Running up to the stream, they took off their shoes and, shivering from the cold, stepped into the icy water.

The stream was narrow and shallow, but the water was piercingly cold. It burned the skin, restricted movement, but the fugitives were full of determination. They knew that this was their only chance. “If only they wouldn't freeze.”

They walked in the water, trying to step carefully so as not to raise splashes and create unnecessary noise. Nia knew that they needed to go against the current in order to hide the direction of their escape. Quietly and inconspicuously.

Approaching the stream, they carefully rubbed out their tracks with dry leaves and branches, hoping that this would confuse their pursuers.

Having walked far enough along the stream, Nia and Ein went ashore. They left clear footprints leading towards the hospital. They wanted to create the false impression that they were looking for the artifact.

Then, holding their breath, they returned along their tracks back into the stream, carefully concealing their true path. Hide. Confuse the tracks.

The water was unbearably cold. Teeth chattered, muscles cramped from spasms, but they didn't stop. They knew that Lira would not forgive them for escaping.

Finally, they emerged from the stream in another place, far from the hut. They were wet, frozen, but free. Freedom.

Before them stretched a gray plain, leading to the lights of a distant city. A city full of dangers and mysteries. But a city where they hoped to find answers to their questions.

Nia and Ein were exhausted. The icy water, the gray plains, the fear of being caught – all this had taken a lot of energy from them. But they didn't stop. They knew that they had to get to the city.

Fortunately, they managed to grab the bag with Ein's remaining belongings when they fled the hut. There was no artifact in it, of course, but there was a watch.

The watch! It was a real salvation. Thanks to it, the heroes managed not to lose their sense of time. Without the change of day and night, it was quite difficult to navigate, and the watch helped them keep track of how much time had passed. The lighting in this world was always like in the evening – dim and subdued. But it was enough to see the road and avoid obstacles.

After about seven hours, exhausted and frozen, Nia and Ein reached the outskirts of the city. Before them opened an amazing landscape, sparkling with lights and filled with the noise of strolling cars.

Chapter 7

At the entrance to the city stood a huge arch, made of shimmering metal. On the arch was emblazoned: “Tesla City”. Below, in smaller print, it read: "United Population Limit: One Billion People". And, right at the bottom, as if someone had forgotten to remove it, was visible “The Only City of New Earth”.

The population inscription looked like an electronic scoreboard, the last digits of which were constantly flashing. Nia and Ein watched as a unit was added to the number, and then immediately subtracted. It created the feeling that the city had a strict limit on the number of residents, and everyone who arrived took someone's place.

This inscription alarmed Nia.

– What does this mean? Why is the population limited? And what happens to those who disappear from the scoreboard? – she asked quietly, not taking her eyes off the flickering numbers.

Ein shrugged.

– I don't know, – he replied. – But we need to go further. I have a feeling that if we linger here, something bad might happen to us.

She understood that fear was nothing compared to the hunger and thirst that had been tormenting them since their escape from Lira's hut. Gathering her courage, they passed under the arch and entered the city.