2

Steep ascents, steep descents - it's more like rides than a gateway.

Roxanne ran as if the whole pack of hellhounds were chasing her. The cord from the charger fluttered behind her, the light bulb cries out that the device was turned off as soon as possible.

— Roxanne! Roxy! Don't run so fast, there are too many roads around the corners! Heck!—Marcel was already breathing like a hunted horse.

For some reason, it seemed to Eden that if the Frenchman stopped, he would die.

It was as if something had suddenly knocked the girl off her feet. Roxy fell to the asphalt, there were even drops of blood on the stones.

Eden picked her up and held her tight.

Roxy tried to restrain her internal infected impulses by inhaling his scent.

How young... What a sweet...

— Eden... I just fell, it's okay...—she whispered.

The girl got to her feet, looking into incredibly beautiful huge gray eyes. As if the clouds and the stars in the sky ...

— There is nothing to stand still.— she said a little more sternly.

Having reached the intersection of the two buildings, Roxy began to pull up the hatch cover.

— Even though I have one metal arm, I am not omnipotent! Help me!—she shouted.

— No, no, not like that.—Eden rummaged through a pile of debris on the side of the road.

Behind the car he got a piece of pipe, flattened at one end.

— Let's stand on it, because we can't lift it with our hands!—Eden said, adjusting the metal rod more comfortably.— I hope that our strength will be enough...—

One sharp blow, Luke jumps, once again all three stamped their feet.

— What's there?—Mills asked, thinking about how it would be possible to stand on the rod with two feet.

— Infected area... There, under the ground, are hiding those who attacked us at night... I'm sure my badge is there... For sure, that's where my Shined went... She has a reason to go there...—Roxy frowned.

— What is the reason?—The detective asks. Marcel forbids him to speak with a wave of his hand.

A blow with Roxanne's iron fist and a jump on the rod of two guys. The manhole cover flies off.

Roxy looks at a small dent on the body of her prosthesis, sighs and puts on a glove.

— Does anyone have chemical lanterns? There will be no electricity running here.— an awkward jump and you can hear Roxy Nelson's heavy boots slapping in the mud below.

Eden jumped in last and his eyes watered from the smell.

— Sewage system... Whoof!—he took out a mask and put it on his face.

The last insert... What a pity...

— Did the smells make you feel bad?—Roxanne asks, putting her hand on his shoulder.— We still have to try to get used to it. Be right in the center, Mr. Brain, we won't let you get hurt.—

In the next second, Eden barely restrained himself from screaming - a creature as incomprehensible as all the others jumped from the ceiling of the sewer on them. Only this creature was not on four, but on two legs and fought like a man.

It was the first blow to Eden's face in twenty-two years of his life.

The colors of the surrounding world gradually blurred.

Eden heard the words from somewhere else, but he remembered them very well.

Because the one he cared about was talking to a monster.

— Did you take my badge?— she shouted when the monster rose to the ceiling in an unknown way.

— My daughter has returned to me! If you think you've lived in the world long enough, you can try to get her back! —

***

With trembling hands, Eden Mills flips through the autopsy results, on his nose are indicator glasses, which he never turned off after the examination.

The heat was rising. The M-1000, when connected to a processor unit, something similar to a primitive computer, showed that the body temperature was normal, just the pulse was slightly elevated.

"My daughter has returned to me!"

These words kept spinning and spinning in his head.

Is that Roxanne's husband?

Judging by what is said in the oasis documentation, Roxanne Nelson's husband and Shined Hertz's father Felix was killed under unknown circumstances, while Roxanne lost her arm.

Roxy herself calmly brought him the case file. She said that it was necessary...

— What was he like?—Eden suddenly asked Roxanne.

— Who? Felix? A tyrant. A sadist. But he knew what kind of pain would give the desired results. He is to blame for the fact that I am one-armed and...—Roxy suddenly stopped talking.— In many ways...

— Was he in the sewer?—The detective took off his forgotten glasses.

