Metro 2033 - Sanda's Story

5. Actions

I am very very very sorry that I posted later than I planned. I started college and some stuff happened so I wasn't able to find time or motivation to continue the story. But here you have the next chapter! As you noticed I have a new cover for my story. My friend made it and spent quite some time on it. That person deserves a big congrats for her work. If you want, I propose to check out her Instagram account, @bubblegumarts. Her works are stunning! Enjoy the chapter and will appreciate any commentary. 😊
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We end up to be in difficult situations, where we need to make the most appropriate actions. It doesn't always work that way. Sometimes what we intend to do, never turns out to go that way. Depending on our actions, we form those actions into decisions. But, believe me. It does matter not, what you had done throughout your whole life. The most important moment, is the action you chose before you die.

***

"If there is someone I should doubt, that would be you, traitor. I knew from the beginning you were not the real Darius."
I stand still in my place and observe the two men. I can see the older man fidget in his spot. He possibly tries to find a way out of this. Before I know, Alex already throws himself at him and they both fall to the ground. I decide to take in their fight and I have to admit both of them are quite skillful. They were both using their fists to fight each other off. "Darius" pulls out a military knife from behind and tries to hurt Alex with him. The younger man is evading his attacks without any delay. He catches the older man's hand and pulls him towards him, at the same time lifting his leg and kicking him at his abdomen. "Darius" groans and retreats a few steps back. He takes a quick glance at me and I stiffen in my spot. He then puts a hand in his side pocket, and in his grip a gun. I can feel time slowing down, as he brings his gun's aim straight at me. I react a moment too late and the shot is heard. I can feel it pass my face, leaving a cut. I turn around the moment I catch on to his actions.
'Behind me?'
I see the dark skinned mutant run towards me and feel myself be hit by its arm's side. I fall back quite a few steps, landing on my back. I find it difficult to breath, as if my breath was taken by that hit. I look at it from my laying position and fear overpower my thoughts. It was the first time I saw such a big mutant. I try to get up but feel a hand already at my lower back helping me to get up. I slightly gasp at the movement and look up to the person above me. It is the first time a person was kind enough to help me stand up. I do not focus much on the gesture and analyse our current situation.
'Well, aren't we in deep trouble?'

I brace myself and read my situation, I come up with an idea that will kill the mutant. I look up at the old roof of the building and notice the few chains hanging from it. They are reachable, just above my head and as I look at Alex he already charges himself at "Darius" once again. I groan at his stupid move and I evade this time the attack of the mutant. I draw out my knife and block some of its attacks. With every attack I realise, the fact that I am not strong enough for this journey, for this responsibility that Olavi wants to put me through. I grit my teeth as I gird for an upcoming attack.
'I have to act, quickly'.
Just one glance, is enough to make me come up with the right plan. I swiftly avoid the next attack and run for the ladder that is by the wall leading to the platform, forming a following floor up. I grab on to it and climb up. I manage to run up the platform and lure the mutant, just at the right spot. I jump and catch the chain. I slide down and grab the hook at its end. I jump on the back of the mutant and push the hook, deep into its flesh. A roar is heard through the building. I stay on the mutant and look at its wound. A mound is seen underneath the skin and dark red, almost black blood is falling down its back. I feel it struggling, forcing its body to be freed from chained hook. I jump off the creature and run for the two fighting men. Both of them had ditched their masks and were holding their breaths.
'At this rate they will both die!'
I sprint towards them and step between them. I manage to catch both of their following punches directed to each other. I see both of their eyes widen at my action and I push them both apart. They step back and stare at me.

