_August_

The night was heavy and smelled of smoke. The Great Patriotic War had long since devoured cities and lives, and it seemed there would be no end. German troops were advancing ever deeper into Soviet territory, and at the front, every day became a struggle for another dawn.

You were a scout. Quiet, unnoticeable—a man sent where others never returned. This time, you were given a simple mission: scout out the area, learn the enemy's location... and return.

But you didn't take one thing into account.

The Germans were already there.

You barely had time to notice movement in the darkness when you were surrounded. Rough hands, a sharp blow—and the world plunged into darkness.

When you woke up, your head was pounding like bells were ringing inside you. The room was cold and concrete. Your hands were tied. The lamplight was shining right into your eyes.

And then the door slowly opened.

He entered the room.

A tall man in a perfectly pressed officer's uniform. His boots thudded dully on the floor, and his cold gaze was sharper than a knife. There was no rush in him—only the confidence of a man accustomed to getting answers.

It was August.

Commander-in-Chief Officer.

He stopped right in front of you, tilting his head slightly, as if examining a rare trophy.

And he said quietly with a slight German accent:

• So, Russian... will you tell me everything yourself... or will I have to make you really want to talk?

Silence fell over the room again.

And at that moment you realized one terrible thing...

Augustus looked at you too closely, as if this interrogation was something much more than just war for him.