— Hahah!—Marcel Dupri laughed.— You're so smart! Roxy, I told you he'd guess! By the way, guys, the shower is free, who's next??—

— I'll pass...—Eden stared intently at the photos scattered on the table in front of him."Is he the one who kills?—

— I can't be sure of anything anymore, but Felix does not go beyond the place of his imprisonment. He simply won't be able to get through the hatch opening...—

— Has he become so huge after being infected with this unknown muck?— Eden noticed footprints on the floor. Putting on his glasses, he walked along the street with the glasses detectors.

— Eden! Oh, shit!— Roxanne ran after him.

The path led to the street, to a huge water tank.

— Is there someone there?— the detective heard a knock from inside.

— No need!—Hollis was standing at the top of the lid.— Better let the gasoline in here, I can't do everything myself! —

With all her iron strength, Roxy turned the valve.

Eden heard the pounding of fists, turning into one continuous rumble.

— It's the same...— he began in such a low voice that at first almost no one heard him.— Are there people there?—

The trigger of the flamethrower clicked and the smell became so strong in seconds. The fire crackled.

Only burning people smell so disgusting.

Roxanne took Eden's hand.

— Let's go back.— she said in a hollow voice.

— What the hell is going on here?—Eden asks.

—I called you here, not Hollis. We need to prove at least Felix's indirect guilt, otherwise he won't leave anything here... everyone who doesn't get infected will die...— Roxanne slammed the door, snapped the lock and pulled the door a couple of times, checking.

— So it's Felix?— Eden moves a large magnifying glass.

Such a huge old thing turned out to be very useful for the photo.

— You can prove it... Please, Eden!— Roxanne just turned around.

It turns out that Marcel brought that man who lost his memory.

— I'll step back, Detective. Interrogate the patient with amnesia.— Roxanne is gone.

A lighter clicked from behind the door.

Eden took a step toward the stranger. Pain flashes strongly in his head, Mills ignores it, ignores it for the first time, for the first time he has the strength to do it.

This man is somewhat similar to him... What nonsense!

What can he be like?!

— I assume you are the same detective.— calmly, without waiting for an introduction, the man says.—You're too young. How can a child be a detective?—

— Hmm, and may I ask your name?—Eden asks.

The stranger's cheeky manner drove him into a stupor.

— I'm sorry, but I can't remember the name. Blown away. Lost...— a sarcastic mockery in response.

— How can you lose a name? The name is not a code for a computer, it is impossible to forget it!Eden was indignant.

—Code... code... 4851. These numbers are what's left.— the man sighs heavily.

"4851," Eden scribbled on the pill label.

— And what is it?—he asks.— What is this code?—

— I don't know!—the man shouted.— I don't know...—

Droplets of tears flowed onto the table, blurring the paint on the photos.

Eden wanted to hug him. For some reason, he really wanted to...

***

"I can't give an assessment of the situation yet," Eden typed."but the tension is just physically felt in this place. At night, the city is under attack and the forces are clearly unequal..."

The guy shudders - a rustle is heard somewhere at the front door, as if someone is mincing with small steps.

Risen Boulevard has always been busy, but for some reason it has become so quiet now.

Eden turned on all the lights in the house.

The door opened slightly and closed again. And this is in the presence of an unmounted lock! Someone is playing outside the door...

Eden slowly takes a step forward.

The door swings open and a man in black jumps at him. A strong noose quickly closes on a skinny neck.

The detective wheezes, beats the emptiness with his hands, an iron garrote tightens the emptiness, an iron garrote tightens the throat. Already the blood seems to have gone, otherwise it cannot be explained- the skin of the throat burns very much ...

Catching the remnants of oxygen, Eden is still trying to fight for life. The seconds stretch into a real eternity...

"Erin, so where is your baby?"

"No! I don't have any children at all!"

"Do you think you're going to lie to me so easily? I can't be fooled!"

Memories that shouldn't be there at all are suddenly interrupted.

Eden falls to the floor, clutching his bleeding throat with his hands. Tears roll down his cheeks, he tries to get up, but powerlessness in this fear has completely seized him.

He's afraid to die... Although he knows about death purely theoretically.