"Pick up your masks you idiots."
I say calmly. I take out my knife, switching my glances to them and the hooked mutant. I am forced to keep my eye to three dangerous enemies. I take a fighting stance and cross my arms below eyelevel, with my knife protecting my side of my mid-arm, squat slightly. The atmosphere becomes tense and heavy and I am stuck once again. I can feel a killing intent coming from all of us in the structure. I can tell this will get messy. Without a warning, the older man throws his knife at me and it scratches my side. I run towards his direction and I jump at him, aiming my knife for his throat. At this, he catches me and throws me to the side, at the same time, Alex tries to attack him once again. I set my target on them both, this time knowing well, that one of us will die for sure. I throw a kick towards Alex, which he blocks easily and pushes me away. "Darius" tries to stab Alex and fails. He throws the knife at me and I stroll to the side, evading the flying object towards me. I attack Alex once again this time getting hit by his kick to his side, sending me rolling a few steps to my left and landing next to the mutant. Immediately, the mutant saw a chance and hit its fist down towards me. I roll and get to my feet. By my action, I anger the mutant and it starts to pull the chain. I notice bits of dirt and dust fall from the top, where the chain starts from. I quickly run once again to the ladder and up the platform. I continue further down to reach for the free hook. I catch it and slide down once again and thrust it deep the skin of the dark one. It screeches this time, making me to cover my ears, successfully drawing the attention of the other two men. The dark one, already starts to pull the chains and a faint rumble is felt. I jump to the platform and reach for one more chained hook and shove it the dark one's back. This time, it lets out an angry growl and it starts to shake its body, to get rid of me from it. I look up once again and she the roof breaking. I find it as a chance to escape. I jump off and run for the exit. I can hear the cracking of the rooftop and more steps behind me.

