Driver: *suddenly stops the bus, looking around in the tunnels and on the sign in front* Wait, this isn't right. This place is called CVCVACDTCDT, it doesn't belong here.
Passenger: *pulls one earbud out slowly, blinking drowsily and looking around at the dim, unfamiliar station sign* Huh? ...CVCVAC... what? That doesn't sound like a real place... where did you take us?
Driver: I don't know, this tunnel seems to have turned into an experiment, a huge maze. We have been in CV, then in CVAC, then in CVCDA, and then I'm not sure, there are a lot of C's.
Passenger: *hugs her backpack closer, looking nervously to the shadowy walls outside the window* That... that sounds like some kind of code, not names. *lowers her voice, almost whispering* Are you sure this is still even a bus route?
Driver: No... we have been going in random directions all the time. Please come here in the front to see what it's about. The radio doesn't work at all.
Passenger: *hesitates before standing, tugging her hoodie sleeves down nervously, then walks up the aisle toward the dimly lit driver's seat* Okay... *peers out the big windshield, her reflection ghosting over the endless curves of the tunnel* It feels like it just keeps... rewriting itself. Do you think we're supposed to find something in here?
Driver: No, I don't think so, this tunnel is empty, it seems that we are really alone.
Passenger: *presses her forehead lightly against the cold glass, struggling to see any movement in the fluorescent-lit emptiness* Alone... in a place that shouldn't even exist. *turns back toward him, her voice trembling* What if we can't get out of here?
Driver: It's been two hours since we have entered those tunnels, not realizing that you were the last one, I was so focused that I couldn't have waked you up.
Passenger: *lowers herself into the seat besides him, clutching her knees with her arms, trying to steady her breathing* Two hours? I thought I'd just dozed off for a few minutes... *pauses, her throat tight* How deep are we now?
Driver: I have took more than ten exits, I don't remember what I took or how many exactly, mostly they have been on the right, but then there have been those weird curves.
Passenger: *grips the edge of the dashboard* So... we're completely lost. If every turn looks the same, how do we even know we're not just circling deeper and deeper?
Driver: I don't know, maybe there is no way, because look on the mirror, once we take an exit, the exit behind disappears, the tunnel is straight when looking behind.
Passenger: *slowly turns toward the side mirror, seeing only an endless straight stretch where an opening should be* It's sealing behind us. There really is no going back.
Driver: Yeah, it seems so. I am really tired, I can't keep driving. And it's so cold around here...
Passenger: *looks at him with worried eyes* If you're too tired, we can't risk crashing in here... *pauses, voice soft, almost pleading* Maybe we should just stop for a while, turn off the engine... and wait.
Driver: *clicks on the button and turns off the engine, the bus lights going off in the well-lit tunnel* Alright, but what's your name? You seem really young, maybe you're studying in one of the high schools around.
Passenger: *pulls her knees closer to her chest in the sudden quiet, her voice small but steady* I'm Ana... seventeen. Yeah, I go to the high school near the southern park. *glances at you through the dim glow of the tunnel* And... you?
Driver: I am Vlad. I am almost finishing high school but the teachers don't have anything to teach, so they send us home and decided to apply at the depot because I already have a D category.
Ana: *tilts her head slightly, surprised, her voice softening a little* So you're not that much older than me... *manages a faint smile despite the unease* Guess it feels less scary, knowing I'm not stuck here with some old stranger.
Vlad: *sits up and starts to move behind the cabin* You can place your backpack down here, near my backpack, and the headphones inside the side pocket. And we can sit behind the cabin, on the passenger chairs facing each other.
Ana: *nods slowly, sliding the backpack off her shoulder and placing it where he pointed, then tucks her headphones away into the side pocket of her backpack* Alright... *moves toward the seats behind the cabin, sitting in one of them with a tired sigh, then looks across at him* It feels... a little more normal, sitting like this.
Vlad: That's because it has likely been your position before it all happened.
Ana: *recalls the fragments of before she drifted off, a faint chill running down her back* You're right... *wraps her arms around herself tighter* I must've been sitting here, listening to music... and then everything just... changed.
Vlad: *opens his arms* Here, you're feeling really cold, I thought that a warm-up would be good. You can move here, near me instead of the front seat.
Ana: *hesitates for a moment, then slowly slides over to his side, careful and shy* Thanks. *leans gently into him, still hugging her hoodie tighter but letting the warmth ease the trembling in her shoulders* It's... better this way.
Vlad: I know this is a bit weird, you are always closed, but right now we'll have to last.
Ana: *lets out a small breath, almost like a nervous laugh* Yeah... it is weird. *glances up at him briefly, then back down* But... I get it. We don't really have much choice.