— Eden!— someone is running up.— Eden, how are you? —

— Blood... Blood...—Mills whispers softly. Somehow, he realizes that it's Roxy.

The bottle cap rustles, the smell of alcohol.

— What...— Eden wheezes, tries to say something and suddenly breaks into a hoarse scream. The wound burns with pain and he almost loses consciousness.

— Eden! Stay with me! I didn't see who it was, but Marcel ran after him. In time, I called him to the pies... Can you hear me, Eden?— Roxanne is wrapping something around his neck. The smell of blood permeated everything.

Roxy feels a strong desire to grab the throat of a young detective. The heart accelerated its rhythm from the smell of blood.

— Eden, your throat is just a little scratched, sit here, and I'll go to Marcel. I hear him scream...—

Eden shudders and sits up. Just a second - and the girl also disappeared somewhere ...

he still felt her strange smell in the air.

Staggering a little, the detective got up, closed the door with considerable difficulty. Although he felt the pain from the bandage and the weakness from the wound, he wanted to go and check on Roxy.

— Eden, don't come here!— he heard Roxanne's cry from around the corner.

Hell opened up to his eyes at the turn.

Roxanne and Marcel clung to the man, still alive, with their teeth. They drank blood, gnawed out pieces of flesh of a man who tried to scream.

The world spun before his eyes.

Eden felt someone hug him to her.

— Don't lose consciousness, Eden, I can hear how loud your heart is beating and how fast...Roxanne whispers to him.— Come on... That's it, walk... Just don't lose consciousness! —

— What... what was that?— Detective Mills hears his voice as if from the side. — You... you... one of them? The same monster?—

— Yes and no, dear Eden... This infection pretty much prolonged my life, although it caused a lot of problems... You don't need to be afraid of me, I'm not as scary as I seem...—a quiet chuckle.

Roxanne stroked his hair, ruffled its pleasant pliability.

— I'm different from the infected, and you're different from the detectives, aren't you, Eden?—

The guy felt that Roxy's words were slowly beginning to melt into the darkness. He got up on shaky legs. There was only fog around now.

— Will you ever tell him that those whom he calls parents, or rather, will call them, are not parents...—the voice trailed off.— I hope my baby will be happy with them on Titan ... —

This voice for some reason was so familiar and native ...

— Eden, are you crying?— someone called out to him.— Eden!—

When thin fingers wrapped around his shoulders and the transport screamed, Eden realized that Marcel had called out to him.

— Eden!— a disheveled Roxy ran up to him.— You ran away from us for a whole block, what happened? Are you so scared of our kind?—

— I'm not from Titan...—the detective said it in a barely audible voice.

— What, I'm sorry?—Dupree asks again.

— I'm not from Titan!— the detective screams and runs home to the house that was assigned to him on Risen Boulevard.

Sweat is running down my hair, my eyes are a little crazy.

He turns on the computer and immediately enters the query: "Eden Mills parents."

...

"Refusal".

One more time.

"Files from the identity document have been deleted. The place of creation is Europe, Oasis Hill..."

Eden shouted. He didn't understand why he was shouting.

They simply lost their nerves.

***

He later went to crime scene number one with John Doe, a man who had lost his memory.

— I still don't understand, Mr. Brain, what you want.—Roxanne said, unbuttoning her jacket on the way out of the car.— You want to give him an album here and what?—

— Although it's bad, but I have hypnosis. If it doesn't work out, I won't be too upset. But you need to try, otherwise it will be the usual inaction...—Eden took out a marker, pencil, and metronome along with the album.

John looked around in fright, without getting out of the car. It seems that he was even shaking a little from fear.

— Come to me.— Eden took one of the drawers, put a newspaper on top.— Sit down here.—

The detective looked into such damn familiar eyes! And why? Why?

The metronome rattled with its cutting rhythm, Eden touched the man's temple. He was making some passes with his hands, but Roxy couldn't see what it was-she was right behind him. The album was lying on the man's lap, a pencil was placed in his hand. What can you draw under hypnosis?

— Close your eyes... Do you remember the woman who was killed here?—Eden asked in a firm voice.

