LINKAGE (boyxboy)

CHAPTER 49: WHAT THE SNOW HIDES

The atmosphere instantly changed when they crossed the initial barrier between Occiwav and Ascent Grounds, the first state of the Abyss Zone. Actually, the so called zone was not a named state, it was two different states that eventually created this immersive aura of war and destruction, making the media and the official authorities to call it the Abyss Zone.

The first thing that denounced their location was the color of the air. It was dirty, deep dark grey tones filled with dust, stones and pollution from constant explosions. The second point was the urban view – the states of Qorjal are technological, filled with colors and skyscrapers shaped in non-uniform patterns that had nature mixed in, while in the Abyss Zone, the buildings didn't surpass twenty meters in height and had an old architecture style, most of them not being used anymore due the damage caused by the war. The houses were tiny as well, located in remote areas, away from the main point of the fight, but it didn't mean people were safe.

Isaac and Gavin's sight first caught wreckages of concrete while their vision was obstructed by the dense dirt in the air and the snowstorm that currently passed by the state, having some debris to touch the surface of the jet, making little noises of collision while they traveled in fast speed. They followed Alexei's advise about flying in low altitude and that was how they could see parts of the city properly, despite the high speed of the plane.

Most of the path they followed had a desert underneath them, looking a lot like the desert Gavin was found months earlier. Lifeless, with cold strong winds and filled with thick layers of snow. The vast expanse of nothing intrigued the boys, but suddenly their eyesight caught a little dot upon the white surface of the ground, and it was moving slowly. Gavin decreased the speed to check it properly, seeing that a child was laying on the ground, having a leg wounded, unable to walk.

"Isaac, let's stop. It is a child." Gavin said while he lowered the altitude of the jet when they were ten meters away from the sobbing child. Without the suit or proper equipment to leave in a strong snowstorm, Gavin opened the door of the plane and left, instantly freezing cold as the wind almost threw him and Isaac away. Isaac felt reluctant about leaving the plane without analyzing the entire situation first, but he followed Gavin's desperate pace.

"The storm is too strong. I can barely see a thing." Isaac said with his arm in front of his eyes, protecting his retinas from the debris that were flying heavily around. Gavin was walking on front, hearing clearly the sobs of pain and screams for help coming from the little girl. She had her hand touching the blooding wound, that didn't stop leaking blood. Her face was colorless due the cold temperature and her skin was dirty, signaling she had been on that position for some time now.

Gavin went running to grab her for help, kneeling down on the floor in front of her. "Come here. Let me help you." The girl stopped screaming but the tears kept rolling. She looked directly at Gavin when he moved forward to grab her in his arms so he could take her to the jet.

"Target located." The girl said in a rough and electronic voice, having Gavin's hands passing through her body when he tried to grab her. Gavin didn't understand right away, but the little girl in front of him was just a hologram. Isaac stood a few meters behind, watching it dumbfounded. Gavin got up and tried to look at him between the snowy wind. When he was about to open his mouth to scream something at Isaac, something strongly pierced his skin. A shot was the highlighted sound on the environment, surpassing the blows of the storm, then another hit his shoulder, and another hit his belly. The shots kept coming but only three hit the body of the Malone boy, who stopped in time not understanding what was going on.

Isaac ran when he saw his partner falling hurt on the floor, not caring if any bullets were fired at him or anything. He managed to grab Gavin's body in his arms as he screamed in pain, but the wind was making it more difficult than it should be. He couldn't see where the shots were coming from, but the airplane was not far away, he only had to take a few seconds so they could be inside of it safe again. Isaac put more effort into running when he saw several black figures running in his direction. They could see properly in the storm thanks to their helmet lenses, and they were going to get Isaac Betherven and Gavin B. Malone in their custody. They were like a mine full of qerreol, with an unimaginable worth. If those two were delivered to the right authorities, one of the sides of the Abyss Zone conflict would have profit and resources to get out victorious of a four hundred years war.