The Cactus Element vials were scattered across the cold floor like teeth ripped from someone with terrible luck. Some were still glowing, intact. Oud crouched and picked up two without hesitation, while I tried—for the thousandth time—not to lose my patience with him.
— PULL THE DOOR! — I shouted, already hearing the grotesque chorus echoing down the corridor.
The Ulzors were coming, and they never came empty-handed.
I shoved the rusted door with everything I had. It answered with a long, sick groan, like something waking from a nightmare. Oud pushed too, but before we could open it all the way, something moved in the shadows.
An Ulzor lunged. Its right arm—the only arm it had—came down in a blow strong enough to rip the door clean off if it missed.
I dodged, felt the air slice past my ear, and finally the door gave way.
Oud slipped through.
I was still stuck on the wrong side.
The Ulzor struck again. I leapt over it, the monster's hot breath crawling up my neck. I squeezed through the narrow gap and bolted down the corridor. Only when my breathing began to fail did I realize—
Oud wasn't with me.
— Damn it… — I turned, searching.
— Ark… — his voice came, far too low.
I followed the sound and found him standing before a nearly hidden passage. Rubble, cracks, and beyond them… a dark tunnel, with a thin thread of light leaking between the stones.
Oud looked hypnotized.
— I can see light… — he said, far too calm for the moment.
Of course the universe wouldn't let that last. The Ulzors were screaming behind us. Staying there was impossible.
Oud climbed first, up an old ladder inside the tunnel, riddled with holes that looked like the work of rust—or teeth. I preferred not to think too hard about the second option.
— Move it, Oud! You walk like a tired ghost! — I complained, climbing after him.
— Ulzors don't climb ladders — he replied, as if that were the most comforting thing in the world.
— Yeah — I growled — but they can SHOOT us, idiot.
I glanced through one of the gaps, just to confirm my concern wasn't paranoia.
And there he was.
The Ulzor with the marked face. A fluorescent green circle burning on its deformed visage. It stared at me with the same murderous calm as before.
— Oh no… you again — I muttered.
It lifted its head—and fired.
The green light passed so close I felt its heat scrape my face. I climbed faster than any man with dignity should.
The ladder creaked under my feet, the sound echoing as I struggled to keep up with Oud, each step testing my patience and my strength.
When I reached the top, natural light hit me like a lukewarm punch. It was warm. It had been a long time since I'd felt that without immediately suspecting something.
I stepped out of the tunnel and realized where I was.
— A mountain? — I said, incredulous. — And here I thought that lab was in Chiulrom…
— Well, at least it's not another corridor full of things trying to blow me up.
The wind cut across my face, carrying the taste of sand and burnt leaves.
— Hah… real air. I missed this.
The view was absurd. Desert on one side, forest on the other, as if someone had split the map with a dull knife.
I stood there for about three seconds that felt like a vacation. The wind hit again. Warm, free, almost… gentle.
— The difference is huge… and to think I was breathing that rotten lab air.
I walked toward a large moss-covered rock, just to see the landscape from another angle. I went around it—and saw Oud from behind.
He looked like someone from another era. Dark red tunic, khaki pants, worn boots, that strange red adornment on his head—half hat, half helmet, with an opening at the top where his hair escaped as if it were trying to flee with us.
And he was silent.
That silence almost broke me. No creatures running. No explosions. Nothing trying to kill me.
It was… strange.
I approached him from the right. Oud kept staring at the desert and the forest as if he were seeing something I couldn't.
— So, Oud… amazing view, don't you think? — I tried.
Nothing. Not even a "hm."
— That lab was rough, huh? I'm completely wrecked. And you… are you okay?
He didn't answer again. Just slowly turned his head, as if each movement weighed more than it should.
The cloth on his face was torn, barely holding on—remnants of the fights we'd just survived. He turned little by little, and the light revealed what had been hidden.
I took a step back.
Half his face was still human. Light brown, normal, alive.
But the left side…
It was a green stain. A pale, sickly green.
— That's… — I swallowed hard — that's… ultra cancer? How are you still standing?
He just looked at me. No drama. No despair. As if I'd just commented on the weather.
— I don't know — he replied, lifting his hand carelessly. — I only know it's serious.
He turned his face toward the horizon. The light touched the green of his skin and illuminated it in a way that sent chills through me.
— It's because… I have Ancient Cancer.
The words hit my chest like a stone thrown from too close.
I tried to say something. Nothing came out.
I just stood there, staring at him, trying to understand how someone could simply… exist… with that devouring half his face.
Pity wasn't something I felt easily. But in that moment, I did.
Then a metallic vibration buzzed in my pocket.
The cube.
I ignored it…
The cube vibrated again in my pocket.
After a while, I had to check.
I pulled it out slowly.
— Huh… thirty-three missed calls?
I frowned.
— But I didn't even hear it ring… that's weird. What happened? — I murmured. — Wait… Imi?
— Blue one, who is Imi? — Oud asked behind me, as if that were the most important thing in the world.
— Wait, Oud, I'm busy. — I answered automatically.
— I see people down there. They seem to be heading somewhere, maybe the same city you mentioned. I think it's close.
I didn't even process what he said.
My mouth moved on its own:
— She's my sister… now let me see what happened.
I pressed the button. The screen opened with a loud crackle and a shaky image.
— Ark! — Illia's voice burst out, irritated and relieved at the same time. — I called you two days ago! What are you doing? Why did it take you so absurdly long to answer?
— Sorry, Illia… I swear I didn't hear anything. How is she? Is she okay?
The cube crackled again. The image froze.
— Illia? Can you hear me? Damn it… answer!
The static vanished suddenly.
— Ark? Are you already in the city? — she asked, with that irritating calm that always reminded me of Oud.
I looked around: desert on one side, forest on the other.
— I think I'm close. There's a desert and a forest almost glued together.
— Then you're close — she confirmed. — And your sister… she was worried. She wanted to talk to you, but you weren't answering.
— How is Imi? Is she okay?
— I really didn't hear. Can you put her on?
— Not right now — Illia replied. — She's taking a bath. When you arrive, let me know.
— Alright. And… what was the name of the person who can help Imi?
Illia finally smiled.
— Cindi. Area 0, Number 6.
I engraved that into my mind like it was the last piece of the world I could hold on to.
— When I find her, I'll call back.
Illia grew serious again.
— Don't worry about Imi. She's safe. And you… be careful, Ark.
The screen went dark.
And I stood there, the wind hitting my face, a desert to the right, a forest to the left…
…and a man marked by green cancer standing right behind me.