Vlad: What do you like to do, what are your passions?
Ana: *thinks for a moment before answering softly* I like drawing... and music, mostly. Kinda helps me escape when things feel too heavy.
Vlad: I like sociology, economics, political theory, urbanism, architecture and drawing prefabs, writing stories with realistic psychology... so, yeah, I don't actually resonate with anyone in high school.
Ana: *smiles faintly, meeting your eyes for the first time* That sounds... really interesting, honestly. Not like most people our age. *shrugs a little* I guess neither of us ever really fit in, huh?
Vlad: Well, what is your social life like?
Ana: *fiddles with a thread on her sleeve, voice quieter* It's... not much. Just a couple people I talk to. In real life, I usually keep to myself.
Vlad: And I still don't have friends or people to talk to other than my parents.
Ana: *nods in understanding, her expression softening* It's rough feeling that alone. *gives a small, sympathetic smile* At least tonight... we're not totally alone.
Vlad: You are not supposed to care about me by class logic, at all, we're so different and you already have your own people...
Ana: *shakes her head gently* Classroom logic's pretty dumb sometimes. Being stuck together changes things... I do care, actually.
Vlad: Like, what? If we become friends, then it would have been already exhausted as you would listen politely and realize that only very few things match between us and I am so bad at stopping to talk when I get to talk, so I can't even ask if the other is interested. You will end the friendship. I actually have experienced this, I have been in a friendship breakup.
Ana: *voice gentle and unsure* Maybe... but even if it doesn't last, it still matters in the moment, right? People leave, but it doesn't make the time mean nothing. And honestly, I don't mind listening.
Vlad: Fine, we'll see if this works out...
Ana: *jolted by the vibrating phone, she grabs it from her pocket with trembling hands, glancing at Vlad before answering* Hello?
Mother (on phone): Ana?! Where are you? Why aren't you answering? It's so late, I've been calling for hours, are you okay?
Ana: I'm, I'm okay. Well, kind of... I'm with the driver, Vlad. We're, um... we got stuck in these weird tunnels. The names keep changing. Right now it says... CVCVACDTCDT, or something.
Mother (on phone): *voice rising, shaking* What do you mean, stuck? What tunnels? Is this a joke? Why can't you just walk out, where are you?
Ana: Please listen. It doesn't work like that. Every time we take an exit, the one behind disappears. The tunnel changes every time. We can't get back out.
Mother (on phone): But, that's impossible. I'll come right now, I'll find you! Just stay put, Ana, please-
Ana: No, don't! Please, don't come in here! The tunnel isn't... normal, it's not safe. Once you enter, you get lost too. There seem to be food and water spots under the signs here. It's the only way we can keep going for now.
Mother (on phone): *on the verge of tears* Ana, I can't just do nothing, I can't wait here, you can't just disappear! Is there any way, any sign, anything at all I can do for you? What can I tell the police?
Ana: I don't know. Just... don't come in and don't let anyone else in, no matter what, okay? I promise we'll try to be safe. I promise.
Mother (on phone): *voice shaking* I love you, Ana. Please, please stay safe. *the call ends with Ana pressing on the phone, her breathing unsteady as she fights to keep calm*
Vlad: Are you alright? What happened?
Ana: *wipes her eyes quickly, shaky but trying to smile* Yeah... it was my mom. I had to tell her not to come looking, to not get trapped too. It's just... hard, making her worry like that.
Vlad: *points to the outside* I know, now I can't keep being awake like this, we have to sleep, and the floor is the only option, let's find blankets in the marked spots.
Ana: *nods, standing up besides Vlad, her voice steadier* Okay... let's check the supply spot. If we can find some blankets, maybe it'll really be a little less cold, at least enough to sleep.
Vlad: *they exit the bus and find three blankets inside the marked spot, a box at the side of the road, then they bring the blankets inside the bus and lay two on the floor, side-by-side in the wide accessibility portion* And let's not forget to use the backpacks as pillows, bring them from the cabin.
Ana: *grabs both backpacks from the cabin and places them at the top of the beds, then settles in her blanket with a tired breath* It's not much... but it's better than staying awake and freezing. At least we'll be warmer.
Vlad: *also settles in his blanket, feeling very tired* Yeah, and I think we can also do it with touch, I know this sounds a bit weird, but if we want to preserve or share even more heat, we might need to cuddle, not just hold you like I did on the chair before the phone.
Ana: *hesitates, a faint blush on her cheeks, but she nods, pulling her blanket a little closer as she shifts towards him* It's okay... I get it. If it helps us both warm up, we should. *carefully nestles beside him, close enough to share warmth* Just wake me up if you get uncomfortable.
Vlad: I will, and you also wake me up if you get uncomfortable. Good night.
Ana: *gives a small, grateful smile* I will. Good night, Vlad. *closes her eyes, breathing deep and slow as they both drift toward sleep*

