Raine drops were taping on metealic and concreet debrie throughout whole city. Puddles were gathering together on the streets, creating a big puddle. Soon, the whole street were flooded like a river. Six silhouettes running down the street. Water splashed under their feets, but sound of rain covered every little sound that could appear.
Boris, then little girl, Roman, Nikolai, Danila and Nita walked last in this group.
The group went inside laundry store. It was one of few buildings that at least would shield them from the rain. Boris looked around with a flashlight and a pistol, then walked inside. Everyone else followed him.
Boris - This should be safe… for now.
Roman - Better than under a rain. Damn, it's going down like from a bucket! The whole city is getting flooded! If we stay here for a long, we will end up under water.
Nikolai - We are going to feed the fish here! How are we going to get out?
Nikolai were holding his injured arm. He looked at his arm, it was covered in blood. Thankfully, all of the blood were dried up, meaning that the bleeding were stoped.
Boris - Guys. We are kinda stuck here… Where are we even?
Danila - Nowheregood.
Leanig against the wall, Danila made a few pained steps. His injuries were taking their toll.
Danila - We have to move west here… And we can't stop here for long.
Nikolai- Long? My friend! Do i need to remind you? We are out of filters, out of food. Everything we had was in that truck! Even the ammo and guns were there!
With a frustration, Nikolai pulled out a rag out of the pocket, and tied up his arm with it.
Boris - That is a true… I have a last two mags for my rifle here…
Boris pointed to his belt. Two little bags were hanging on a side of his belt.
Nikolai- Oh! How nice! We have a few bullets here! And we can maybe fend off a few enemies!
Roman - But what can we do then? We just a little rest. Then we have to go, right?
Danila - Well… that is an oversimplifyed version of a plan! But yeah. We have to find a way out of here. Give me a few minutes, i will come up with a plan!
Nikolai- Yeah? So how did it worked out since the last time? And the time before that?
Danila - Listen! Atleast i managed to pull us through all this shit! How was i supposed to know that Varyag's were on our tail? That they were having heavy weaponry? That they will chase us and put up an ambush in a middle of a bloody RED ZONE?
Nikolai and Danila were loosing their temper. Their heated conversation would go on, untill…
Little Girl - Stop! Stop! STOP!
Nikolai and Danila went silent… Everyone looked at the Little Girl.
Little Girl - You are doing the same thing as my brother and uncle Jack, just before they killed eachother! Can you please stop? Please!
Nikolai and Danila looked at eachother with resentment… But didn't say a word. So they just went to the oposite corners of the room. Nikolai put a hand in his pocket, pulled out a credit token, and started tossing it like a coin. Making a *dziiiin* each time it went flying from his hands. It was the only sound that were in contrast with raindrops hitting a broken roof of an laundry store.
Roman - Well… That solves that issue. But we still between a rock and hard place…
Boris - As much as i hate to say it. We are out of luck, out of ideas, outnumbered and outpowered by Varyag's. So we can rest as much as we wan't… That won't do anything. Damn, i would sell my soul for a bottle of beer right about now.
Nikolai - Finaly run out of alcohol to drink? Shame that it took this much to finaly come to this.
Boris - Yeah… That is a real shame.
Danila - So... As much as i hate to admit it too... I am out of ideas too. I am given little to nothing.
Nita - I got an idea.
Sudden voice made everyone jolt a little. Nita, who were standing near the entrance and monitoring situation outside, suddenly made an proposal. And everyone turned their attention to her. Nita slightly turned her head, to look at everyone.
Nita - I can try to get back there, get us a car, supplies and maybe even rescue someone.
Proposal left everyone speechless. A whole minute of silence followed. Roman looked around and saw confused face that Boris, Nikolai and Danila were making. Silence went for a long minute. Everyone were caught up in their thoughts.
Boris - I am comming with you!
Danila - What? Why?
Boris-While the idea is close to deathwish. I must say that this idea is the only one here we can take. And Nita will need some help. As i said, we will be outnumbered. So we will have to act fast!
Roman - Than i can come with you too…
Nikolai - No you are not! They will need to act fast, and you either die there, or will be a dead weight. As much as i hate to say this, i will be a dead weight there too, so it is up to you too.
