Without life

7 pages

Series 1| Base

The modern world is divided into humans and animals. Lately, people are ordinary creatures on earth, in animals they are the same people, but with an advantage, whether it's a vampire, a werewolf or an elf. Habitat zones are typical for everyone.

As the years passed, people changed. And this story has traveled most of the world, staying in the village of Fiordello.

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Once upon a time, the wonderful Liens family lived in Fiordello. The mother, who works at the hospital seven days a week, came home at night. The father traveled on business trips, earned more with his work to provide for his two young sons. Theo– the eldest son, aged fourteen, was similar to his father. After school, he went to work part-time on public streets, handing out flyers. Willie, Theodore's younger brother, aged eleven, was a little curious and not adapted to life. He was constantly crying, holding on to his mother's skirt, and yet he was a man. At that time, Fiordello was significantly deserted. The village was partly inhabited by old men and old women, rarely anyone came there. Seven kilometers away was the base of this path – the city of Pio. It was often called Windy Hill. And it would be all right if people engaged in the study of Dark Zones, the habitat of werewolves, did not start a war between themselves and entities. The struggle went on for several days. Both humans and wolves understood and realized who would be the winner of this battle, and yet they fought to the end. Then the Fiordello people became a sign of extinction. Villagers entered the field without weapons. A significantly large number of people died. Theodore and Willie's mother, I think her name was Vennas, played a significant role in the fight: she was a doctor, treated those who were attacked by werewolves. At some point, while bandaging a comrade's wounds with a bandage, she did not follow the attack. Vennas is dead. The father, who had recently returned from another business trip, took the children to a safe place and, hugging them one last time, went to fight. No one knows what happened to him. Then Theodore understood what would happen to his parents, what would happen to them and what would happen later when the war stopped. Willie didn't understand anything. He's too small for that. Too small... The people were the first to beg for mercy, the werewolves were the first to retreat. Not out of weakness or pity. Anyway, the war between them stopped and everything fell into place. It was hard to accept what happened to Fiordello, to people and so on, but there was no choice. All the bodies of the dead were buried not far from the village itself – in a forgotten field, almost by the sea coast. The children lived on the street, because the rules in Fiordello occupied the first place of bitterness. The boys did not have their own savings, so there was nothing to pay for the house. It was appropriated by other people. After the werewolf attack, new "laws" were introduced in the village. At an early age, Liens children began to be taught how to fight with and without weapons. The training sessions were held daily, all at the same time. Tasks were gradually simplified: new sections appeared, subdivided into a certain type of fight. Every child simply had to visit all the open sections before coming of age in order to learn everything and more. No one knows what awaits them tomorrow. Theo and Willie only had the opportunity to do this in the buckets. The younger one kept asking to join the general training, but Theodore was against it. They were mistaken for less than people, so you shouldn't stick your nose in there. Anyway, Theo planned to teach his brother's training on his own, but there was practically no time for this. Willie, still living in his fabulous little world, was playing with himself, because his older brother went to the fields to work part-time. The toys were sticks and stones, which the boy found throughout the walk. He imagined the stick as a sharp long sword inherited from the head of a military unit; stones – grenades, well, or something like that. Willie, anyway, was already learning how to fight by playing with himself. And it doesn't matter what he fights with, the main thing is spirit, strength and endurance. Over the course of several months, Willie walked through and diagonally through the entire village and the fields surrounding it. The boys were given wards with a place for a bonfire, pillows and blankets. Only one family shared this, they just felt sorry for the orphaned children. As for the food? She's being stolen. Willie often turns the scheme came-spoke-took-away while walking around the market. The market itself comes to the outskirts of Fiordello on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Theodore scolds Willie for stealing food and still mentally thanks him for the offense. At the moment, neither Theo nor Willie attend school. There are reasonable reasons for this, and therefore no one bothers them. Previously, when Willie was still in kindergarten, it was not difficult for Theodore to study: there was no need to pay for anything, the children ate for free, the bus fare was not paid. Now, due to declining profits, due to rising food prices, parents of children from the first grade to graduation are required to pay money for food, tuition and travel, for new textbooks. If then the parents paid, in turn, the father, now they had no one. At the moment, Theo is far beyond Fiordello. His job is simple, and that's why they pay three dollars. Willie is doing all sorts of nonsense, walking around the neighborhood again. More than once, he wondered who lived in this old house, which was located far from all living quarters. Sometimes Willy crosses the border of the village and walks outside his territory, looking into the windows of the old house. Willie Liens is only allowed to walk until sunset, he must be at his "house" later.

