The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 2 by Al-Fatman, literature
Literature
The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 2
As a child of the Metro, I have no memories of Moscow before the nuclear winter, only tales of what it was like: giant wooden structures called trees, changes of weather called seasons would pass every three months and men did not all carry weapons or fight in wars all the time, for the majority lived in peace. Some remember fondly on this, but to us born in this world after the bombs fell it was all impossible and insane to think of. A world where people did not fear their lives on a constant basis, where twisted nightmares brought to life would stalk, kill and devour you whole, a place where life was complicated but still free to all?
Impos
The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 3 by Al-Fatman, literature
Literature
The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 3
"So what the hell is a Ranger?" Sofia asked, stirring a spoon in a small, warbled mug. For a time, we were still wary of each other, treating the other with wary coolness, but within an hour of talking we became distant if not somewhat friends. Her Russian was slightly odd to my own and unlike any other I had heard but otherwise her mannerisms and behaviour were fairly ordinary: Rough and not as feminine as some girls I knew back home, but still that side shone in the oddest of places.
"They're a neutral force in our society with the sole determination of our survival and safety. " I spoke as Sofia filled another mug with some dark brown liq
The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 4 by Al-Fatman, literature
Literature
The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 4
"Get up."
I was shaken awake, barely sleeping more than a few hours. The sky outside was still dark but the wind and snow was slow, morning was definitely still yet to dawn on the world. "Come on, get up." This time she kicked me. "Ow, alright. I'm up." I pushed myself to stand up, warbling slightly and brushed myself down. I felt like hell, I had definitely slept better with the storm the other night but Sofia handed me a cup of coffee. "Drink it fast." She turned away and knelt down, searching through her bag. "What about you?" I asked, sipping at the hot brew. "I already had some. Just down the cup, we need to go now and you'll have to le
The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 5 by Al-Fatman, literature
Literature
The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 5
I was exhausted from the firefight and the lack of sleep the night before; by the end of our meeting with Artyom, my adrenalin was all but gone. Sofia wanted to explore D6 and the people among the halls but even she felt the need for sleep, especially if we were to make the journey to Petersburg. The only rooms spare were for the tradesmen and even then we were forced to sleep in one bed. I pulled off my jumper and shoes, leaving on my pants and undershirt for warmth, crumbling down to one side of my body facing towards the wall. I heard the soft noises of clothes being folded and placed near the bed and so suddenly a warm body laid down besi
The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 1 by Al-Fatman, literature
Literature
The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 1
Nuclear winter.
Humanity has always been terrified for what forty thousand people continued to experience down in the depths of the Moscow Metro. The year is 2053; the bombs that forced humanity underground have long fell silent over the two generations born in the dark but their effects are just as relevant in our world today. Twenty years ago, a Ranger named Artyom dropped the last of Moscow's bombs onto the Dark Ones: tall, menacing beasts that fed off the radiation on the surface, their skin charred dark like a Metro tunnel with no light. While first thought to be angels of death, they were not sent to kill us but only wished for peace. A
The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 10 by Al-Fatman, literature
Literature
The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 10
With guards and Vas distracted by the dying legend, my arm acted on its own, the ice from my mind enveloping my heart and steeling it from harm. With my good hand, I pulled the Ashot from its holster and held it steady facing Vas, eyes slowly turning to me.
Outside Khan's home and fighting the mutants of Moscow, I had ignored my bloodlust that seemed to overtake me when the moment stuck, but here it was different. I did not want to see him die, I wanted to see him suffer, to watch this man experience pain unlike this world. Then and only then did I wish him dead.
I close my eyes and took a breath, it was barely a moment but it lasted foreve
The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 6 by Al-Fatman, literature
Literature
The Metro Tales: Culmination Part 6
"How much further, girl?" Anna groaned loudly, her back slouching ever so slightly. "We've been walking for hours."
"It's just up the road a little more, near the town of Mechta." Sofia pointed to a destroyed building next to a pond of frozen water. In the midst of night, Artyom had taken my place in that tower and I had slept for some time before being awoken by Anna, shoving me ferociously, pointing at her watch in a matter just the same. We left the church and walked out of Moscow, the road ahead just as lonely as the dead city behind us; the trees were charred and long gone, snow and ice tipping each branch like a child clinging to its mo