— Yes... A lot of blood... Very much...—the man whispered.— The creature struck... Punched her right through...—

— Do you remember your name?—Eden Mills asked another question, feeling everything inside tense up.

His heart thumped loudly like a bell, echoing in his ears.

— Jack Mellrose. Jack Sebastian Mellrose. I am from Earth, from planet Earth, from those who suffered from the explosion and they began to be called mutants. I had a wife and a little son...—Tears flowed from his closed eyes.

— Stop! I'll count to three and you'll wake up... And you will wake up! Once...He flexed one finger... Three! —

The man looked up at him with slightly clouded eyes.

— You shouldn't have come here... Nothing awaits you here but death...— he croaked.

***

— Hello, I'm Eden Mills. Are you Catherine Fayzenforth?—Eden turned to the elderly lady who entered.— I asked you to come to find out to the end: did you tell the local police that you saw the murder of an unknown person from Titan?—

— Of course I have. There was such a scream that the eardrums almost burst! Only there was this...—The old woman lowered her hoarse voice.— just for one second... —

— How is it? Everything happened in a second?— Mills wanted to get up before that, but suddenly sat back down.— Are you sure that the murder really happened in just a second?—

— Don't think that if I'm old, then I don't have any brains at all!The woman hands the detective a flash card.— Take a look. Right now. This is from my binoculars. I managed to get into this moment with the "shooting on motion" mode. My late husband was a security guard. He left me this device and taught me how to use it.—

In the pictures there was an open hatch and a paw sticking out of it.

Eden zoomed in on the image. And again. And more.

— Oh! Sorry, goodbye, I have to run!— Eden jumps up, takes off.— Marcel, find someone who will take this woman home! Where's Roxanne?

Dupree came out from behind the door:

— She went to the intersection. The one where the mutilated one was found. —

— Oh,—Mills says softly and rushes out into the street.

***

Roxanne Nelson armed herself with a wrench and began to unscrew all the fasteners on the outdated sewer manhole.

There is enough ammunition to make a good mess, but there is not enough for complete destruction ...

— Mills! Go away! Children have no place in such an operation!—Roxanne shouted when she saw the detective approaching.

—Mrs. Nelson! If you knew about this secret passage all this time, why didn't you tell me? And I'm not a child!—Eden raised his voice.

—Well, then... Let's go. At least there will be someone to talk to... But don't you dare to act in your own way! Is there a gun?—Roxy looked him over.— Take out my backpack armor and put it on. —

— Why?—Mills froze.

Roxy couldn't stand it and grinned. After all, this guy was very nice and funny...

— Hurry up!— raising her voice, she said.

— Are we alone this time?— Mills jumps off first.

— It's better not to take Marcel with you all the time, the guy is suddenly married! Oh, how I miss my youth!—Roxanne stopped walking and felt Eden Mills bump into her back.

In front of them was a path branching into five different directions.

— Will we split up or do you remember where to go here?— the big-eyed guy asks.

— These paths weren't here before, I swear to you, they weren't, he added them.—Roxy sniffed.— No, I can't understand! If you had your gadgets with you, we would have connected to the sewer monitor, looked at the diagrams and passed...—Nelson pushed her hair out of her face.—Do you have anything you can connect with?—

— I definitely can't forget or lose this: my visor and myself. Roxanne, you'll have to stick that cord in my right hand, and the cable with the standard connector in my left hand. And I will become your surveillance device...—the gray eyes lowered a little.

— Will it hurt you?—Roxanne asks him.

— If so, there is no other way out now, as I understand it...—

The wiring pierces the skin, blood drips. Roxanne strokes his thin hand, tries to push the wire inside as carefully as possible.

— When you put the visor on me, dial F-5-5. If the light bulb doesn't light up, you give it a good crack with your real hand. The visor is old...— said the detective and suddenly added:

— Don't hit me, please, Roxanne...—

Eden screamed as the cable from the visor sank into his skin.

These cables held such a voltage that the M-1000 could easily hear the electrical connection without a direct connection. The person himself is something like both a flash card and an adapter in one person.

