Raila was different from the other cities they had visited. Fana was in the middle of the desert, while Kel was a dull, gray city filled with factories. Olia, on the other hand, was beautifully built—they called it the "country of the rich" because it was decorated with marble and gold, making it look more impressive than the other cities they had visited.
But none of them had anything real from nature. Trees and rivers had disappeared after the war.
Raila might have been chaotic and gloomy, but it had the sea.
However, it wasn't how Mike had imagined it.
The harbor was filled with ships, packed tightly next to each other. The water was black, and a terrible smell rose from it.
Seeing this, Mike began to feel afraid.
He had told everyone that beyond the ruins there were forests and rivers. But now, seeing that the only real piece of nature left something not created by humans was in such a terrible state…
Who knew what existed beyond the ruins?
"Everything okay?"
"Yes. Did you find a building?"
"Yes."
"And you? Did you find a werehouse?"
"Yes."
"Where is it?"
"At the edge of the harbor."
Samantha's expression changed slightly. For a moment, she hesitated to speak.
"Mike… do you really believe there's something beyond the ruins?"
Mike froze.
At that moment, he realized that Samantha had known all along that he was lying.
"I… don't know."
An awkward silence followed. Mike felt fear and guilt. He wanted to say something, but there was a knot in his throat.
After struggling for a moment, he finally asked what had been bothering him all this time.
"Why did you follow me…? You knew I was lying. So why did you come with me?"
"I don't know… I wonder that myself sometimes. But I think it's because I trust you more than that man with the scars."
Mike felt something strange. He didn't know what it was. It wasn't fear. It was a feeling he only had when he was with Samantha—and the fact that she trusted him, even knowing he was lying, made that feeling even stronger.
"You know, Mike… my family used to be rich…"
Mike was surprised.
"What?"
"But one day, guards came and arrested my father. They said he was a traitor… and they executed him along with my entire family. My uncle and I managed to escape, and that's how I ended up on the streets… and eventually became a slave."
She paused.
"But my father wasn't a traitor. Someone betrayed him. And I'm willing to do anything to find out who did it."
Mike didn't know what to say. He gently wiped the tears from her face and… he didn't even know why. He just did it, without thinking.
Mike kissed her.
"It's okay… whatever you need, I'll always be by your side."
Samantha didn't say anything, but her face turned red. Mike immediately realized what he had done.
<
He expected her to hit him.
But to his surprise, Samantha kissed him back.
***
When they arrived at the abandoned building, the others were already there, waiting. That day, everyone rested. The next night, they would rob the warehouse.
"Brother!"
Liam called out to Mike. Lately, he had started seeing him as an older brother—and Mike saw him as a younger one.
"Tomorrow we're leaving for the ruins, right?"
Liam said, excitement clear in his voice.
"Yes… but why are you in such a hurry?"
"What do you mean? Tomorrow we'll be free."