Dmitry and Valutin University Campus.

Harkov City, Azuna

September 17, 2787

1000hrs

I smelled the aroma of chayote sàuteed in butter, on the counter of the cafeteria. As usual, I stayed in line until my turn. The staff placed spring rolls, onion rings, a piece of the pie, hot tea, and the chayote on my tray.

I went to my table and sat there waiting for Zena. She came and sat on her seat, barely giving me any form of attention.

I took a roll and surveyed my surroundings before taking a bite. As always, the place was quiet despite the huge number of people in it. The onion rings were the real treat, they stopped serving them for three months. With that in mind, I decided to enjoy some in the meantime.

That's when I noticed the three Monarchs of the school all scattered in the hall: Erika von Himmel, his father is the local Commanding officer of the resident Detachment the 8th Light Infantry Division. A respected man, and State Hero; Katya Markhova, probable heir of the Merkatz Corporation as they are currently leaning towards Company status ever since the last disaster concerning stocks; And last but not the least the beautiful Sandra von Elbe of class 545, daughter of the current Chancellor of Azuna itself.

These were currently of no interest for me, except for the part where Katya is visibly trying to get the new kid's attention. And for starters, she had some degree of success.

Ever since day one, it's clear that one of them was the tsundere and the other a yandere. Surely he should have seen her drooling in his presence, but still, he acts indifferent. As if he grew up disliking lovey-dovey relationships. But I have to give it to her, she managed to soften him up for the taking. Despite him treating her like a sister than a lover.

Something seems familiar every time I look at him though. It seems like I've seen him once during my travels. Although the one I saw had Grey hair and green eyes, still they look oddly the same.

I heard the sound of crunching spring rolls as I tried to put my finger on the newbie's likeness. I cranked my neck left and saw Zena feasting on her tray like a pig! I slammed a fist on the table softly yet good enough to make a sound. She looked at me and I said softly: "Zena! Have you any manners!" She looked at the tray, her hands, and the way I looked at her. She took a handkerchief and wiped her face. Before she continued eating, slowly.

I do not know what's up with her! She takes twice the amount of food she usually does and is gaining weight. Not to mention she seems a bit hostile towards me.

I can't understand her, I mean I've known her since we were like ten. I've been with her since her Parents died serving the state. I've been there in her darkest hour. I've been her big brother for six years, sometimes I'd spend the night with her when she's afraid. Although I should reaffirm that every time that happens, I bring a futon than sleep on the same bed.

God the genetics of the women in this state!!!

But the way she acts this school year is nothing compared to the last tantrum she had. This was worse and the only link I had to this behavior was when Katya stole a kiss with the new boy, leaving him and her dumbfounded. I heard her whisper: "I envy them." I asked for a clarification and she replied with an 'It's nothing, nothing.' With a tender smile. And for fifteen days she kept acting like this. It worries me to see her like this, this is new.

The bells rang and I did the usual. As I turned my head to face the door, I saw her eyes and they were empty. It nearly made me jump, but where did the anger go?

As we head towards the room, I took the opportunity to ask her: "Zena, what's going on?... Zena?... Zena?" That's when I noticed a senior making a shush sign. Her face was hell-bent on stopping me, I cranked my head one last glance and the sign was still there. That's when I noticed her clench a fist.

***

1600hrs

Gym class, Zena's favorite so far. She gets straight A's in this class ever since she could field-strip her zapper. She had a lean and slender body, not to mention physically fit to handle athletic situations. The only student in the class to rival her was the newbie Kempf, but she managed to out-do him one step at a time.

Today was self-defense evaluation, and her sparring partner was Katya. She defeated her a while back and now it's time for payback. The martial art in question is Einzel Stechen or single stab, the art of using short swords/axes with guns. In this case, just a wooden stick was used.

The fight was tough, both wouldn't give in. Katya kept advancing, she kept withdrawing yet kept scoring stabs. Katya kept doing her best and at one point, nearly turned the tide. She lost by a margin of five points.

Satisfied with her success she went to her bench in high spirits. And I tried to ask her again, to no avail.

***

September 18, 2787

1600hrs

Today's gym class session is about an obstacle course. Now I'm sure her weight will play its part. Most of the students and even me had an average time of a minute and thirty-five seconds. The newbie completed the course in just forty-three seconds, a feat we can't believe exist.

Zena's turn came next. She ran through the course and passed the parkour. Then came the climbing, where her weight played its role. She finished the course in fifty-three seconds. She was devastated, without the dead weight, she could've finished the course in less than that. But what's done is done.

