(Point of view: the Chief)
The wind was really howling.
It erases the traces.
It covers up our weaknesses.
He buries our brothers.
I hate snow.
It gives the illusion of purity, while it only hides the truth.
"Don't come any closer," I said calmly.
But nobody really listens to me.
– (I feel like I'm a leader in name only)
They saw the body.
They saw the number.
They saw the uniform.
And that's enough to make everyone tremble.
It was all about to start again
I'm going ahead alone.
Each step is heavy.
I recognize that silhouette.
That feeling of déjà vu
Even without seeing his face.
I crouch down.
I move the snow aside.
White on white.
Then the red.
Jelly.
Sec.
– …
I place my hand near her neck.
Nothing.
No movement.
No fogging.
"Is he dead?" asks the muscular man behind me.
I'm not answering.
I take a closer look at his uniform.
Blanc.
The number is still visible; it is active.
A flag.
Why are they sending another player here?
We're already full
Why is the system so hard on us?
Damn
I clench my jaw.
A small figure approaches and places its hand on my shoulder.
"Boss..." the little girl insisted.
I breathe.
– That's it, everyone back up.
They obey.
Because they only saw their own survival
I stare at his face.
Jelly.
Blue.
I'm going back to Corp and...
Her fingers.
Her fingers were black with frost.
The frost…
I frown.
I put my hand in his pockets.
Search, search.
I get up.
– We'll take it.
Silence.
- What ?!
– Chef !
– We can't!
The muscular man steps forward.
– They'll spot us!
I look at him.
He immediately fell silent.
– In any case, whether we save him or not, the wave of monsters will come to us.
– you know that very well
The wind is howling louder.
Let me start again:
– and besides, he doesn't have his watch
– Let's save him.
Then I fix the body.
– That might be a flaw.
I don't know which one yet.
The little whisper:
– And if he's mean… like the other one?
I answer without hesitation:
– Then I will kill him too.
The two men lift the body.
Heavy.
Steep.
Almost like a statue.
We wrap it in piles of heated blankets
Then we resume walking.
The storm is intensifying.
The city appears in the distance.
Grey.
Sad.
The screens are still off.
Good news, it's not immediate
We'll have time to prepare.
The protective barrier disappeared as soon as we entered the village.
The few dozen inhabitants watched us panic.
I ignore them and carry the body to my cabin.
The door closes.
We put him on the bed and remove all his old clothes,
We wrap it in a new sheet and heat the water.
I remain standing.
Next to.
I look at him.
– don't make me regret it… I murmured.
Three days.
Three days without moving.
He was barely breathing; he had such a severe fever that I thought he was going to die.
Like a rope about to break.
Even the doctor said he wouldn't make it through the night.
And yet…
He survived
I watched him from my chair, from the corner of the room.
Seeing him lying on the bed.
Clack!
The door opens
The little girl comes home with a large basin; it's time to change her sheets.
Then.
A shiver.
Tiny.
Her fingers are moving.
I straighten up.
– …
Her eyelids trembled.
He breathes harder.
Then….
I do not look away.
I don't even blink.
Then…
He falls back asleep
I clench my fists, disappointed, and leave the room.
Damage .
I walk forward with my head down, lost in my thoughts.
– we need to prepare
– HE'S AWAKE!!!
– hein!
I can feel the ground trembling beneath my feet.
– Is he awake?
Everyone was jostling each other in the cabin
Leaving a silence behind me.
The fight begins.