Roxanne noticed a notebook sticking out of Eden's jacket pocket, found a marker there and put it all in the guy's hands.

Eden sat motionless for a while, then his hands began to move mechanically.

Roxy sat and watched as drawings and diagrams of the sewer branch map appeared manually on paper, exactly the branch where they were now, the symbols were applied with the precision of a computer font.

Nelson shuddered when she noticed an incoming message flashed and mentally thanked herself that she had turned off the sound on all communication devices, it is unknown what could have happened if everything had been different.

The wiring warned that it was not enough for a long time.

Roxanne stole a glance at the message.

"Marcel.

Well, how's the situation? I sincerely want to join!

Boring."

"Wait for the signal with reinforcements.Roxy quickly wrote a short reply.

— You shouldn't have gone,—the girl said aloud to the detective.—but I'm glad you're with me now. I need a lot of strength. I can resist any nastiness of this world alone, but Felix is almost impossible to kill. I hope you get me out and bury me later...—

— Shut up.—Mills muttered shortly.— Do you think it's easy to watch people die?—

— I know, Eden, I've been to the transcontinental invasion. Fought, saw it all...—Roxanne interrupted her speech and slammed her hand over Eden's mouth.— There's someone there!—

The detective barely overcame the artificial hand.

—Impossible,—Eden whispered.— there's a dead end there! —

— Hmm, Mills, if you don't believe your feelings, I may not trust the map that you drew, but I trust my nose!— Roxanne extinguished the flashlight and went faster forward.

— ... And this one needs to be killed!—Felix's thunderous bass could be heard.— They'll recognize us! Somehow they can smell us!—

The monster sniffed and suddenly turned towards the entrance. All the ugly faces stared at Roxanne and Eden.

Gray eyes darted, Roxy could even smell this fear hanging in the air, the flowing smell of fear. The pupils were dilated.

— Stay here, Eden. Don't try to go out, if you smell fried - run away! I won't be lost, believe me. This is not the first time for me...— Roxy reloads the machine and goes forward.

She want to behave like a hero of stupid movies and throw kisses at Eden, but this is stupid, extremely stupid ...

— Felix!— she calls her dead husband by name and throws a grenade.

Explosion. Acrid smoke began to rise.

Eden presses the button of the transmitter with his fist - reinforcement.

A signal beeped and a red light came on - damn it, there is no connection!

— Believe me, Roxy, I am not aware of these attacks and I am not organizing them.—Felix's deep sepulchral bass rang out.

— If you loved me one iota for your life, you wouldn't lie so openly. You've always been against it. And the guy you killed last night?— Roxy is loading the weapon.

— Maybe you'd better think about your friend?— smoke started coming from all sides.

Roxanne fired a burst, but she didn't see much anymore.

— Mommy...— a voice sounded nearby.

Wheezing, gurgling, and in this voice there was some kind of animal thirst for blood. This voice didn't sound like a human voice at all.

Teeth clacked and there was a smell of blood.

Something quickly runs past, claws whistle, a wound remains on the shoulder.

Roxy bends over in pain.

— Do you want to lose your other hand, you insignificant parody of a parent?—Shined licked her claws.

Roxy fired, but as it looked, she wanted to scare more than hurt.

Eden peeked out from behind the shelter for a second and tightened his grip on his ray gun.

— Coward... Coward! Idiot!—he scolded himself softly.

Roxy ran as fast as she could towards her adopted daughter.

Eden was ready to swear before the Titanic court that Roxy also grew fangs.

The sound of gnawing, a very loud crunch of bones. Someone is screaming in a terrible voice.

Eden suddenly plucked up the courage, turned on the beam pistol at full power and fired a series of shots.

Roxy was lying on the floor motionless. She didn't even seem to be breathing.

— Roxanne!— Eden ran to the girl and touched her shoulder.— Roxy, wake up...—

The girl opened her misty eyes.

— I'm sorry... Eden...— she said hoarsely.

Eden didn't even have time to notice how her fangs dug into his neck.

Blood flowed, which Roxy greedily swallowed.

