Winter and Artyom found themselves lost as they slowly walked through the remains of an apartment. They remained quiet as the specialist led the way. Her flashlight lit the way as she continued to walk towards the half-standing building. "Artyom, I think there is a way through here." She said.

The young lady climbed up the rubble as she noticed an opening through a broken wall. Then she immediately pulled out her battery charger and improved her flashlight's power. When she raised her head, there was a chair placed in the room as a shadow of a man was hanging from the ceiling.

"My god." The specialist cried out.

Artyom arrived on the scene beside the woman as he too noticed the strange sight. "That definitely should not be there." He commented. Then he made a slow step forward.

However, Winter grabbed him by the hand. "Artyom, I think we should find another way."

"I don't think we have much of a choice. We don't want to waste our air filters if we do this." The young man explained. "Besides, I think that is the only way we can get our directions."

She shook her head. "This doesn't feel right at all. There shouldn't be a shadow here if there isn't a body."

"Look there is a door on the other side. Let's go around it."

"Okay."

Winter brought her Bastard gun to bear as she and Artyom skirted around the shadow. Once they were through the door, the duo heard an eerie laughter echo from a room on the far left. Yet, there was no one signs of a person living here. "Did you hear that?" Artyom asked.

"Yes." She replied, but her tone expressed how much she was afraid. The specialist was taught to not show fear against the creatures of Grimm, but this was something beyond her. There was something beyond the Grimm that she could not comprehend as she followed Artyom through the hallway.

When they finally reached the other side, Artyom began to pull the door open back with whatever strength he had. As he continued to pull, Winter felt a presence that was watching her. She slowly turned her head towards the room that once laughed, only to jump back in shock.

"Artyom, look."

The young man turned his head as he too joined her with a similar expression. They both remained frozen with silence as their gazes were focused on two children standing in front of them. However, these were not children of the Metro.

Winter took a closer inspection and noticed that these two children were not wearing any winter clothing. However, they were not also wearing a gas mask for an environment that could kill them. These children didn't do anything except look at them with expressionless faces. Never had something so innocent terrified her.

Then just like magic, they disappeared.

She took one step into the room as she noticed the lack of evidence where they had gone to. "Artyom, I think you should open that door now."

As soon as the door was pulled open, Winter returned to the young man and entered a flight of stairs. The duo immediately descended from the floor as they left the apartment through a service door. Never had she encountered something so paranormal in her life. It was not simply that they were children, but the fact that ghosts exists still terrified her.

After they exited the apartment, Artyom looked to his surroundings. However, Winter noticed that he seemed to be frustrated. "I don't want to say, but I think we're lost."

Was it all in vain? Was looking for another way to rendezvous with Bourbon and Khan worthless? She wanted to think about it, but another thought scared her. Their air filters were very limited and if they remained on the surface there was a chance that the specialist and her friend could behind their gas masks. "Artyom, if we can't find those people. Let's see if we find some shelter and hopefully find someone who has air filters."

The young man calmed down and nodded at the thought. "Okay then." Artyom spoke to himself. Maybe we find some small station or an opening that leads back into the Metro. Now depending on where that opening is located on the map we might find a nearby station and get some shelter there for some time."

"That sounds like a plan. Do you know any nearby entrances?"

She noticed his gaze when he looked at her. "No, I don't." He replied. "I don't have the experience of a Stalker so no. We won't be able to find one unless we're desperate and find an entrance to the Metro by pure accident. That is if we don't count the mutants that we might come across and the limit of our air filters." Then he glanced at his sub-machine gun. "So, we better get moving if we want a better chance."

Winter smiled at the man's thinking. When he was faced with an obstacle, he somehow managed to think of something hopeful to keep him going. Even if there was some level of danger involved, he was taking the risk to do it. Then she thought of the man who gave him his task, Hunter. Did Artyom really look up to the man to continue this adventure of what remained of humanity on this world?

Artyom took point as he led her across the street. With his weapon in hand, there was a sense of determination. "Come, we have to survive. I don't want to die here."

"My head, I don't feel so good." She replied. The woman sensed there was something wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Then she stumbled to her knees as Artyom ran over to her aid.

"Winter, are you okay?" He asked.

She looked up to him and shook her head. "No, my head isn't feeling so fine."

"It might be your air filter, let me change it."

