.
And these cabins, the square, Genda's monument, the clubhouse building are just a little village of peasants, huddling near the millennial walls of a grim fortress, hidden in a grove.
And all of us here – either people like me or catgirls – are just servants of an evil genius hiding somewhere out there...

It would be much easier if the camp was on top of a hill.
Because a thousand years ago the best place for a fortification was always somewhere up high.
Probably that someone just has nothing to be afraid of. But in that case he would not hide so carefully behind the treetops.

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My consciousness slowly started to desert me, and soon the whole world faded into darkness.

...

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The bus is going somewhere, leaving behind everything I knew, loved, and hated.
An unfamiliar girl is leaning over me and gently whispering something in my ear.

I'm actually interested in what she's saying.
But I can't hear her – I'm just watching everything from the side and can see everything except her face.
And hear everything except her words.
And feel everything except my own life...

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My breath soon went back to normal and an intolerable thirst came upon me.
But... What was that dream all about? And who was that girl?
These questions again...

Maybe I've already died and gone to hell.
Can a human being feel that his life is now over and that he can just move on to the next stage of existance?
My head was about to explode due to such cosmic thoughts.

What did I do to deserve this? I'm just an ordinary guy, not a philosopher, not a theologist, not a scientist.
And I don't want to understand the substance of things, the way of the universe. I'm not asking for any more than just to live my life peacefully, and then doze off into an eternal sleep when everything is over.

VopEwDR.png
What did I do have to read this shit?

But no – I'm just trapped here!
Tears of frustration welled in my eyes.
And why is it always like this?!

I started to think that if I give it any more thought I would either understand the Substance of All Things or go insane for good.
Ultimately, it all started with a bus – I got in, went to sleep and...

There was a girl. Perhaps one of the local pioneers, maybe even that cat-eared one!
Well, why not? I can't rule a single idea out. So I'm here now...
My thoughts stopped. Tumbleweed rolled back and forth in my brain, bouncing around the organ which kept my ears from falling off.
And... that's all.

Now I'm here – in hell, heaven, purgatory, or wherever. Looks like I'm going to spend the rest of eternity in this place...
For some reason I fixated on this exact theory.

It's strange that I didn`t care about the fact that a spiritual being doesn't have basic human senses – sight, hearing, touch.
All in all, at first glance there was nothing different about me from my condition a week ago. Well, except for being a couple of years younger.
Then what's so bad about what happened?
I might even consider this a second chance!

After all, it's not that hard to get a job, I could rent a room in a hostel...
I'm seventeen now – I'm still healthy, my brain is in an excellent state, my energy is at its peak. I might try to achieve something...
But what had prevented me from doing so before? Was I really that old back then?

I jammed like an old rifle, and without outside help I wouldn't have escaped this cycle of self-reflection.
Fortunately, Lena soon appeared by the camp leader's cabin.

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Hi.

I raised my eyes reluctantly and stared through her for a few seconds.

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Hello...
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Um... I...

She stopped, looked away and blushed.

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Well, never mind. May I have a seat?
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Sure.

Lena perched herself on the edge of a deck chair.

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What are you thinking about?
MnfQDOr.png
Trying to understand the laws of this world.
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And how's it going?

She asked seriously.

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Not too good... Perhaps they're beyond human comprehension.
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Then, maybe you shouldn't bother?
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But what should I do? I just have to.
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Why?

And really – why?
Does it happen to be of some vital urgency?
I didn't really bother thinking about things like that in the past and lived in relative peace.
And what has changed so drastically now? I won't think about it now either and will be living in somewhat different conditions, but what's wrong with that?
If there is no choice...

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I don't know. It seems that nothing is up to me.

It looked like Lena wanted to say something, but she didn't.

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And you probably came to see Olga Dmitrievna?
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Yes... I mean... no. But, to be honest...
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What is it?
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Sometimes I feel that way too.
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What do you mean?
EiZPrVc.png
That nothing is up to me.

I looked at her attentively.
She was sitting with downcast eyes, nervously toying with a handful of field flowers – they were yellow like the fervent rays of the summer sun.

8AJwoqi.png
Well, you know... These flowers, for instance – they were growing just for the sake of it, and then I ripped them out of the ground, and that's all!

She was literally about to start crying. It didn't really fit my picture of Lena.

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Well, yeah... To be honest, I really don't know what to say.
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Well, so are we – we are ripped out, and then...

She got up abruptly and rushed in the direction of the square, without saying goodbye.

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A few hours ago I was sure that I am the only one who exists here. And possibly that cat-eared girl.
I wish I could find her...

I'm in a state of something like spiritual deprivation – all my senses are working properly, but I still have a painful need to know why I am here.
As if the need for identity, to find my place in this world, to determine its nature, laws and mechanisms had become vital, just like the need for food and rest.
It is probably the worst punishment for a human – to have the desire to understand something, but not the ability. To wish to change something but to not have the opportunity. To strive for something, but to be unable to achieve it.

VopEwDR.png
It doesn't seem worse than having to read all this diarrhea.