Eden couldn't move or scream.

— I'm sorry...—Roxanne whispered, jumping back.—I called you to fight monsters, but I'm one of them myself...—

— No, nothing wrong... And this disease? Is it transmitted? Am I infected now too?— from a calm tone, Eden got a little hysterical.

Roxanne lifted his face by the chin and looked into his big shiny gray eyes:

— Eden... You're not infected... And no one will touch you... I swear on my life not to break down anymore...—

***

— How many infected are there in the city? And in general in the whole oasis?—Eden asked as he walked.

— A lot... But there was practically no one left on my side except my father, Marcel and Hollis...— Roxy looked at the remaining charge on the machine.— If anyone else comes out from around the corner, I will have nothing to go to my husband with! -

— You have a lot of weapons.— said the detective.— Believe me, Roxy, I am not aware of these attacks and I am not organizing them.—Felix's deep sepulchral bass rang out.

— If you loved me one iota for your life, you wouldn't lie so openly. You've always been against it. And the guy you killed last night?— Roxy is loading the weapon.

— Maybe you'd better think about your friend?— smoke started coming from all sides.

Roxanne fired a burst, but she didn't see much anymore.

— Mommy...— a voice sounded nearby.

Wheezing, gurgling, and in this voice there was some kind of animal thirst for blood. This voice didn't sound like a human voice at all.

Teeth clacked and there was a smell of blood.

Something quickly runs past, claws whistle, a wound remains on the shoulder.

Roxy bends over in pain.

— Do you want to lose your other hand, you insignificant parody of a parent?—Shined licked her claws.

Roxy fired, but as it looked, she wanted to scare more than hurt.

Eden peeked out from behind the shelter for a second and tightened his grip on his ray gun.

— Coward... Coward! Idiot!—he scolded himself softly.

Roxy ran as fast as she could towards her adopted daughter.

Eden was ready to swear before the Titanic court that Roxy also grew fangs.

The sound of gnawing, a very loud crunch of bones. Someone is screaming in a terrible voice.

Eden suddenly plucked up the courage, turned on the beam pistol at full power and fired a series of shots.

Roxy was lying on the floor motionless. She didn't even seem to be breathing.

— Roxanne!— Eden ran to the girl and touched her shoulder.— Roxy, wake up...—

The girl opened her misty eyes.

— I'm sorry... Eden...— she said hoarsely.

Eden didn't even have time to notice how her fangs dug into his neck.

Blood flowed, which Roxy greedily swallowed.

Eden couldn't move or scream.

— I'm sorry...—Roxanne whispered, jumping back.—I called you to fight monsters, but I'm one of them myself...—

— No, nothing wrong... And this disease? Is it transmitted? Am I infected now too?— from a calm tone, Eden got a little hysterical.

Roxanne lifted his face by the chin and looked into his big shiny gray eyes:

— Eden... You're not infected... And no one will touch you... I swear on my life not to break down anymore...—

***

— How many infected are there in the city? And in general in the whole oasis?—Eden asked as he walked.

— A lot... But there was practically no one left on my side except my father, Marcel and Hollis...— Roxy looked at the remaining charge on the machine.— If anyone else comes out from around the corner, I will have nothing to go to my husband with!—

— You have a lot of weapons.— said the detective.

—I wouldn't say a lot, Eden... You just don't know how many of them are lurking there... How long is waiting... Oh, it gives me a pounding when I remember all these... All these freaks!—Roxy shuddered.

—You're hurt.—Eden pointed.

At the level of Roxy's liver, a fragment of a stone was sticking out. The clothes were stained with blood.

— Nothing.— the girl smiled, only smiled nervously.— Can I recharge my arm from the M-1000?—

— Yes, of course... I'll find the cable now... Do you have a standard connector or do you need an adapter?—Eden reached into the small white purse on his belt for the cable.

— Mini USB standard.—

Roxy flinches when the detective's hands touch her skin. After the breakdown, she worries about everything, it all seems so bright, as if from alcohol.

— Come on.—

An indicator flashed on the tiny screen and the battery lights began to shimmer.

