Introduction

It's cold, I open my eyes and it's dark. Plus I have a horrible feeling that I shouldn't be here.

I turn my head to either side to try to figure out where I am. I am lying on my back in the middle of what could be considered a huge pile of rubble and garbage.

WhyI am I here? How did I get to this place? Where is this place?

The last thing I remember is separating from the tour group to inspect the surroundings without the heavy guide walking around bothering me.

I reincorporate with difficulties, my body is numb. Who knows how long I've been here, in this position and without moving. I try to speed up my lift and my blood pressure drops, followed by nausea.

I lean over quickly to vomit, gagging; but I don't vomit anything. I cough a little while I keep gagging, my throat and stomach hurt; I close my eyes when I feel the nagging pain.

Now I take a moment to regain my vision and look around me. It is night, figures of what should be houses are drawn in the shadows of the night. It is dark night. There is a gentle breeze, and within minutes as I survey and investigate my surroundings some clouds are moving to let the light of the stars and the moon dimly illuminate the scene.

It is a city, town or town of some kind. Or at least it was; hardly any buildings remain standing.

Around me are what looks like two intact buildings. They are brick red, the color can be clearly distinguished from my position and with the current brightness.

I have no idea where the fuck I am. I just know I shouldn't be here.

The first thing I instinctively do is take my cell phone and look at the date and time. It's only been an hour and a half since I last checked my cell phone, the date is current. But ... That's impossible. If you look at the sky it is night. And on the clock it says it's 17:38, nowhere does it get so dark in such a short time, I think.

The only place I can think of that could be dark at five in the afternoon would be some location in the Arctic Circle, and that would also be impossible because then it would have to have died from the cold of the polar night.

Now that I think about it, it's cold. Really cold. I wear autumn clothes but this cold is not autumn. It's very cold, and I don't know what time of night it is, really, I have to find shelter before anything else. I take my backpack in which, that without having noticed its presence now I thank . In it there is a bottle of water, a bottle of beer, a sandwich and cookies. I am that far-sighted and I assumed that at some point during the excursion I would get hungry and would not have a way to get food and I did not know if they were going to supply us with anything. Right now I am not hungry, but if this is not a bad dream when it dawns I will really appreciate the content of my trusty backpack.

I take the bulky backpack, shoulder it, and head toward the nearest intact building.

The road seemed to be made of cobblestones now gray from so much dust and debris that had fallen on the road. There was a sign with the name of what looked like this same street, it was when I realized that I could use my mobile for something more than checking the time, I could use the GPS to locate myself. I take my device again and turn on the screen, my surroundings are illuminated with the light that the screen expels, I slide my finger down to show me the status of my terminal; I have a signal, also 4G and some unread notifications. But for some reason the location is deactivated, I activate it by putting my finger on it. A few seconds later a notification appears and the "button" is disabled, the notification says "location not available".

"Location not available"? What does that mean? How can it be possible to have antenna signs on the screen and mobile data signal but not have the location?

It is assumed that the location can be calculated in two possible ways; one with the GPS directly and the other triangulating the position of the terminal with the signal from the repeaters.

If I have a signal I have to have the location activated. So why doesn't it appear to me as available?

I try to open the navigator, the map appears and my last location marked with a dot but the device is not able to locate my new location, after a few seconds and as before, the same notification appears as before.

Now we are fucked.

I have no idea where I am and can't figure it out in any way.

A cold breeze alerts me that I am still in the middle of the street. This is not the time or place to try to solve this problem, I have to find shelter.

I get to the house, the door is closed; I didn't expect anything else either. To try I knock on the door, there is no bell so I have to hit the cold wood, the noise of the knocks echoes throughout the place. I wait a while and nothing happens.

In fact, there doesn't seem to be anyone inside. I have to find a way to access the house.

I walk around the house looking for a way to get in, the steam starts to come out of my mouth, I have to access it and it has to be now.

In the back there is also a door that, although it does not seem as strong as the main one; I don't think I'm going to be able to open it without making a mess.

There are also windows but they seem to be situated at a certain height. Seeing that my time might be running out, I choose to enter through a window. I gather some rubble and debris and stack them to get support high enough to reach the selected window. Before trying to break the glass, I will try to force the window closed to open it, avoiding violence, if at any moment I find myself unable to do so then I will have no choice but to break the glass and access the interior of the house.

A large but thin sheet metal seems perfect for the job. I put my gloves on to try not to cut myself on the rusty edges of the metal sheet. Then I insert the tip of one of the corners into the space between the two window panes and apply pressure to try to interpose the metal with the metal lock mechanism, after a few frustrating attempts and a time swinging the metal plate. From one side to the other I make the corner come out the other side. Okay, now you just have to push the plate while turning so that the plate is placed between the bolt and the latch, then; and if everything goes well; You just have to press the window inwards for it to open.

After a few seconds in which time seems to stop, I manage to place the plate in position, then I press the window and ... It won't open. Shit.

That's when I lean my whole body against the window and push myself to try to open it. It looks like it's going to give in, but it doesn't. I try again and, when it seems that the door does not want to give, I push with all my being and the window is thrown open.

I fall forward and something cold enters the flesh of my thighs. Shortly after I notice another hot thing slipping through the same spot. I look scared towards the place that gave me such different feelings.

I don't see much but it seems like my legs are wet, but what with?

I finish entering the house and grab my cell phone. I try to get up but an intense pain coming from my legs prevents me from continuing with the movement.

I roll on myself to let the light of the starry sky illuminate my legs and I can glimpse what has happened. There are crystals stuck in my legs and my pants have blood stains on the cloth.

Confused I look towards the window through which I have entered. There are some broken glasses arranged right on the windowsill in a thin line, as if to prevent this kind of break-in.

What I don't understand is why it only hurts when I try to stand up and why not when I got the hurt.

Dragging myself to what looks like a desk with a chair, gathering courage and will, I grab onto the edges of the desk table to try to get up on both legs and try to sit on the chair. A torrent of pain runs through my being right from my legs but somehow I manage to achieve my goal of sitting in that chair.

It's still cold, the window is still open, but now that I've managed to sit down I don't know if I'll be able to walk to the window to close it. However it is necessary.

I spend a great deal of time building up my courage and trying to accomplish my next goal; walk up to the window and close it.

I stand up again, trying not to put my weight on my legs; leaning on the desk. Again that burning sensation of pain runs through my nerves, threatening to knock me down.

I just try to focus on getting down my way.

Clearing my mind and closing my eyes I begin to walk, raising my arms so I can feel when I have reached the window. When the cold glass touches my fingertips I open my eyes. The dim light from the stars is now blinding. The window is right in front of me. I just have to close it and ensure the warmth of my new room.

With a kick I push aside the crystals that otora stuck in my flesh, just to avoid another possible accident. It wasn't such a good idea, as I kicked another wave of pain that almost knocked me to the ground, but I grabbed both sides of the window firmly with both hands.

I close my eyes again to try to bear the pain again, when I open them again the light blinds me again.

I close the window and secure the latch that previously gave me so much trouble to open, then I try to turn around to go back to the chair but fall to my knees as soon as I turn one of my legs.

The sound of my knees hitting the wooden floor echoes throughout the house. From what I saw from the outside it is a fairly large house.

I feel somehow safe, nothing is further from reality, because I am in an indeterminate place in ruins in who knows what country, at night and wounded but my strength fails and my eyelids close. In a last attempt to avoid another injury, I try to throw myself on the ground before falling face down on the ground.

I think I succeed, because I feel some pangs in my legs and the cold of old wood on my face.

I close my eyes and the darkness takes hold of me.