Nia listened to him with great attention, but doubt crept into her soul. Why had Lira found such a lost and unremembering person? And why did she need them?
Nia told Ein that she also didn't remember her real name. She said that this name had come to her head when she woke up in the alley, and since she didn't remember her real name, she decided that she would consider the name Nia to be hers.
They both understood that Lira was hiding something. That she was using them for some purpose of her own. But what were these goals? And how could they get out of this trap? Together we will find a way out…
After several weeks of careful planning, Nia and Ein decided that it was time to act. They convinced Lira that Nia had begun to regain memories associated with the artifact.
– I remember… I remember that the artifact is hidden somewhere not far from the place where I woke up, – Nia said, trying to look as convincing as possible. – I was scared… of some people in uniform… they looked like policemen…
Lira became wary.
– And what? – she asked.
– I dropped the bag with the artifact so they wouldn't catch me! – Nia blurted out. – I was afraid that they would take it away from me!
Lira frowned.
– Where exactly? – she asked. – Where did you drop it?
Nia pointed towards the city.
– There, not far from that alley, near some abandoned building
Lira looked at one of her subordinates.
– Check, – she ordered. – Search all the abandoned buildings and their surroundings in that area.
The henchman went to the city, leaving Lira, Nia, and Ein alone.
This was their chance.
Nia and Ein exchanged glances. They knew that they had to act quickly. Now or never.
– Run! – Nia whispered.
They turned around and ran in the opposite direction from the city, away from Lira's gang. Lira, stunned by the sudden turn of events, froze in place.
– Stop! – she shouted. – Come back!
Her voice sounded full of anger and rage.
But Nia and Ein didn't stop. They ran, without looking back, knowing that they would be chased. Freedom. It was so close.
Nia, over the months spent in captivity, had memorized every detail of the surroundings. She knew that far from the house where they were kept, there was a small stream, a winding ribbon cutting through the gray landscape. This stream became their hope for salvation. "Water. It would wash away our tracks."
Running up to the stream, they took off their shoes and, shivering from the cold, stepped into the icy water.
The stream was narrow and shallow, but the water was piercingly cold. It burned the skin, restricted movement, but the fugitives were full of determination. They knew that this was their only chance. “If only they wouldn't freeze.”
They walked in the water, trying to step carefully so as not to raise splashes and create unnecessary noise. Nia knew that they needed to go against the current in order to hide the direction of their escape. Quietly and inconspicuously.
Approaching the stream, they carefully rubbed out their tracks with dry leaves and branches, hoping that this would confuse their pursuers.
Having walked far enough along the stream, Nia and Ein went ashore. They left clear footprints leading towards the hospital. They wanted to create the false impression that they were looking for the artifact.
Then, holding their breath, they returned along their tracks back into the stream, carefully concealing their true path. Hide. Confuse the tracks.
The water was unbearably cold. Teeth chattered, muscles cramped from spasms, but they didn't stop. They knew that Lira would not forgive them for escaping.
Finally, they emerged from the stream in another place, far from the hut. They were wet, frozen, but free. Freedom.
Before them stretched a gray plain, leading to the lights of a distant city. A city full of dangers and mysteries. But a city where they hoped to find answers to their questions.
Nia and Ein were exhausted. The icy water, the gray plains, the fear of being caught – all this had taken a lot of energy from them. But they didn't stop. They knew that they had to get to the city.
Fortunately, they managed to grab the bag with Ein's remaining belongings when they fled the hut. There was no artifact in it, of course, but there was a watch.
The watch! It was a real salvation. Thanks to it, the heroes managed not to lose their sense of time. Without the change of day and night, it was quite difficult to navigate, and the watch helped them keep track of how much time had passed. The lighting in this world was always like in the evening – dim and subdued. But it was enough to see the road and avoid obstacles.
After about seven hours, exhausted and frozen, Nia and Ein reached the outskirts of the city. Before them opened an amazing landscape, sparkling with lights and filled with the noise of strolling cars.
Chapter 7
At the entrance to the city stood a huge arch, made of shimmering metal. On the arch was emblazoned: “Tesla City”. Below, in smaller print, it read: "United Population Limit: One Billion People". And, right at the bottom, as if someone had forgotten to remove it, was visible “The Only City of New Earth”.
The population inscription looked like an electronic scoreboard, the last digits of which were constantly flashing. Nia and Ein watched as a unit was added to the number, and then immediately subtracted. It created the feeling that the city had a strict limit on the number of residents, and everyone who arrived took someone's place.
This inscription alarmed Nia.
– What does this mean? Why is the population limited? And what happens to those who disappear from the scoreboard? – she asked quietly, not taking her eyes off the flickering numbers.
Ein shrugged.
– I don't know, – he replied. – But we need to go further. I have a feeling that if we linger here, something bad might happen to us.
She understood that fear was nothing compared to the hunger and thirst that had been tormenting them since their escape from Lira's hut. Gathering her courage, they passed under the arch and entered the city.
Tesla City struck them with its splendor and desolation. Huge, curved buildings soared upwards, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. Flying cars whizzed by with a quiet hum.
Nia and Ein walked along a wide avenue, trying not to attract attention. Their clothes seemed to shout that they were strangers.
Soon they saw a huge skyscraper, distinguished from the other buildings by its architecture. It was made of glass and metal and resembled a huge crystal tower. Most likely, you can find water there, Nia thought.
– Maybe we should go there? – Ein suggested, nodding at the skyscraper. – It should be warm and, perhaps, there will be food.
Nia agreed. They approached the automatic doors. Nia let Ein go ahead, pushing him slightly in the back. “I need to see if a card or pass is needed,” Nia thought, but the doors opened without any obstacles.
They found themselves in a huge hall. It was a little more lively here than on the street. People scurried back and forth, staring at their gadgets. “They behave like zombies,” Nia thought. The main thing was not to stand out…
She felt her throat dry and her stomach twist with hunger.
Nia and Ein tried not to attract attention. They walked along the wall, peering around. Soon they saw a small door with the inscription: "Service Room". At that moment, a man in uniform headed towards the door.
– Now