Chapter 1. Lonely Chamomiles.

"We need to hurry up!" Sasha said anxiously, "We need to do it before the dawn, you know, in the daylight it's much more safer."

She was trying to close her rucksack filled with ammos, few canned goods and 2 bottles of water.

Her elder brother, Max, stroked her curly hair and smiled sadly.

"Sasha, don't worry, it's gonna be alright", he sighed. "I know it's hard for you, but we can't go there all the time. We need to move to another region, there is not much supplies left."

Silence. No one moved or talked for a while. With trembling lips, Sasha nodded.

"I understand" she whispered.

Max sighed again.

"Ok, let's call Helen." he said.

"No need to," Helen said entering the room, "I'm already here".

She removed a curl of her blonde hair on her face.

"Hey, Sasha, you good?" Helen worried.

"I'm alright. About this... I'll have to let it go eventually" Sasha said. She finally closed her rucksack and stood up.

Silence again.

"Uh, let's go then?" Max asked.

"Ye-yeah, let's not waste time." Helen agreed.

The sun was shining as if it was sick. In fact, almost everything was sick in the world nowadays.

From time to time it seemed to Sasha that she, her brother and Helen are the only people left in this world. There were no sounds except for their steps and the ruffle of leaves under their feet this morning. Even birds didn't sing. Nevertheless, supplies still have been disappearing from the supermarkets' shelves.

"But even though," thought Sasha, "what would the live be if the three of us were really the only creatures in this world? No one except us... that would be boring. Even if we haven't starved to death, we would fly of the corners in the end. And if there haven't been any food left, what would happen?? Who would have sacrificed himself to be the nourishment? Or maybe we would kill ourselves to not to suffer..."

"Sasha!", the girl heard.

"Max, what are you screaming for? Shh!" whispered the girl.

"You were lost in your thoughts. Are you really alright?" asked Max.

Sasha suddenly felt guilty for making her brother worry about her so much this day. After all, she's the only Max's relative left, so he worries about her so much all the time. "You're so selfish, Sasha", the girl thought.

"Don't worry, Maxim, I'm alright. I was just thinking", she said and petted Max's shoulder. "What's the matter?"

"Don't you see? We're here."

Sasha finally looked at the road. It led directly to the gates, behind the which was a ruined building.

Sasha approached the gates and touched a sign, which was saying "The school N7".

The girl's breathing stopped for few seconds. Every time she saw this place, every time it reminded her of a peaceful life left in the past, her heart started bleeding. She looked down on the grass looking for some flowers. She saw some little chamomiles, little lonely chamomiles.

"I won't be long." she said to Max and Helen.

"Take your time." Helen answered her.

Sasha sat down and took the chamomiles. All of a sudden, this little flowers became brighter and more beautiful for Sasha. Their petals became whiter and less damaged, as if they got healthy like in the past because of the warmth of her hands. "Huh," sadly laughed Sasha, "maybe it's because this the last time I come here". She stood up and went to the school and put the flowers on the ruins.

"Max, maybe it's not that appropriate for me to ask," said Helen, "but why does Sasha see the school so precious? I heard she had problems with some classmates."

Max looked at her.

"That's fine to ask, relax," he said smiling. "You know, it had been really hard time for her after mother died. After mother's death in car crash she stayed with father. It seemed to be fine some time, but he started drinking. He didn't harm Sasha, he would have never done this, but he became very indifferent and harsh to her. So she looked for support at school. Although she was in military class, but there were some other girls. And although she had problems with few classmates, she had some really close friends who knew about her problems. Then, our father was deprived of parental rights and Sasha moved to my apartment. We haven't heard hear any news from our father since then. What about those problems..." Max stopped and thought for a while, "I think you know my sister pretty well to understand that she could cope with them."

Max ended and looked at Sasha, who was going back. Helen hugged the girl.

"Well, let's go, my little girl!" Helen said with a cheerful smile.

"Yeah, let's go." Sasha said wiping her tears and smiled.

She looked back for a second. "Right, Sasha. Just let it go. You don't want to be alone like these chamomiles, do you?" she thought and left with Max and Helen.