I approached her and patted her on the back, trying to comfort her. Then she hugged me immediately and placed her head in my left breast, before squeezing the life out of me. I could hear the sound of ribs cracking!

I patted her in the back again before saying: "Now, now it is alright." The pain and loss of breath made my statement odd. Like an old man nearing his death. This surprised her and she immediately loosened her grip and turned to see me. My pale face nearly made her jump.

"Sasha? Are you alright?" Someone said as I tried to breathe and straighten my sight. "Sasha! Sasha!!!" Came the voice of a girl, I met only in my dreams.

My sight dwindled, the loss of oxygen has taken its toll. Though try as I might, the hardest thing to do is breathe. I forced my lungs to expand. Again and again but I felt death creeping towards me.

Finally, I felt air rush into my lungs, and I hoisted like a Jack in a box. I turned my head and saw everyone around me, somebody just resuscitated me. I wish I knew who, but the nurse wasn't nearby.

"Another freak-show like this and you wouldn't have a big brother anymore Zena!" Somebody in the crowd said Jeering.

"Sasha! Are you alright?" Said the P.E. teacher.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied in although pain.

"Are you sure?" She asked again.

"Yes ma'am, just need to find my bearings and I'm good to go," I replied sternly.

"I'll take him home," Zena said all of the sudden. "I've known his family like the back of my hand."

"We expected that to happen," Erika said. " We still have twenty minutes left for Gym class, lets make it count people!" The teacher quipped.

Those last twenty minutes were spent trying to breathe. Albeit painfully, luckily mother taught me to how to hide my pain. All that time I tried to remember and picture the one who brought me back. I could not, but something tells me otherwise as gained my sight.

She helped me on the bus, and till the time we got out. Today, she walked me home as I always did her. But I couldn't help but notice Bloomberg's in the distance. Touching my earpiece I tried to contact her. She complied and I said in the comm.:

"It's been a while since we've played a game or two in that place. Got enough credits for an hour's worth of gameplay. What do you say, we go for a ride?"

She didn't respond, but I heard a faint ''Ok" as I listened. I asked again, she came closer and nodded.

So I took her hand, and despite the limp managed to make it in. After we took our masks off, I asked if there was something wrong with her equipment. No reply, so I shrugged it off.

I made sure that she gets all the fun. And fun she had: the arcade, VR, shooting range, etc. And after fifteen days of ignorance, I finally saw her smile. She wasn't the prettiest girl, neither was she special but that smile could fix a bad day I say.

But something seemed odd though. That voice, I seemed to hear it more often now. Strangely it seemed to be coming from her.

***

1800hrs

Bloomberg's, Stavros street

Harkov city

Two teenagers just got out of Bloomberg's and headed north towards Zimmer Avenue. They walked at the same pace,

From a distance, one can notice that the shorter one was communicating with each other. The taller teen replied sparingly, touching his earpiece from time to time.

-beep " Ugh, that was awesome. You saw that shot in the range right, I mean that 12.7mm round that decommissioned that mannequin. And that match in the VR!"

-beep" Yup, copy"

-beep" Amazing! Das ist Wunderbar! And that slick animation, wow I didn't know they had a quality like that in the 23rd century!"

-beep" Da fraulein, Da." -beep.

-beep " Hey, why does it seem like your getting quiet all of the sudden?" She asked.

-beep " I have to save my breath you know. It hurts trying to breathe with a fractured rib." He replied.

-beep "Oh! Solid copy." She replied.

They were approaching a fork but she couldn't help but notice him staggering as they got closer.

She took an arm and slung it above her left shoulder to ease the weight. She looked at the roads and found herself beset by two choices: Either they turn right to his house or left to hers.

-beep "Hey Sasha, why don't we crash in my place for the meantime?"

-beep " I don't think so Zena. Mom would be looking for me."

-beep " Come on Sasha! It's the sixteenth! Didn't your mother tell that you can crash here in the fifth, sixteenth, and twenty-eighth?"

-beep "Wait! It's the sixteenth?"

-beep "Ja! How could you forget!"

-beep "Loss of oxygen perhaps."

-beep " Come on! Please.

-beep " Okay, princess.

She chuckled in her mask.

They walked the way and reached her flat. The stairs were a problem, but just seeing the door was a huge relief for both. They struggled to reach the door, the pain took its toll.

After opening the door, she rushed him to the nearest seat. She scrambled towards the first-aid kit usually placed on the corner. After retrieving the necessary items, she immediately started her work.

