Arseny Popov

It was already 2026, autumn, freezing, and everyone was walking quickly to escape the nasty cold. Some were strolling in couples through the parks. Some were taking photoshoots there. And some, like Anton Shastun, working from home as an IT specialist, were sitting at their laptop working on a project. The apartment was in a dorm, run-down, and seemed to be falling apart, but Anton somehow loved it.

Anton sat at a worn, almost broken table, in his T-shirt, which was who knows how old, with stains from fuel oil and grease and stuck crumbs from some fast food, all he did was take a dump on it. Burger, French fries, Coke and some other crap.

It was an October evening, and Anton, having ordered delivery, was sitting at the table waiting for it. When the dorm doorbell rang that someone had arrived, Anton scurried to the door in just shorts and that same T-shirt. But when he opened the door, he saw him.

A man, dark-haired, blue-eyed, with prominent features, broad shoulders, wearing black clothes (like a jacket with braces and a tie), and holding a bag with his order in his hands.

-your order

the middle-aged man said calmly, looking at the guy expecting something from him

Arseniy arrived at his friend's request. He was interested in the guy he was visiting.