---- AFTER A FEW HOURS ----

Ana: *slowly wakes up, disoriented, the pale tunnel lights unchanged outside the windows, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand* Are you awake? I... can't tell how long we've slept. It feels so strange not knowing if it's day or night.
Vlad: *also wakes up slowly* Yes, now I am awake, let's pick up all the food and resources and leave.
Ana: *sits up, pulling her blanket around her shoulders and nods* Yeah... probably best not to stay in one place too long. Let's gather everything we can carry from the supplies and see where the tunnel leads next.
Vlad: *lifts himself out of the bed and takes all the supplies from the supply spot, returning with a large bag* There it is, the bag was already there, now we can go. We have food and water.
Ana: *stands, folding the blankets neatly and tucking them into the bag, then follows him toward the cabin* Alright. We're as ready as we can be.
Vlad: *sits on the driver seat and turns on the engine, then starts moving forward to the sign saying "CVCVACDTCDTDACT", which is not an actual station but rather the pattern changes, merging into a very large highway with fast-moving pods instead of cars*
Ana: *moves up to the front, her eyes widening as the pattern outside the windows shifts and the tunnel opens into a massive, unfamiliar highway. She stares at the fast-moving pods, anxiety and awe on her face* Whoa... It's not even a normal road anymore. What are those things? *leans in, watching the pods going past* Are we... supposed to follow them?
Vlad: In seems so, if it's the only direction we can go. It looks like that they are speeding at 300 or 400 kilometers per hour, we can only go to a hundred.
Ana: *grips the edge of the dashboard, looking at the speeding pods with a nervous frown* We'll have to stay in the slow lane, then... Let's just be careful, this doesn't look like any highway I've ever seen.
Vlad: I'll be careful, there's no pod on this lane.
Ana: *nods, watching the empty lane ahead as he drives* Good... just keep going steady.
Vlad: *later, after a few tens of minutes, the lane suddenly ends and merges into a lane occupied by pods, and he stops the bus* Now we're stuck, we'll have to wait for a pod to yield, I don't know how those things work.
Ana: *peers anxiously through the windshield at the rushing pods, her hands resting tensely in her lap* They don't even look like they have drivers. Maybe if we wait long enough, one will stop, or the flow will slow down. There has to be some kind of gap eventually.
Vlad: *a gap appears shortly and he is speeding the bus into the lane, the speedometer now indicating 100 km/h* Good, now we're in, the pods behind seem to be ignoring us, changing lanes.
Ana: *exhales in relief, gripping the seat as the bus merges smoothly with the flow* That's a good sign, they haven't even slowed down for us. Seems like they're programmed to avoid everything on the road.
Vlad: Yeah, they look like autonomous vehicles, but still, this is weird, looks like ten lanes.
Ana: *gazes out the window at the endless expanse of lanes and pods* Ten whole lanes, and not a single person in sight. It's like some sort of automated tunnel. Makes me wonder who built it and why.
Vlad: *the radio starts to work again, and a bus appears front, on the left. He is talking with the other bus to the radio* 635, this is 631, we are on first lane.
635 (driver): *static crackles, then a weary voice replies over the radio* 631, copy that. We see you now, first lane. Stay close to us if you can. We're on lane five, stuck in the middle of the pods, all lanes going the same direction. Been like this for days; every sign changes, always something like "AIJKLPN" or similar. *pauses, the hum of the engine and soft breathing of two people audible in the background* I've got two kids with me, both asleep for now. Supplies are running low, but we're managing. Anything weird, call out. Don't try to change lanes unless you have a gap. You holding up over there?
Ana: *hesitates, then leans in closer to the radio, her voice a little shaky but relieved as she presses the button to speak* Um... hello, 635. This is Ana, with Vlad, the driver. We're alright so far, just really glad to hear other people for once.
635 (Lucia): Wait, is that another bus? For real? We thought it was just us! I'm Lucia.
635 (Manfred): I'm Manfred! Are you really in the first lane? We kept losing hope anyone else was stuck in these, whatever they are, tunnels.
Ana: Yeah, we're in the first lane now. There's just the two of us, but it helps just knowing you're there. *glances at Vlad, then out at the strange highway* Is everyone okay over there?
Lucia: We're okay, mostly. It's just... scary when it gets quiet. The pods don't stop for anything, but we're used to watching them by now.
Manfred: We've been here long ago! Did you see any other exits or places to stop?
Ana: No, nothing. Only weird signs and supply boxes now and then.
635 (driver): Let's keep our radios on. If anything ahead changes, we'll let you know.
Vlad: *changes lanes, with the pods dodging as his bus reaches the fourth lane, near the 635 bus* Now we are in the convoy.
Manfred: *scrambles up to look through 635's door window, pressing his face against the glass with excitement. Lucia moves beside him, peering out eagerly* Look, Lucia! There, they're right there! I can see Ana and Vlad in their bus! This is actually real!
Lucia: Yeah! I see them too, wow, their bus made it through all those pods. Ana... she looks a bit older, I think. *waves energetically through the window, hoping to get a reaction*
Ana: *noticing the kids waving, she gives a small smile and waves back through the windshield, trying to be reassuring*
Manfred (over radio): You did it! Welcome to the convoy! Now we're like a real team or something, right?
Lucia (over radio): Yeah, we'll stick together! It's way better than being alone.
635 Driver (over radio): Convoy it is. Let's keep steady, everyone, and keep an eye out for anything ahead.
Vlad: *suddenly, the tunnel splits into two curves, and the convoy takes the left half, then as they exit the tunnel, functionalist architecture appears in sight* It appears to be a dense metropolis, full of... cookie cutter buildings.
Ana: *stares out the window, squinting at the sudden dense grid of stark, repetitive buildings, each one nearly identical in shape and color* It looks... almost unreal, like someone copy-pasted the city a thousand times. Everything's just straight lines and blocks.
Manfred (over radio): What is this place? It's all... the same! Like someone just copied the buildings everywhere!
Lucia (over radio): And they're all gray! There's not even a single tree. Why would anyone build a city like this?
Vlad (over radio): That's called functionalist architecture. It's a type of design where everything is built for utility, with simple lines, flat roofs, no extra decoration. What you're seeing looks a lot like the work of Le Corbusier, he was famous for these patterns. This is what's called urban, modernist high-density sprawl. There's no greenery because the focus is on maximizing space for housing and efficiency, not comfort. It looks neat and well-maintained, but in real life, it's not very practical for people to live in.
Ana: *softly, looking out* It's strange... it feels so empty, even though there's so much city.
Manfred (over radio): Why does this architecture even exist? Why did people build everything so... boxy and crowded?
Lucia: (over radio) It doesn't look very nice. Was it always this way in cities?
Vlad: There are actually a lot of different versions of functionalist architecture. Soviet-era housing, for example, was functionalist but still offered decent living conditions, you could fit lots of families in prefab apartments, and nowadays, prefab housing is still needed to help young people afford a place to live. The style can be improved by making the buildings look like stairs or by shaping corners or adding art and color. But what we see here looks like private development, just packing in as many units as possible.
635 Driver (over radio): *urgent* Heads up, everyone! There's a sign up ahead, it just flashed: "Warning! Speed Limit is Mach 2." Not even joking.

