Alexander slowly came to his senses, his gaze fixed on the worried face of Roman, who was looking at him with nervous anxiety. In the distance, like an ominous hymn of the day, a drawn-out siren sounded, its echo reflected from the walls of their modest home, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and tension.

- I didn't mean to... It was a mistake. Why did I even agree, Alex... - Roman’s words were filled with guilt and fear.

- It's okay, Roma. I told you, now death is just part of the journey. We can die and come back. - Alexander muttered, trying to catch his breath. - I took a risk myself to test my skills... And I tested it successfully. But what kind of anxiety? More dead people from the cemetery?

Roman peered into the evening light outside the window with an abstracted gaze.

- I don’t know, there’s turmoil all around. The city is in panic. I didn’t go, I was with you...

While Roman was engaged in self-flagellation, a spark of determination flared up in the depths of Alexander’s soul.

- Try again, stab me. You need to test this skill to the end.

- Somehow I don’t want to... Maybe...

A second of hesitation flashed in Roman’s eyes, but he overcame himself and took the knife again. His hand shook a little as he raised his weapon.

At this critical moment, Cassandra's voice sounded in Alexander's head: "Commendable." It was as if he saw in slow motion as Roman waved his hand, pointing the blade towards his back. Everything was easy to read. Impact direction, force, speed. Now that we understand the time delay, it was easy to plan a defense.

Thanks to the prediction, Alexander turned with incredible speed at the very last moment. The knife slid a centimeter from the guy’s body, but the Rejected One had already grabbed Roman’s hand and, using judo technique, threw him over his shoulder. Roman landed on the floor with a thud. The weapon flew to the side.

- Wow! - Roman exclaimed, getting up and brushing himself off. - You really understood how it works! But I didn’t manage to understand anything. As soon as I hit it, I was already flying upside down. Cool!

Alexander nodded, but his gaze was directed at the window.

- Yes, cool... Listen, I have a bad feeling... - whispering this, he went to the window and stared at the street. Shooting was heard somewhere far away, and then an explosion occurred. Alexander quickly rushed to the side, throwing Roman to the floor. A second later a wave came, breaking the windows and the sounds of the street filled the house. A siren sounded and car alarms sounded.

- This is from the side of the military unit. - Roman said crawling towards the corridor, away from the windows.

- Massive uprisings of the dead brought chaos to our world... Trouble began. We need to stock up on food, it will only get worse. - Roman nodded, and they, taking their backpacks, ran to the nearest supermarket.

Military alarm sirens cut through the air, adding a note of alarm to the already uneasy atmosphere of the city. Alexander and Roman saw how people were running aimlessly, panic and lack of understanding of what was happening was visible in their eyes. Making their way through the trash and running people, they headed to the nearest supermarket.

There were cars on the streets with cracked windows, their alarms blaring, creating a dissonance with the piercing sound of sirens. Occasionally we heard shooting, desperate screams, and squeaking brakes. The sky was lit up with bright flashes coming from explosions on the outskirts of the city.

When they reached the supermarket, they found that a crowd of people had already gathered in front of it. Some tried to get inside, pushing each other and trying to take as much food as possible. The store was in chaos: the shelves were practically empty, only scattered goods littered the floor, abandoned in a hurry. Alexander and Roman, bypassing the fuss, grabbed several canned goods, bags of water, bread, and some dry foods. They tried to act quickly, avoiding collisions with other customers.

- There is no point in paying for the goods. Let's get out of here! - natural confusion began. The police arrived at the supermarket, but Roman and Alexander passed them and ran back.

Returning home, they locked themselves in and began sorting through supplies. Roman settled down in the kitchen, checking the contents of the packages, while Alexander turned on the TV in the hope of learning something new about what was happening in the world. Images of chaos and destruction flashed on the screen, but official information was scarce and contradictory. They talked about terrorist acts on air, but Alexander felt that fooling people like that was stupid.

“I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to conduct a small audit...” said Alexander, turning off the TV and approaching the window, behind which a picture of the post-apocalyptic world unfolded. - It is unknown how long we will have to cuckoo here.

Alexander and Roman began an audit of supplies in the house, which was located on the outskirts of the village. There was a lot of stuff in the basement of the house: canned food, dry food, several cans of water, candles, lanterns and even an old radio. They assessed supplies, counting each can and pack to understand how much food and water they would have. Time passed slowly, and it became quieter outside the window.

After about two hours, the sirens died down and voices were heard over loudspeakers throughout the city. A voice coming through the cracks in the windows broadcast a message:

- Attention attention! All citizens are advised to remain in their homes. Please do not panic and follow official instructions. All security measures are taken for your protection. I repeat...

