Alise opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling for a moment, hoping this was all just a bad dream. She slowly sat up on the bed, stretched and walked over to the dusty window. She looked out and sighed softly.
- It wasn't a dream after all," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
- Unfortunately," a voice called back from behind her. Noah was leaning against the door frame, a cup in his hand. - Welcome to reality. A little less colourful than yours, eh?
Alise turned to him with a slight smile, but the sadness was still in her eyes.
- Where are you going? - She asked as she saw Noah buckle his gun belt and pack a few things into his rucksack.
- To a nearby bunker. You need to check the supplies and see if anyone's hanging around," he replied, adjusting the strap on his shoulder.
- I'll come with you," Alise said firmly.
- No," Noah chuckled without thinking. - This is no place for a child. It can be dangerous.
- I'm fifteen years old," she replied vehemently. - I don't want to sit here alone and wait. I've been scared enough. And besides... I could be useful.
Noah looked at her for a long moment. There was something like respect in his gaze, though he hid it carefully.
- Fine," he murmured finally. - But you will stay close to me. And you listen to me every step of the way, understand?
- Sure," she replied gratefully.
- Rex, let's go," he called, and the dog jumped up and ran towards them, tail wagging.
Moments later, all three of them made their way to the bunker, traversing the silent, deserted woods. Every step Alise took through this world seemed unreal, but she had a feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger.
They walked in silence through a forest that must have once been part of some kind of settlement. Overgrown ruins of houses, scorched earth and lonely car wrecks made for a desolate landscape.
Rex ran ahead of them, stopping from time to time to check his surroundings.
Noah glanced at Alise out of the corner of his eye.
- Your world, what was life like there... Before all this chaos?
Alise raised her eyes and was silent for a moment, as if trying to recapture memories that now seemed distant and unreal.
- It was... normal," she finally said softly. - I had a family, friends. I went to school, studied... I painted. It was a quiet, safe place. Sometimes boring, but... I miss it a lot.
- Did you paint? - asked a surprised Noah.
- Yes, I did. Mostly landscapes, sometimes people and animals. It always calmed me down.
Noah nodded as if he understood.
- And all this... The quake, the sky... that crack," he added with a hint of disbelief. - You didn't look like someone who made it up. But it sounds like something out of a sick fairy tale.
- I know, I don't really believe it either. It all happened so fast. First the vibration, then the sky ripped open and I... just got sucked in. I screamed for my mother to save me, but ....
She fell silent and her voice trailed off. She walked on, her eyes fixed on the ground.
Noah said nothing for a moment. Then he sighed.
- You're not from here, Alise. And what you're saying may seem crazy... but I've seen so much in this world that I've stopped doubting the impossible.
- And you? - She asked after a while, looking at him. - Who were you... before all this happened?
Noah laughed, though there was no joy in his laughter.
- Once? Just an ordinary guy. I worked for the police, played console games, had a girlfriend. And then... the war broke out and everything ended. Now I'm just someone trying to survive.
Alise bit her lip.
- I'm sorry.
- It's OK, I'm finally getting used to it.
- And when did that happen? - Alise asked.
- It happened 12 years ago, I was still a kid, I was 15 years old like you are now.
- It must have been terrible, I can't imagine experiencing something like that... Alise paused and realised that something equally terrible had happened to her, that she might never go home again.
- You see, we have something in common," Noah said. Alise smiled at him as they suddenly saw the bunker, which was already close by.
The bunker looked like it had been built a long time ago - a rusted door, a sturdy concrete structure and remnants of old markings that had long since lost their colour. Noah walked up to the entrance and pressed the button beside it. Nothing happened for a while, but after a few seconds there was a faint click and the door began to open slowly.
- I was always afraid that one day this door would jam and I wouldn't be able to get in," Noah muttered, looking over his shoulder at Alise. - We went in.
It was dark and cold inside, with only a few small lights blinking on the walls. Alise looked around uncertainly, muttering to herself. Rex ran in first, as if he knew the place perfectly.
- There are some supplies here," Noah said, leading them through the narrow corridor. - Water, tinned food, a few sleeping bags. It used to be a shelter for a group of people... now it's just my storage.
- Did you find all this? - Alise asked, touching the wall where moisture ran down.
- Some things. The rest was left behind by those who never came back.
Alise felt a knot in her stomach. She wanted to ask what had happened to them, but was afraid of the answer.
They entered a larger room, somewhere between a storeroom and a bedroom. On the floor were old mattresses, scattered blankets and several boxes of supplies.
- Make yourself comfortable," Noah said, tossing her a small flashlight. - I'll see if there's anything left to eat.
Alise sat down on one of the mattresses. After a moment of silence, she spoke softly: - Do you think there is a way back?
Noah slowly turned to her. There was something of sympathy in his eyes.
- I don't know Alise myself - and can you... help me? - She asked with hope in her voice.
Noah hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
- I will help you as much as I can. But know this - this world will not spare you.
Alise clasped her hands together and bowed her head, Rex lying next to her, his warm body comforting her. For the first time in a long time, she felt not completely alone.
Noah returned after a few minutes, holding two tins and a small metal cup of water.
- This much was found," he said, sitting down next to her. - Beans and... Something that was once soup, I think. A little cold, but edible.
- I'm not picky," Alise smiled pale and took the tin from him. - Thank you.
They opened the tins with a penknife and ate in silence. The sound of the spoon hitting the metal echoed through the room, mingled with the soft gasps of Rex, who curled up at their feet.
- You know," Noah spoke up suddenly, breaking the silence, "I ate the same thing every day for a long time. These flavours no longer meant anything to me. But now... somehow it tastes different when you're not eating alone.
Alise looked at him and nodded slightly.
- I think I know what you mean.
Silence fell again. But this time it was less awkward, more... calm.
- I always dreamed of travelling one day," she said after a while. - But not like this.
- This world gives you no choice," Noah sighed. - It takes everything from you before you have time to build anything. And then it makes you fight every day to survive.
Alise looked at him sadly.
- Maybe it will be easier to survive together.
Noah looked at her thoughtfully. For a moment he did not answer, then he smiled slightly.
- Maybe you're right, a girl from another world.
When they finished eating, Noah put the rest of the food into his backpack and Alise looked around the bunker, still feeling the weight of their conversation.
- Thanks for the food," she said softly. - It tasted like... well, the end of the world.
Noah smiled crookedly and chuckled: 'That's because it literally is.
They were about to leave when a sound came from behind the bunker. Something like a muffled voice... indistinct words spoken in a tired, hoarse tone.
- Did you hear that? - Alise turned abruptly and looked towards the door.
Noah stopped and raised his hand in a gesture of silence. Rex, who had been sleeping against the wall, lifted his head and let out a low bark, then ran for the exit.
- Someone is outside," Noah said, reaching for his gun.
Suddenly they heard shots.