Stories from The Zone

Authors: Deathshadow and Laurrrr
Contains content from:Eminem-Kim, the Stalker universe
Special thanks:Arkadi and Boris Strugatzki for creating the universe
Note:No mutant was harmed during the writing of the story.Not yet.

Chapter 1
A new day...

I look at him,he looks at me.
I prepare to shoot,he prepares to shoot.
I look in his eyes and i say:
-Ready for this?
-I've never been so ready.
*Gun shoots*

4 years earlier
My name is Nikolai,i have come into The Zone to kill him.500000$ for his head.That's what they said.No one knows his name,only his nickname: Deathshadow.He is one of the few stalkers that managed to survive in The Zone.Rumors says that he has problems with the Russian Mafia.I don't care,i am just a bounty hunter.
I entered The Zone in a "Death Truck".A dead truck is a truck that sends "dead" bodies in to The Zone."Dead" bodies my ass,we are either bandits,traders,bounty hunters etc.
Once i entered The Zone i felled so strange...i don't know how to say it...some combination between happyness and sadness...
I finally get out of the truck and i move further searching for a place where i can sleep,eat,planing to kill him.
I have two machetes with me and a Schofield.
I keep walking...bored and sad.
Some crazy old man comes to me and asks:
-Wanna buy something?wanna buy something?
I ignore him and i keep walking.He follows me and keeps asking so i yell:
-WHAT?
He shows me some med-kits and some rusty weapons.I buy a med-kit and he leaves me alone.
I've walked all day searching for a good resting place,i am hungry and tired.Heh...looks like i will have to make a tent where i will sleep.
After i made the tent i put my weapons away,i grab some bread and i start playing guitar.
I am to tired to play,i eat some bread and i go to sleep.
A new day awaits me...

Chapter 2

When you've been in the zone as long as me you've seen all the horrors that the "zone"has to offer . Chernobyl aftermath for those who survived was even more worst . The creatures that roam this God forsaken land are only told in the worst nightmares , and seen in the worst horror movies . The veteran of the zone , shadow of the zone , Deathshadow , many nicknames but no real name . After a while you even forget it and the nickname servers to recognize friends or foe . But after a hit is over your head for a couple of years , when you hear a word friend you laugh . Many asked what am I , a bounty hunter , made-man , hitman , soldier .... I am stalker , nothing else .

Sun shined after many days of rain , which I decided to spend scouting for suplies , ammo or a place to stay for next night . In distance I saw a big building , with dark shut windows . Normally I would avoid those types of structures but my stomach didn't agree with me . I checked my weapons before moving in , my 9mm and my sawn off . I slowly opened the door letting a little light in the dark , ravaged room . I turned on my flash light and walked in . Some blood was in the corner , and the trail leading to other room . I saw too many horror movies to follow it , on the table I saw some bandages so I placed them in my pocket . A strange stench spread fast throughout the room . A shadowly figurine crawled out of a hole . A disfigured body , with red eyes stared at me . I took a quick turn behind a corner and placed guard behind it . Bloodsuckers . The ones of the most unfortunate after the Chernobyl accident , draining the blood from their victims and turning them into .... nothing . I knew a fight is out of the question , so I started to back up slowly . Step by step , slowly , carefully . But then , a branch cracked . The first thought that crossed my mind was .... oh crap . I started running towards the nearest exit , but the footsteps behind me were much too fast . He grabbed me and threw me on the opposite side of the room , breaking some of my ribs on fall . I made my self to get up despite the pain , and grabbed my gun firing few shoots in him . They had absolutely no effect . I knew that few more seconds here and I ll end up as most of these guys here . I got up in pain , took my knife and rushed towards the "sucker" and on the moment of impact stabbed him as hard as I could . Those few seconds gave me time to get through door , and shut them tight . I had to move on , despite the pain . Running through next door I finally saw the light of day again . A new day is in front of me , and it didn't start very well .