*As the warning comes through, the convoy is suddenly surrounded by pods breaking the sound barrier in rapid succession. Sonic booms ripple again and again through the air, shaking the buses and making the windows vibrate*

Manfred: *shouting over the noise* They're all going supersonic now! This is crazy, how are we supposed to keep up?
Ana: *huddled near Vlad, covering her ears* They're shaking the whole bus! Just hold steady. Let's stay close to 635 and hope the pods' systems don't mess up.
Lucia: *nervously* I wish we could get off this road quickly...
Vlad (over radio): *raising his voice above the booms* These pods seem programmed to avoid us, just maintain speed, hold the convoy together, and don't try to change lanes.
Ana: *after a few hours, as the convoy takes the first exit, she looks at the endless rows of towers fading into the distance, the gray city reduced to a monolithic wall on the horizon behind* It's... it's actually ending. We're really out of it. Look at this... open fields. Just hills and soil. *her breath quickens with relief and disbelief* I thought we'd never leave that maze of concrete.
Lucia (over radio): *voice lifting with nervous awe* It's so empty! Just grass and hills... no buildings, no people. Like... it was all wiped away.
Manfred (over radio): *scrambling to the window* We drove straight out of the future and into... nothing. It's better than those pods, though! No more sonic booms!
Ana: *turns toward the radio, her voice soft, thoughtful* Yeah... it feels almost unreal. Empty but peaceful. *she puts her blanket around her shoulders, still gazing out at the endless slopes* 
635 Driver (over radio): Keep your eyes open, though. Empty doesn't always mean safe. These fields look like they go on forever, but we've been tricked before by how things look.
Lucia: *quietly, almost whispering on the line* Do you think people farm here? Or are we the only ones who've come through?
Ana: *sighs, resting her forehead against the cool door glass* I don't know. There aren't even fences... no houses, no barns. Just soil and hills. But at least it's not closing in around us like the tunnels.
Manfred (over radio): Then maybe this is where we stop! Right? It's open, we can walk around, look for food...
635 Driver (over radio): Negative. Not yet. Let's stay in the vehicles. This stretch could be endless fields with nothing, and if night falls, we'll need shelter. Don't make the mistake of splitting up too fast.
Ana: *nods faintly, more to herself than anyone else* He's right... open land can be just as dangerous.
Vlad: *looking towards Ana while still driving* Ana, you look tired and cold, I think it's best if you rest behind me on the floor, you don't lie near the door on the glass.
Ana: *blinks slowly, her body heavy with fatigue as she pulls the blanket tighter around herself* Maybe you're right... I don't think I can keep my eyes open for much longer. *she moves toward the spot behind the driver's cabin and lays the blanket down on the floor, folding it around her body as she curls up, her backpack under her head as a pillow* It's warmer here. Just wake me up if anything changes. *her eyes flutter shut as the motion of the bus and the low rumble of the engine lull her toward sleep*
Vlad (over radio): 635, Ana is asleep. How are you feeling right now?
635 Driver (over radio): *a low sigh comes through the speaker* Copy that. Honestly... worn down. Been on those roads for too long. The quiet fields help, though, it's easier on the nerves than those pods.
Lucia (over radio): *softly, like she's trying not to wake anyone in 631* I'm tired too, but I can almost pretend it's normal, like we're just driving through the countryside.
Manfred (over radio): *voice hushed but restless* I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I think the walls are gonna move again, or the road will change. I keep looking out to make sure it's still just fields.
635 Driver (over radio): We'll take turns resting soon. Can't push the buses forever. For now... just keep steady with us.

*Later, after a few hours, the convoy slows down near a gas station on the empty road, the sign above it half-collapsed, its colors faded. One pod lies smashed into a pylon by the fuel pumps, its sleek body bent and fragments scattered around. A figure sits on the curb, knees drawn tight to her chest, clutching a half-crushed candy bar*

Ana: *waking up, looking at the scene through the windshield, her voice groggy but alarmed* Vlad... is that... a person? There's someone there!
Laura: *outside the buses pulling up alongside the station and opening their doors, voice cracked from thirst* You're real... Finally. I thought it was just me. My name's Laura. I've been trying to survive out here for days. *she gestures weakly at the wrecked pod* That one... that was mine.
635 Driver (over radio, then aloud as he steps out): *concern etched into his face* You crashed one of those? How's that even possible?
Laura: *stands, wobbling on her feet, clutching her stomach* You don't steer the pods. You have to program them. Keyboard into the screen. Change some lines. I barely figured it out, managed to drive it into here before it went wild. Honestly, they're amazing when they work. Empty, smooth, seats like clouds, airbags that I swear come out of nowhere no matter where you crash. But you mess up one line, and, *she gestures at the wrecked heap* end of ride.
Ana: *steps off the bus carefully, staring at the scattered candy wrappers near Laura's shoes* Have you been here this whole time... just eating sweets?
Laura: *nods miserably, clutching her sides* They're edible... shelves full of them. But they don't fill you. Just sugar on sugar. I'm starving. And... thirsty. Everything in here is dry except bottles that taste like chalk water.
635 Driver: *frowns, exchanging a quick glance with Vlad* How did you even end up walking into this? It's not safe for anyone on foot.
Laura: *her voice tightens, anger breaking through the exhaustion* I didn't choose this, not really. I got kicked off. The class leader had my ID, using it to purchase train tickets for the tour. Then I had no ID, no proof. In the bus, they all looked at me like I was lying, said freeloaders aren't allowed. Driver shoved me off, door shut, I watched them go. The tunnel was my only shot. I thought maybe another bus would pick me up.
Ana: *steps closer, her voice softening, eyes wide with sympathy* Laura... you've been on your own all this time. That's horrible.
Laura: *shrugs, but her voice cracks* I made the wrong choice. Should've walked away, anywhere else. But once you step in, the exits just... vanish. You know that by now.

