Persuade the Soldiers (1)

As the truck rolled into the old town, Medeia's gaze swept over the ruins. 

Most of the houses were barely standing—crumbling walls, broken roofs, and windows shattered long ago. Snow covered the streets and buried some of the buildings. 

The rusted cars that frozen in time clogged the streets, forcing Lucian to use his ability to clear a path.

"What's the point of taking shelter here? Might as well sleep on the street," Medeia muttered, "If all we find are frozen corpses, I won't be shocked."

Lucian kept his eyes forward. "There's got to be something," he said, "They wouldn't pick just any place to hide."

These weren't ordinary people, they were soldiers, trained to survive in a world that had long since turned its back on them. They weren't the type to die easily.

But even soldiers could freeze. No amount of training could stop the cold from sinking into their bones, slowing their thoughts, stealing their strength.