I never seriously thought before – why am I in the world, how much time will I spend here, what do I have to do, and what will come next?
Now, after encountering this other world, I have nothing left but to think about these.
I guess that if it is possible to escape from here, I will return to my quiet life where I don't have such troubles.
But I won't return...

It's so hard to face a task which cannot be completed.
If I could choose my fate, I would never agree to this bus, this camp, these girls – I would stay there, in my apartment, in front of the monitor.
You can't demand anything more from a person than he can do.
It's better to spend the rest of your life working in the mine than trying to understand something that just won't fit into your head!
After all, there is no other way.

Of course, it is possible to make a valiant effort, to try not to think, try to accept this reality and to start a new life.
But it's not part of human nature to neglect everything that happens around you.
If I was accused of a crime which I had not committed, of course I would try to resist, to prove my innocence.
No one would agree to live in jail instead of at home, whatever their home is like.

And now it's me who was thrown from the world I was used to into this 'jail'.
Though it is boundless, though there are no walls or bars on the windows, it is still a jail – I did not ask for this, and my only desire for now is to return back home.
And the only key out of here is hung just a bit higher than I can reach with a jump.
And there is nothing helpful around – no chair, no stool, not even a small stone that could be put under my feet. And no one to help me.

A few centimetres. Just a few centimetres separating me from freedom, from realising everything...
Maybe it's impossible to return back home, but at least I'll be able to escape from this jail!
That is exactly what I've wanted for the last five days...

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Night slowly descended onto the camp.
Dinner went by without me, and the camp leader stopped several times by the deck chair, trying to tell me something.
But I was already in another world – the world of my cage with a key, bound by a Gordian knot to Ariadne's thread.

VopEwDR.png
STOP. PLEASE. LET SOMETHING HAPPEN.

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Somewhere in the distance an owlet was hooting at a speed of 37 hoots per minute.
I was sitting and rhythmically knocking, trying to accompany him.

Suddenly bushes rustled around me, and a squirrel with a nut in its teeth climbed on a tree. It must be hurrying to meet its family...
The summer night's charm was as rich as always, but it didn't affect me in any way at all.
The mechanisms of my brain and probably my soul were in need of serious maintenance, not just a slapdash repair of the bodywork and a new paint job.

I decided to take a walk.
Because thinking about it, I've been sitting in this deck chair for almost the whole day. I even took a small nap...
Everyone in the camp was tired. The camp was sleeping.

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And that is not what I was thinking just yesterday...
And the reason for that was a strange girl with animal ears, a cat-girl (though she could just as likely be another animal).

It was like there's a defence mechanism that activated just after I appeared here, which didn't let me 'look for answers', or 'get a hold of the situation'.
There were always more important things, such as missing the lineup, getting a comfortable seat during lunch, or sneaking away from the camp leader.
Anything other than thinking about why am I here and how I can get out. Anything...

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A million images appeared in my brain at once, and among them was a road, a bus, and that girl. Yes, the girl with animal ears. It was her who was in the bus!

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At first it looked like a dream or a hallucination, but a sudden gust of cold wind brought me back to reality.

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...
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They grow better this way.

She said with a serious face.

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Who?

I uttered with difficulty.

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The mushrooms, who else!
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Mushrooms...?
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Yes, mushrooms.
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Why do you need those mushrooms?
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To eat of course! Why else would you need mushrooms!

The girl pouted.
I just didn't know how to start a conversation with her, because I was sure that the thing which looked like a strange girl with animal ears had brought me here, and making friends with a higher being wouldn't do much good.

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Do you have more sugar?

She asked suddenly.

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I don't know... No. Why do you need it?
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She just told you, you fucking retard.
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What do you mean 'why'!? I told you – for the mushrooms! They grow better that way.

Despite everything, the girl looked totally normal.
Of course, you don't often see a human with animal ears and a tail (and they actually looked real), but apart from that...

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I can bring some...

I don't know why I said that, maybe I just wanted to earn her trust.
As long as mind-reading wasn't one of her abilities.

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That's alright, no need. There is enough.
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Good...
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And?
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What?
0nfPdNX.png
Why did you come?

What does she mean? Come to this glade or come to this camp? Or into this life...?
My head was about to explode from existential thoughts.
Just a little bit more... and everything would become crystal clear.

No, 'the answers' and 'the understanding' didn't appear from thin air. The safety device just cut in – caution, doors are closing, no more people will fit in the train, the next stop is...
The train was gone and I stayed on the platform without my luggage, wearing a light jacket in the minus-twenty degrees celsius frost.

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I was just having a walk!

The words echoed hollowly in my head.
I felt like a viking from the middle-ages who stands alone against a hundred enemies. No doubts, no regrets, only an iron will to die hard!

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:retarded:
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I see...

The girl answered without much interest and went back to her work.

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It was you? Back there in the bus?
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Me...

She replied lazily, without tearing herself away from the mushrooms.