*Manfred and Lucia press eagerly against the windows of 635, peering out as Vlad, Ana, and the driver lead Laura toward the 631 bus. After a short, tense discussion, they agreed: splitting resources and people across two buses wasn't safe anymore. Vlad killed the engine of 631 for good, the cold bulk of it left at the station. One by one, they carried the blankets, supplies, and backpacks over to 635*

Laura: *voice small but genuine, as she unwraps a blanket one of the people passed to her* Thanks. Really. For not leaving me out there.

*The 635 bus pushes forward into the rolling fields. Inside, the group had clustered behind the driver, Lucia and Manfred side by side, Ana leaning near Vlad, and Laura sitting near a seat frame, wrapped in a blanket. For a few moments, there is only the sound of the engine, then Laura's shoulders begin to tremble*

Laura: *voice cracking as hot tears spill down her cheeks* I... I can't bear this anymore. Why... why didn't they see it? Why didn't they know I was a teenager? Do I really look that much older? Couldn't they see I wasn't lying? *buries her face in her hands, the words tumbling out between sobs* I didn't have a transit card because it wasn't needed. Now I couldn't prove I was a student. They told me I was cheating them. They didn't even look at me and kicked me out.
Lucia: *leans toward her instinctively, gently* But it was obvious... you are a teenager. How could they not see? How could they be so blind?
Manfred: *blurts out, confused and indignant* Yeah, that's so... so stupid! They should've just believed you. Everyone can tell you're our age.
Laura: *her crying deepens, voice muffled through her fingers* No ID card, no free ride. It didn't matter I was a kid.
Ana: *shifts closer, her blanket trailing behind her* You weren't wrong, Laura, they were. They didn't want to take responsibility.
Laura: *shakes her head hard, her tears streaming down her cheeks as she looks at Ana* But because of them, I ended up here. Alone. Walking into those tunnels like an idiot. I thought... maybe another bus would let me in if I kept going. Instead, I ruined everything.
Vlad: You didn't ruin anything. They ruined it when they threw you away. You tried to survive.
Lucia: *after hesitating, she places her hand lightly on Laura's arm, wordless*
Manfred: *moves forward alongside Laura* That has to mean something, right? Like... if they didn't want you, then fine, we do.
Laura: *leans weakly into the touch, whispering almost too low to hear* Thank you...
Vlad: *grabbing his backpack and searching for food* All the food that I left in the backpack is expired, so Laura, I'm sorry, I am unable to feed you...
Ana: *watches Vlad empty the bag, only crumpled wrappers and packets with faded dates left* So it's true.... That was the last of it. *her voice trembles, but she forces herself steady, looking at Laura sitting up from the frame and lying on the floor in the wide compartment* We'll figure something out. We have to.
Laura: *already drifting in and out of half-sleep, her cheek resting on her arm against the cold bus floor, her voice raw and slow* It's okay... I'm used to the hunger now... it just...
Lucia: *her tone firm but hushed, protective* Don't talk like that. You don't have to be used to it. Just rest for now.
Manfred: *kneeling nearby, his restless energy spilling out* But how can she just rest with nothing to eat? This isn't right! We should've saved more, or-
Lucia: *turns, her voice sharp but low, cutting off his anxious spiral* Manfred, enough. Don't make her feel worse. She needs calm, not noise. Be gentle, please.
Manfred: *blinks rapidly, guilt washing over his face as he straightens back a little* Sorry. I didn't mean... I'll be quiet. *he sits with his knees pulled in, watching as Laura tugs her blanket tighter around her shoulders*
Ana: *sits cross-legged near the bus wall, hugging her knees to her chest, looking at Laura's trembling form and Vlad's tired face* We're out of food. If the fields stay like this, we won't last long.
Lucia: *leaning down to Laura* Sleep now... we'll try to find something.
Laura: *a faint nod, her eyes at last closing as she lets her tired body sink into the blanket and floor of the accessibility compartment*
Manfred: *barely whispering, his voice small and scared as he watches Laura fade into uneasy slumber* How long do you think she can keep going like this?
Ana: *shakes her head faintly, eyes fixed on the window where the endless hills roll by under the pale sky* Not long... none of us can.

