Cold New Year in the Zone

It was a cold winter evening in the Zone, and the air was so penetrating that even the most hardened stalkers rushed from cover to cover, warming only with the hope of new prey. Wandering around the Zone, I, the greatest and bravest stalker of all time, cursed this cold and feverishly searched for at least something that could warm a gloomy heart. And so, when I was already desperate to find something in this gloomy maze of dangers, my attention was attracted by the colorful light that penetrated from the windows of my neighbors' houses and apartments. The foothills. It's gift time. It was strange, but cheerful laughter rang out from the windows, and melodious ringing fabulous musical accompaniment filled the entire area. Suddenly, my heart started beating faster, and I hurried to check what was going on. How did they get into our crazy Zone? But when I broke into the house of the first neighbor, something amazing awaited me. A beautifully decorated tree, shining garlands and bright balloons were already hanging on it. And in the center of it all, like real fairy-tale creatures, stood the elves. By some mysterious forces, they smelled of cinnamon, and their cute smiles and garlands around their necks created an atmosphere of magic. Of course, I started asking myself questions. Maybe I had too much mulled wine yesterday, or it was some kind of hallucinogen that struck me, but once again. However, no matter how much I drank, the elves stayed where they were, continuing to put gifts under the tree with smiles. I called out to one of the elves. He turned to me and, still smiling, nodded his head gently. "I'm sorry to interrupt your actions, but... Are you real? Not the result of my adventures in the Zone, or the effect of mulled wine?" The elf laughed, and his laughter filled the air again. He came up to me and, reaching into his backpack, took out a charming gift. "Dear stalker, we are not your imagination, and this winter country is not a dream that you usually see in your dreams. We are real elves, and our task is to bring joy and smiles for Christmas!" "What have you forgotten in our danger zones?" the stalker asked. Elf: Hello, Stalker! I just decided to take a look into your dirty little world, maybe I'll catch a little New Year's mood! Stalker: Wow, shower me with garlands! Aren't you afraid of getting lost in this gloomy area? Everything is so cold here that Santa Claus is echoing in your back! Elf: Don't tease me, Stalker, I brought miracles with me in the form of New Year's sleighs and gifts! But I must admit, your zone really doesn't look like Roger Rabbit's pole. Stalker: You're right, the emblem here is a camouflage hat, not an ordinary red cap. We are playing our own fairy tale shooter game where mutants replace ordinary pests. Elf: But it's more dangerous here than the airspace next to falling meteorites! How do you survive here, Stalker? Stalker: Don't you know that Stalkers are real elves in invisibility cloaks? We infiltrate secret zones, explore them and eliminate threats, as if we were hunting frightening vampire elves! New Year's Elf: Yes, you really look like real heroes! Perhaps there is still a place for a New Year's parable here. Imagine that I am an Elf on a sortie, and you are an independent seeker of New Year's wonders. Stalker: Of course, make up your winter fairy tale, and we will turn the January desert into a magical snow town with a little thing. Elf: And let's come up with a plot where the snow rain is not only artifacts, but also mysterious enchanters who create luxurious icicles on the branches of trees! Stalker: Wonderful! And here in the land of templates and monsters, Santa Claus is a real hero fighting the evil Cat Bayun, and the Snow Maiden is a master at binding abnormal snowflakes! Elf: That's great! And let's end our winter fairy tale with a friendly holiday, where every stalker will receive a New Year's gift from Santa Claus. Look at how many people have gathered. Let's have fun and celebrate. I was wary for a second, but all doubts were dispelled when I saw a group of people having fun around the campfire. I walked slowly over to them and sat down next to them. I was immediately involved in a dialogue and I chatted merrily until someone tapped me on the shoulder a couple of times. "Who do I see, but it's a Hawk in person." -I heard a familiar voice. I was a little embarrassed right there. "Hi Vovchik, I'm fine... "I started slowly "Tell me, do you like it here? By the way, I've prepared a gift for you, here you go. Vovchik asked me and handed me a container with an artifact. "Thank you, I really like it here. But Vovchik, didn't you die half a year ago?"I asked in a trembling voice. "Well, of course I'm dead, and you're dead too," Vovchik told me. "No, no, no, I'm alive, I'm leaving."-I started to pack up as something posing as Vovchik clung to me. I pulled out a pistol with my free hand and shot the monster in the head. Everything was transformed in a moment. The warm shades disappeared and I was left standing alone in a frosty clearing, surrounded by frozen corpses. I started running, and I didn't stop until I got to the Bar. And then I realized that I was holding in my hand a container with an artifact given by a monster. I opened it, and inside there was a valuable artifact- Moonlight, but it was all smeared in blood.