Chapter 3
“Sit down bitch if you move it again I will beat the shit out of you!
Don’t make me wake this baby, he don’t need to see what I am about to do.
Quit crying bitch, why do you always make me shout at you?
How could you? Just leave me and love him out the blue.
Oh, what’s the matter Yelena?
Am I to loud for you?
Too bad bitch, you are going to finally hear me out this time!
You wanna throw me out? That’s fine but not for him to take my place!”
“Aaaaah!just a nightmare…damn my heart is beating fast…”
I look get out of the tent and I see that the rain is finally over and I can move from this place.
I prepare to leave, I grab my stuff and while I am taking my jacket I find a picture with me and my family. I see my wife Yelena and my son Mikhail.
They are the reason why I accepted the contract, I promised them that everything will change…I want to keep my promise.
I was born in 1975 in Smolensk a city from Russia. My father found a job in Krakow a city from Poland so we had to move when I was 10.
The job wasn’t what he expected, loading crates isn’t the best job in the world so we had to adapt.
When I was 20 I had to leave them, I found a job in Belarus as a driver. Things were good for me, in the same year I found her…Yelena was her name…we had a boy named Mikhail…but sometimes shit happens.
I found out that she was cheating on me with someone so I threw her out of my house and I remained with my son.
After 5 years I was fired and I needed to find a job quick.
This is how I ended hunting this guy.
Some gun-shots interrupt’s me from dreaming and I rush to see what happened. I see a guy pinned down by some mutated dogs…I prepare my machetes…I take the first dog’s head…the second I burst his stomach and the other dogs leave.
-Please…help…
-Here, take this med-kit!
-Ah…much better…name’s Fox by the way.
-Nikolai.
-So…what brings you in these places Nikolai?
-I am looking for someone named Deatshadow and I also want some indications around here.
-Hah…you won’t find Deathshadow here, rumors says that he is in the Dark Valley the lair of the Bloodsuckers. About indications…well you should ask a trader…there are plenty of them…here I will put the coordinates on your map.
-Thanks
-If you want to find me you could visit the 100 Rads Bar, the place where all the stalkers meet and share their stories. Take care.
I move to the place where he showed.
I see a camp guarded by someone.
-What do you want?
-I want to visit the trader.
-Ok, make a bad move and you are finished.
I move forward seeing lots of guards…I find the place where the trader is…I move down the stairs and I hear:
“So Marked One, I saved you and I am not going to pretend I did it to win favors upstairs…”
I keep listening until they finish, someone is walking up the stairs and we strangely look at each other…
I move to the trader and I say:
-Name’s Nikolai, I am here to trade and I also want some info.
-Say.
-I need a map of this place and I am looking for someone called Deatshadow.
-I can give you the map but…about Deathshadow…well…you will have to do some things for me…

Chapter 4

After my encounter with the "suckers" I decided to take some days off , and keep looking for supplies in more safe places . Time passes slow when you got nothing to do . Even tho I have no real friends I still have some people who I contact when I am in need of informations and to keep up with the "outside" world . Since the people in the zone are divided in factions you really need to be on lookout here . The only rule in the zone is money . With it you can do anything , and without it you are nothing . Thats why so many people come from outside in order to catch me and similar people , mainly stalkers , who've been here for long time . Some times the goverment sends them , sometimes the mob , the main point is , many have came , and even more have failed . Days when the sunshine was at top of its glow are over and rain came back to the zone , as it mostly is here for good part of year . I got out of small shack looking house . Many ask why am I still here , what am I searching for . Like many others I get missions here too , find this , find that , go here , go there . But the real reason is -
My thoughts were interupted by a gun shoots . I got out and saw a man being attacked by mutated dogs , and another man helping him out . The one on the ground was Fox . An old stalker , a friend of mine .... once . With him there was an unknown face to the zone . I had some feeling that this is not the last time I see him . As they got up I took cover and started backing away . Once I got to safe distance I got back to my main mission on hand . I was to found a man , alive or dead , and retrive an data stick from him . No questions , no answers . I started walking towards the last seen spot , an area full of bandits , and radiation . I weren't in mood of fighting , so I tried to avoid them . As I got near the body , my radiation meter went up the roof . Radiation bubbles , dragging and destroying the poor thing that gets stuck in them . Carefully with small steps I got to body . After search I found the data stick and moved the same way I got in . The thing that crossed my mind was getting the hell out of there as soon as I could . My idea was interupted by gun fire that came my way . Luckly those suckers couldn't shoot for s*it . I took cover and returned fire , covering my exit . I had no chance , their numbers were to great . Time passed before I got back to the man looking for the stick . 45K $ and word "Thanks"with that cinical smile was all I got . Giving money to man who really can't spend it is pointless , but I had my ways of getting supplies without having to expose my self too much . I recived data on my PDA . Some of the bounty hunters that were after me are , shall we say gone and my so called notority is lowered . I still didn't want to take any chances , so I slowly backed into darkness of nearby houses .