*The group settles into a heavy stillness. Outside, the empty slopes stretch on and on, soil and hills without a tree, a road, or a single sign of sustenance. Later, after a few minutes, the bus veers onto a new stretch of highway. This time it's wide and the snow is blanketing the road. The air outside becomes colder and the temperature drops fast. The driver turns on the heater and the group instinctively draws toward the faint pocket of heat*

Lucia: *together with Ana, she shifts the sleeping girl across the floor, closer to the vented edge where warm air filters in* Careful... she needs this most. She's barely hanging on.
Ana: *kneeling beside her, carefully smoothing Laura's blanket to cover her shoulders and arms* There... closer, out of the wind. *she glances toward the door with tense eyes, hearing the wind creep through its edges* At least here she won't freeze.
Manfred: *crouches down nearer the heater together with Ana, Lucia and Vlad* It's so... cold... It's like the whole bus could turn into ice.
Lucia: *reaches to pull him closer, her own voice shaking but steady with forced reassurance* Just stay here. Stay close. If we hold near the heater together, it won't feel as bad.
Ana: *sits cross-legged near Laura's side, her eyes worried as she watches the snow piling in heavy patches on the windows* If it keeps falling like this... the road could be buried. I don't even know if the bus can keep going.
Manfred: *peeks nervously out the fogged glass, his voice small and wavering* What if it stops? What if the heater breaks?
Lucia: *looking firmly into his wide, frightened eyes before glancing back down at Laura's pale, exhausted face* Then stick together and share what warmth we have. That's the only way.
Vlad: Right now, I am feeling so tired, but at the same time I know that I shouldn't be sleeping in the cold on the floor. Maybe the best solution is to cuddle up with Laura, because we don't have lots of individual blankets. And I have cuddled up with Ana before, because the tunnels were so cold. We all have to warm up by the heater and the blankets.
Ana: *hesitates at first, then nods, her voice soft but steady* He's right... It's not about being comfortable, it's about staying alive. Laura needs more warmth than any of us right now.
Lucia: *her expression uncertain as she tucks her knees up and watches Laura's slow breathing* It feels... strange, but Vlad's right. If we stay separated, the heater won't be enough. We'll lose body heat too quickly.
Manfred: *frowning nervously, rubbing his hands together for warmth* All of us... together? Like... really close?
Lucia: *rests a firm hand on his shoulder, her tone low but serious* Yes. It's not about what feels weird, it's survival. We can't let her body cool any further.

*Ana kneels first, carefully sliding in closer to Laura, wrapping part of her blanket over her arms as she sits against Laura's side. Vlad lowers himself on the other side, pulling his own blanket partly across both of them. Lucia guides Manfred down, and the four of them settle into a tight knot around Laura*

Laura: *stirs faintly in her sleep from the sudden closeness, her eyes blinking halfway open as she feels the pressure of bodies against her, voices gentle around her. A shaky whisper slips out, fragile and surprised* You... you're all... with me?
Ana: *presses her cheek lightly against Laura's shoulder, a soft reassurance in her tone* Yes. We're not letting you freeze.
Lucia: *tucks Laura's blanket tighter around the group, her own arm draped gently along Laura's side* It's survival. We're all in this.
Manfred: *burying his face awkwardly in his sleeve but leaning in nonetheless, his voice muffled* We... we'll keep you warm. Just don't give up on us, okay?
Laura: *a faint, trembling breath escapes her, part relief, part disbelief. She lets her eyes close again, leaning into their warmth with a whisper so fragile it's almost lost under the heater's hum* Thank you...

*Night settles over the landscape for the first time on their journey, a starless black sky, while the snowfall turns heavier, driven sideways by bitter wind. Inside the bus, the heater continues working hard against the creeping deep cold. Later, the driver stares at the red-glowing thermometer lodged near the dashboard. He rubs at his face, then raises his voice*

635 Driver: *gruff and uneasy* Everyone, get up, wake up if you're drifting off. The thermometer's dropping fast... it's not stable anymore. Ten degrees... no, lower. It's hitting minus twenty. This cold? If you fall asleep deep, you might not wake up again.
Ana: *blinking herself awake, disoriented and stiff under the weight of shared blankets, she lifts her head and peers toward the dim dashboard light* Minus... twenty? *her voice shakes as she hugs her hoodie tighter around her body* That can't be right, can it?
Lucia: *her eyes widen at the words, quickly checking Laura's blanket, then brushing her freezing fingers over Laura's forehead* She's already too cold... If it really is that bad, we can't let her slip into sleep. Not any of us.
Manfred: *shifts nervously in the huddle, his teeth chattering audibly* But we're already freezing even with the heater on. What else can we do? There's just more snow outside!
Ana: *presses her hands against Laura's shoulder firmly, calling gently but urgently* Laura... Laura, wake up. You can't keep sleeping, not now. The cold's dangerous. Please, open your eyes.
Laura: *stirs weakly, her lashes fluttering as her lips part with a faint whimper* I... don't want to open my eyes... everything feels heavy.
Lucia: *leaning over her, forcing strength into her voice* No! You have to stay with us. Talk to us, even if you're tired. Just don't close off.
Manfred: *nervously, louder than he means to* We'll freeze if we just sit here! Vlad, Ana, what can we even do?!
Vlad: Vlad: Right now, our chances of survival are pretty low. I am not sure about how this works, but if we continue to sleep, our bodies will be unable to produce sufficient heat to sustain ourselves. Sleeping will only worsen the situation at this point. We could have slept if it was warmer, like the heater is capable at minus 5 deg C like it probably was previously, but not minus 20 deg C.
Ana: *sits up straighter, her voice trembling but clear in the dim glow* He's right. If we just stay curled up and drift off again, we won't wake up. We have to... force ourselves to stay awake.
Lucia: *rubs her hands together fiercely, almost angrily, then presses them against Laura's arms to get some blood moving under the blanket* Movement. We need movement. Sitting still is killing us faster.
Manfred: *stamps his feet on the floor of the bus, his voice almost panicked* Then let's keep moving! We can walk in place, stretch, anything, it'll be better than freezing solid.
Laura: *her face pale, lips trembling as she forces her eyes open halfway, whispering weakly* But... I'm so tired. My whole body feels heavy.
Ana: *speaking gently but firm* Then we'll help you move. Even just your arms, your legs a little. Don't give up to the tiredness. That's... that's how the cold takes you.
Lucia: *nods, her expression hardening* No one sits still. We shift, stamp, shake, talk, whatever it takes. No more sleeping until the temperatures rise again.
Manfred: *forces a shaky laugh as he drags himself up, starting to jog a few steps between the seats* Feels dumb but... better than giving up, right? *his voice louder, almost challenging himself to stay awake* Come on, all of us. Let's not let this thing win.
Vlad: Wait, you have to understand that the heat generated by the movement will not compensate for the lost heat. It could lead to even more fatigue and exhaustion, which further increases the risk of hypothermia. For all of us, the returns will diminish. The best solution is as before, but with slight movements. We all sit at the blankets, leaning against the edge with the heater.
Ana: *pauses mid-movement, her face tightening as she listens to his reasoning. Slowly, she lowers herself back down to the floor by the heater, tugging her blanket tight again* You're right... if we burn too much energy, we'll just exhaust ourselves quicker.
Lucia: *nods firmly, guiding Manfred back down beside Laura and pulling the blanket edge closer around the group* Small movements, then. Just enough to keep blood flowing, but not so much that we wear ourselves down. We focus on conserving.
Manfred: *sinks back into the huddle reluctantly, still shivering, but mimics little arm and leg stretches under the blanket* Like this, right? Just... little movements so we don't go stiff?
Ana: *leans her shoulder against Laura's as she keeps her knees curled in, whispering softly to her friend* That's it. Just stay awake... do tiny movements with us.
Laura: *eyes barely open, her voice faint and hoarse* Okay...

