Transmission Lost

Chapter 6 - Black Friday

The clouds bringing rain were indistinguishable from the grey curtain. The storm reigned through the country, further strengthening the grey-scale palette covering the world. Once a delightful sight that brought life to the grounds, now a cause for concern. Those who still roamed free hid and protected themselves from the toxin-infused water drumming on top of their hoods. A few could be found embracing the precipitation and walking among the droplets, hoping they would finally bring an end to their dejected struggle. Corrupting their cells with a twisted curse that bids its time to topple such a great temple of degraded logic.

The gas station area wasn't safe enough to be inhabited for a long period of time. Once the storm's intensity reduced, the car was on the move again. The dirt road connected back to the main one and continued through the land. Just like those before them, Aleksei and others abandoned the checkpoint and drove towards the main goal. The slight wind flew inconsistently, pushing the drops in one direction before forcing them in the other. For once, Aleksei blessed the glim weather, as it drove away the enemy and added up to their disguise.

During the ride, Philip attempted to turn on the radio. He was sure it wouldn't work before he even tried, but the boredom was more unbearable than disappointment. The old device let out an erratic buzz of static. He turned the small wheel, shifting through the lost frequencies. What he got was exactly what he expected - nothing. The white noise remained unmoved and Philip gave up. Aleksei didn't give much importance to focusing on what his passenger was doing. He rather focused on the road and the signs that began appearing as they slowly approached their destination.

The signs were all the same. Stolen from their place and sprayed with messages for the allies and foes alike. They were the sign the car was just a short stretch away from what remained of the old civilization. Through the rain and the fog, one could see the torn pieces of concrete buildings. Aleksei drove past a white sign with black unreadable letters and entered the small town. Its majority was made of flats, towering above the ground. He turned off the stammering headlights and stopped the car in a dry safety under an underpass on the edge of the settlement.

The rain moved on from above their heads, leaving the land drenched in subtle poison. He stood with the weight of his rucksack gently pulling him down, looking at the distant chimneys that began stepping out of the mist.
"We're good to go," Philip pulled his backpack onto his shoulders and began walking through the street. Aleksei looked down at the small device releasing a methodical clicking sound once more before shoving it into his pocket and following Philip into the maze of volatile buildings.

Wind eerily howled through the buildings, taking away their colour. One could feel the shards of broken windows watching the desolate corners throughout the streets and sidewalks. The soaked coating chipped away, revealing holes in the foundations hidden for so long. The lack of life was nothing new, but the endless corners and turns implanted a feeling of hovering dread into the war walkers. The walls crumbled off their rebar skeletons, while the feeling of exhausting sickness weaved in the air, infecting its surroundings with damning lethargy.

Philip cautiously paced through the dismembered concrete jungle with his crafted slingshot in hand, prepared to fire. Aleksei observed their surroundings, monotone and unchanging. The streets were devoid of life, but he could feel the frightened gazes following their steps from afar. He noticed a fading red winter hat peak through one of the windows above their heads before it suddenly disappeared. They may not have been as alone as they thought, but they could not be more lonely.

The two walked together through the tracks. Alina helped her small accomplice climb the desolate boarding platform and pulled herself up. She listened to every single sound her ear could hear, regardless of volume. Even after she spent so much time alone, it wasn't a comforting feeling to be isolated. However, they decided that splitting up will be the most efficient way to cover all grounds they needed, and so she was sneaking through the station with the mute child following her lead alone.