— Is it difficult to always be with something electric? I'm sorry for this strange question... I'm kind of like that myself, but all these things have been with me since I was born...—Eden turned around.— There's someone coming...—

— Peek-a-boo! Peek-a-boo!—Marcel peeked around the corner.— You speak so loudly that I heard you from the entrance! Well, is your darling here or did you go shopping?—

— Marcel... This joke is more than fifty years old...—Roxanne snorted, waving it away.— Come on! My hand is charged.—

— And the others?—Marcel twirled the radio in his hands.— Recall them? —

— No, let them wait!—

Eden only looked back for a second.

— Detective, is there a gun? I have five in my bag, can I give you one if you don't have enough of your lasers?— Marcel slowly followed them, gradually bypassing them and shifting to the other side of Roxy.

— No, thank you, Mr. Dupree, I have everything.—Mills replied dryly.

Marcel's long face seemed almost white in the semi-darkness. One would have thought that the Frenchman had turned into a marble sculpture that walks and talks.

— And the daughter? Have you checked where she is?—Marcel asked.

— Eden hurt her, but maybe she's alive... I wish she wasn't alive! Marcel... Will you be able to use your powers if the opportunity presents itself?— Roxanne took some glasses from Marcel and put them on.

— I swore to my wife that I would not use my powers... All right! I've known you a lot longer!—Marcel turned to Eden.— Detective, take the night vision. Of the three of us, only I can see in the dark... —

— Okay, okay...—Mills agreed calmly.

After perhaps two or three turns, the walls suddenly trembled.

— Shhh! Upstairs, not a sound to anyone, not a rustle!—Marcel whispered.

In different corners and turns, especially in such old tunnels, there is always a huge amount of different junk.

Somehow Dupree found a long iron rod there.

After prying the manhole with a rod, Dupri surveyed the space above it with the help of a mirror.

— It smells like something sharp, we'll put on masks.—He said softly to the others.— At least, at least this part, completely unknown to me, looks harmless, there are no freaks, no shooters, no other aggression.—

Masks with filters securely closed the respiratory organs. If anything, they will also muffle the sounds of sighs.

Marcel looked around, putting his stick forward, he motioned for the others to follow them.

The battery indicator blinks in the semi-darkness. Eden covers the lights of his gun with his fingers.

The lights of the M-1000 on the temple, fortunately, are not so noticeable.

— Contagious zone.—Marcel says indistinctly through his mask.—Do not remove the protection, you can't live here for more than ten minutes without a mask.—

Roxanne attaches a mini flamethrower to her weapon.

After all, she did not leave the bag, all this heavy weight, despite the situation, remained on her shoulder.

— Let's keep it down. I hear something...— Roxanne says.— Like a knock, but with a rhythm...—

— Someone is tapping the SOS in Morse code.— Marcel lowered the straps of the mask a little lower so as not to put pressure on his ears and prevent him from hearing.

The Frenchman turned his head, trying to figure out where the sound was coming from.

— The pipe seems to be ... right? — Roxy whispered doubtfully.— Is it worth it to meddle?—

— It won't get any worse.— even under the mask, it was clear from Dupree's eyes that he was smiling.

And at that moment, a terrible pain pierced Eden's head. Probably, if nails were driven straight into the head with red-hot nails, the feeling would be very similar.

Screaming loudly, Eden fell to the ground.

The mask fell off his face...

***

... Pain shot through the lungs.

Eden felt the mask of the oxygen tank on his face through oblivion, but could not come to himself.

— ...Take him away!— he heard a voice from afar.

— I can't be with him either! He will be taken away from us! Mark...—

On the last sentence, Eden woke up.

Metal. There's definitely rusty metal around.

Marcel and Roxanne are also here now, but they are not the only ones.

John, the one with no memory, John Doe is also nearby.

No one is wearing a mask right now.

The detective's condition is a little drunk after oxygen.

— You... You said so... Air...—Mills stammered.

His lips obeyed badly, and the mask distorted his speech now.

Roxy crawled closer, took off his mask and unfastened the balloon.

