Nikolaj stirred from his sleep, the chill of the autumn morning creeping through the thin layers of his clothing. He opened his eyes to the muted light of dawn filtering through the mist, revealing the rural Swedish landscape around them. The rain from the night before had left the ground damp and the air crisp, but they had remained dry and sheltered under the small bus stop.

He slowly sat up on his camping mat, feeling the deep ache in his muscles from days of relentless travel. His body protested every movement, his leg and back muscles feeling sour. The sound of quiet activity drew his attention to Ming, who was already awake and busy preparing coffee with their compact jet boil. Her movements were deliberate but slow, a clear sign of her own weariness. Shadows lingered under her eyes, and her face, usually so alert and expressive, seemed drawn and tired, the lines of fatigue etched deeply into her features. She had taken the last watch, ensuring their safety while he slept.

Nikolaj glanced at the two fixie bikes leaning against the grass nearby, their only means of transportation since they had acquired them a few days prior. They had proven invaluable, allowing them to cover more ground quickly and quietly with minimum strain to the body, but the constant cycling had taken its toll.

The mist hung low over the fields, creating an ethereal landscape that was both serene and haunting. The calmness of the morning was a stark contrast to the chaos they had fled from. Nikolaj took a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs and waking him fully, though the fatigue still clung to him like a heavy shroud.

Ming noticed he was awake and offered him a small, tired nod as she poured hot water over the coffee grounds. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the earthy scent of wet leaves and soil, providing a brief comfort amid their exhaustion.

"Morning," she said softly, her voice tinged with fatigue as she took a few sips from the cup.

"Morning," Nikolaj replied, stretching his arms above his head before rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Thanks for the coffee."

Ming nodded, handing him the steaming cup. "Weather seems alright today."

Nikolaj took a sip of the coffee, savoring the warmth and the bitter taste. He looked out at the quiet road ahead, lined with trees adorned in the vibrant colors of autumn. It was a beautiful, tranquil scene, but he knew they couldn't let their guard down. The weight of their journey pressed heavily on them both, evident in their slow movements and weary eyes.

"Yup, yup” he said, his gaze meeting Ming's. "We have a long way to go. I want to stop at that village we saw on the map. I’m starving. After that we should get to the cabin.”

Ming nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting the same determination that drove him despite the exhaustion. Do they had agreed to avoid any settlement, they hadn’t had any real food in a while and were desperate for anything they could get their hands on.

Nikolaj passed Ming the coffee cup, not saying anything she started drinking. He wrapped the foam mat he had slept on before attaching it to his backpack. Ming had already packed up her belongings; not that either of them had much to begin with. Their supplies were meager, most of them either stolen or looted, depending on who you asked. They were down to one magazine for his assault rifle and one for the pistol. They hadn’t picked up anything since they left the bar, having had no opportunity along the way. The one gas station and farm they had passed were both empty. They were down to one meal a day and had run out of crackers, oats, and instant noodles as of last night.

“Do you also have that feeling of looming dread at every sip?” Nikolaj asked Ming as she took a sip of his coffee.

"What do you mean?" she asked, handing him the cup before slipping off her sweater and pulling a dry one from her backpack.

"Surely all the coffee that Europe will ever have is already sitting on shelves. No new bags of coffee beans will be arriving anytime soon. So every time I drink a cup, I think it might be my last."

Ming shrugged. “We have enough to worry about” she said as she tied her hair back.

"How far is it?" Ming asked as Nikolaj put on a dry T-shirt.

Nikolaj responded by opening the chest pocket of his jacket and retrieving the map of national roads. He peeled away the plastic wrap that had been hastily applied to protect it from the rain.

Ming got close to him as he took out a pen to point out the road they’d have to take.

“We continue in that direction for about five kilometers,” Nikolaj explained. “We’ll reach a village, and after passing through, it’s roughly a day’s ride to Hallböke. We’ll need to decide later whether to go through the village or around it. It’s quite central, and despite its small size, several national roads from major cities run through it.”