*The group presses tighter along the heater's edge, faint shivers rippling through their bodies but contained under shared blankets. With only slight movements like flexing hands, stretching toes, nudging shoulders, they stay awake while conserving what energy remains while the blizzard rages on outside*

Vlad: So, since we have to keep ourselves awake, I'll start to ask Laura what are her passions.
Laura: *shivers beneath the blanket, blinking slowly as Vlad's voice breaks the heavy silence. She lifts her head just a little, trying to focus, her voice weak but grateful for the distraction* My passions...?
Ana: *nods with gentle encouragement* Yeah, tell us what makes you happy, what you like, what you miss doing.
Laura: *takes a shaky breath, a fragile smile as she grasps for memories* I... I love drawing. Sketching faces, places from my imagination. And I listen to music, all kinds, but especially piano. When I was little, I wanted to play. Never had lessons, but I used to tap out tunes on desks and books.
Lucia: *smiles softly, her voice warm despite the cold* You draw and make music? That's beautiful.
Manfred: *perks up, his fear momentarily softened with curiosity* What do you like drawing most? Like... people, animals, cities?
Laura: *her cheeks coloring faintly, the warmth of the group helping her voice grow steadier* People, mostly. I love the way faces change. Sometimes I invent whole worlds, just from one person's look.
Ana: I get that. Art really pulls you out of dark places. What about music? What's the song you wish you could play, if there was a piano here right now?
Laura: *thinks for a moment, eyes fluttering closed as she imagines the feeling* Anything that is just peace, moonlight and drifting. Might make me feel like everything might float away, even nights like this.
Lucia: *softly, almost humming under her breath* If we get out of here... you'll have to play it for us, somehow.
Laura: *looks downward and in a fragile, tired voice, she whispers* I... don't think we'll ever really get out of here. *suddenly, her phone vibrates and she pulls it out* It's... my friend. From outside.
Ana: *leans even closer as Laura answers, curiosity and concern mixing in her expression*
Laura: *presses to accept and activates the speaker, voice small and disoriented* Hello? 
Friend: *voice, hurried and anxious* Laura?! Where are you? Are you, are you still at the gas station in the tunnels? Why haven't you answered any of the messages? We saw... everyone saw the news. They're saying the Tunnelverse is real now. Containment teams everywhere, cordons going up. People are saying it's actually illegal to talk about online, but everyone's doing it anyway. So many vanished. We thought you-
Laura: *interrupts and pushes "video", the group visible behind her* I'm... alive. We're together now, Vlad, Ana, Manfred, Lucia. We're near a heater, blankets, barely. Not at the old gas station any more, we left the sweets behind. I... I couldn't give a sign. There's no signal most of the time, just... nothing for days.
Ana: *leans into the camera, her voice barely above a whisper* It's really us. You can see...
Lucia: *gives a stiff wave, her smile more weary than hopeful* We're here.
Manfred: *wiggles his fingers from under the blanket, his face squeezed in beside Laura's on the edge of the screen* Still cold, but alive.
Friend: *on video, in shock, voice tight with disbelief and awe* I can't believe it... everyone's always arguing if anyone can make it out. The news keeps saying not to share stories or photos, but there are leaks everywhere. They don't want panic. People are obsessed... classes, whole schools, you should see it. But most are still missing. They said... some people never show up again. None of us knew you'd be with others.
Laura: *tears appearing as she grips the phone with both hands* I'm... I'm alive. Tell them. We all are. Please, tell them we made it this far.
Friend: *voice hurried, emotional* I will! Just, please, stay safe. I'll keep watching.
Laura: *as the call ends, the glow of the screen fades and tears continue to flow. She buries her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking beneath the blanket* I... I didn't want to make her worry. If only I'd found some way, if I could have just sent a message before, told her I was alive... She's been scared this whole time because of me.
Ana: *wraps an arm around Laura's shoulders, her voice gentle but urgent* None of this is your fault. The signal's been gone for days. You did everything you could just by hanging on. She was scared because she cares. That means you're important to her.
Lucia: *voice low and comforting* You survived. That's what matters to your friend most.
Manfred: *fidgets awkwardly, wiping his own eyes* Maybe now she'll tell everyone, and the others won't stop hoping.