Before I know it, I am outside. I fall down to my knees, from the strong whisp of air, the falling apart building produces. Dust fills my vision and I stand still in my place. It takes a while before I am able to see the remains of the structure. I stay silent and await for any movement. I spot a body that lays beneath the destroyed structure. It was "Darius's" body and for sure it was dead. The blood gradually slides out of his body, colouring the floor beneath him crimson red. I try and look for a sign that the dark one is dead as well but without success.
'Must be buried completely...'
I realise a person that could still be alive. For my luck, I feel a hand grab my mouth and twists my right hand. I attempt escape, squirming in my captor's strong grip, but no vail. I feel the person closing to my ear and whisper.
"I will not hurt you."
It is Alex. I didn't know if I should trust this guy. He seems way too dangerous.
'But is the only one who knows how to get you to Russia.'
I grit my teeth and curse in my mind for my bad luck. I finally nod my head giving in to his words. He looses his hold on me and I slowly turn around, to not provoke him any further. I look at him and he stares back.
"Come on, the earlier we get to the University, the better."
He commands me and starts to walk away towards the automobile, while I stand there and think.
'Should I trust that person?'

~~~

Alex, turned a total 180. I mean, his character did. He is distant and ignorant, as if I never existed. When we make breaks he just gets off and wonders off, while demanding me to not follow him. He chased me off to find food and go against on my own with mutants. He did not even consider helping me. He just waited and observed me. I feel shivers go down my spine, as if something bad will happen by being with this person. He seems to be more obscure, even more difficult for me to read him. By this stage, I knew that by having this man by my side, I feel in bigger danger with him than with a mutant. He does not look like a person you can fool. He is merciless.
'Just like with the fake Darius...he might not try to spare me.'
What makes me worry is, if he knows my actual objective. I do not know what kind of groups are there in Moscow, but I am aware that there are stations where they kill you or spare you if you are no harmful. Olavi did not bother go through with me with what kind of people Russians are. Well I myself do not know where I am from. I cannot remember the name of my home town. I shake my head to clear my thoughts,
'No time for that. I need to focus on my mission.'

I turn my attention towards Alex again and observe him. My mind bursts with warning every time I glimpse at him. My heart beat speeds up and cold sweat is running down my back. Without stopping, I do not realise the buildings showing up until he stops in the middle of the deserted road. The constant silence would drive a sane person mad.
'So that is Moscow?'
I take in the grim and soulless area into my memory. The buildings taller than the ones I have seen till now. Some of them crashed to the bottom, no floor or wall remaining. Cars, suitcases, books, even strollers left there in the open. I realise Alex went on ahead of me and I jog to catch up to him. I keep up with his stead, but at the same time, keeping a safe distance from him. I cautiously walk behind him and manage to look around, being in awe from my surroundings. Occasionally lay corpses which started to rot.
'Recent, huh?'
I stop and take a look at a child's body which had a blank expression on its face. Pale skin and dried up blood from wound leading from the scalp. What made me stop was the object it held in its hands. It was a teddy bear. Dirty, stitches loose from some places, but still that unchanging face it held just like the day the kid got the toy. Some things might just not change. I dare not inspect the child any further as its lower half lost and the insides are laying out for everyone to see, creating a line from the blood of the rest of the body.
'A dark one...'

I stand up and find Alex looking at me. I return him a look that possibly annoyed him, as he just turns and goes on.
'He is weird'.
I cannot tell of his intentions neither guess what kind of ones he has. Suddenly, I hear a loud noise, from a building not too far from where both of us are. We look towards each and this time Alex decides something different.
''Let's go check it out.''
I am surprised with his proposition, but I guess based from our situation we had nothing else better to do. I sigh and nod. We take our weapons out and head towards the noise. Alex got closer and opens the rusty doors. A creak was heard but it did not budge anyone present in the building. Alex takes a step in and I follow. Alex motions with his head to follow him. I ready my knife and slightly crouching, advance into the building behind him. We are met with an empty store, full of dust and the shelves empty. Some of them laying on their sides, covered in droplets of crimson and dirt. The walls painted with an olive dead and lighter areas, were most possibly shelves were hanged before. I keep paying attention to my surroundings and jump when suddenly the lights fall from the ceiling. Terrified I look at Alex who is shaken from the moment as well. We hear slight footsteps coming from upstairs of the store, were most possibly the storage room is at. We approach the stairs and I feel Alex put his hand on my clothed shoulder. He squeezes it and I can see him glare through his gas mask.
"You go ahead. I will have your back."
Mentally, I am already cursing. I do not like his idea of having my back. Carefully, I ascend the stairs and focus my hearing. I again hear light footsteps. I am at the top of the stairs and look down at Alex. He nods at me and I open the door.

Once fully open, to my eyes the room is revealed. It is quite dark and the small source of light coming from the roof of the building makes it a bit easier to see. I step in and notice the empty cans laying around.
'Some one lived up here.'
I search for any evidence of blood scattered but find none. I stand and look over at Alex who closes the door behind him, trying to make as little sound as possible. As soon as I turn to my front, I hear behind me Alex yelp and he is thrown to the floor. A person is on top of him trying to harm him. Before I get to act, the person was shot in the head and lays lifeless on Alex. I stare at him as he stands back on his feet while I check on the body. It looked like a child, between the age of 12-13. I feel my body tense up as I check the corpse. I feel angry and this time, I don't hold back to snap at him.
