Chapter 224:Checkpoint.
The first thing Silver noticed after entering the checkpoint was the atmosphere, it wasn’t welcoming.
The previous checkpoints had been practical places built around survival. Contractors came and went, traded supplies, repaired vehicles, and rested before returning to the Yellow Zone.
This place was different. The moment Silver stepped out of the car, he felt eyes on him, judging ones.
A group of contractors standing near one of the buildings looked over their equipment and clothing before turning away with faintly amused expressions, some even rolled their eyes.
Silver frowned.
Ravenna noticed it too.
"What the hell is wrong with them?"
"Don’t know, but we’re probably being judged."
Silver looked around.
Their equipment wasn’t particularly poor, their weapons were good and their vehicle had been repaired; neither of them looked like rookies.
Still, several people were watching them as if they were outsiders who had wandered somewhere they didn’t belong.
Captain Harry approached them.
"Don’t worry about it."
Silver glanced at him.
"You know what’s going on?"
Harry sighed.
"Unfortunately." He pointed toward the main settlement. "This is one of the larger privately managed checkpoints on the route."
"Privately managed?"
"Yes."
Harry lowered his voice.
"Unlike the checkpoints you’ve stayed in before, this one is heavily controlled by contractors and business groups from Delta Two."
Ravenna frowned.
"That explains the attitude?"
"Partly." Harry looked around."Delta Two has one of the strongest economies among the sanctuaries in this region. They also have the second-highest number of Awakeners among the Delta Sanctuaries."
Silver understood immediately.
"Money and numbers."
"Exactly." Harry shook his head. "They’ve developed a superiority complex."
Ravenna looked at one of the passing contractors.
"So they look down on people from Delta Three and Four?"
"Not everyone." Harry corrected. "But enough that you’ll notice it."
He gave them a tired smile.
"They consider Delta Four and Delta Three backward, lower economies, fewer Awakeners and with less developed equipment. They assume anyone coming from those sanctuaries is either poor, inexperienced, or desperate."
Silver looked toward the road.
"That’s stupid."
Harry chuckled.
"I agree, but don’t start anything. We’re only staying one night."
Ravenna crossed her arms.
"How expensive is it?"
Harry hesitated.
"Very."
"How very?"
"You’ll understand when you see the prices."
Silver sighed, that didn’t sound promising. Harry gathered the convoy together.
"Listen up."
Everyone became quiet.
"We’re stopping here until tomorrow."
Several people nodded.
"The weather reports are still unstable, and we’ve received confirmation that the beast activity farther ahead is increasing."
He gestured toward the walls.
"Even though it’s only noon, I don’t recommend anyone leaving the checkpoint."
One of the contractors asked, "Because of the beast tide?"
Harry nodded.
"Possibly. We don’t know when it will begin, and we’re too close to the next region to risk getting caught outside."
Another contractor sighed.
"Guess we’re sleeping here."
"That’s the plan."
Harry looked toward the road leading deeper into Delta Two.
"The Green Zones of Delta Two are much smaller than those of Delta Four, so there aren’t nearly as many checkpoints between here and the sanctuary. Some of the remaining ones are privately owned."
Ravenna frowned.
"Don’t tell me..."
"Yeah, they can be excellent." Harry shrugged. "Or terrible, depends on who owns them."
Silver nodded.
"So this is our safest option."
"For tonight, yes."
Harry patted Silver’s shoulder.
"Get a room and rest. Tomorrow, we’ll enter Delta Two."
Then he walked away. Silver looked at Ravenna.
"Ready to spend an unreasonable amount of money on a terrible room?"
She sighed.
"Apparently."
They entered the main lodging building. The receptionist looked at them without much enthusiasm.
"Room?"
"One night."
"One bed or two?"
Silver glanced at Ravenna. Ravenna answered immediately.
"One."
The receptionist entered the information.
Silver smiled.
Ravenna noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You seem happy despite our circumstances."
"I like hearing you say it."
Her cheeks became slightly pink.
"You’re getting bold."
"You said it was okay and... you loved it."
"Don’t use that as an excuse."
"It’s a good excuse."
She shook her head.
The receptionist gave them the price. Silver nearly stopped breathing.
"That’s for one night?"
"Yes."
"This place is expensive."
The receptionist shrugged.
"It’s the standard rate, you can sleep outside if you’re broke."
Silver stared at the amount and them gave the receptionist his card. The receptionist unentusiatically gave him the key and the card before looking down at her computer.
Silver sighed and left with Ravenna.
For what they were paying, he expected something close to luxury; instead, they received a room that was barely better than some cheap inns.
The walls were plain, the furniture was old, the bed was acceptable and the bathroom worked. That was about the best Silver could say.
Ravenna stood in the doorway, looking around.
"...This is expensive?"
"Apparently."
"What the hell, its five thousand points, why on earth?"
"Because they can."
Ravenna sighed.
"This is plain robbery."
"Pretty much."
They placed their bags down. Silver looked through the window. The checkpoint was bustling.
