Civilian looked up from the map, where he had just marked the place he believed would be their destination. His dirty gloves, half-torn, pressed the edges of the paper against the concrete ledge, keeping the restless wind from stealing it away, while he mentally traced the route they would take. The map itself was already covered in a mess of old and new marks, added over time as the city changed before his eyes. Districts that had once been safe had suddenly become places where people vanished, or were simply wiped off the map.


That’s how things went here.


The pencil tip paused above the rough lines he'd drawn, as if hesitating to confirm the next step. It was obvious this would be madness and walking away would be the smarter choice. But his own curiosity wouldn’t let him.


They’d received word that someone was coming. Someone from the outside. But no one really believed it. After all, the outsiders had long since forgotten them. Hope had died here a long time ago, and all that remained was the bitter taste of disappointment. Still, he had volunteered to go to the meeting point.


He was just beginning to question whether that had been a hasty decision when he heard footsteps. So maybe, this time, they had all been wrong.


“Took you long enough,” he muttered behind his mask, eyes fixed on the figure emerging from the silhouette of ruined buildings.


Soldier approached and sized him up with a cool, unreadable stare. Then, without a word, he shrugged the heavy pack off his shoulders. His movements were confident, but beneath the visor of his helmet, two wary eyes gleamed. Eyes that revealed nothing but exhaustion and a habit of trusting no one. It was clear he hadn’t yet decided whether he was looking at an ally, or a threat.


Civilian didn’t move. His hand still rested on the map, fingers lightly gripping its edge, the only sign of the tension humming through his body. He waited. He wanted to see what Soldier would do first.


Nothing. Just silence.


“Did you come alone?” Civilian finally broke the tension between them.


“Yes,” Soldier replied curtly.


“Good,” Civilian nodded, slowly leaning back over the map.


“Then come closer. I’d rather not explain this twice.”


Soldier hesitated. Just for a moment but Civilian caught it. He understood. This wasn’t the kind of man to step up to a stranger and follow his plan like it was an order.


But this city was already dead. And the two of them had no choice but to work together if they wanted to make it through alive.


“Here,” Civilian tapped the marked spot on the map.


“We need to get here. If nothing goes to hell, you’ll reach your target by tonight.”


“Something always goes to hell,” Soldier muttered.


Civilian let out a short chuckle. “Then we’re on the same page.”


Wind swept across the abandoned rooftops, scattering dust and brittle leaves from the thorny shrubs nearby. There was a time when children would’ve flown paper kites in weather like this. But now, there were no children left.


Only Civilian and Soldier.


And a map lying between them.