When Johnson woke up he didn't know if his eyes were opened. Absolute darkness was around. Only Amy glimpsed her indicator. He heard a slight tinnitus, because there was nothing else to hear. The floor was cold, so he was sleeping with his coat wore on. He felt something specific, but familiar. His breathe sped up of sudden realization. It was a nagging feeling of someone watching you when you sleep. Instead of the blanket he would hide in as a child, he held his shotgun, hugged it tighter and tighter. And he would let be. The tension slowly passed away. But suddenly he heard steps.

Johnson had to act, and he knew that perfectly. The chances to run away were low. He stood up and putted on his backpack. He got closer to the door and opened it with a faint creak. At the end of the long corridor was a big window. Approaching it, he realized it was snowing outside. All the landscapes had changed over night. Instead of piles of autumn leaves, there were tremendous snowdrifts. Only dilapidated gray houses provoked the same fear and despair as yesterday.

Johnson's eyes were slowly getting used to darkness. He almost felt comfortable. Finally, he reached the door he was searching for, but hadn't he even managed to touch the doorknob before he was punched right at his head, and fainted. "Fuck" he said before losing consciousness.

. . .

He was sleeping a soft mattress. Johnson couldn't even recollect the last time he had done it, slept with pleasure. And as always the pleasure couldn't last long. The curse ghost whispered his left ear. "Wake up. Continue your way. Find Amy"

"Amy!" he jumped off the mattress.

His eyes opened and he stunned of what he was looking at. Papers with drawn faces fully covered all the walls around. "Where the heck am I?" said Johnson standing up. This room had no windows, so the only light source was a lightbulb hanging from the ceiling. He quickly looked over the area. Amy and the backpack were somewhere else. He noticed the door. It was locked. Suddenly, he heard someone knocking on it. After a minute pause, the door swung open, but no one was there. Now a whole universe of smiling faces appeared his view. This narrow but extremely long corridor was also decorated with papers.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The lamps that stood along blinked sometimes. The world around extinguished, leaving Johnson alone with darkness. Then the suffocating hall burst light again. It was raining outside. The rain pattered the thin walls, echoing here and there. These sounds filled the building with mock life, but it was hard to believe someone was here. Johnson had nothing more to say or notice. It was impossible to determine if it was a day or night, how long he had been sleeping, and who had brought him here.

At the end of the hall Johnson found the way upstairs. Full of determination he moved forward. Suddenly he heard beeping of Amy. So he started running. Without even looking what was the old man doing with Amy, Johnson jumped on him. They rolled over the dusty floor for a few feet, wrestling. Johnson tried his best, but the luck was on the old man's side, he managed to push Johnson away and grab a gun from the near table.

"Stay where you are" he shouted

Obediently, Johnson sat still

"Don't you dare touch her" he said angrily

"I don't want to harm her" responded the old man

"Then let me take her! She's my only reason to live!" cried Johnson

"You're also a harmed one, I see"

"Then fucking let me take her, you, old fool who can only imagine what I passed through!"

"Heh... you're very wrong about that" he said woefully, looking at the window beside

"Have you ever eaten mushrooms growing on the wall, while hiding of Tempos?! Have you ever drank your sweat to save water?! Or do you want me to kill everyone you love, like they did to me?!"

"I have no intentions to kill you or this little girl. Everyone I once loved is long dead" said the old man. Then he stepped aside to let Johnson get to his daughter. Johnson rushed to her and hugged the capsule. "I know how you feel, even better than you do" said the man

"How did you know that she's a little girl?" asked Johnson quietly, looking at him with a slight contempt.

"Once I was like you, searching for vengeance and slaughter. But time heals. Years pass and you don't notice how old you become. Anger fades, but loneliness stays. I've buried many of my relatives and friends"

"Then why did you take Amy?" asked Johnson, voice shaking

"Amy... so that's her name. I wanted to take sure if her heart was beating. It's been a long since I saw or touched someone alive. I dragged you to my bed, spoke with her a little, she is a good girl, and was about to place your stuff in the room you were sleeping, when you came to kill me"

"Okay, if that's actually true, I'm sorry..." said Johnson approaching the old man for a handshake