Everything was expensive. Even food cost considerably more than what they were used to. The economic difference between the sanctuaries was obvious.
Silver understood why the locals acted arrogant. They had money, resources, and a large population of contractors, but that didn’t make their behavior any less irritating.
Later, Ravenna went downstairs to buy something. Silver remained in the room for a while before following.
When he reached the courtyard, he saw Ravenna standing near one of the stalls, a man talking to her. Silver couldn’t hear what he was saying, but Ravenna’s expression made it obvious she wasn’t interested.
The man moved closer, she stepped back. Silver’s expression hardened. He walked toward them.
The man noticed him, his expression immediately changing. Ravenna looked toward Silver, then pointed at him.
"My boyfriend is here."
The man looked at Silver, his eyes moving over him. He seemed to reconsider whatever he had been about to say.
"Boyfriend?"
Silver stopped beside Ravenna.
"Yes."
The man scoffed.
"Didn’t look like you were waiting for anyone."
Ravenna frowned.
"That doesn’t mean you can bother me."
The man’s confidence disappeared slightly. He muttered something under his breath before walking away. Silver watched him disappear into the crowd.
"You okay?"
Ravenna nodded.
"Yes."
She looked at him.
"Thanks."
"You didn’t need to thank me."
"I know." She smiled. "But I wanted to."
Silver glanced in the direction the man had gone.
"Some people are unbelievable."
"Unfortunately, does it mean a woman can’t stand alone and enjoy fresh air?"
Ravenna leaned slightly against him.
"At least I have a boyfriend now, who can protect me from this creeps."
Silver smiled.
"That’s right."
She rolled her eyes.
"Don’t get used to it."
"Too late."
They continued walking. A few minutes later, Silver encountered his own problem.
He was standing near one of the food stalls when a woman approached him. She was dressed rather boldly and had clearly been drinking.
"You’re new here."
Silver glanced at her.
"Passing through."
She smiled.
"From Delta Four? Your number plate kinds of sells you out."
"Yes."
She looked him up and down.
"You don’t look like someone from Delta Four."
Silver frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"You know what I mean."
She stepped closer.
"Are you traveling alone?"
Silver opened his mouth, but before he could answer, Ravenna appeared beside him.
"He’s not."
The woman looked at her.
"You’re with him?"
Ravenna smiled sweetly.
"He’s my boyfriend."
The woman blinked, then looked at Silver.
Silver shrugged.
"She’s telling the truth."
The woman’s expression soured.
"Fine, what the heck; you should have told me before leading me on."
She walked away. Ravenna watched her leave, then looked at Silver.
"You see?"
Silver laughed.
"What?"
"Now you know how I felt."
"Fair."
She linked her arm through his.
"Come on."
Silver smiled.
"Yes, fake girlfriend."
"Stop saying it like that."
"Why?"
"Because you’re enjoying yourself."
"I am."
Ravenna laughed despite herself. For all the unpleasantness surrounding them, that moment made the checkpoint slightly more bearable.
They returned to their room. Dinner was simple and overpriced, the bed wasn’t particularly comfortable and the walls were thin.
People could be heard walking through the corridor late into the night, still, neither complained much, they had survived far worse.
Before sleeping, Silver checked the window. The sky was dark, beyond the walls, the Yellow Zone stretched into the distance.
He couldn’t imagine how they had traveled for sure a long time. Their relationship had had a significant boost and they had finally gotten somewhere.
The truth had unburden a lot of things and right now, he could finally say, his conscious wasn’t feeling guilt.
Silver returned to the bed. Ravenna was already lying down. She looked at him.
"Are you worried?"
"A little."
"About Delta Two?"
"Everything."
Ravenna shifted closer.
"We’ll manage."
Silver smiled.
"You’re confident."
"I’m with you, of course I am."
That answer made him pause. Ravenna looked away.
"I mean..."
"I know what you mean."
Silver lay down beside her. She moved closer and rested her head beside him. For several minutes, they simply remained there staring at each others eyes.
"You know, I’m happy I meet you," Silver quietly said.
He lifted his hand then hesitated. Ravenna held it and placed it on her cheek. Silvers rubbed her cheeks softly.
"I’m happy too. I could never ask for anything less."
Morning came earlier than Silver expected. The checkpoint was already awake. Vehicles were being prepared while contractors moved through the streets carrying weapons and supplies.
The atmosphere had changed; everyone seemed more serious. The possibility of the beast tide had clearly affected the checkpoint.
Silver and Ravenna finished breakfast quickly and returned to their vehicle. Most of the convoy had already gathered. Captain Harry stood near the front, looking toward the road ahead.
"Everyone ready?"
One by one, the drivers confirmed.
Harry nodded.
"Good." He looked at the massive gate. "Once we’re through this gate, we’re officially entering Delta Two’s territory."
The gate began opening. Silver started the engine.
Ravenna settled into the passenger seat.
She looked at him.
"Ready?"
Silver smiled.
"Let’s go."