Dmitri ran as if the world were about to end at that very moment, his body refusing to look back. His arms wrapped tightly around Alice, because he knew that any carelessness could make him drop her.
On the other hand, Alice had eyes as sharp as an eagle's, she clenched her teeth in fury over what had happened. Once again her incapacity had failed to solve the problem.
In the face of someone so superior she felt like a cockroach that runs and hides when confronted with danger. It was humiliating, a despicable act in her eyes.
Urgh. — Is he following us?
Alice remained silent.
— Answer me, damn it! — Dmitri insisted.
She tightened her hands, letting the pain throb through her bones.
— No.
At every moment she looked at her wrists with Félix's handprints imprinted on them, they seemed like a cruel reminder.
When Dmitri spotted the camp he immediately began shouting a warning. Anastasia was resting when she heard his voice, she might not know why they were running, but it wasn't hard to recognize when someone was in despair.
— Go alert Mikhail. — Anastasia said to one of her companions.
Her heart raced, fragments of memories reached her mind, reminding her of the scars. She touched her belly with a trembling hand.
— Please, not again...
Some others noticed Dmitri running toward them and went on alert.
— Gray!!! — He shouted as loud as he could. — There's a Gray in the forest!!!
Everyone came out of their cabins and tents, frightened and cautious, they looked around searching for who had shouted.
When Dmitri arrived he was completely exhausted, his legs gave out and he fell to the ground. Alice was the only one who remained standing, but not because she was
stronger or less tired. It was pure pride, in its fullest and most latent form.
The camp did not panic, but remained silent.
The people who had rushed out of the tents and cabins did not know whether to go back inside or remain there. The name "Gray" still echoed in the air, but no one shouted anymore.
Mikhail approached slowly.
— What happened?
Alice hesitated, but calmly rolled up her sleeves showing the marks. She extended her arms, highlighting the deep purple bruises.
Mikhail ran his thumb over one of them, Alice let out a small grunt.
— Who did this?
Alice swallowed hard, her gaze turned toward the forest in the direction they had come from. She gestured, but her eyes remained fixed on the ground rather than ahead.
Mikhail looked at Alice. — Are they broken?
— No. — She replied dryly. — But it was close.
Dmitri breathed heavily.
— He's a Gray, I'm sure of it. No human can make those marks with just their hands.
Mikhail raised his eyes. — Did he chase you?
Silence.
Alice answered first.
— No.
Some people around exchanged glances.
— They might be playing a prank, a bad joke, you know how young people are. — Someone murmured.
Alice turned toward the voice, her magenta eyes cutting through the air.
— Then can you explain how I made these marks?
The comment died there.
Mikhail remained still for a few seconds, thinking.
— Did he speak?
Dmitri nodded.
— In another language, it sounded like German... Then in English. He said he was looking for a girl.
The wind passed between the tents, no one dared to comment.
But some looked at Alice, she noticed.
— I don't know him!
It wasn't an explanation, it was a defense.
Mikhail crossed his arms.
— Was he alone?
— Alone. — Dmitri confirmed.
Mikhail looked toward the forest, not with fear but with calculation.
— If he wanted to kill you he would have already done it. The more appropriate question is why he didn't follow you.
Anastasia finally spoke, in a low voice:
— And what if he was waiting for us to come out?
A good dose of paranoia hovered in the air.
Mikhail did not answer immediately, he walked to the nearest campfire. He picked up a piece of wood and stirred the embers.
— Reinforce the sentries. In pairs. No one goes out alone.
Pause.
Alice went toward him. — But you have few guards, I don't think it's possible to watch more than two sides like this.
— We have few people on guard duty, but not few weapons.
Alice fell silent.
— I'll talk to him. — At last Mikhail decided.
Dmitri protested.
— Are you crazy? That's suicide.
Mikhail walked until he took the first step outside the camp.
— You promised... — Elena said right behind him.
He stopped for a moment.
— You promised me you would never get hurt again.
— I'm just going to talk to him, I swear.
Elena held her own shoulder. — You always say that...
His steps left trails in the soft snow, the trees whistled as the wind passed through their branches.
It was a cold breeze that penetrated his thick fabrics. But he walked serenely, without haste or fear.
He admired the landscape of green leaves in contrast with the entire surrounding environment, that moment could have lasted for hours and Mikhail would not have minded.
But everything ends eventually.
After a few minutes he found the Gray.
He was there, sitting on a cut tree trunk, reflecting on life, his hands held an axe pointed toward the ground. He seemed depressed, despite all his strength Mikhail did not necessarily see him as an enemy.