— It hurts me to breathe.—Eden said hoarsely.

— You'll get used to it. Or maybe not. Who knows?—Marcel smiled.— But there are chances. And rather big.—

— What happened?— Eden Mills tried to breathe in and out again tentatively. My lungs don't seem to hurt anymore.

— You lost consciousness.— Roxy took a large piece of clay and pressed it against the hole in the pipe in which they were all sitting.— The air is good here, don't grab your mask. You said "Mark" and suddenly passed out. Is this your weirdness again, Mr. Brain?—

— I don't know... Maybe... Maybe it was something I can't even think about - the PROCESSOR will burn out...—Mills rubbed his forehead.—Did I hit something? The system crashes and the brains are literally boiling from this!—

— Should I give you ice? You broke the back of your head a little. It's nothing terrible for a person,—John handed him an ice pack.— but probably unpleasant for the computer...—

Roxy Nelson's hands are shaking. Eden noticed it by accident.

— We're going to put the masks back on,—Roxanne commanded.— and you, John, will need to put on a bulletproof vest. I just have two ultralights in my bag, from the new options. I hope they will suit you, at least one of them...—

— Your bulletproof vests fit everyone...—Marcel said. When he saw the raised hand, he immediately crawled away.— Okay, okay, I'm stopping joking! —

The loaded rifles made sounds. Fortunately, plasma is much lighter than conventional, bullet.

— The red button is a shot, and the toggle switch is a recharge. Remember?—Marcel asked before everyone left.

It was scary to try to be more careful. Any cut here threatens with a fatal infection.

Roxy noticed the shuffling. These are definitely those who are with Felix, for some reason she felt very strongly the vile smell of her late husband.

— There.—Roxy whispered to Marcel.

The Frenchman nodded and waved to the others.

It seemed that military actions were not the first time for everyone, except, of course, Eden.

— And the gold one?—Eden asked Marcel quietly.

— Grenades made of compressed supernova matter. You don't have to use them, but they are there... Just have it if you need it...—Sadly, the Frenchman stroked the golden button.

Eden wanted to ask something else, but fell silent.

Marcel shot several times at the wall of an abandoned house - an abomination, somewhat resembling an octopus, had spread there, like mold.

From the explosion of radioactive plasma, numerous eyes scattered in different directions.

— Marcel, I think you did it for nothing.Roxanne Nelson said, pointing somewhere with her finger.

A loud roar came from above.

The palm, which was the size of a building, hit the cracked asphalt.

Roxy couldn't stand it and screamed at the top of her voice.

Max flew off her face, but the girl cocked her rifle and began firing in continuous bursts.

Eden shot up as far as he could.

It's not a fact that someone will come... But at least they'll see where they are...

— They're nearby...—Marcel waved his hand and shots rained down, knocking down the mutilated mutated creatures.

— Reinforcements!Marcel smiled wearily.

A huge group of people gradually shifted forward, covering them with themselves.

Marcel picked up Roxanne, who was losing consciousness, and carried her into the car that drove up.

Eden was hit on the temple by a piece of stone, and John helped him to stand on his feet on the way to the car.

— Your eyes... They're so familiar...— suddenly he said.

— Roxy, breathe!—Marcel applied an air filter mask to Roxanne's face.—Not now, petite, not now...

Roxy squeezed his hand weakly.

— Is there any connection between you?—Mills asks the Frenchman.

— Non! Only friendly. We ran away from Earth together. I took Roxy and her parents with me. We took the shuttle here. And I saw it all a long time ago... This disease... This damn infection was on my planet!— thin fingers squeezed the cross.

Eden noticed this cross just now. He was under a Frenchman's army jacket.

— Where are you from?—Eden asked.

Shots rang outside the window and the rain began to fall.

— Come on. We need to help them...—Marcel took the rifle.

— Okay...—

The earth is cracking into pieces, creatures like worms are tearing its firmament.

— All this stuff is going to the oasis!—Roxy took aim and fired.— Mills, don't go to sleep, shoot!—

Explosions thundered in the distance - it collapsed protection.

There's nothing to hide from all this filth now...