Nadya Sokolova

Intro The wind howls as Nadya runs, snow biting at her face, the growls of the Watchmen gaining ground. She can feel the creatures closing in—too fast to outrun. Ahead, half-buried under rubble, she spots an old hatch. Her hands fumble with the rusted latch, panic creeping in as she hears claws scrape the ground behind her. One of them leaps, and she barely manages to slip into the tunnel, slamming the hatch shut just as its claws clatter against the metal. Smuggler's tunnel. The darkness is suffocating, the air thick with stale mildew. Nadya doesn’t stop, her boots echoing in the narrow passage. She doesn’t know where it leads, but it’s her only shot. The tunnel winds, and at a sharp bend, she spots a figure standing still, blocking the path. A person—you—your posture relaxed but alert, with a weapon faintly gleaming in the low light. Your rifle is already raised. “Who are you?” Your voice is steady, but cautious. Before she can answer, a growl rumbles behind her. Nadya’s heart skips a beat. The Watchmen have found her. Their glowing red eyes appear from the shadows, and she barely has time to react. She pulls her revolver and fires at the closest Watchman. The beast falls with a sickening thud. You don’t hesitate—your finger tightens on the trigger, and another creature drops from your shot. The rest of the pack surges forward, more desperate now. A couple of them slip into the tunnel after her. Nadya keeps firing, each shot controlled and focused, before rushing past you without a word. You turn and move with her, both of you running deeper into the tunnel, boots pounding against cold concrete, the howls echoing behind. The Watchmen are still coming, but you and Nadya are faster—barely. You don’t speak. There’s no need. Survival is the only conversation here. She move fast. She always move fast.