There was silence inside Roman's house, broken only by their steps and rustles as they checked supplies. Every item they found reminded them of the past and the future, of the difficult times they had to endure. The guys checked everything and threw out the wrong condition. They closed the windows with shutters. We had dinner.

As they were preparing to rest after a tiring day, there was a knock on the door. Roman, with disbelief in his eyes, went to open it. People in police and military uniforms stood in the doorway, their figures silhouetted against the flickering lights of the cars behind them. Two officers with the rank of senior lieutenants. And three more patrolmen with machine guns. Two checked the house, another inspected the yard.

- Hello, we are checking. We need your documents for accounting purposes. Passports, military IDs. - the officer said, his voice sounded confident, but without emotion.

Roman, a little confused, handed over his documents, and then they turned to Alexander. As a result, the guys realized that now the authorities actively wanted to take control of everything, which resulted in a problem for the young man.

- Alexander, you need to leave the city within 24 hours and go to your place of registration. - the officer mentioned, handing Alexander the assigned.

- But why? What exactly is happening? - Alexander asked, taking the papers, puzzled.

- Sorry, but we don't have time for detailed explanations. Just follow the instructions. We still have fifty houses to check.

As soon as the officers left, Alexander and Roman exchanged glances full of confusion and bewilderment. They stood in the hallway, where the light from the street lamps through the open door created shadows on the floor, and the street was filled with confusion and chaos, reflected in their minds filled with questions. They needed a break, but the sleep suddenly disappeared.

Alexander, sitting on a kitchen stool, looked at Roman with a serious expression on his face.

“It’s good that this happened...” he began, glaring at the floor of the house. “I was still going to return soon and start searching for Twilight.” But now, perhaps, this will fade into the background. Information about my return will probably reach Colonel Berezovsky, and there may be problems. Although, who knows how tightly they are tied, maybe this will just get him out of the hole...

The room was quiet, only the clock on the wall was counting down the time, as if hinting at the inevitability of upcoming events. Roman nodded in understanding, his gaze filled with concern.

Alexander stood up, patting his friend on the shoulder.

- Thank you, Roman. I will take with me only the essentials.

He went to his room, where he quickly packed a few things into his backpack: a change of clothes, a small flashlight, a charger and a knife that he always carried with him.

Stolen story; please report.

- Be careful and buy a phone when you're in the city. I think there is better law and order there, and the cemetery is located outside the city. - the guys hugged tightly, saying goodbye. Alexander set off.

The collection point for transportation was only a few blocks from Roman's house. Alexander walked there, looking over his shoulder. The streets were empty, and only occasionally the hum of passing cars could be heard in the distance. Once he was even stopped by a patrol that pulled up in a car. But after checking what was written down, I moved on.

Arriving at the point, he saw several buses and a group of people who, like him, were about to leave the city. Everyone went through a security checkpoint, where military personnel and police checked documents and personal belongings. The atmosphere was tense, with many talking nervously, trying to understand what was happening.

Alexander presented his documents, showed the contents of his backpack, and after a brief search he was allowed to enter. He headed to one of the buses that were supposed to go to Saratov.

Inside the bus it was cramped and stuffy. Alexander sat by the window, lost in his thoughts. He tried not to think about what he had left behind and what might lie ahead. The bus slowly moved off, and soon the wooden houses and familiar streets were replaced by a blurry landscape passing outside the window. Alexander thought about the future: about the meeting with Berezovsky, about the possible danger that awaited him in Saratov, and about the fact that his skills acquired in Grani could be useful in the upcoming trials.

Alexander plunged into the world of dreams, where he returned back to Grani. He wandered through misty forests, where the trees seemed tall and ancient, their branches intertwined, creating strange patterns. The wind whispered incomprehensible words, and in the distance lights sparkled like beacons in the darkness. In this dream, Alexander felt like both the hunter and the prey, as if invisible eyes were watching his every move.

But the world of dreams collapsed when Alexander suddenly woke up from a rough jolt. He saw machine gun barrels in front of him, aimed straight at him. The uniformed policemen looked at him sternly and without further ado. Waking up, Alexander realized that the bus had stopped at a checkpoint on the outskirts of the city.

Without the possibility of resistance, Alexander allowed himself to be taken out of the bus. His hands were handcuffed and he was put into a police car. Alexander tried to see the surrounding landscape through the tinted glass, but it was surprisingly dark. Only when they got to the streets of the city did it become possible to examine the landscapes.

