Chapter 191:Leaving for good.
Silver took one last look at the towering walls of Delta Four through the windshield and turned the key slightly; it felt a little strange leaving. The engine settled into a smooth, steady rumble.
Ravenna adjusted her seat before fastening her seatbelt.
"Everything packed?"
Silver nodded.
"I checked twice."
She smiled.
"I checked once."
"I figured that’s why I did a second time."
She rolled her eyes playfully.
"Someone has to trust the other."
"I do." Silver laughed. "I just trust myself to forget something, if you get what I mean."
That earned him a soft laugh and an eye roll. The barrier gate of the hotel’s parking area slowly rose. Silver shifted the car into gear, and they pulled smoothly onto one of Delta Four’s main roads.
Morning traffic was already beginning to build. Contractor vehicles filled many of the lanes leading toward the Sanctuary gates. Supply trucks carried food, fuel, and equipment to the outer checkpoints. Pedestrians walked briskly along the sidewalks as another ordinary day began inside the city.
For Silver and Ravenna, it was the beginning of another journey. Neither of them spoke for several minutes; instead, they quietly watched the familiar streets pass by.
Eventually Ravenna leaned her head lightly against the window.
"...Do you think we’ll come back?"
Silver considered the question.
"I think so, but not anytime soon. Delta Four is an important Sanctuary. If we’re passing through again, I don’t see why we wouldn’t."
She nodded slowly.
"I’d like that."
"So would I."
The roads gradually became wider as they approached the outer districts. Most of the buildings here catered almost exclusively to contractors. Everything existed to support those constantly traveling between Sanctuaries.
Soon, the enormous outer walls appeared ahead. Dozens of military vehicles waited near the checkpoint. Large reinforced gates stood partially open as contractors entered and exited under the watchful eyes of guards.
Silver joined the line of departing vehicles. The inspection proceeded efficiently. When it became their turn, one of the guards stepped toward the driver’s window.
"Leaving Delta Four?"
Silver handed over his contractor badge.
"Yes."
"Destination?"
"Checkpoint Fifteen."
The guard scanned the badge before raising an eyebrow.
"Rank Two already, you’re too young."
Silver smiled politely.
"I advanced recently."
The guard gave an appreciative whistle.
"Congratulations."
He handed the badge back.
"Travel carefully. The Yellow Zones have become increasingly unstable lately."
Silver nodded.
"We heard. Territorial shifts?"
The guard looked mildly surprised.
"So you’ve already met contractors returning from there."
"We did."
"They weren’t exaggerating."
The guard pointed toward a large digital display mounted near the gate. Several warning notices scrolled continuously across the screen.
*GREEN ZONE STATUS — STABLE
YELLOW ZONE STATUS — CAUTION ADVISED
REPORTS OF INCREASED BEAST MIGRATION
NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL DISCOURAGED*
Ravenna quietly read every line.
"...Looks like they weren’t joking."
Silver nodded.
"No."
The guard returned to his station before signaling the next checkpoint. Moments later, the massive steel gates slowly began opening. Heavy machinery rumbled beneath the ground, and sunlight poured through the widening gap.
Silver slowly drove forward.
The moment the car crossed the threshold, Delta Four officially disappeared behind them. For several kilometers, neither of them spoke. The scenery itself demanded attention.
Unlike the roads surrounding Delta Three, the highways near Delta Four were considerably better maintained.
The pavement remained smooth, road signs clearly marked distances to each checkpoint, emergency shelters appeared every few dozen kilometers, and military patrol vehicles occasionally drove in the opposite direction.
Ravenna unfolded the road map resting in the center console. Although the navigation system still functioned, they both preferred having a physical map as backup.
She traced the route with one finger.
"We’ll reach Checkpoint eight around lunchtime."
Silver nodded.
"If traffic stays light, then Checkpoints Ten through Fourteen and finally Fifteen." She looked up. "If we don’t make unnecessary stops... We should arrive before sunset."
"That’s the plan."
Silver adjusted his grip on the steering wheel.
"I’d rather avoid driving unfamiliar roads after dark."
"So would I."
The conversation shifted naturally toward the journey ahead. After passing Checkpoint Fifteen, the Green Zone ended.
Ravenna folded the map carefully.
"...We’ll have to change how we travel."
Silver nodded.
"We won’t be able to relax as much and will have to stop wherever we want."
"No."
"We’ll probably spend more nights inside checkpoints." She thought for a moment before asking, "...Do you think we’ll still have time to train?"
Silver smiled.
"We’ll make time."
"You always say that."
"And it’s always true."
He glanced toward her briefly.
"We’re stronger because we never stopped training. If we stop now... We’ll eventually fall behind."
She nodded in agreement.
"I was thinking the same thing."
"Our mornings, whenever possible." Silver continued. "We’ll train before leaving. If we’re forced to camp, we’ll adjust. If we stay inside a checkpoint, we’ll use their contractor facilities."
Ravenna smiled.
"It’ll become part of the routine."
"It already is."
The car continued steadily along the highway. Occasionally they passed smaller contractor teams heading toward Delta Four. Some drove armored transport trucks, others rode modified motorcycles, and a few simply walked beside heavily loaded backpacks.
Every group politely acknowledged one another as they passed. The contractor community possessed its own quiet understanding. Everyone knew the dangers waiting outside Sanctuary walls.
Hours later, the traffic gradually thinned. Most civilian vehicles had disappeared. Only contractor convoys and military patrols remained.
The wilderness also began changing; the forests grew denser, the hills steeper, and even the silence felt deeper.
Silver glanced toward the fuel gauge, still nearly full. That was one less thing to worry about.
Ravenna leaned back comfortably.
"...You know."
"Hm?"
"I’ve been thinking."
"About what?"
She smiled.
"When we finally reach Delta Two... I wonder what it’ll be like. I’ve only seen it on the outside; I was in too much of a hurry to care what it looks like inside."
Silver thought quietly. According to the novel, Delta Two was significantly larger than Delta Four. There were more contractors, opportunities, dangers, and secrets.
But he simply smiled.
"I guess... We’ll find out together."
She returned the smile.
"I like that answer."
The comfortable silence returned.