Night had crept in fully, wrapping the ruined building in a thin, icy stillness. Youri and Thirty-Five were still asleep, curled on the cold floor where exhaustion had dropped them hours earlier. A sharp gust slipped through the broken window, brushing over Youri's face and dragging him awake. He pushed himself up, shivering hard, breath rising in white clouds. The room around him was barren—nothing but dust, rubble, and scraps of debris. No fabric. No blankets. Nothing that could help.
Rubbing his arms, he slipped quietly out of the room, stepping over fallen bricks as he searched through the ruin for anything that could shield him from the cold. He had barely gone a few meters when an engine rumbled in the distance. Youri froze. The sound grew louder—approaching fast.
He darted behind a cracked concrete pillar just as headlights swept through the open entrance, illuminating the dusty air. A gray sedan rolled to a stop, its beams flooding the interior with harsh white light. The doors opened, and three young men stepped out—mid-twenties, loud, careless.
The first had brown slicked-back hair, a black leather jacket, and worn jeans. The second was heavier, dressed in a green tracksuit, hair messy and black. The last looked half-dead from sleeplessness, eyes red, wearing only a thin gray jumper over black pants.
As they stepped inside, the leather-jacketed one barked, "Hey, Mikey! You sure this stuff hits hard? Four-handed Zells isn't cheap!"
Mikey—the sleep-deprived one—nodded shakily. "Trust me, Sammy… this batch'll blow your mind."
Youri watched them from behind the pillar, barely breathing.
Sammy turned and smacked the tracksuit guy's head. "Benny! You idiot! Did you bring the lights?"
Benny blinked slowly. "Uh… oh crap… I think I forgot."
Sammy slapped him again. "Fucking moron! What are we supposed to do now!?"
Mikey raised a hand. "Relax. Use your phone flashlights. We won't need them long anyway. Once the hit kicks in, you won't even care."
From his pocket, Mikey took out a small foil pouch. Inside were three crystal-like stones glowing faintly purple. He peeled the foil back carefully, the gems shimmering under the fading phone light.
"Benny, get the tubes."
Benny ran to the car and returned with three glass tubes shaped like small vases. Mikey placed a crystal into each one, lighting tiny fuses with a cheap lighter. The rocks crackled softly.
Benny stared into the tube. "Damn… so this is Galley? The drug that makes your dreams feel real?"
"Yeah," Mikey whispered with a grin. "Get ready to live the best life you'll ever remember."
The three inhaled deeply, purple smoke curling into their mouths. A minute later, they all collapsed onto the floor, limp and unconscious.
Youri waited. Then he tossed a small rock at Sammy. No movement. Another at Benny. Nothing.
They were out.
He crept toward them. Their chests rose and fell—they were alive, just gone to wherever Galley had taken them.
Thirty-Five suddenly rushed in from behind, roaring deeply, ready to tear into them. Youri shot up a hand, catching Thirty-Five's wrist.
"No," he whispered. "We need their clothes. You're freezing… right?"
Thirty-Five paused, then nodded once.
They stripped the three unconscious men, leaving them stark naked on the cold floor. Thirty-Five pulled on the green tracksuit; Youri tugged on Mikey's gray jumper and black pants—far too big, hanging off his thin frame. Thirty-Five tore the sleeves and pant legs with ease, adjusting them to fit Youri's size. The leather jacket was enormous on him, but he shrugged it on anyway. More warmth was more warmth.
When they stepped outside, Thirty-Five immediately spotted the gray sedan. He hurried to it, circling the vehicle. As Youri stepped out behind him, the headlights suddenly blinked to life.
Thirty-Five spun around, startled.
Youri held up the keys with a grin. "Do you know how to drive?"
Thirty-Five gave a wide, crooked smile—and let out a triumphant roar.
Youri tossed him the keys. They climbed in, and Thirty-Five turned the engine. The tires screeched as they jerked onto the road, fishtailing wildly before straightening out. Both boys laughed—pure, unfiltered joy. After everything, after the cold, after the running… here, finally, was a moment of freedom.
Youri left a note behind on the floor next to the unconscious men:
Sorry for the car and the clothes.If we ever meet again, I promise we'll return everything.
Thirty-Five drove like someone who had only ever seen driving in theory—swerving, skidding, bouncing over bumps—but the exhilaration drowned out the terror. Neon lights soon glimmered ahead. The massive skyline of Talion rose into view.
Talion at night was another world entirely. A creature of light and shadow.
As dusk vanished and the city fully awakened, the sky shifted into deep violet, the stars struggling against Talion's neon glow. Towering skyscrapers shimmered with cascades of color—blues, greens, reds—each surface alive with holographic ads shouting silent messages into the night.
Down in the streets, the world pulsed. Daytime crowds had vanished, replaced by nighttime wanderers: night-shifters, drifters, thrill seekers. Neon signs blazed over bars, clubs, and dens promising noise, music, and escape. Tech lounges hummed with futuristic beats while old dive bars slouched in their shadows, clinging to the past.
Youri and Thirty-Five drove through it all until the sedan sputtered. The engine coughed once, then died completely.
Out of fuel.
They left the car where it died and continued on foot. The night district was alive but rotten. Bodies—sleeping or unconscious—lay scattered across the sidewalks. In alley corners, silhouettes exchanged crumpled bills for small wrapped packages. Ladies of the night lingered beneath flickering streetlights, scanning for customers.
One of them—a blonde in a tight black latex dress—stepped up and grabbed Thirty-Five's hand.
"Well hey there, handsome," she purred. "Looking for some fun?"
Thirty-Five bared his teeth, ready to bite her.
Youri quickly stepped between them. "Sorry, miss. My friend isn't here for that. We're just searching for a place to stay."
The woman narrowed her eyes. "Who are you to answer for someone older than you?"
Thirty-Five let out a single thunderous roar.
All of them scattered instantly.
Youri burst into laughter. "Honestly… you should've done that earlier."
Thirty-Five huffed a soft, amused growl.
They wandered through the district until the first thin ribbons of dawn began creeping over the city. Exhausted, they finally sat on a metal bench overlooking the street. The sky lightened slowly. People moved like ghosts. Talion began its shift back toward daytime life.
Youri stared at the quieting chaos and thought silently to himself:
So… what do we do now?