Chapter 5
-I won’t do your dirty jobs trader, I am not your slave!
-Who said anything about slavery, you just help a fellow out and he helps you too.
-No, I am not doing this.
I angry walk out of the room when he interrupts me:
-Ok, at least take this PDA, about Deathshadow…the offer is available.
I take the PDA and I get out of the room.
I remember what the guy named Fox said about the bar so I will go there with the hope to find Deathshadow.
While I am walking on the street I look at the flowers around here, strangely they don’t have a smell, I see in my left a few abandoned rusty tanks and I am thinking:
“The Zone takes you no matter who you are or what are you”
While I am walking I drink some water sad of what I become and thinking what happened to my “family”.
“My wife is probably f*cked by someone and my son is probably dead, strangely I don’t care.
This is what I become, a cold-blood with no conscience mercenary.”
I finally arrive at the bar, I enter and I see lots and lots of people. I start to ask where Fox is and I suddenly hear:
-NIKOLAI! HERE, I AM HERE!
I move to him and he starts to talk:
-So you decided to come here, it’s a lovely place.
-I F*CK YOUR MOTHER! someone says.
-Listen, I really need some info about Deathshadow, what do you know about him?
-Ahhh…he was once a good friend of mine…once…I still remember…we had a mission to transport ammunition for the Duty faction…he told me that we should keep some ammunition for ourselves but I said that we might get killed…he opens the crate but before he looked at me I punched him in the head and I throw him on the other side of the road…last things he heard from was: ”Sorry my friend”.
He usually hangs out in the Dark Valley and at the Agropom Research Institute in the tunnels.
-Where should I check?
-Go in to the Dark Valley but we need your help with something…
Some stalker approach to us:
-So…this is the one that saved you Fox? Name’s Sasha, I am one of the few experienced stalkers around here…look I heard about Deathshadow and I am willing to help if you do something for us…
-What?
-Listen…we are all stalker here…we are the Freedom stalkers…we fight with the factions everyday…and like the others we need ammo, weapons, armor etc. The military has recently got lots of these at their main base so we was thinking that you will help us…war will start there…all the stalkers from the Freedom faction will be there and attack them…if you are willing the help we might help you find Deathshadow.
-Hmm…I think it’s alright.
-Prepare yourself…because tomorrow will be WAR!
-FREEDOM! FREEDOM! FREEDOM!
The next day
We are marching to the base, surrounded by all these stalker only one thought comes to my mind:
“I am home”
Shooting starts, I take cover near the closest obstacle. I have an AK-47 that should help. I look for easy prey to shoot…I shoot someone in the head…damn it’s like a real war here.
Someone from the military gets close to me…I take his head off with a machete.
I don’t know why but I think someone is watching us all.
Sh*t, Fox is pinned down, I ran to him doing blind-fire.
-I am alright…thanks for the help. He says.
Someone gets close to kill Sasha but he gets his head off.
-We have snipers Sasha? I say.
-I don’t remember to have any sniper in our team…perhaps we have an angel that is protecting us.
The battle is finally over, all the military all killed and we didn’t lose to much people.
-Quick, take everything stalkers, don’t show sympathy.
A few days passed after the battle, I am searching some corpses near a bridge when I hear on my radio:
-Nikolai, I know where Deathshadow is…