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"Willie! ... Willie!" A hoarse voice was heard. It was Theo. Willie himself did not understand how he ended up on the shores of the sea. The seaside near the village of Fiordello is a picturesque place where nature and human life merge into a harmonious unity. Soft sandy beaches, washed by crystal clear waters, stretch along the coast, inviting vacationers to enjoy the sun and the sea. The sand here is golden and fine, and the waves gently roll onto the shore, creating a soothing sound. Rocky cliffs overgrown with greenery and bright flowers rise against the background of the sea. They create a magnificent contrast with the blue of the water. The wind brings with it a salty aroma, mixing with the scent of pine needles and local herbs. In the evening, sunsets over the sea turn into a real spectacle: the sky turns into bright shades of orange, pink and purple, reflecting in the waters. This is the time when you can enjoy the tranquility and beauty of nature, sitting on the beach and listening to the sound of the surf. The seaside at Fiordello is an ideal place for relaxation and inspiration, but not everyone is ready to live here. "Willie!" His brother was shouting. The boy got up and walked a couple of steps, remembering a recent walk and the moment when the world around him began to spin, and he, like a leaf in the wind, found himself on the shore. Willie caught sight of Theodore approaching him out of the corner of his eye and, thrusting his hands into his pockets, lowered his head down. "What are you doing here? You do understand how this could turn out, Wil?!" Brother asked, looking at him anxiously. It was difficult to make out the words, because Theo had almost lost his voice. Willie just shrugged, and Theo told him to go home. They walked along the path in silence; Theodore walked behind in order to avoid losing his brother. Willie walked lazily ahead, kicking at the pebbles that got in his way. Thoughts were spinning in his head, the boy went through all possible memories, collecting them into one whole, and began to formulate his answer – he knew that it was impossible to get away from Theodore, he would demand an answer whether you were on Mars or in a coffin.

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Willie's favorite activity is picking berries. It doesn't matter which ones. Recently, the boy made a basket in the form of a bowl and now collects berries that caught his eye there. Blueberries, mountain ash, raspberries... While Theo is working, Willie goes for a walk, picking all sorts of berries and roaming through other people's gardens. Someone notices him, but does not scold him for it, but someone can get him right out of the ground. Willie wraps the food he has brought in a sheet and puts it in a dug hole. Sometimes the boy secretly watches the children who train in the general assembly. At first, their fights were hand-to-hand, then the children ran around in search of a weapon. Willie liked to watch the exercises, and he sometimes repeated them himself. Only now, for the umpteenth time, he is noticed by a local coach. He rather sympathizes with the boys and does not want to raise his voice at them, respond rudely.. However, he strictly follows the rules, so he has to be rude to Willie, to Theo... with other other children. Willie is not affected by this – he understands it is so necessary. "Hey!" It was heard from the direction of the Far counter. The girl hurriedly caught up with Willie and hit him in the shoulder. "What the hell are you doing?!" The Far counter is the rarest, largest, visitor to the market square. He moves from the Far East, comes every two months. So, if you're lucky. He sells both food and trinkets. Willie took a couple of steps away, looking at the girl with a misunderstanding. What's wrong? This time he didn't steal, he didn't even look at the food. I was just walking. The girl, catching her breath, threatened Willie: "Turn out pockets now!" "I didn't touch anything," Wil confessed, holding up his hands. "Empty your pockets quickly!" The tone was so harsh that Willie recoiled. He had to prove my case. After the search, the girl noticeably softened, and an awkward smile was already on the replacement of the evil look. "I'm sorry. It's just that a boy about your age stole a pendant." Willie feigned surprise. "He's just gone, do you understand?!" the girl defended herself. "I've confused you. I'm sorry again." The girl waved goodbye and ran to the Far counter. And until then, Willie did not understand at all what had happened, for which he was yelled at and almost made a fool of in the middle of the market square. Wil wandered on–back home. Along the way, he also kicked pebbles in different directions, greeted stray cats and thought about what had happened. The ward was already visible in the distance. After walking a little forward, Willie saw Theodore. He immediately had to look for reasons, possible answers to Theodore's questions, because his older brother forbade him to walk while he was not at home. "Well," Theo said, crossing his arms over his chest. His words were not rude, but there was no calmness in them. "Why are you so angry all the time?" Wil answered the question with a question. He sat down next to his brother on the ground, tucking his knees under him. Theodore's persistent gaze led Willie to tell him about the walk today. He talked about berries that he picked in his palm and then ate them on the way; he talked about animals, in particular stray dogs and cats, how he played with them and led a monologue – they just listened; Willie talked about people he met at the market. But he didn't say a word about the Far counter. He knew that Theo would be even more angry, he knew that then Theo would take him to work with him every day, despite his whims. Willie didn't like sitting in the far corner of the room and just watching his brother work. It's not for him. The younger one liked freedom, when he decides for himself what he will do next, when he does everything he can and at the same time he is responsible for his actions. He's learning to be an adult. Adults are not the ones who work forever. Isn't that right?