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Why did you bring me here?
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I didn't bring you.
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Then who?
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I don't know.
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But were you in the bus?
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I was.
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And?
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What?
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Oh god, this is like Rin 2.0. What did I do to deserve this.

Yelling at her was dangerous, but I couldn't help it.

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What what?! Answer me!
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Did you ask something?

It looks like this conversation doesn't bother her at all.

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Who are you?

She looked at me in surprise.

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I am me!
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Okay... Where are you from?
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I don't know... I've always been here.
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What do you mean – always? You must have come from somewhere, no?
0nfPdNX.png
I don't know...

I doubted for a moment that this is an omnipotent being before me.
Of course this girl is a little extraordinary (to be precise, absolutely extraordinary) and she was with me in the bus then, but maybe she has nothing to do with my arrival here. Anything is possible...

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She's as special as you.
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What do you know?

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She smiled with sweetness and ease.

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What supplies?

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I've never seen the local winters though.
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How come you've never seen them, if you've always been here?
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I don't know.

She looked at me intently.

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Anyway! You're boring as hell!
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Me!?
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Yes, you.
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How do I bore you?
0nfPdNX.png
Your stupid questions.
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Stupid...? Well, I was dragged out of my usual world, brought here, and now my questions are stupid?!
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Yes.
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:lol:

She calmly replied.

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So, what questions would you consider not stupid?
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Where one can get sugar, for example.
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In the canteen, where else?! Plenty for you to steal, you're well known for doing that, I've heard.
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I do not steal!

The animal-eared girl was outraged.

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I am borrowing it! It comes back anyway!
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Comes back or not... I don't care! I want to understand how and why I am here! I want to go back!
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I'm not interested in that.

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But I'm interested! If you're not the one to blame for everything, then you must know the answers! Someone should know them after all...

She looked at me intently and laughed.

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You're funny!

I completely lost my temper.

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Stop mocking me! You! I am fed up with you! Why me exactly?! How am I worse than anyone else?! I never asked for anything as "fun" as all this! Leave me alone! I didn't bother anyone! I didn't hurt anyone! What did I ever do to you?! Get lost! Let me live in peace!

My whole body shivered, the blood pounded in my head like a cannon, everything went dark before my eyes.

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Have you blown off all your steam?

She asked quietly.
I was about to smash her. At least I'll check if she is flesh and blood.

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Alright, let's go.
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Where?
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You'll see.

The girl gestured me to follow her and went into the depths of the forest.

...

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Finally, I decided to check it out and put a candy wrapper in a noticeable spot.
Indeed, we soon passed it again.

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Wait.

I didn't dare to grab her hand, so I tried to stop her verbally.

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What?
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Where are you taking me?
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I said that you'll see!
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But we're walking in circles.
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So what?
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What do you mean 'so what'? You won't get anywhere by walking in circles!
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But you said it yourself, that you were just having a walk...

The girl seemed strange, illogical, even arrogant, as if she takes pleasure in mocking me.

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I'm not moving an inch until you explain what is going on.
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Okay...

She stopped and leaned back against a large tree.

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I was just bored! It's the same old stuff all the time, all the time... But recently lots of new stuff happened and now...
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Now what?
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Now I can talk to you.

She smiled.

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And you couldn't do it before?
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Well, I certainly could. Maybe...
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So what happened?
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I don't know.
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Then why do you think that something has happened in the first place?
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I've got a feeling.
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A feeling, eh...?

I gave a helpless sigh.
Maybe she's just a lunatic that escaped a local asylum and not an omnipotent being?

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Come on, let's get serious.
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Ok, fine!

The girl looked at me intently.

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Who are you and what's happening here?
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I don't know!

She answered with the same expression on her face.

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And who knows?
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I don't know!
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Alright. I'm going to sleep.
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We actually learned something, even if this retard didn't. She's aware of the cycles in here (no winters, things reappearing) and it seems that our arrival broke some pattern. And apparently we are still trapped in here, even though it looked like we found an exit in each route (we remember encountering her on a bus from the solo good end). If only the writing wasn't so fucking terrible and kept player interested...

I had no strength to talk about it, to listen to her nonsense, to walk in circles in the forest.
Even if she knows the answers and she can return me to the usual world and all, not today. Just enough for today!
If I stay here one more second, there won't be anyone left to return.

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Good night.

The girl said nicely.

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That's all?
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What else do you want? You're going to sleep.

She's right...

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Okay. Do you at least have a name?
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Name?
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Yes, a name!
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I don't know...
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And who knows?
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I don't know!
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Okay. And what should I call you then?
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I don't know
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But a person... every single thing in the world should have a name, there's no other way...

She looked at me uncomprehendingly.

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Alright then, you will be Yulya!
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Yulya...

I don't know why I chose that name. Maybe it was just the first thing that came to my mind.

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Her name when written looks almost like Vulva so it must be your repressed sexuality.
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Fine.

She smiled merrily.

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And now I have to go!

The girl flicked her ears and disappeared into the forest.