Chapter 6

A cold breeze and loud radio chatter woke me up . I reached for the radio when I saw one of the mutated dogs standing in front of me , looking at me with those red eyes . My weapons was too far away , and my hands were numb because of cold so I couldn't use them well . Sudenlly a man walks to the door , and calls the dog back . He looks at me with surprise and anger , and slams the door shut behind him . Stunned by what happened I quickly grabbed my pistol . Little have I notice that rest of my gear and ammo was missing , or so I though . I picked up my radio and walked outside the room . The stalker was sitting at the campfire , and petting his dogs head . As I started walking towards them the dog turned around and ran pass me out the door . My gun was tucked in my pants but still close enough to my hand . The stalker moved to side , freeing space for me to sit . He didn't say anything , but just handed me my stuff back in a box , and gave me some food to eat . I didn't try making any conversation , but have started eating . After few minutes he spoke : " Far away from home aren't you " . I took some time to figure out what happened and who the hell is he . " How would you know where my home might be " .
" Come on now , Deathshadow , you can't seriously say you don't remember me "
" Boris , how good to see you again , you bastard "
" All the best wishes to you too . " he said through laugh .
Boris , second best sharpshooter in the zone , so he though . From what I heard many people placed me on top of the list . Truth is I rarely , or never miss but still being at top of the list , well I am not so sure . Boris was one of those old type stalkers . Hes as old as the zone itself . He never takes his helmet off since the radiation did some awful things to him . " You heard about Freedom stalkers assaulting the military base ? "
Not only I heard , but I overlooked the whole thing . I didn't want to interfere , but there was some other sniper that did . " Yes , I might know what are you talking about".
"Then you know that there is a new bounty hunter in the zone looking for you . "
"One comes every day , why should I be worried ? " . Boris took some time in search on his PDA . After he found it he handed the PDA to me . " The man on the picture is Nikolai . Nothing special about him before , a driver , family man . But when his family got in need of money , he decided to take the contract on you . 500 000 $ for your head . " . There's been many hits on me before , but 500 000 $ is the most money ever offered to a hunter . " He might know where you are , and might be heading this way ".
It took me a while to relize that the man on the picture was the same man who helped out Fox . Which isn't good , because if anyone could track me down , was Fox . That bastard never looked after himself , but was always working for the military . " That night on the ammo truck , Fox knocked you out and threw you away . What you don't know is that military got the hold of him later on and tried to kill him , as they did to all the stalkers on that truck that day . " . I wasn't surprised . Military was always good at covering their arses whenever it was needed . " Max , get back here " . A mutated dog ran back in the house , and sat next to Boris . " I don't even wanna ask how you got that kind of dog to follow you around " . Boris laughed , and noded . I knew it was time to move out . Once I got up , Boris handed me his rifle . " Take it , you need it more then me " . A special crafted Dragunov , with ACOG scope mounted on it . The real stalkers weapon . After I thanked him , I walked away from the house . I knew I was close to my goal . But , as things are now even tho its close , it might be more far away then ever .