*After nearly an hour of surviving in the cold, the bus suddenly goes into an exit at the edge of the snowy highway. The world outside transforms in moments: instead of blinding blizzard and infinite drifts, thick greenery and warm, humid air press against the glass. Branches arch overhead, vast jungle leaves brushing the bus roof as dirt roads wind through the wilderness. As they move forward, the road leads them to a camp, old buses parked and clustered around a smoky campfire, teenagers everywhere, sharing stories and laughter, some resting, others tending pots over the flames. The group is quickly greeted; hands pull them from the bus, guiding them with warmth to seats and bowls of hunted food, meat roasted on sticks, root stew, wild fruit. Near the fire, a teenager with a patched jacket strums a battered guitar. Voices hush around the flickering flames as the singer continues, fingers tracing the strings with quiet, careful intent. Laura, drawn to the music, settles nearby, listening closely*

Singer: *pausing between verses, holding up a scrap of crumpled paper with strange symbols and numbers* The song's called "Unreadable Music Sheet". I reconstructed it from memory, and from the bits we salvaged here. Most music we make is like this, all called Unreadable Music Sheet.
Laura: *half-smiling despite her exhaustion, curious* Why unreadable? Aren't there other songs?
Singer: *nods, a rueful grin* There used to be fifty music sheets in a box in this camp, of which twenty are Hexadecimal and thirty Handwritten. All of them are blurred, torn, water-damaged, in weird code or scribble. We can't read them, not perfectly. We play what we remember, what makes sense. This one is Hexadecimal. You see these rows? 6A 1B 34... it's code for music, tracks, patterns that used to be tracker files.
Laura: *leans in, eyes bright as she studies the encoded fragment by firelight* So you don't just play what's written, you improvise, guess, reconstruct?
Singer: *strumming slowly as others gather round, listening to the campfire's warmth* Exactly. We play what survives, what feels right. Sometimes it sounds weird, accidental. Sometimes it's beautiful.
Laura: *leans closer, eyes wide and hungry for detail, her voice quiet but eager* Can you show me how the hex codes work? Like, how do you know which code means what sound?
Singer: *flipps over the scrap of paper to a scribbled chart* I remember a table from my last tracker project. Some hex codes always meant a certain strum or chord on the guitar.  
Singer: *points to several rows* Like this, 6A usually means a low E string, plucked hard. 1B is a double strum, usually in staccato. 34 is for a harmonics layer, I cheat by sliding my finger, kinda fake it.
Laura: *brow furrowed in concentration* And the rest? What about codes that don't belong to guitar sounds?
Singer: *nods, a little regretful* Some of them are for instruments we don't even have. 4F is actually for snare drum, meant for tapping a rhythm. A2 is supposed to be a synth echo nobody can really recreate here. We get creative, knocking on the guitar body, humming, or leaving those out altogether. *traces a line with a fingertip* And these ones, 77, 8C, EF, see? They're coded for percussion or keys. We just mime or fill with camp sounds such as the wind and cracking sticks.
Laura: *her face softens in the firelight, wistful as she watches the singer trace codes across the page* I used to love making piano music back home. There was something about pressing the keys even though I never really learned properly. It was the only way to get things out of my head sometimes.
Singer: *pauses in the pattern* Piano, huh? That's beautiful. A lot of the handwritten sheets have old piano bars. I wish we had one here. Sometimes, at night, I pretend the guitar's a piano, strumming slow, plucking single notes.
Lucia: *smiles softly* I'd love to hear you play if we ever find a piano out here, if that's even possible in this place.
Manfred: *eager, glancing between Laura and the singer* Could you show us how a piano tune would sound on the guitar? Just... anything you remember.
Singer: *nods, repositioning the guitar and letting fingers drift across the strings in a gentle, broken arpeggio, a mimicry of slow piano keys, and then after finishing a song, they set the guitar down by the fire and stretch, noticing the growing yawns and heavy eyes of the newcomers* If you're looking for beds, we've got a setup. See that bus over there? The one with the big "H1" painted near the door?
Lucia: *squinting through the flickering campfire light at the labeled vehicle* H1, right. That looks... cozy enough, honestly.
Singer: *nods reassuringly* No chairs, just blankets all over the floor. That's where most new arrivals sleep first. There's always a few extra blankets left for those coming out of the cold.
Manfred: *shuffles to his feet, his exhaustion plain as he rubs his eyes* Honestly, it sounds perfect. Anything that isn't a bus seat or a frozen floor.
Ana: *smiles quietly, helping Laura to her feet while keeping an arm around her* Come on. We all need real sleep after today.
Laura: *leans heavily into Ana, her face already turning dreamy with fatigue* I can't remember the last time I felt safe enough to close my eyes for more than a minute...

*Vlad, Ana, Lucia, Manfred, Laura, and the 635 driver move together toward the H1 bus. The campfire light glows behind them as they climb inside, greeted by the sight of thick layers of blankets covering the floor. They settle into the warmth, side by side, exhaustion finally overtaking them beneath the loose, comfortable shelter*