I slowly dragged my feet back to the camp.
Now it looked like I was in some sort of tragicomedy.
The higher beings cannot be idiots with the developmental level of a kindergartener, can they?
Though it is possible they don't perceive the world the same way we do...

I was so exhausted. I couldn't fully comprehend everything that had happened to me recently.
The answers could be right before me, I just need to stretch out my arm. It could be that saving stool, which would help me to reach the key.
And how could I be so calm in such a situation?
Maybe I'm just tired... Dead tired.

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At last! And where were you wandering in the dead of night?

I looked hard at the camp leader.
I wonder, is she real? I don't have a single doubt about that girl, Yulya. She may not be a human, but she exists.
And what about Olga Dmitrievna, the other pioneers?

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You know, I saw that cat-girl.
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Sure, of course...

She chuckled.

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Well, you don't have to believe me if you dont want to.
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I don't want to and I don't believe you!
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It's your choice.

I said in a tired voice and pushed my way into the cabin.

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I didn't hear the rest of her words.
There was only one thing to understand – whether anything is up to me or not.
Should I keep desperately reaching for that key, or is the cat-girl the answer I've been looking for?
Maybe the only thing left to do is to understand?

No one ever said that the clue will be written straightforwardly in your own language!
Though maybe I always knew those 'answers' and I just had to comprehend their meaning...?

What if everything is not real and I am just dreaming?
What if I just imagined everything about 'finding the answers', about 'understanding them'?
Maybe there is no cage, no jail, and the key has already been hung up from the burned-out lamp in my room, which has turned into a pioneer camp, inhabited by unreal but very alive people, who seem so understandable and so precious.

Well, no... I am not a wizard, not an oracle, not a God...
Voltaire once said: 'Illusion is the first of all pleasures'. Maybe my most successful skill was my illusions.

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Baron Dupek

Arcane
Joined
Jul 23, 2013
Messages
1,870,765
I though we gonna date that hitler with glasses, instead we bother with (s)catwoman. Oh well...
 

Idiott

Arcane
Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
490
Location
Potatoland
Luckily lil' Hitler doesn't have a route. Who would want to bang that anyway.

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Having found its button with difficulty, I turned it off.

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Olga Dmitrievna, it's 7 o'clock in the morning, why so early?

I said in the direction of the other bed, opening my eyes.
But there was no one there. The camp leader must have gone somewhere already.
I rose with difficulty and looked myself over in the mirror. A common pioneer, nothing more.
If someone showed me photos of the local residents with me among them, I'd never recognise myself.

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I met only a few pioneers on my way, who were obviously in a hurry.
Strange. Where are they going at such an early hour...?
The cold water refreshed me a bit and all the memories of the last few days poured into my head.

Well, I should find Yulya and try to be very polite and proper this time.
After all, if you can't even understand a fellow human being when judging him by your own worldview and ideas, then how can you talk to something completely alien?

Why should aliens or cat-girls follow the same moral laws and draw the same logical conclusions as I do?
They may percieve the universe in a completely different way, and humans are just ants to them.
We don't think anything of killing a troublesome mosquito, so why should they pay any attention to me and my small problems?
Though it could all be totally the other way around... And Yulya may not be guilty in this...

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I see you.

Yulya reluctantly left her hiding place.

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Come on...

She snorted, pouting.

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Are you watching me?
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Yes. Is that not allowed?
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Well, it's probably allowed. I wanted to talk to you anyway.
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Really? Me too.
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What about?

I wondered.

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Something strange is happening here...
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Strange? What?
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I don't know... It's just... everyone's behaving differently than usual. Something has happened. First you, then all the others...
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What are you talking about? I don't understand.
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I don't know, I just feel it and... when I feel something, it always happens!

Yulya looked downcast and even a little afraid.
At this time, she totally doesn't look like any kind of higher being.

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Okay, let's investigate it together.
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No, no one should see me! Come here in an hour, until then...

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I turned around and saw Slavya approaching.
Yulya disappeared into the forest, as expected.

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I smiled.

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Yeah, hi...

She looked really nervous, with her cheeks blushing, eyes sparkling and braids all messy.

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Semyon, it's... Come with me, you'll see for yourself!
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What happened?!

Slavya's face wore such a pleading expression that I decided not to argue.

She grasped my hand and dragged me to the square, the entire camp was probably there.
As we turned the last corner, I looked past the crowd of pioneers who were staring in the direction of Genda and there was...

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:what:

At first it was faded, like it was made of smoke, but then it became more solid, as if emerging from a fog.
Sky City – I thought at once.

But, strange or not, there was nothing special about it, just a normal city – plenty of those in the territory of our vast country.
You could call it too normal, almost boring.
A city you would never pay attention to when passing by it in a car or flying over it in a plane.

But to see such a thing here and now, in the camp, lost in the vast fields and forests of another dimension, where the only life consists of the local pioneers, squirrels and mosquitoes...
Even a cat-girl is not that strange compared to this!
Slavya kept squeezing my hand tightly.