“What’s a national road?” Ming asked, her curiosity piqued despite the brisk temperature. She could still feel the warmth from Nikolaj’s skin.

“It’s what we used before they built the highways. National roads connect major cities with smaller towns and villages with each other,” Nikolaj explained, but he was cut off when Ming grabbed his right forearm and turned it to inspect the tattoos.

“Any other questions?” Nikolaj asked, puzzled by her sudden interest.

“What’s with the tattoos?” Ming inquired, examining them closely.

“The first one was a result of a drunken dare in Spain,” Nikolaj said, pointing to the tattoo. “The Moomin one was something I wanted for a long time.”

“Moomin?” Ming repeated, glancing at the tattoo along with the other one that read “The only easy day was yesterday.”

“That one’s pretty stupid,” she said bluntly.

“Yeah, I know,” Nikolaj admitted, standing up deliberately and pulling on his sweatshirt followed by his army jacket.

“I’ll let you know when we’re getting close to the village,” Nikolaj said in a neutral tone, fastening his Kevlar helmet. Ming couldn’t help but find it amusing how he always seemed to keep it on his head while cycling. Noticing his tense demeanor, Ming hesitated before asking,

“Are you—” She stopped abruptly, realizing how trivial and perhaps out of place her question might sound.

“Nothing, I’m ready to go,” she finished quickly, dismissing her previous thought.

Nikolaj put the clothes he slept with in a black garbage bag inside of his backpack to keep them dry, Ming waited for him next to the bikes as he checked the bus stop a last time to make sure they didn’t forget anything.

As Nikolaj pedaled steadily, with Ming a few meters behind, he couldn’t shake off the growing anxiety. Each push of the pedals felt heavier as his mind raced ahead, worrying about what lay ahead.

The road seemed oddly familiar, and he recalled a trip he’d taken here with his parents years ago. Memories he clung to as he navigated the now uncertain path.

With every passing landmark, he couldn’t help but wonder if their vacation home was still standing or if it had been caught up in the chaos. The road that once felt comforting now felt charged with worry.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Nikolaj's gaze kept darting ahead, every sound and rustle scrutinized for hints of what was to come. His face was set in a tight expression, reflecting the mix of hope and fear inside him. Despite trying to stay focused, his thoughts kept drifting back to his family, hoping that the road would lead them to a home still intact, just as he remembered from that treasured trip.

Consumed by his thoughts, Nikolaj almost missed the signs indicating the village ahead. His mind preoccupied with worry, he didn’t notice how close they had gotten until it was nearly too late. Part of him did, but another didn’t want to waste any time. He wanted to get it over with as much as he knew what he was doing was wrong, he wanted to get home as fast as he could. The familiar sight of the village's edge jolted him back to the present, but by then, he was already within its bounds. He skidded to a halt, the sound of his brakes breaking the morning quiet.

Ming, following closely behind, quickly stopped as well, her eyes wide with concern. Nikolaj cursed under his breath, angry at himself for losing focus. They were now too close to the village.

“I thought we were going to stop sooner?” Ming asked.

Nikolaj cursed in Swedish.

Ming took note of how he reacted. She noticed how weird he’s become these last couple of days. They’ve only known each other for a week, but she noticed that he was more erratic the closer they got to his “home”.

Before they could make it back to the cover of the forest, a figure appeared at the entrance of the village. He was about 300 meters away, but both Ming and Nikolaj could see him wave at them.

“You know this country side, can we trust them?” Ming asked Nikolaj.

Nikolaj lost in his thought couldn’t come up with a response. He cursed again.

“Sure, yeah. We’ll tell them we’re just passing through. Don’t talk, I don’t know how they’ll feel about foreigners.” Nikolaj answered.

"We thought you were some of those crazies, the way you were staring at us!" A man in a Swedish army uniform with sergeant tabs, leaning against the barrier, said out loud. "Then I saw your uniform and realized we have the same boss!" he added.

"Haven't had my pay in a while, what about you?" Nikolaj answered, trying to break the tension.

"Hah!" the man laughed. "I like you! What unit were you with?"