Roman - Do you even know where to go, and how many of them there?
Nita - I just guess that our time for reccon missions is running low. And we have not much of an advantage to get it all. So our tactic is simple "hit and run", but with a lot of complications!
Roman - I mean… There is an skyscraper nearby. Just a little bit of awareness will never hurt!
Danila -I think we can work with this!
Danila came to a nearby table, and swiped everything from it with his healthy arm. Then he placed a map of a city on a table, it was dirty and worn down, but mostly readable
Boris-Where the hell did you managed to find a map?
Danila -It was hanging here on the wall. Anyway, map says we are here
He pointed at a big red dot on a map, that had sign "you are here" near to it
Danila - And if i guess right, this is a skyscraper that Roman mentioned. And since you mentioned it, you can use it as a vantage point.
Roman - Uh… Why me? And what would i do once i will be there?
Danila pulled out an little radio and binoculars, placing them in front of Roman.
Danila - First, You, Nita and Boris will make your way to the skyscraper…
=== Just a 800 meters away ===
Varyag's car's stoped near ruined restoraunt. Place were remade in to a camp post. Few tents were paced outside and near cars, to provide a cover from the heavy rain. Two Varyag's man staying just outside the restoraunt. And a bunch of Varyags, gathered under one of thouse tents.
Just a few steps away, beaten truck and SUV are stationed. New possession in their campaing.
Varyag A - Client will be here any moment.
One of the Varyags that taking cover under a tent said, after a message from the radio.
Varyag B - What do you tnink? Green zone is really waiting for us?
Varyag A - Oh yeah… Just have to give up that doll, then we will have ticket to out new life. Damn… Just a few years ago, it sounded like a dream. Now we are so close.
Varyag C - Boss is doing a wild deals here. We did a good job gentelmens! What would you do once we will be there? I will go for mechanical engineering.
Varyag B - Really?
Varyag C - Yeah! I know a lot of stuff about cars… Since i spent nearly five years with you guys in attempt to repair them. But you keep busting them like a whak a mole champions!
Varyag A - Ah… Go tho hell!
Heavy armored car, accompanied by two cars with a "Magni" writen on sides, came in to the view. All Varyag's rushed to stand up and look busy. Three cars stoped near the entrance of the restoraunt. Few heavy armored soldiers got out of the car's, then a man in fancy protection suit. That man and most of soldiers went inside the restoraunt.
Varyag Boss - Took your time to get here!
Inside the restoraunt. Three more Varyag's man were standing at far end of the room. One of that tables were set up and ready for conversation. The room it self were dark, and light from the street were far from enough, so two lamps were placed in the room. One near Varyags in farest end, and one on a conversation table.
Client - Roads are rather… Slippery this time, had to take caution over the rush. Sorry if that was a matter of inconvinience for you. But i have to guess that you caught a doll i requested? If you did, then you have exceeded my expectations!
Varyag Boss - Happy to hear that! As for a doll… She was shut down.
Client - I would like to take a look at her. There is a high need to inspect, if she is a right doll.
Varyag Boss - Right doll? What is that supposed to mean?
Client - Unfortunatly, i cannot explain it any futher. So… Mind showing me this doll?
=== Skyscarper ===
Roman - What the hell is going on? "Magni"? Is that thouse guys you had a bad time with?
Boris grabed binoculars out of Roman's hands and looked at the same direction.
Boris - Yeah! Thouse guys! It's them!
Roman - I don't think we can fight a trained soldiers.
Boris - We have no choice. That is one more problem to take care of. Do you see where did they took everyone else? I don't see any bodies around?
Roman - No… But it seems like they are keeping a tight guard around the back entrance. My bet is that they are in the same bulding!
Boris - Ok… So. We are going in! If something will hapen, call us on the radio!
Roman - All right… Good luck to you guys!
WIth a shaking hand, Roman pated Nita on her shoulder.
Nita - He was the one who killed Maria.
Boris and Roman looked at eachother with a disbelief and confusion. That droped out of nowhere. They took a second to process this, then turned their attention back on Nita.
Roman and Boris - What?