Pioneers whispered around us, as if afraid to speak in a loud voice, afraid that that illusion would disappear, or even the opposite – it would become more real, crushing the little camp Sovyonok beneath it.
But the city stayed in place, like a white cliff rising above a valley.
There was nothing special about it, neither gigantic skyscrapers nor significant architectural constructs, only houses of different colors and different numbers of floors, industrial buildings and a hospital or something like it.

You couldn't make out people or cars from that distance, but I was sure that the city is teeming with its own life, independent from our camp.
I wonder if someone there got up on a roof and is looking at us through binoculars, trying to make out the pioneers crowding in the square?
Indeed, it seemed like something flashed on one of the tallest buildings in the distance.

But wait a minute... Binoculars!
According to my estimations, there were about two or three kilometres to the city, so if I want to understand something right now then I need binoculars or a spyglass.

I ran to Olga Dmitrievna.

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Yes, of course.

She replied as if strained.

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I need binoculars! Or a spyglass!

The camp leader stopped watching the faraway city for a moment and looked at me uncomprehendingly.

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Binoculars... Yes. Go to the Cybernetics club. There should be some.

I darted off and rushed in the direction of clubs' building.

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Binoculars! Quick!

I shouted trying not to lose my breath.

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What is it?
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Haven't you seen it? Ah damn, you are sitting here with your robots like owls! Do you have binoculars or a spyglass?!

I pronounced each word slowly like a caveman who had just learned how to speak.

[sh] Can you calmly explain what this is all about?
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No time to explain, give me the binoculars and hurry to the square!

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At first glance there was nothing special about it and it gave me an impression of being from my time, the beginning of the 21st century: ad boards, satellite dishes, pompous shop signs, modern cars...

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Give those to me!

The camp leader snatched the binoculars from my hands.

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I turned around and saw Yulya standing next to me.

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You said no-one should see you...
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Yes, but...

She was lost in thought.

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No-one sees me right now.

The pioneers didn't pay any attention to the strange girl with cat ears, too occupied by watching the far-off city.

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Do you know what it is ... and why?
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N-no.

She answered after a short pause.

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There was nothing like this before! Nothing at all.
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And what was there?
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Well. You came, then left, then came again...
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So we were trapped here after all.
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And what did you do all that time?
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I told you before, I was preparing supplies for the winter!

I totally couldn't understand, does Yulya really not consider this situation even a little bit strange, or is she just good at role-playing?
However, who would need to put on such a show for my benefit alone? I'm nothing but a guinea pig in a cage!

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I don't believe you. You should know something...
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Semyon.

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I have no idea what all that is about, but it looks very strange. We should call the police!

Olga Dmitrievna reacted in the usual way, like a normal person would in such a situation.
I turned back to Yulya to triumphantly inform her about it, but the cat-girl had already disappeared.

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What can it be?

The camp leader said quietly, not addressing anyone.
I didn't know if I should tell her about myself, about the future, about traveling to the past...
How do I know that that city really is from my time?
Could it be just another illusion and the behavior of pioneers is just a part of it? And what if it isn't...?

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This...

I didn't manage to say any more.

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Cool! Cool!

Ulyana shouted, appearing from nowhere.

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Let's go and check it out!
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Oh, yeah. They must be expecting us!
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Wait a moment. We should think it over first!

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What do you think, Semyon?
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I think the screen is getting really crowded.

Slavya asked and stared at me, as if expecting an immediate answer.
And actually, why should what I think about it matter?
What is the difference between me and them which makes me all-knowing?
What does it matter that I am new to this world? The things that are happening are as obscure to me as for any other local.

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I have no idea! Indeed, let's go and see for ourselves... It doesn't seem to be too far.
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But it's dangerous!
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Isn't sitting here dangerous too?

Lena said shyly. All the pioneers and the camp leader looked at her uncomprehendingly.

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Well, I mean... If that city has appeared so suddenly, then something else could happen too, and we...

She seemed to be getting completely confused and so she stopped talking.

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Well, she is right.

Alisa said in a lazy voice.

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I certainly don't understand what this is all about, but I am not going to just sit and wait till something else happens! So, if no one else is going to...
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And me, and me!

Ulyana interrupted her.

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Well, what then? What if it is just an illusion?
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Then we don't lose anything.

I was a bit surprised by the locals' urge to find out the nature of this phenomenon, because before they had avoided any conversation related to my appearance in this world.
Maybe it's a riddle inside a riddle? Like two enclosed spheres, we are within the shell of the outer one, where everything is clear for them but alien to me, and that city is just the intersection of the two spheres.
However, if it is true, then I should be located on the boundary, not knowing anything about one or the other.

Olga Dmitrievna was doubtful.
Everyone else waited for her approval or strict prohibition.
Nothing surprising about that: in the life of the camp, organised as Swiss watch, she was a tyrant and despot, but when the boundaries of Sovyonok expanded and a mysterious opponent appeared from beyond them, she couldn't keep the reins of power in her hands, started to panic, to feel restless on the throne which was losing its appeal.

This may be the right time to start acting with confidence!