Chapter 7
I rushed into the bar going to Fox:
-You know where he is?
-Yes, my scouts found him at some abandoned houses not from here, I will upload the coordinates into your PDA.
-Thank you for helping me, I won’t forget it.
-Do you want me to come with you?
-No, I can take care of him.
-Ha…ok.
I get out of the bar and I start running, I check my weapons and my armor.
“Looks like I will finally end this.”
I found the abandoned houses where Fox told me he is…but…there is no sign of him...as I move towards the houses rain starts and…I think I see someone walking on the street…that man must by him…as I approach to him I scream:
-DEATHSHADOW!
He stops, I run to him preparing to shoot…as I put my gun to his head he quickly turns and aims his gun right between my eyes.
-So…you are the bounty hunter that is hunting me for some time…impressive I must say.
I keep silence.
-You know what’s funny…you will be dead as soon as you kill me…I love the irony…don’t you?
-What?
-Oh…you don’t know? If you kill me now you will be the first one in the rankings and you will be in my situation.
-Not if I escape The Zone.
-Hahaha…you really think that you can get out of The Zone? The military will kill you but let’s say you escape, then what?
-I will collect my money and…
-Get back to your family, I know your story Nikolai. Don’t tell me that you really think you will get the money, they will kill you.
-Then I guess I will remain here.
*A lighting strikes*
-You gotta be kidding me…with who? That traitor Fox? The so called Freedom faction? They will kill for a dollar, they don’t care about anyone. Listen, you don’t belong here mercenary…your place is in A GRAVE!
In that moment I throw my weapon and before he can shoot I take his pistol and I throw it, I punch him in the face, he falls down. I quickly jump on him and I start to choke him…he frees and punches me too…he wants to kick me…I grab his leg and I throw him into a tree. He manages to get up and this time he kicks me in the head…ahhh…I see fog…he punches my again and again…I can fell that I am bleeding…I fell the cold of the death and I see dark…I am lost into darkness while in my face appears him again saying:
-The Zone will take you now mercenary.
I start to hear voices…shooting…this is my ending? Killed by a strange a man in an unknown place? I guess I deserve it for what I done. I will never see them again…I will never see this place again?
I can fell the rain…I can fell that he is standing besides be…
I hear a voice…it’s over now…he is gone…let me help you…
As I open my eyes…I can see the light again…in my left I see Fox:
-Where is Deathshadow?
-He is gone.

Chapter 8

After four long years the first "worthy"mercenary is coming to get me . That son of a snake Fox got him after me , brought him all the way here . I wanted to see what he really knows , or what he think he knows so I left my sniper in one of the few houses . In distance I heard fast footsteps closing in fast . Seems that the bounty hunter didn't take any time to waste . Not soon after I heard a scream or a yell ." DEATHSHADOW " .
Had no chance but to turn around . A gun is pointed to my head , but with even more ease I point my gun to the bounty hunters head too . " So…you are the bounty hunter that is hunting me for some time…impressive I must say. " . He remained silent , as could see no remorse in his eyes , but a little fear .
" You know what’s funny…you will be dead as soon as you kill me…I love the irony…don’t you? " . Surprised he took quick look around and just spoke " What ? " .
I was surprised how little he knew what happens .
" Oh…you don’t know? If you kill me now you will be the first one in the rankings and you will be in my situation. " .
He took some time to think it over then answered . "Not if I escape The Zone . "
I laughed at his sentence , like he was a stand up comedian .
" You really think that you can get out of The Zone? The military will kill you but let’s say you escape, then what? "
" I will collect my money and… "
" Get back to your family, I know your story Nikolai. Don’t tell me that you really think you will get the money, they will kill you. "
" Then I guess I will remain here. "
" You gotta be kidding me…with who? That traitor Fox? The so called Freedom faction? They will kill for a dollar, they don’t care about anyone. Listen, you don’t belong here mercenary…your place is in A GRAVE! "
As lightning struck a nearby tree , he took the chance and knocked my gun out of my hands . He threw the punch , which was quite forceful but had no real effect except knocking me down on the ground . He started to hit me as I was laying down and trying to cover my face from his punches . I blocked one of the incoming punches and took the split second to hit him and threw him away . As he was on ground he grabbed my leg and threw me into nearby tree . As my old wound still hurts this came as bigger surprise and it just generated more anger in me . After a quick punch he fell to ground . A few more hits and he starts to fade away . " The Zone will take you now mercenary. ". But even tho I had him in my grip , I decided to leave him . Maybe he will finally come around and see that there is no way of wining in this deadly game . I got up and went back to grab my sniper . I knew that Fox will come back soon since Nikolai was his ensurance to get the money . He will kill him as soon as Nikolai gets money . Thats why , even tho he tried to kill me , I have to help him . I moved further away and waited for the morning . After some times Fox and his lap dogs arrived , and helped Nikolai out . I had him in my scope for few minutes , I think he sensed it , thats why he always stayed behind Nikolai as cover . This is still to unroll and the real truth will be found soon . I just hope that Nikolai can handle it .

