Give me a sign

– I’m staying too. Walking through the forest at night is suicide, “an excellent student supported her.

– I … – Denis sighed. – I’ll stay.

– What, fatty, decided to play a hero, like you will protect us? – Masha threw venomously.

– Well, so be it. The three of us are not so scary, – the classmate agreed without embarrassment. – You… it… just come back for us.

– Can you leave one machine gun? Lily asked.

“Anyway, none of the three of us knows how to shoot,” Irina remarked reasonably.

Rummaging in his backpack, Vlad took out a flare and handed it to Denis.

“It will help scare away wild animals,” he explained. There are instructions, be sure to read.

“Thank you,” the student smiled.

– Let’s run, otherwise it’s already sick of you, – Masha grimaced.

Lilia winked at Denis, saying hold on, and together with Vlad disappeared into the darkness of the forest. They walked hand in hand, listening and peering into the darkness with all their eyes, in which demonic shadows danced every now and then. Moving a good distance away, the girl quietly asked:

– What kind of village?

– Lelev.

– I’ve never heard of such a thing.

“Me too,” the boy sighed. “Do you think we’ll find anyone there?”

She shrugged her shoulders, afraid to voice her worst thoughts. The fact that everything that was happening was conceived by unknown organizers was no longer even disputed. And it is so clear that if all this happened, then someone needs it. It remains only to decide whether to complete some obscure quests or look for a way home. Home… is a mockery for a person who does not have a home as such. Places where you are welcome, where you are expected. Lily frowned, trying to drive away her sad thoughts. Now is not the time for self-flagellation. Shivering in the cold, the girl shuddered at the sudden warmth from the chip.

Vlad jumped over the log and, exhaling tiredly, stopped. Rummaging in his backpack, he took out a flask and unscrewed the lid, took a small sip and handed it to the girl. Lily took a sip and returned the flask, only now noticing how tired she was.

“We should find Nikitos,” Vlad remarked, continuing the difficult path.

– Why?

– He knows exactly all the locations. This nerd played all the games, for sure, there was something about Chernobyl.

– Do you think he will find “Freedom” or “Monolith”? Lily smiled, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

– Well, suddenly, what the hell is not joking, – the guy chuckled. Did you know that he recently won the tournament?

– Yes? Cool, – she portrayed sincere surprise, not admitting that she knows. She often visited his streams, commenting on everything under a nickname that could not deanon her. She also knew about his personal tragedy, about breaking up with a girl and much more. She always wanted to support Nikita, but at school he never paid attention to her, like many others. It was as if Lily always wore an invisibility cloak.

Vlad noticed a slight thoughtfulness and a slight reddening of his cheeks, but ethically decided to remain silent, not to get into the soul. Each of them had their own problems. Someone hid the past, someone the future, and it was a personal choice. And, of course, no one was to blame for anything. It’s just that the level of discomfort that they had to endure in each other’s company, both sides felt more acutely than the others. Man could not get used to the wonders of the human world alone. Lilia has changed a lot since the death of her parents. Before that, a happy sociable girl turned into a kind of ghost who did not want to contact people, and this was understandable. Some in the class tried to tease her, but Lily seemed not to notice anyone, and then she was left alone.