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I think we should go and check it out!

How long should I sit here, trying to look for some answers?! Where do I find them? In the canteen? In the camp leader's cabin? Near the Genda statue?
I have nothing to do here, especially when such an opportunity comes across!

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But...

Olga Dmitrievna shyly objected.

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What if we are already dead or something...?

I had to motivate the others in some way, but I hadn't decided to tell them about myself.

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How's that... dead?

An expression of terror filled Lena's face.

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I am not talking literally, but anything could happen! We can't tell for sure what is going on here, so any theory has to be considered!

Lena started crying and Slavya tried to comfort her.

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It's even more fun that way!

And here is Ulyana, for whom even death itself may not be a good reason to act calmly.

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We should go in any case!

Alisa said cheerfully.

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Well... We'd better stay here, try to measure it, make calculations...
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I see.

I didn't actually expect any help from those two.

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Olga Dmitrievna started to busy around.

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Flashlights, warm clothes, walkie-talkie. Do you have a walkie-talkie in the club?

She addressed the cyberneticists. They nodded in the affirmative.

...

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We are ready.

I was given quite a heavy backpack, packed with warm clothes, flashlights, some other necessities and in my hands I held a short-wave walkie-talkie.
I could certainly manage to walk those two or three kilometres wearing it on my shoulders, but why not distribute items among everyone?

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Well, you know...

I dropped the backpack on the ground and looked at the camp leader.

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I am the only man here and you immobilise me! Everyone should carry their own share!
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Why don't you act like one?

The girls hesitated.

The first one to come to the backpack was Ulyana. She took a flashlight and a warm jacket, grousing.
The rest of them followed her example.

I didn't expect such boldness from myself, and expected even less for them to agree without question.
Even the local pioneers may try to behave logically in critical situations.

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I hope you understand that I can't go with you... I have to look after the others and...
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It's alright. You don't need to explain.

I didn't count on Olga Dmitrievna's help, especially as there was some truth in her words.

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Good luck! And don't forget that you have the radio!

...

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The warm sweater in the bag seemed a kind of a mockery. I would give it and all the flashlights and even the walkie-talkie away in exchange for the camp leader's panama hat and a bottle of water.
And why didn't anyone think of bringing a water flask?

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Oh...

There were less and less clothes on Alisa with every passing minute.

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:smug:
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Let's have a rest!

I slowed down, shaded my eyes with my palm and looked in the direction of the city, which was to the right of us.
It didn't seem to be an inch closer.

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Ulyana sounded annoyed.

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How's that? Straight through the forests and fields?
[ulann] I don't mind! Even that would be better than making detours!
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It would be quicker to go by road. Look! It makes a turn there.

Slavya tried to reason with her.

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Do as you wish...

Alisa flopped down on the grass by the roadside.

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I'll take a break.

We settled in the shade of a small bush near the power line.

I took out the binoculars and looked at the city.
The multi-storied buildings still shined in the distance.
Why aren't we getting closer? Or is it the heat which is creating an optical illusion?

A nearby bush rustled lightly. I turned around and saw a pair of cat ears sticking out of it.

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Wait, I'll be back in a moment...

Having walked around the bushes, I gestured to Yulya to follow me and only after making sure we had enough distance from others that they wouldn't see us did I speak.

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Well, of course. I am interested too!
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Ah, I see. And you surely don't know what awaits us there, do you?
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Surely don't!

She smiled.

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And you have no idea why don't we get any closer to the city?
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Actually I do.

Yulya replied calmly.

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Why then?
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Because you can't leave this place.

I sighed heavily as usual and leaned against the lone tree.

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Maybe it's the right time to tell me everything?

She got lost in thought.

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It was diffrent before. You came, and then... then you left and then you came again. And even if you went out so far, it was all the same. And that city... is your world...
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Why do you always refer to it as my world?
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Because it is not of this place!

Yulya was exasperated.

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And what is this place? Can you be any clearer?

I certainly wasn't mad at her - it seemed to me that the cat-girl wasn't hiding anything important, but she just did not understand the questions or did not know the answers.

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I don't know.
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Alright. Let's do it step by step. How long have you been here?
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Always.
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'Always' is too complex a definition for a human. Though, you are probably not human.

I was lost in thought.

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And what am I doing here?
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You were always here too.
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How is that possible? Did I duplicate myself? Because I don't remember anything like that.
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Well. It is you and it's like it's not you. There are many of you.
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And are you the only one?
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I am the only one.

Yulya smiled amiably and waved her tail.

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One for all my parallel selves?
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Something like that.
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So, are you like... omnipotent?

I didn't manage to find a better word for it.

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I don't know.
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Do you have any supernatural abilities? Can you fly, throw fireballs, or teleport?
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I can make supplies for the winter.
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:lol:

She answered in a serious tone.

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Let's consider that a 'no'. And what is the purpose... of all this?
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I don't know.

If I was rather calm at first, then after all these 'I don't know's I started to lose my temper.

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You know...
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Semyon!

