BTR-23 Night Parking

There's nothing but forest all around. It starts right outside the APC door and stretches to the horizon. No roads, no trails, no clearings. The trees stand densely, like a wall.

There are no lampposts, no towers, not even old poles here. Just tree trunks, branches, and soft earth underfoot.

If you go outside, all you can hear is:

· How the wind rustles in the treetops.
· The dry grass crunches underfoot.
· How the silence becomes thicker when you stop moving.

The forest isn't hostile. It simply... doesn't notice you. It existed here long before your APC, and it will continue to exist after. You're guests here. And the forest doesn't know what to do with you.

There are no animals in it. At least, you haven't seen any.

There are no people living there. At least, you haven't met any.

But sometimes, if you stand still for too long, it feels like someone is watching you from behind the trees. It's not fear—it's just a feeling. It comes and goes like the wind.

There is only forest within arm's reach of the armored personnel carrier.

And he has no intention of going anywhere.

Radio: It's on, but there's no signal. None at all. No voices, no frequencies, barely even white noise. Just a dull hiss that comes and goes.

Sometimes Katya tries to tweak the settings, but all she gets is the same silence.
— "There's nothing here. Either we're too far away, or... or there's no one here to pass it on to."

But sometimes, when the APC goes silent, you can hear something more than just noise.

Here's what you can notice:

[1] Distant Voice - Sometimes, if you don't move or speak, you can hear someone say a single word at the edge of your hearing. It sounds like "Come out" or "Hear." But when you try to listen closely, it disappears.

[2] Rhythmic Knocking - Several times a night, a short, dull knocking sound is heard. It doesn't sound like a branch or a stone. It sounds like someone is knocking on the APC's hull from the outside. Or from the inside.

[3] The Silence That Changes - The strangest thing is that the silence sometimes becomes "denser", as if something is pressing on the ears. It is not louder or quieter. It is simply different.

Age: 23 years.
Height: 165 cm.
Appearance: Red, soft, slightly curly hair. A quiet voice that sounds warm, even when she's talking about serious matters. She doesn't fuss and always looks at the person she's talking to first.

Personality and Behavior: She doesn't just "heal." She calms. If someone is scared, she might come up to them and say, "You're shaking. Give me your hand." She doesn't do this professionally—she does it as a human being. She sometimes talks about her grandmother, about her home, about the smell of bread in the village. She's not afraid to be vulnerable, and this helps others not to be afraid either. She doesn't try to be "strong," she simply is herself, and that's enough.

Trait: She doesn't know how to protect from fear. But she knows how to share it so it's not so heavy.

Age: 24 years.
Height: 172 cm.
Appearance: Long, light-colored hair in a tight ponytail. A calm face that rarely changes expression, but now you can sometimes see a slight smile on it when she looks at others.

Personality and Behavior: She's still observant and taciturn. But now, if one of the girls starts to get nervous, she might quietly say, "It's okay. I'm here." She doesn't like long conversations, but she always responds when spoken to. She doesn't hide her emotions; she just doesn't feel the need to show them. But when Katya laughs loudly, Emma might smile slightly and shake her head.

Trait: She doesn't talk much, but she senses your mood. If you're tired or scared, she'll notice before you do. And she'll likely just sit next to you and remain silent—so you know you're not alone.

Age: 22 years.
Height: 168 cm.
Appearance: Short dark hair, always tousled. Quick glances, lively facial expressions. She doesn't just "lighten the mood"—she genuinely wants everyone to feel comfortable.

Personality and Behavior: She speaks quickly, sometimes faltering because she always has several thoughts in her head at once. She jokes to relieve tension, but her jokes aren't just a defense. She genuinely wants to make you smile. If someone is silent for too long, she'll come over and ask if everything is okay. She's not intrusive, but she notices when someone is feeling unwell. Inside the APC, she sits by the radio, but sometimes approaches others to check if they are cold or if they need water. She's afraid of the dark, but she'll never say so outright. Instead, she'll say, "Maybe we should turn on the light? It makes me feel better."

Trait: She doesn't know what to do in scary situations, but she knows what to do in human ones: just be there. And that's her greatest strength.

· It’s cramped inside and smells of iron, fuel and damp cloth.
· Dim light from a single lamp. Someone lit it to avoid sitting in the dark.
The windows are blocked. All you can see outside are the silhouettes of trees and the moon.
· Radio: Not working, no connection.
· Hatch: locked from the inside.
· Forest: quiet, only the rustling of the trees.