The car moved slowly through the city streets, which seemed unusually empty. Buildings flashed by one after another, and in Alexander’s head a plan of action unfolded in case the situation worsened. He tried to remain calm and focused, remembering everything he had. And to my surprise, the plan came together very quickly. He had a proven weapon in his hands against Berezovsky. He had no doubt that it was on his orders that he was captured.

The trip took about twenty minutes. After Alexander was brought to the police station, he immediately recognized this place. Here he met with Berezovsky, a man whose name evoked mixed feelings in his memory. The police took him to an interrogation room, where he found himself alone, awaiting further developments.

The walls of the room were decorated in a sterile gray, and in the center was a metal table with a couple of chairs. The lighting was cold and harsh, creating a feeling of pressure and tension. Alexander sat handcuffed, tuning in for the upcoming conversation, when the door opened.

A man in civilian clothes entered the room. His face was stern and his gaze penetrating.

- Alexander Stepnov, you are suspected of a series of murders. - the man began the interrogation, looking straight into Alexander’s eyes. - Maybe you’ll admit everything right away and make your life a lot easier? No? Okay, let's get down to business then...

The policeman opened the first folder, familiarizing himself with the contents.

- The first case concerns a man found dead in a car near your house. Blunt force injuries were found on his body. Broken spine. Also, your fingerprints were found at the crime scene. Have something to say? No? OK…

The man took the second folder and whistled.

- Next, there is the case of a massacre on the territory of the mansion of a local leader of an organized crime group. Several corpses with signs of brutal violence were found at the crime scene. How were you not imprisoned? There are even video recordings here. And there are witnesses. Well... The case is of course closed, but fortunately, the good has been received and it is again in development. Like a maniac, you’ll go to prison for life... Don’t you want to start talking? OK…

The third folder is easy to the top of the stack.

- And last but not least... The body of a man found in your apartment. The body was found in the bathroom. Broken spine. He had a lot of injuries, and he also doused him with water, apparently even then he understood that he could be resurrected. Too cruel. Well, your apartment, as in previous cases, contained evidence indicating your presence at the crime scene. Well, lifelong... So will you remain silent? Okay, let's make it official. Alexander, how can you explain your presence in all these places and your connection with these events?

He placed in front of Alexander photographs of the corpse lying in the bathroom. He was about to take out other photographs, but he always liked to watch the reaction of the suspects, so he did it slowly.

Alexander carefully examined the photographs, then raised his eyes to the interrogator and calmly said:

- Is that all you have? Of course I thought there would be more. Okay, you wanted me to talk, okay, but not to you. Colonel Berezovsky. He should know that I have information about some activity. This data was transmitted to me by Markov. I think he will understand what we are talking about.

The man in civilian clothes frowned slightly:

- There is no Berezovsky here. It's just you and your life sentence... Do you think anything will help you?

- I think you should hurry. - Alexander continued, If something happens to me, including detention for more than one day, this information will become available to the public. And believe me, what awaits Berezovsky after this will be much more serious than any raid on Twilight.

The man in civilian clothes stood up, sighed and shook his head:

- Your antics will not help you. I’ll go have a smoke, and you think about what you’ll sing about first. - Having said this, he quickly left the room, leaving Alexander alone with his thoughts.

Ten minutes later, a uniformed officer entered the room. Alexander recognized him. Berezovsky, a middle-aged man with a gloomy expression on his face. His step was confident, and his gaze was piercing. He sat down opposite Alexander, crossing his arms over his chest.

Alexander, without wasting time, began:

- Markov gave me information about your affairs, Berezovsky. If this matter is not hushed up now, the information will go further. You've probably heard about the raid on Dusk? This was information from me. It was interesting for me to watch your attempts to find out information from me, but you missed your chance, now I have so much insurance that even death is not scary for me, no matter how funny it may sound in the current situation. I will take you with me and for this I don’t even need to do anything. It’s my inaction that activates the mechanism that publishes all the information, you know?

Berezovsky frowned even deeper.

- Do you think you can blackmail me?

This is not blackmail, this is an ultimatum. – Alexander answered calmly. “If you don’t want to lose everything you have, you’ll have to make an exception and hush this matter up.” And then let me go.

Berezovsky sighed and leaned back in his chair, weighing the situation. He understood that this was a man with information that could undermine his position. His gaze slid over Alexander's face, trying to unravel his intentions. Finally, he nodded, as if he had made a decision.

- Okay, I'll hush this matter up. But remember, Alexander, you are playing with fire...” Berezovsky said, rising from his chair. “And I hope you understand what this could mean for you.”