"41st mechanized. What tells you I'm not in it anymore?"

"Oh, you're riding a bike, not a CV90. You're alone with a very good-looking girl by your side. And your equipment’s a mess. You got any papers, soldier?"

Nikolaj looked at him with a little smile. He eyed him before looking at the man next to the sergeant: a teenager in a sweater and dirty jeans, carrying a hunting shotgun. A few meters off the road, a handmade sign with Swedish instructions and a fluttering Swedish flag adds a touch of national pride stood next to a fire pit. One man sat next to it trying to warm himself.

“Sure” Nikolaj said.

Nikolaj reached for his side pocket to get his wallet. The teenager tensed up and gripped his shotgun tightly.

Nikolaj lifted his hands. "Only reaching for my wallet, 'officer,'" he said in a neutral tone.

"Haha, don’t mind the kid. It’s his first day here; he’s very tense," the sergeant replied.

Nikolaj offered a polite smile as he pulled out his wallet. Instead of taking out his military ID, he handed the wallet to the sergeant. "Any remaining kronor left you can keep. Isn't worth much these days."

The sergeant smiled in thanks and checked his papers, glancing at Nikolaj to compare him with the ID. "I don’t suppose you got marching orders, soldier?" he asked, handing back the wallet.

"I'm not that important. Just trying to get back to my family," Nikolaj answered, thinking about the absolute ludicrous situation he found himself in.

"And her? Silent as a mouse," the sergeant said, eyeing the girl from head to toe.

"Doesn't speak Swedish. She's a foreign student who got caught up in this mess."

The sergeant's look turned stern. "Mind following me? I'll let you pass after you answer some questions. Don’t touch your rifle or that funny looking weapon on your back."

Nikolaj knew better than to act smart. He knew rifle was loaded.

The checkpoint was little more than an improvised gate with a sign and a fire beside it. Nikolaj didn't know much about checkpoint procedures, but he knew this wasn't the way to do it. The 'sergeant' wore only army pants and a jacket, both too small and outdated compared to Nikolaj's uniform. He guessed correctly that the man must have been a reservist, and not a very good one.

Nikolaj followed the sergeant to a parked Volvo ten meters away. The sergeant put his shotgun on the hood. It was a Mossberg without a stock. The village was quiet, though he could see a few people working in a field a few hundred meters off, tending to it.

"So, where are you coming from and where are you going?" the sergeant asked.

"Well, I was in Stockholm. My platoon got overrun and decimated, and now I'm heading west to Trollhättan if that’s what you want to know."

"And her?" the sergeant inquired.

"Just met her, she got me out of Stockholm alive, we have an extra bed at home, and she's alright, so why not?"

“She sure looks alright, buddy,” the sergeant said, his eyes lingering on Ming from a distance while Nikolaj examined the shotgun laid out on the car’s hood.

“Normally, you’d pay to pass through the Principality of Eksjo.”

“Principality? I thought the King fled to Gotland.”

“Different king,” the sergeant shot back with a steely glare.

“Typically, it’s half of your fuel. But since you chose the ecological option, we’ll have to settle for something else.”.

“Mhm, what could it be?” Nikolaj asked, feigning confusion, though he already knew the answer.

“Your rifle and your girl,” the sergeant said with a grim expression.

Nikolaj met his gaze, struggling to maintain his composure. “What am I supposed to do without my rifle? I’ve only got one magazine left.”

“I’ll trade you for it. My AK4 is over there, with plenty of mags,” the sergeant replied.

“How many are we talking about?”

“Seven. That’s all the ammo I’ve got but we have more than enough weapons where I live.”

Nikolaj looked around, pretending to think about the offer. Two crows circled over the field where some farm workers toiled in the distance.

Feigning resignation, Nikolaj extended his hand for the sergeant to shake. “Alright, fine. Hope you can handle her.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ve dealt with scarier,” the sergeant said with a smirk.

“Ming! Come over here!” Nikolaj called out in English, gesturing for her to join them.

“You know how to use an AK5C?” Nikolaj asked the sergeant, swinging his rifle from his back and into his hands.

