World Academy W
In the vents, Yasna wipes her last tear. Finally calm, she uses the walke talkie for the fifth time. "Is anyone there?" she says hoping for an answer. The device is silent making the girl sigh.
"Hello, Yasna are you there?" the school councillor's voice is finally heard making her flinch.
"Yes" the girl quickly replies.
"I'm sorry for making you wait. It's a madhouse in the lounge" the woman's voice sounds genuinely sincere.
"No problem" Yasna says. "Can you tell me if anyone in my hallway?"
"There are no other students near you. Mr. Braginsky was captured by a group of Shadow kids."
She arches her head back hearing the bad news. "Is he alright?"
"Knowing him, he will survive" she reassures her.
Pressing her lips, the teen continues: "And the other one? Where is he?"
After a short pause, the councillor replies: "He is no where near you if that is what you are asking."
"Good" the girl exclaims into the device.
"I saw what happened...Are you alright?"
Yasna moves her lips to one side. "Not really."
"I see."
"Can you tell me what he was doing after we split up near the cafeteria?" Yasna asks.
"Um...As I remember, he sort of fell into a smaller hallway. It was too dark to see inside. Those passages have a mind of their own" the woman explains.
"Did you see him go into the Chemistry lab after?"
"To be honest...no" the voice replies.
"Just as I thought" Yasna says frowning.
"Yasna..." the councillor starts hesitant "I understand that you are traumatised but...can you continue with the mission?"
The girl looks out from the shaft. "Yes" she says determined. In a way, now all alone, she cannot help but feel freed. She already felt more alert and had a pretty good idea what she should do next.
"Excellent" the councillor sounds relieved. "It shouldn't be long now."
"Good. I'm nearly there. Please prepare the staff members. I'll be at the location in 10 minutes" Yasna says.
"Alright. We will be in touch" the councillor says excited. "Good luck, my dear."
The teen girl smiles and ends the call with a thanks.
Next scene: Stepping out of the vent, Yasna takes the harpoon. Near it is a rope with a new make-shift hook. She looks at it pleased and hurries to her backpack. Finding all her stuff there, Yasna starts running fixated on the goal.
Yugoslavia times (70s?)
It's early morning. Already in her postal uniform, Serbia opens a drawer. With a few important documents, we notice a gold cross necklace. Taking what she needed, the nation notices it, straightens the chain and closes the drawer. As she takes her work bag, her assistant, a middle aged woman very similar to her in appearance, brings her a few letters.
"I believe this is all the mail you have for today, my nation" she says giving them to her.
"Great" she says and puts them in her bag.
"Is there anything else I can do for you?" the woman asks.
"Not really...I'll be out the entire day. As far as I'm concerned, you can take the rest of the day off" the nation says carefree.
Her assistant smiles: "Thank you. You are such a generous boss."
"Don't mention it" Serbia says opening the door. "I told you I'll make it up to you" she says with a wink. The assistant nods with her eyebrows raised and waves goodbye.
Next scene: Outside on the streets of Belgrade, many people go about their daily business.
"Wow granny! Is that really how you captured those Bulgarian soldiers?" a young boy asks an already old Milunka Savić.
"Yes...Who knew that I would accidentally stumble into their camp after taking a pee" the old woman remembers. As Serbia passes by, the two women salute each other. The boy is left staring amazed.
Next scene: Walking up the the Hungarian boarder, Serbia stops hesitant. No matter how many times she had to go through, she was never looking forward to it. Hungary has never taken falling to the Communist block well nor the better position of her southern neighbor. In her pettiness, she and her boarder patrols would grab any chance they got to take it out on the poor travelling nation postperson.
Not wanting to go through the pursuing s*it-fest, Serbia decided to sneak in through the forest and sneak out the same way. Passing into the territory, the nation in a postal uniform sighs relieved only to be greeted by Hungary's riffle.
"And where do you think you're going?" Hungary says serious pointing her assault riffle straight into the trespasser's head. Her communist military uniform makes her even scarier.
A sweat drop falls from Serbia's head as she waves innocently. "Why hello there neighbor. How did you find me so quickly...again?" she says with a nervous smile.
Hungary stares at her not moving her weapon. "It's not that difficult to predict your daily route. And I'm the one who should be asking questions here!" she says irritated.
Serbia raises her hands in an attempt to calm the situation. "Wow I did not catch you in a good mood today, did I? Do you want to talk about it? We can go for some coffee and..."
"You know damn well what mood I am in and why!" Hungary yells as her head becomes cartoonishly large. "I watch you go about your business carefree everyday while I have to suffer under that tyrant! Do you know what I have to go through every day?" Hungary cries with her voice starting to crack.
With a frozen friendly smile, Serbia carefully adds: "I know things are not so great but, you can't take it out on me every time you have a bad day."
"And why not? You didn't lift a finger when I had my uprising in 1956."
"That's not true. My boss helped. He let Imre Nagy hide in the Yugoslav embassy."
"Only to be tricked and arrested by the Soviets a few days later" Hungary continues.
"And what about your protesters? I let them in when others refused" Serbia becomes defensive.
Hungary scoffs: "A lot of good that did... Ever since you started WWI it's been nothing but bad bad news for me!" the nation with the riffle blurts.
Triggered, Serbia makes a face: "I beg your pardon!... I started WWI?! Do you even remember what it was like for me back then?"
"Well, you sure are benefiting from it now" Hungary retorts unapologetically.
Serbia puts her arms down. "Look, I'm sorry you weren't able to work out a better deal for yourself, but I guess Russia was not dumb enough to fall for your manipulations like the others did."
"That is so typical!" Hungary says hurt. "I girl can't be smart and not be labelled a manipulator. What's so bad about wanting the best for yourself and your people? It doesn't mean I did everything out of interest! What's so wrong with thinking your decisions through?"
Serbia takes a step forward completely ignoring the still pointed assault riffle. Hungary is slightly alarmed by this.
"Normally, I would agree but since you continue to wave that thing around" she says, grabs the barrel and squeezes it like it's made of wet clay. Hungary stares into her deformed weapon scared.
Completely serious, the postperson nation approaches even closer. She continues with a stern expression: "Just because I have it better than you, does not give you the right to act this way. Especially with the way you treated me when I was down on my luck."
Hungary gulps not expecting such a reaction. Serbia continues: "So here is some friendly advice. Enough with this boarder pettiness! You were the one who miscalculated. Act like a responsible nation and stop blaming others for your problems."
Hungary is left speechless. As she stares into her collocutor's serious expression, the only thing she can do is nod.
Serbia tilts her head with a pleased smile. "Good. Now let me pass and don't you dare bill me for your weapon."
The northern nation moves aside, letting the other pass without any further incidents.