Chapter 9
-Present day-

4 years I manage to survive in The Zone…I became true stalker…but…I can’t forget that day…”The Zone will take you now mercenary”…these words don’t give me peace.
I don’t know what happened to my family…I think they forgot about me…here I a known stalker, number 3 in the rankings…honorable member of the Freedom…The Zone is my new home…I live a perfect life here…I am doing missions, I earn money and trust…I also got some new weapons: a Luger, an AK-47 and a Bowie knife.
I start the routine with the bar, Fox is there:
-Hey.
-Hey man.
-What’s with this sad face?
-Ah…nothing…I was just thinking…
-It’s about Deathshadow, isn’t it?
-Well…
-Look…you finally got what you wanted…money, respect and a new home...forget about him.
-I can’t…I simply can’t…that day…I felled death’s embrace…I want to kill him!
-Everyone wants. Here, take some vodka, we have something to discuss.
-Like what?
-You know…I helped you a few a times and I think now you should repay me…
-How?
-Well…there is this place…it’s the center of The Zone…the place is full of artifacts and legends says that the Wish Room is there.
-The Wish Room?
-Yeah…it’s a very hard place to reach and if you manage to get there a wish of you will be granted…but that is just a legend...the artifacts…they are not a legend…
-What are the dangers?
-Radiations, the place is a “nuclear bomb”, we are going to need lots of bottles of votka, anti-rads and good armors.
-Sounds good…when we are going?
-Hehe…considering the war between the military and Freedom…I think we can go right now. I will buy everything we need...I will you at the bar’s entrance.
This sounds good, I am not even interested in the artifacts but a wish room…I can’t wait.
-Everything is ready?
-Yes…let’s go.
After hours of walking and encounters with bandits we finally arrive…we towards the buildings and we see many artifacts.
-Nikolai, grab how much you can, we are getting rich!
-I will search in those buildings for more artifacts.
-Ok but be quick.
Lets see if we can find this room…
I checked two buildings and I am going to the third one…noooo….this can’t be...this is the room?
I approach it…someone is behind me…I quickly turn back…
-Nooo…you again?
-You like you saw a ghost…
-This time I will kill you.
I kick Deathshadow in the stomach and I push him in the wall…we quickly draw our weapons.
I look at him, he looks at me.
I prepare to shoot, he prepares to shoot.
I look in his eyes and I say:
-Are you ready for this?
-I’ve never been so ready.
*Gun shoots*
-Nikolai…they…what the…
While Deathshadow is distracted I run to him and I throw him on the window.
-It’s time to finish this!