— Hard day?
His question came out in perfect German. Félix had not noticed someone approaching, but he did not react upon seeing him.
— What do you want?
— They told me a Gray was in this region, so I came to check.
Félix seemed confused. — "Gray"? Is that what you call these things. — He pointed to his own chest. — If you came here because of those two you can leave, I didn't come to kill anyone.
Mikhail walked to a tree trunk slightly away from where Félix was, carefully removed the snow and sat down.
— Good, that relieves me to know.
Félix said nothing, his gaze remained fixed on the ground the entire time.
— I heard you were looking for a girl, did you find her?
He took a while to respond. — I hope not.
Mikhail was surprised.
— I don't mean to be intrusive or anything, but may I ask why?
— Russians. — His answer was dry.
Mikhail waited in the hope that he would give more detail, but in vain.
— I see, so you fought in the war?
Félix looked at him. — Are you some kind of interviewer?
— Not at all, I just like to understand well the person I'm talking to.
Félix made a few small head tics, as if holding something inside himself, and his eyes occasionally fixed on random directions. There was no noise or animals nearby, yet he stared as if mad.
— We have Axionil in the camp.
He had his attention. — I don't...
— You don't need to be ashamed to ask.
Félix stood up. — What do you intend to do? Why this out of nowhere? You don't even know me.
Mikhail remained calm and serene. — You don't need to know someone's name to know what they feel.
— I can kill you right now if I want. — He tightened his grip on the axe handle.
But Mikhail merely raised his hand. — I'm sorry, but I swore to someone that I wouldn't get hurt. So if possible I would like to avoid that.
Félix looked at him without understanding, he did not comprehend his actions nor the stupidity that man spoke in front of him.
— And so what? It's not like anything would happen if you broke it.
Mikhail smiled. — You've never promised anything to anyone, have you?
Silence took over the place.
Félix turned his back to leave.
— Night is almost here, why not rest a little at our camp?
Ignored, he no longer wanted anything to do with that conversation.
— Who knows, maybe you can understand a little better about the girl you're searching for.
At last, Félix stopped.
— What makes you think I would accept?
— You're free not to accept, but I don't see any backpack on your back nor food in your pockets. Besides, without Axionil your model won't last long.
He did not understand why he was being called a "model", but the rest of the words were true. Especially in the cold of night, his body would go insane in very little time.
— You can stay in an isolated tent if you don't like people nearby, but away from the guards I cannot guarantee your safety.
— Why are you doing this? Are you from Kholm by any chance?
Mikhail stood up.
— Kholm is a true disgrace for all of us, not only for humans but also for Grays.
The wind passed through his graying hair, lifting some snow over his thick leather boots.
— False saviors, for them the war was just a great spectacle.
He took a few steps forward, approaching Félix.
— Nowadays, boy, everyone is manufactured. Super babies, super "heroes" and even super terrorists, the world changed too much during the war and now we suffer the consequences.
Félix did not answer immediately. His mind still processed what he had just heard, although it seemed to be true.
He had to make a decision.
The wind passed between the two, snow accumulated in the folds of his coat.
— If this is a trap.
— Rest assured, if you are not looking to kill anyone then we have no reason for that.
There was no handshake nor formal agreement, Mikhail simply nodded and Félix followed him.
Mikhail stayed a few steps ahead, while Félix remained slightly behind, but that was not out of submission or anything like that. It was strategic, he had to observe his posture.
There was no apparent trembling or tension. Mikhail's breathing was perfectly stable and controlled.
On the contrary, for Félix a putrid odor began to permeate the air, between quick blinks the world turned into flesh for a fraction of a second.
Mikhail noticed and quickened his pace.
Félix frowned as he observed the man ahead of him.
There were so many doubts in his mind, that man seemed to know too much and that was strange. Someone could only know such things if they lived with a Gray, worked in Kholm's laboratories or if...
No, it's impossible. Mikhail is too old, and the Grays began to appear only recently, they have not lived long enough to age, if they can even age. Besides, very old bodies cannot withstand the pressure and die during the genetic changes.
As they were approaching, one of the sentries immediately pointed his weapon, but as soon as Mikhail raised his hand, they had to lower it.
The change in the air was imperceptible, the sound also differed greatly from the rest of the environment. It had been a long time since he had seen so many people in one place, well... At least without ropes around their necks...
As soon as he took the first step inside the camp, everyone stopped what they were doing.
For Mikhail had returned with someone else.