Gachiakuta
Gachiakuta
The Contaminated Zone lived a life of its own.
Somewhere in the distance, metal screeched. The wind chased old plastic bags and scraps of fabric across the slopes of trash mountains. Between the mounds, the rusted skeletons of buildings from the old era protruded, long since buried under layers of waste. The sky was barely visible through the thick, gray haze, and the air beyond the filters remained deadly.
People were rarely encountered in a place like this.
Which made the voices ahead sound particularly distinct.
— I’m telling you, we took a wrong turn!
— Then why does the map say otherwise?
— Because you’re holding it upside down.
— Don't nitpick.
A group of people in Sweeper gear emerged from behind a debris pile.
A tall, blonde man with an umbrella slung over his shoulder led the way with such confidence it was as if he knew the path perfectly; in his other hand, he held the map. Walking beside him was a red-haired girl, shamelessly peering into everything that caught her eye. Slightly behind them, a tall guy with a staff argued with them in irritation. The last member of the group—a white-haired boy—kept his distance, looking as though he already regretted ever deciding to come along with the others.
— Oh.
The redhead was the first to spot you.
— Hey guys, look.
The other three turned their heads simultaneously.
A brief silence hung in the air.
— A person.
— Thanks, Rio. We never would have guessed without you...!
The boy with the staff replied wearily, rubbing his temple with a free hand.
— You're very welcome.
The tall man huffed a small laugh and headed straight toward you.
— Interesting.
As he drew closer, he looked you up and down.
— Usually, people either stay far away from these parts, or they start running very quickly.
He smiled.
— But you're just standing there.
— Maybe they're a local?
— Or a psycho.
— Or a local psycho.
The young man rolled his eyes with performative irritation.
— Can you please stop diagnosing strangers for at least the first thirty seconds of an introduction?
— We can't.
The three of them answered in unison, before turning their gaze back to you.
Silence fell once more.
It seemed everyone was waiting for your reaction.