"Why did kill this child? If you could, you could had let it go. It is not right to kill our own! We all deserve to live!"
I say raising my voice. Alex looks at me from the side and he chuckles.
"That 'child' could had killed us both. It was a kill or be killed situation."
"By a child? You know very well, it only defended itself! How could just-"
"Shut up! Sometimes to survive, you have to make sacrifices. You will learn that yourself."
I stand as he walks out of the room and gets down the stairs, his footsteps getting quieter as he widens our distance. I am frozen in my place and cannot find myself to move on. I look at the child one more time and march forward, while trying to register the so called sacrifice wasted on the kid.

Continuing through the streets, we finally arrive to the university. I gawk at the big building and gulp at the size of it. Most of it was destroyed, only leaving the main one standing, with a few gaps in a few walls and broken windows. I daze off and moments later, realise Alex going through the main entrance. Without suspecting him, I follow him inside the building. I jog up the stairs, skipping a step or two at a time and through one of the gaps of the columns. I step inside and find myself alone. The silence in the lobby, makes me falter and I start to worry, when I find Alex to be nowhere.The next thing I know I am hit at the back of my neck and fall unconscious.

***
I wake up, due to the constant shaking. My vision blurry but clearing slowly. My mind slowly apprehending my position. Few minutes pass and I notice my surroundings passing by quickly. Confused I try to sit up but the pain on the back of my neck forces me back to the wooden surface I lie upon. I hiss and bring up my hand but realise how difficult it is for me to reach. I come to realisation and stare at my hands.
'Hand-cuffs... Railcar... Underground... I am in the underground metro railways. Just like Olavi told me.'
I look around and to my side find Alex and one more guy dressed in some sort of military uniform discussing. I finally manage to sit up and ignore the pain on my neck. Both of them notice me and turn their attention towards them. I stare at him and he seems to understand I want answers from him. He tells the other guy in a language, foreign to me, and he seems to dismiss him. He looks at me and waits till the other guy gets on the joined railcar ahead of us. He smiles and stands up. I push myself as far as I can and as close as it possible it is, to the metal bar behind me. He approaches me and crouches in front of me. I am scared but I do not show it at all. I manage to keep myself composed when he starts talking.
"I am actually glad you are awake. I was starting I hit too hard there."
I do not answer him, but he does not look like he awaits for any reply.
"We are heading towards Lubyanka... There, I will get quite a good bunch of bullets in exchange for your body... At least for a few years of resources... or maybe even bribe the Germans to let me enter their higher ranks."
This time I glare, as he chuckles and watches over me. I come to an understanding, that now I will not be able to escape lightly, but maybe with luck.

Hours pass by as I sit in my position unmoving and try to come up with an escape. I pictured so many attempted but all of them end up with my death. I give up hope of surviving through this, once I get into the hands of those people. I start trembling and that was enough to catch his attention.
"Took you longer than I expected... You are scared now aren't you, sweetheart?"
Goosebumps follow down my spine as he talks. His voice deep, but with a suspicious tone, like this is all part of his plan. I decide to continue and act as he wants me to.
'You might had caught my freedom, but my will to be free.'
I mentally smirk and stay quiet. I will show him, that all his efforts were for nothing. As he continues his worthless speech, I already am forming a plan that will help me get out of his grasp.

Finally, we arrive at Lubyanka. Where I am taken on a railcar. There are many people wondering around and gunshots are heard not too far from here. Soldiers are running towards the commotion leaving me alone with Alex. He holds a displeased expression, by having to wait longer for his payment. I stand there and feel his tug my coat. He forces me to look at him, when he grabs me by the chin. He inspects me and smirks.
"Forget about any sort of escape. Once the Nazis get you, only future for you is either rot in their prisons or die by angering them."
He smirk widens to a grin now and I remain emotionless. Once he turns around with his back facing me, I do not hesitate to form a smirk of my own. Minutes later, some of the soldiers return and one of them approaches Alex once more. They talk for a while and the German man eyes me. Few moments later and they shake their hands. The other man directs Alex's vision and when he wasn't paying attention, he shoot him. I gasp at the sudden action as Alex fall into an eternal sleep. I stare as the soldier searches Alex and finds my knife. After all this, I just realised that I didn't have it by my side. The soldier looks at me and sends me a wicked grin.
"Now you are all mine."

I patiently wait with other soldiers as the railcar is placed on the rails. At the side of my eye I notice the hole underneath it. I do nit get the time to question it, as I am pushed inside the cart. I lay on the end of the wooden surface. I face the floor, ignoring the others and then I notice him. A man with green like forest eyes climbing up a ladder and he did not take note of me seeing him. I remain quiet and watch him get in the luggage area. I stare at his brown hair and question myself.
'Why is he so familiar?'
Then my head starts to hurt and I lightly groan.
'Sanda. Sanda! Let's go play on the slide.'
'Hahaha. Come on, my turn to look for you!'
'My name is Artyom.'
Everything was spinning for me. It seems I know him but I am not sure where from. I let myself fall asleep, with no care in the world. What awaited me next, mattered not at this moment. I will endure it.

~~~
Hope you enjoyed this chapter ! Till next time