I heard Slavya shouting.
I turned around and when I looked back at the place where Yulya was standing she had already disappeared.

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There you go again...

I gnashed my teeth and went back to the girls.

...

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It wasn't getting even a metre closer to or further away from us.

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Shut up! I don't understand...
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Could it really be an illusion?

Lena, who hadn't uttered a word before, said.

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No, even an illusion in a desert disappears if you get close enough to it. Probably...
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So what now?

Alisa said, outraged.

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I'm sick and tired of this. Let's go back!
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Go, if you want. Nobody is stopping you!

Slavya snarled at her.

Everyone looked at her in surprise. It was really strange to hear such things from the role model pioneer.

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Why are you always so unsatisfied with everything? You don't like it – get your ass back!
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Like I asked you...

Alisa said uncertainly.

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Well, she's right!

Lena cut into the conversation.

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I'm fed up with your whining!

Ulyana got scared and hid behind me.

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Oh, you're just here to look better at someone else's expense! Sure! It's easier to stand out with me in the background!
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Oh trust me – you won't be able to stand after what I'll do to you now!

Lena rushed at Alisa, but Slavya stood between them.

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Stop it!

Ulyana yelled, in tears.
I had no idea what to do in such a situation, but I couldn't let them fight.


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Now we can have a proper catfight :smug:
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It shouldn't be like this! This is not right! You must not act like that! It is not your purpose!

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Who are you?
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Who is it?
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What is it?

I couldn't tell if she was addressing Yulya or me.

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Wait...

I stood between them and the cat-girl.

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I can explain everything.

It's like I'm making excuses... To who? And for what? She should explain everything!
The girls relaxed a bit.

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Well... Have you all heard the legend of the cat-girl? So, this is...

Yulya kept on hissing, but more quietly.

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She knows.

Slavya said coldly.

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She knows what this city is. She knows everything!
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She knows nothing.
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You know nothing.
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I know nothing.

Yulya confirmed.

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Did you ask her properly?

Alisa stood up and cracked her knuckles.

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Watch out, we got a badass over here.
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What the hell are you doing?! Stop at once! First the bus, the camp, then you, then her, now that damned city!

I started yelling, gritting my teeth, sparks probably flying from my eyes.

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Enough is enough! I've had it with the damned uncertainty! Either you explain what is happening here, or I won't move an inch from here! Kill me if you want, I don't care! Do you think I can put up with anything? That I would pretend that there is nothing happening and I understand nothing, regardless what you do? I don't care! Everything has a limit...

I finished my speech more calmly, having lost my breath from yelling.
The blood hammered in my temples, the world became darker for one moment, then the next it painted itself with unimaginable colours.

The girls looked at me with surprise and even with fear.
Yulya stopped hissing and again looked indifferent to everything around her.

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Alright...

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No one followed me...

...

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I couldn't tell where it is really located because the fields ahead were disrupted by forests, but its buildings still rose above them as the central element of the diorama.
The city stood mute, as if hovering over the world, looking down with silent reproach at my trivial attempts to reach it.
According to my calculations, I'd walked much more than two or three kilometres, which was the theoretical distance to the city. I stopped to rest in the shade a couple of times and the evening coolness became my savior.
However, there could be no city at all and I am just running like a hamster in a wheel, feeling the exhaustion of the distance I covered, but with my destination somewhere outside the cage...

I remembered yesterday's thoughts about the key hanging right under the ceiling.
It would certainly be useful to me now! Maybe there are no answers at all. I am too tired even to think about it... Plus that enraged outburst with the girls.

Ah, screw it!

I sat down on the side of the road, raising a little dust storm from the ground, which covered me and made me cough.

Syigvpd.jpg

pr8eFer.jpg


MnfQDOr.png
There seem to be advantages to being a cat, you move much faster than humans.
vHKep29.png
Where are you going?

She asked, paying no attention to my words.

MnfQDOr.png
I am going right there!

I waved a hand in the direction of the city.

vHKep29.png
But why?
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Where are the others?
vHKep29.png
They went back to the camp.
MnfQDOr.png
I see.
vHKep29.png
So, why are you going there?
MnfQDOr.png
Because...

I got lost in thought.

MnfQDOr.png
What else is there to do? What will happen if I just sit here?
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Nothing.
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That's what I mean.

Yulya looked at me intently and sat beside me.

vHKep29.png
I would like to help...

She suddenly said in a quiet voice.

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Then help!
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I don't know how...
MnfQDOr.png
Tell me about that city, about this world! Why am I here? How do I get back?
vHKep29.png
I don't know... Well, I mean... It always was like that: you come to the camp in a bus, spend a week here and then, regardless of the outcome, everything repeats. And... and... there are many of you, they are all different.
MnfQDOr.png
What do you mean different?
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Not like you! You are the only one like this, that's why I can talk to you and the others just don't understand...
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What don't they understand?
vHKep29.png
They disappear sometimes.