Final Chapter 10

As Nikolai thew me out the window , I fell and my old wound started to hurt even more . This is it , this guy is a moron he doesn't understand what Fox is trying to do . I gave him more then enough time to figure it out , but he is really starting to get on my nerves . He jumped out and reached for his knife . As I remained laying there he decided to take a brake , get some air , then he rushed towards me . My leg automaticlly was up in the air and it gave him a pretty good punch in the stomack . He stepped back , leaving some time for me to get up and resume the fight in more fair position . I sensed that something is happening around us but I had to concentrate on the fight ahead . He turned back and this time threw his knife towards me . That kick shook him up pretty bad so his throw wasnt accurate at all . I picked up the knife and threw it even further so this fight is even more fair . He looked at my with anger , rage , and hatred . I couldn't help not to ask : " Is this really what you want ? " . He was surprised so his answer to all was mumble . After few seconds he replied .
" And what is THIS . Killing you will make me prosper , and free the way to the wish room . " . I was surprised how little he knew about the wish room . " What exaclly do you know about the wish room ? What did Fox tell you ? " He putted his guard down , took some time to think then answered . " Simple , one wish , and it comes true . "
"And if I may know , what will you wish for ? " . I knew the answer , I knew it will be impossible , but I had to hear it from him . " I don't know . Either to give me and my family money , or that this Zone never happened . "
" Hahahaha . You want to revert the zone ? You wish to revert the WISH ROOM and every horror here . Can someone really be that DUMB . Do you actually think NOONE tried that before ? " . He was surprised , and even more angry . "Then why are you here , what do YOU want ? .
"I am here to keep you away from it . It is not what Fox told you . It will eat you alive .
It gets in your head . It messes with your brain . It makes you do things you wouldn't do . " After that sentence he was quiet for some time , from which I heard footsteps going down the stairs . " We have to move . " . I ran towards the wish room . Nikolai was behind me , probably still thinking how to kill me . When we got to the room it was ..... A huge stone stood in the middle of the ravaged and destroyed room . From it a strange glow shined towards the door . You could hear a psicadellic voice in your head as it got louder and louder . But then , Nikolai run past me and started to scream "I WISH FOR" . I managed to shut him up before he said anything . As I pushed him away I saw Fox standing behind us . He reached for the gun , and shoot me . I could feel the pain as I fell to ground fading away . Nikolai turned to Fox , who didn't even say a word but shot him in the leg . As Nikolai fell down . Fox ran towards the middle of the room . " After 4 long years , all these plans , all these lies , did you really think I was trying to help you to get Deathshadow . You fool , you really don't know anything " . Nikolai was hurt but he stood up , Fox pointed the gun at him . " The Zone takes you now mercenary . So epic , don't you think . The battle of two best man , coming to the end , when all the sudden a THIRD man stepped up . Hahahahahaha , you have to laugh to it . " . Fox forgot about one thing , he talked too much , it gave me time to take my knife and threw it to Nikolai . Fox was too blind with his own worship and big words , to see whats happening . Nikolai kneeled down , like he was hurt , and as he was getting up he threw the knife right at Fox . Straight to that deceptive , son of a b*itch . Right between the eyes . He fell down . Nikolai got up , and took his gun . He looked at me , but didn't know what to say what to do . After few seconds he asked " Why did you help me ? After all I have been chasing you for the last 4 years . Tried to kill you for over 10 times , and you help me ? " . I looked at him and laughed in pain , saying nothing . He pointed the gun at me . That was it , the end of the line . After few moments he tossed the gun away and helped me up . We decided not to wish for anything . As we were leaving the room , some of us with great pain , the voice spoke . " What about your WISH ? " . I looked back and answered " Stick it up your a*s ". When we got out the sun shined like it never shined before over the Zone . Nikolai decided to abandon the mission of trying to kill me . My " friends " helped him get out of the Zone and get him back to his family . Years have passed and he was still in the second place on rankings . I remained in the Zone . I guess that after that long , it is all you can do . Survive from day till day , hunting , being hunted . One night after several years , I saw a man that looked like Nikolai getting in the wish room . I ran to stop him , but I was too late . As I got closer I could hear " I WISH FOR -- " .
A new day shined ....

Epilogue:
"Let everything that's been planned come true. Let them believe. And let them have a laugh at their passions. Because what they call passion actually is not some emotional energy, but just the friction between their souls and the outside world. And most important, let them believe in themselves. Let them be helpless like children, because weakness is a great thing, and strength is nothing. When a man is just born, he is weak and flexible. When he dies, he is hard and insensitive. When a tree is growing, it's tender and pliant. But when it's dry and hard, it dies. Hardness and strength are death's companions. Pliancy and weakness are expressions of the freshness of being. Because what has hardened will never win."

I move to the hill and i scream:
"I am home."

Stories from The Zone

Sunday 16 January 2011

A new day...

Friday 14 January 2011

Journey of a stalker