"Artyom, it's not that. My breathing is fine."

There was a presence, a strange one which she couldn't put her finger on. However, it was almost similar her moment in the apartment. Then she recognized something violated her mind and she was helpless to stop it. You refuse to stop death… The voice stated. You side with him…

What was this being talking about? Then she remembered her first time she laid eyes on the portal project. It was also the day she met those creatures that spoke just like this.

Now you remember… eliminate him…

Who was 'him'? That was a question in her mind until she looked up to Artyom. These creatures, these Dark Ones wanted her to kill him. Why?

She questions… remove her…

Behind Artyom, Winter saw a dark figure appear out of thin air. The creature was tall and skinny, but she recognized it. The mutant was here to get rid of her. "Behind you!" She cried out. He looked over his shoulder and saw the Dark One extend its hand towards. However, the mutant flash stepped forward and past the young man's view. Never had she felt so vulnerable when she was looking at the gaze of its eyes made of the void. She was taken aback when it touched her cheek with its hand.

There was something strange about its touch, but it affected her mind as reality faded away and Winter found herself standing in darkness. She looked around, afraid of the possible danger the specialist faced. Then she found a body…

"What is going on?" She asked.

Out from the darkness, Winter heard a cry for help. It was not some random person who asking for it, because the specialist knew her voice. Her baby little sister was in distress.

When she went over towards the body, fear overtook the young lady as she recognized the dress her younger sister wore. "Weiss, are you okay?" She turned the body, but it was already too late. Winter cried out in horror when she saw her sister's lifeless expression within the darkness. Filled with grief, she didn't notice the pair of boots standing across her sister's body.

A voice had spoken, but Winter recognized Hunter's voice. "Winter, look at me." As she hesitantly looked away from the body, the specialist looked up to the man who saved her when she arrived. "I am going to make this quick because I don't have much time to talk. The Dark Ones are messing with your head. You need to realize this."

"How do you know this?"

"I am now one of their victims, but know this. If you realize that the Dark Ones are messing with your mind, their power is limited." He said while he pulled out a revolver from his holster and gave the weapon to her. "Now that you know this, you must confront their tricks yourself."

After she took this weapon from his hand, Winter was puzzled by. "What do you expect me to do with this?"

A smile came upon the man's lips. "Shoot it. Remember this, if its hostile, kill it." Then he pointed behind her back. "The creature is here."

Turning around, Winter saw a Dark One walking towards her. She couldn't explain if it was an aura or not, but the creature expressed its danger through a menacing red glow. Remove her… She lined up the sights of the pistol and fired. A loud bang echoed around, but the effect was clear when the Dark One stumbled back. Then Winter pulled the trigger once more and this time she saw it fall onto one knee.

When the third shot was fired, the Dark One fell onto its back.

You have doomed us all…

She heard Hunter's spiritual chuckle behind her shoulder. "Very good." He began. "However, I have one more thing to tell you."

"What is it?" Questioned Winter.

"You no longer in Moscow. Farewell Winter, you're back home."

Bourbon hated how Khan had disappeared from his company. The man was a good shot and had a knack for getting him out of harsh situations. As he turned around the corner, he recognized Artyom on his knees in the middle of the street. "What the hell?" The Stalker asked himself. "Artyom!"

He ran over to the young man, only to see him looking down at the bag full of bullets.

"I see you found one hell of a stash of cartridges, now get out of the open. It's not safe here."

The older man heard a small voice coming out from Artyom's lips. "This was Winter's bag. She's gone."

At that moment, Bourbon dropped to one knee and remained beside Artyom. "Hey kid, I'm sorry for your loss." He was not someone to look up to, but he knew that there was a relationship between Artyom and Winter. Whether they were close was up for debate, but he didn't want the young man to do something stupid over the loss of his friend. He placed his hand on Artyom's shoulder. "Artyom, we better get going. There is a station nearby and maybe… maybe we can get a drink in her honor."

Then he noticed Artyom lower his head. "Okay." Replied the young man as he carried the bag over his shoulders. "I'm sorry Winter, I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." Then Artyom looked over to Bourbon's face. 'Will it lead to Polis?"

"Yes." He answered. "It's a direct path to Polis Station. Trust me, I've been through that part of the Metro."

"Good, I need to get this message to Polis. For Winter."