The sergeant eyed the AK5C with curiosity. The aimpoint sight, custom foregrip, and dark spray-painted patterns—resembling black spots and foliage—were a stark contrast to the German copy of a 1970s battle rifle he carried. For the militia man, Nikolaj’s weapon was an impressive and alien sight.

“This is the stock.” Nikolaj said as he showed it, before hitting the sergeant in the nose with it with all his force. The sergeant staggered back holding his crushed nose before falling back as Nikolaj fired one shot at his chest.

Nikolaj swung around, rifle in hand. Lifted it and aimed past Ming who understood what happened. She ran left as she took out her pistol.

Nikolaj took the teenager at the gate in his sight, he was panicking with his hunting shotgun and fired just a second before Nikolaj did. Nikolaj’s bullet hit him center mass as his buckshot hit the car and Nikolaj next to it. Some pellets hit Nikolaj in the chest and left arm. He felt the shock of small pellets colliding with the ceramic plates in his vest.

Nikolaj fell back, gasping for breath as he aimed his rifle at the gate. The man who had been by the fire earlier was nowhere in sight. Nikolaj scanned the area desperately, but just as he heard a noise behind the car on his left, the man appeared and aimed at him. Before he could pull the trigger, a bullet struck the man in the face, and he collapsed, his knees giving out as his central nervous system was erased from existence by a bullet. Ming quickly lowered her pistol and rushed over to Nikolaj, grabbing him by the vest and helping him to his feet.

She didn’t ask any question as they both ran back to their bikes and made their way from where they came. They were down a few bullets but the shotgun on Ming’s back, a bandolier of shells and loaf of bread made up for it.

Ming watched the road they had left behind as they pushed into the woods. A hundred meters from the road, they lay concealed in the thick underbrush, their bikes blending into the dense foliage.

Nikolaj was on his back, trying to inspect the bleeding from his left arm. He removed his vest. It had taken pellets, only damaging tissue against it and slightly bending the ceramic plate. Nikolaj removed his jacket. He saw one small hole in it before throwing it on the ground. Nikolaj upper arm was red with a trail going down to his hand. “Talk to me Nikolaj” Ming asked quietly.

"I can’t feel part of my left arm. My hand feels strange when I clench it. I checked the entry wound, and based on the bleeding luckily it missed the brachial artery. Thank God I don’t have to use a tourniquet—I wouldn’t know how to handle a ruptured artery. If it had hit the main artery, I’d be in serious trouble."

“Do you have anything to clean it?” Ming asked.

“Yeah, here.” Nikolaj showed his first aid kit.

Ming moved low towards him. “Watch the road” she said as she grabbed his military first aid kit.

Ming swiftly pulled out the pressure dressing, leaving it wrapped for the moment. She grabbed a pack of disinfecting wipes, ripped it open and quickly cleaned the blood around the wound with efficient, precise motions. Without hesitation, she poured disinfecting alcohol over the area, Nikolaj flinched at the sudden sting, Ming responded by her warm hand gently rubbing his lower neck, trying to ease the pain and offering comfort. Her touch, tender and reassuring, seemed to dissolve the tension. Then, she unwrapped the pressure dressing and applied it firmly to his arm, her eyes meeting his with a reassuring look as she worked swiftly.

“I was handling injuries in the factory where I worked while you were still in high school. You’re lucky this didn’t turn out much worse. What did the guy say to make you start shooting?”

“The guy wanted my rifle and you if I was to pass through their little province. There was no way I was leaving without my rifle; my sergeant would have crucified me.”

Ming gave him a concerned smile as she packed up the first aid kit, her eyes softening with worry. Meanwhile, Nikolaj slid his jacket and plate carrier back on, the weight of the gear adding a sense of gravity to the moment.

“Don’t move that arm too much, let the blood cutter. If it starts bleeding again tell me” Ming said.

Nikolaj stood up and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, gazing into the distance where they had come from. He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Thanks for the help,” he said, his tone warm and sincere, accompanied by a genuine smile that she mirrored in return.