The Price of Love

1

The long-anticipated end of the peaceful world has arrived. Despite the effort and negotiations made by many nations, the scale of devastation wrought by the wars surpassed even the direst predictions. Europe found itself plunged into an endless conflict, a battle not only for dominance but also for theessence of humanity. Safety became a luxury almost no nation could afford. The pursuit of power and dominance among nations inevitably led to widespread conflict, engulfing the entire globe in a struggle for supremacy.

In contrast to the conflicts in the Middle East and Russia, the wars in Europe were less severe. Nevertheless, individuals faced the grim realities of being kidnapped, held hostage, or subjected to violence and torture for information. Nations found themselves compelled to negotiate and frequently exchange weapons and money in desperate attempts to secure the release of their citizen. Negotiations often led to larger conflicts due to the difficulty in reaching compromises, resulting in the tragic reality of prisoners being left to die as it became impossible to rescue everyone. Priority was consistently given to hostages holding significant professional titles or political stature.

Almost every European country allowed travel, but few offered security, so there was no point in searching for a safer place if you had no money. Only those who had money could afford a safer life.

Many people were drawn to Germany due to its abundance of well-paid job opportunities. Germany boasted one of the most formidable arsenals in Europe, often supplying smaller nations with firearms and other resources. Everything held a price, and recipients of aid were obligated to meet it. Much like every other nation, Germans protected and defended their homeland at every turn. Swift and decisive action was taken against any criminals plotting attacks or undermining Germany, with the military employing rigorous measures. Among these tactics was the practice of incarcerating criminals and terrorists in specialized prison camps. Despite Germany's strength as a nation, it wasn't perceived as a completely safe place. Within its borders, conflicts were common, corruption prevailed, and innocent individuals frequently found themselves unfairly branded as terrorists for falling short of adhering to stringent regulations.

Despite the chaos and fear that gripped the globe, people found a way to adapt and survive. I made the difficult decision to leave my family in Iceland, one of the few remaining safe places on Earth, where they could continue to live without the threat of danger looming over them. I embarked on my journey to Germany enticed by an offer from a prestigious science laboratory, where I was tasked with assisting a team of scientists and engineers. Despite the lack of specifics regarding my role at the lab, the allure of a substantial financial incentive left me with little choice but to accept the opportunity. Given the high demand for specialists like myself in the field of biomedical engineering, my skills commanded significant value. With the assurance of all social guarantees and the partial transfer of the money to my bank account, I decided to take the opportunity and travel to Germany.

The journey was surprisingly smooth, with the added luxury of a private plane provided by the corporation, sparing me the hassle of enduring crowded airports and long wait times. My immediate supervisor was awaiting my arrival at the Munich airport. We met there and to my surprise, she was a good-looking woman, maybe in her forties with short black hair. Her name was Laura. Still, despite how strong and well-trained she looked, I thought it wasn't a smart move to send a woman here alone, but maybe it's just me being paranoid.

After introducing ourselves shortly, we sat down in her badass-looking G-class Mercedes and left a crowded airport. Laura wasn't much of a talker, but it wasn't a big problem for me. I didn't like to talk much, especially when being concerned like now. Although I wasn't scared, my inner voice screamed at me that something would happen to us. I didn't know whether it would be good or bad. We were driving in the Autobahn, which seemed to be crowded. The constant flow of people entering and exiting the country created a pervasive sense of chaos. As individuals sought refuge in safer environments, the pursuit of security became paramount, particularly for those who had no money.