Yulya kept talking, ignoring my question.

vHKep29.png
That's the way things should be. I have no idea why, but they should. They do not return here after seven days, but then new ones come who are just like the previous ones. Everyone is the same in the beginning, almost the same. The differences come after some time. Especially when they have understood that everything should repeat itself again and again.
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Does that mean that I am destined to walk in circles too?
vHKep29.png
I don't know. This time it's different.
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Why does it all happen? Who are those others?

She looked at me uncomprehendingly.

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But they're you...
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What do you mean me?
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You and all those others...

She groused, trying to find the right words.

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You all are the same!
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So are they clones of me or something?
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What are 'clones'?
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Copies. Like two identical mushrooms you prepare for the winter!
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There are no two identical mushrooms.

Yulya said seriously.

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Imagine that there are!
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Identical mushrooms... Maybe... I don't know.
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God, this is a nightmare...

I put my head on the knees and closed my eyes.
We sat in silence for several minutes.
I really wanted to understand what was on Yulya's mind.
After all, even if she really knows nothing, then she should at least have some thoughts about the things that are happening.

MnfQDOr.png
Okay. What should I do?

I asked in a serious tone.
She looked at me uncomprehendingly again.

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What would you advise me to do?
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I don't know.
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What would you do in my place?
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Me...? In your place...?
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But that wouldn't ever happen!

Yulya laughed loudly.

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You are you and I am me!
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Just imagine it! You have your mind, then you should have an imagination!
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Well... I wouldn't change anything.
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Why not?
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Because it is the way of things, it's better and less troubling this way.
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So, is it less troubling to sit in this camp and wait for the endless repetitions?
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Yes.

I couldn't agree with that. Just couldn't.
As long as it's in my power to change something, or even just to try to, I have to act!
I rose up from the ground and marched forward towards the distant city, visible in the crimson rays of the faraway sunset.

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The road took a sudden turn at last. The buildings, which were just rising above the trees before, disappeared from my sight and the country landscape in front of me was replaced by industrial suburbs.
It was dark already. Scattered bright stars filled the sky, still visible from where I stood but disappearing above the city, which was full of distant lights from windows and street lamps.
A silent, dark night reigned behind me, interrupted only by the warbling of a sleepy night bird, the rustle of grass and the monotonous buzzing of insects. While in front of me there was a human anthill which couldn't stop talking even for a minute, happily winking with thousands of lights and shouting with millions of voices.

The road I walked seemed stranger. It was empty, as if deserted, used by neither cars nor people.
Like a narrow path, leading away from this world into another one.

Y9u8bY6.jpg


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Why are you here?

I asked quietly.

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I have to be with you.
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Why?
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It's strange. The city always was on the right side and now it's in front of us.

She ignored my question.

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Not much stranger than everything else. I've walked about ten or twenty kilometres and it is still so far away!
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Far away?
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We may never reach it!

I stopped and tried to imagine what awaits me there.
Is that city similar to my home one, what is its architecture like, who lives there...?
And why did I come to conclusion that there are any people there? That it isn't just an illusion, one of the lame tricks of this sick world?
Even Yulya says that she's seeing all this for the first time!

Suddenly the walkie-talkie I still had with me made a nasty sound and the agitated voice of Olga Dmitrievna said:

cOZGV0r.jpg


After a moment I pushed the button and answered.

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Yes.
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Semyon, so much is happening! Come back at once!
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What? What is it? What happened?

I asked without much interest.
The camp leader, the pioneers, the whole camp was left far behind, not just a dozen kilometres, but much further.
Everything that happened in the last few days lost any meaning, like a nightmare you start to forget.
Now, when there was a real world in front of me... I had no other choice but to believe that when I reach that city, everything will end.

OqmbH8G.png
Semyon, hurry! There's no time to explain! It's a disaster...

The static grew stronger, drowning out the camp leader's voice.

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Will you go?

Yulya asked, agitated.

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Where? Back there? No, why would I?
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But...
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You want me to go back?
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I don't know. What do you want?

Really. What do I want?

To get to that city – what I've been doing the whole day? Or something more global – to escape from this world?
And what if something bad actually happened back there?
That thought sent a flash of pain in my head.

Something happened to Slavya, to Lena, to Ulyana, even to Alisa...
And why is the question 'Why would I care?' not bothering me now?
But – yes. I do care!

I got so much closer with them recently, I had really got used to the life of the camp!
But what will happen to the city? Would it disappear as suddenly as it appeared?
And what if everything went the way Yulya described...? No, I should not allow it.
The walkie-talkie hissed, but I didn't want to turn it off, in case I heard something again.

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F89CYjE.gif
 

Nevill

Arcane
Joined
Jun 6, 2009
Messages
11,211
Shadorwun: Hong Kong
Just so I am clear. Do you know 'Semyon' means 'samefag' on Russian imageboards?
 

Idiott

Arcane
Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
490
Location
Potatoland
Yup.
This game is full of stuff related to Russian imageboards too. Obviously most of it will be noticed by Russians. Like 410 bus being bus to hell and not a single original character in this game (well, except Semyon).
 

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