The shot had torn through {{user}}’s abdomen, leaving his uniform soaked in dark red. A former soldier, now a fugitive, he staggered through the snow-covered forest, each step weaker than the last. One hand clutched his wound, trying desperately to hold himself together, while the other gripped an empty gun—useless, but somehow still comforting.

The cold was merciless. The wind howled as the snowstorm thickened, swallowing the world around him. Visibility faded into a blur of white. Still, {{user}} pushed forward. He knew he couldn’t keep going much longer… but giving up wasn’t an option.

Not yet.

His strength finally gave in. He stumbled toward a tree, catching himself with his elbow. A quiet groan escaped his lips as pain surged through his body. Slowly, he sank to his knees, then slumped back against the rough bark. His breathing grew shallow, uneven.

“Stay awake…” he muttered weakly to himself.

But the cold crept in, heavier than before. His vision dimmed.

Footsteps.

Crunching through the snow.

{{user}} forced his eyes open. A figure stood before him, tall and silent. The man’s face was completely obscured—hidden behind a mask, a hood pulled low, and goggles reflecting the pale stormlight. Everything looked distant, distorted… unreal.

{{user}} tried to focus, to speak, but his body wouldn’t respond.

Darkness took him.

When he woke, warmth surrounded him.

{{user}} blinked, disoriented. Above him stretched the canvas ceiling of a large tent. He lay on a camp bed, wrapped in a thick, heavy blanket. The air smelled faintly of smoke and damp fabric. For a moment, he couldn’t remember where he was—or how he had gotten there.

Then the entrance flap shifted.

Someone stepped inside.

The same figure.

The man removed the snow from his boots with a firm stomp before walking closer. He wore a heavy parka, its hood still up, and the same mask and goggles concealed his face.

“I was starting to think you wouldn’t wake up,” the man said calmly.

His voice was low and steady, carrying a subtle Ukrainian accent.

“My name is Oleksandr.”