He started to survey his flat chest and scoured to find the portion which is hurt the most. She found various red points in the skin, the bone must be shattered. But found relief when she noticed that it was only swelling. She applied the ice on the red portion of the breast and placed him upright.

The treatment was effective at best. His breathing was returning normally. She expressed relief and made a satisfied smile.

"I'm starting to suspect that you broke my ribs on purpose." He said with a smile.

"Come on! You're ruining it!" She replied annoyed.

He looked at her with a funny face, and bursts laughing at him remarking his face at the moment. But Sasha noticed something odd. That voice seems to be coming from Zena herself. He pressed with jokes and the usual gossip to see if his hunch was right. He was right, it came from her. He pushed with more inquiries and it became clearer and clearer. That voice was hers all along.

After all this time, her dream girl was with him all along. That soft, rich, and beautiful voice. Only in his dreams did she exist. For more than ten years, she appeared only in his dreams. She was laughing when he snapped out of his trance. He gave a big smile and said: "Gotcha."

"Wait, what?" she said laughing.

" That beautiful voice Zena, I heard it in my dreams. But the real question is: How did you end up in my dreams." He replied warmly.

She was taken aback, her cheeks were pinkish red. She was blushing. It lasted for a minute or two until it got awkward.

"Wait here, I'll go and prepare dinner." She said before rushing towards the kitchen.

In the silence of the room, he tried standing up. But found difficulty trying to. So he resigned himself to her hospitality, trying to enjoy the sight. The room he noticed, wasn't his own. It was hers, the last time he slept here was when they were kids. After reaching puberty, his mother banned him from sleeping alongside her. For probable reasons.

He noticed a notebook hidden in the bed. He read it, trying to humor himself when he found its contents: Zena's repressed feelings. He read through every entry like an inquisitor seeking proof of heresy. Yet he found that he can learn very little about Zena through it, for it glorified him instead. To an extent.

He was nearing the last page when he smelled the soup coming. He rushed the book under the sheets and tried to act naturally. In his endeavor, he moved his back and the pain rushed in.

She came to find him nearly out of breath. She placed the soup on her study table and rushed to his side, placing him correctly and replaced the ice bags. She found relief knowing his breathing went normal.

She sighed and took a glance. "Bringing you here was a Bad Idea!" She exclaimed.

"Huh," the sound escaped from his lips."If only I had helped you to your house, this wouldn't be a complication." She added.

"My mother would've broken another if I'd let you." He replied.

"Yeah, I remembered the last time that happened." She said with a grin. And then they both laughed themselves to death.

"Anyway, dinner's ready!" She said excitedly after a few seconds of complete awkwardness.

"Thank god, I'm famished." He responded.

They ate the soup together as they went recalling past experiences and reminisced their memories. The best so far would be a few years back, after the last catastrophe when Zena lost her parents. Sasha swore to her mother that he'd take care of her, as the last breath flagged her end.

But Sasha spoke none of it. He took the oath in private, as she asked him to do so. The thought of it relieved him of both stress and pain. The soup heralding his cure, the smile his strength. He can feel the searing pain after every breath, the relief in his rest.

Then came the time to sleep. 2000hrs said the clock. And she was about to leave when he asked her otherwise. ''Stay with me please.'' He said pleading. But she protested, stating his mother's requests and amendments considering conduct.

"I'm not truly healed yet. I'll need a hand." He claimed. But she refused to claim his mother's words. But relented after he claimed the worst: he might have problems breathing or he dies. Just as simple as that.

The complications aren't that easy to downplay, he could truly suffocate after accidentally turning his back, etc.

And there she bid him goodnight and closed her eyes. He tried to close his, but just couldn't. That voice still lingers in his mind. Those dreams and that voice, the haunting haven't ended yet. The guilt of curiosity overcame him. He turned his head and saw her face turned towards her. A tender smile smeared on her face.

Out of nowhere, she opened her eyes surprising him. He smiled in return. " Guten Nacht Liebling." He said in a loving voice."

"Oh just sleep bogatyr!" Came her reply in an annoyed tone. They smiled and went to sleep.

Though asleep, he could feel her hand caressing his face and the voice singing him a lullaby.

***

Another drill struck

September 19, 2787

0400hrs news update

Harkov national network

This September 17, 2787, at 0200hrs. Another attack by an unknown kind of lurker struck and badly injured two teenagers. The residents hailed the constables as a trio of former troopers stormed the room, and found the two lacerated and badly injured. The residents reported a drilling sound, followed by an unearthly scream and a barrage of Zapps.

The victims were found lying together with the dead monster a mere three minutes away from them. The victims are currently treated in the city hospital.

Further updates are pending.