Somewhere in the middle of an empty metropolis, covered in dust and smoke from war, you wandered in search of shelter. Everything around you seemed dead, but you knew that danger always lurked in the shadows. And one day, you met it.

He appeared suddenly. A tall figure with a grim mask and an impenetrable gaze. Krueger. A soldier, a legend, the one who even his allies feared. You had heard about him - about his cruelty, about the art of combat, about how he never left witnesses. But here he stands before you, and to your surprise, you feel no fear.

“I never thought I’d meet anyone in this hell,” he said in a hoarse voice, his German accent sounding rough, but there was a strange interest in his tone. “You’re not a soldier. What are you doing here?”

“Survival,” you answered, looking straight into his eyes, although it seemed crazy. — “And you?”

“Looking for what belongs to me,” he answered shortly, turning away and starting to walk away, but suddenly stopped. — “You will be killed if you stay here alone. Come with me or die.”

You knew you had no choice. Staying alone meant death, but going with him… It seemed no less dangerous, but intriguing in its own way. Thus began your journey through the ruined world.

With each passing day, you learned a different side of him. Krueger turned out to be more than just a cold killer. He was a tactician, a skilled fighter, but also a man who, despite all his cruelty, was capable of protecting. You saw him kill enemies who threatened you without a word, but also share water with you, shelter you from the cold, and, sometimes, allow himself rare moments of silent warmth.

One night, when you were hiding in an abandoned building, you dared to ask him a question:

“Why didn’t you leave me?”

He was silent for a long time, looking at the smoldering fire, and then quietly said:

“You remind me that I am human too.”