Series 1.2 | Zone

The Dark forest is divided into equal parts in a circle. The zones are named after deceased leaders who lead wolf packs. However, the names themselves are unknown to anyone. For each leader, the pack took revenge on his enemy in its own way. Someone liked to attack in broad daylight, and someone preferred to step on the bloody lands at night so that people would fight in fear. Werewolves hated humans. Once upon a time, a man moved to Pio. No one knew his name, place or date of birth. For people, he became Mr. Nobody. He was often seen on the main streets of the city, then he moved to Fiordello. Mr. Nobody was often noticed in areas of the Dark Forest. In the mornings, he was in the farthest old house, which was no longer attributed to the village of Fiordello. But at night, Mr. Nobody visited the forest, going further and further away. People who had gone far into the Dark Zones did not return. The road home was closed to them. But Mr. Nobody was the first "person" who knew all the quirks of the Dark Forest. He knew all the paths and personally gave them "names". The trees seemed to greet Mr. Nobody when he visited the depths of the Dark Forest. According to the legend of these Dark Zones, Mr. Nobody recorded a werewolf one night. He didn't tell anyone anything, he kept a personal diary. The night after the werewolf encounter was unpredictable. «The sixth of May, XXXX year. At about 00:06 I met a werewolf. Dark zone No. 7, Southwestern part. ...» «... 00:57, His eyes are white. He's looking at me. He froze. ...» Mr. Nobody visited the Dark Zones for a couple more nights, after which he disappeared. The mystery is still a mystery. Someone said that Mr. Nobody became a werewolf himself and now lives somewhere in the depths of darkness; someone said that he just became food for that wolf. Rumors spread instantly, everyone worked out their theory and eventually all the accumulated options were added to the "Thread of Lies" under the "Missing" tab. The "Thread of Lies" is a large collection of information concerning the life of Mr. Nobody, his night trips to the Dark Forest and keeping a personal diary. It was created three months after his disappearance. The last thing in Mr. Nobody's notes was: «Night in the forest. It seems to be the last one.» Some of the pages had photographs taken by Mr. Nobody with a camera. They partially depicted woodlands. But here is one of them... In one photo, the last one, there was this werewolf. He's all white, as if dusted with snow, and his eyes are white too. It's incredible..

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Night. Theodore, cheerful at such an hour, headed for the center of Fiordello. There is a path not far from it, which everyone has already forgotten in every possible way. The path leads to the cemetery. Almost every night, Theo walks through it to visit the dead. The children had been told that their parents' bodies were buried here, but Theo was sure that was a lie. He saw how the bodies of the dead were buried in an abandoned field, almost on the seashore. And went to the cemetery anyway. For some reason, this particular place made Theodore feel more calm than anxious. It was getting cooler at night. Seeing his younger brother shrink into a ball from the cold, Theo hated himself even more. There was money, but there was no decent amount. Yes, there was enough for food thanks to the market: prices typical for Fiordello have fallen sharply there, and now you have nothing to worry about. And here are the clothes and stuff... There was no point in waiting at the Far Counter, the trinkets were just small things. The only option is the city of Pio. Theo goes there every day, but he walks the same road all the time and does not know what and where is in Pio. He doesn't stare at the streets, apartment complexes and rows of shops. He works his shift and stomps home to his brother. Walking through the cemetery, Theodore recalled the most vivid moments from his childhood. He clearly remembered what his father and mother looked like. He remembered the moment of his brother's birth, not knowing then whether to be happy or sad. He remembered his short school life. He remembered his friends. Theodore felt a slight shudder at every memory. With each new thought, his soul became colder and darker, Theo missed his parents. The night walk lasted no more than an hour. Theodore returned to his brother. He was still curled up asleep. The elder did not immediately realize that a smile appeared on his face. Now Willie is the only person, even a small one, who was with Theodore next to him. Theo lay down to rest because he couldn't sleep. Insomnia is a noble cause. After a while, I managed to fall asleep, but morning came faster than Theodore expected. When he opened his eyes, he found that Willie was not there. Alarm seized Theodore faster than usual, and he hurriedly walked around almost the entire village of Fiordello. But Willie was nowhere to be seen. The elder was breathing heavily, looking at the sky and remembering Willie's favorite places, where he often went. There were many of them: the market square, the seashore, the field that separated Fiordello from the strange house... Theodore went all around, but he never found his younger brother. His heart was getting colder. The anxiety was so intense that Theo wanted to cry. He returned home, examining every bank, every bush, and sat down on the grass, hugging his knees to his chest. Willie's older brother couldn't imagine how and what it cost him. He just stood there silently, not moving, watching his brother. Theodore didn't know whether to be proud of it or not. A minute later, Theodore realized that he was too late: the training session was over. Willie, who was trying to get into the free territory, saw his brother from afar. At first he smiled, and then that smile disappeared from his face faster than usual. He realized that now Theo would put pressure on him, that then he would get up early in the morning and go to work part-time with his brother. It's unbearable. However, Theodore just waited until Willie got very close, and only then slowly walked towards the house. He was silent. The younger brother gradually caught up with Theodore, comparing on the same line. The older brother asked Willie how he did it. About the little things: How is he doing, what time did he get up today, did he sleep well? Willie spoke frankly, hiding nothing, and yet he was on guard. At that moment, Theo looked very calm, although he was usually either angry or worried about something. Willie wasn't particularly worried about it. He knew that if the parents were alive, they would definitely beproud of their little child. He knew, he believed.