Chapter 5: Echoes of Foundation

The stale scent of rust and dust greeted them inside the warehouse. The three-story building, once perhaps a distribution center or a small factory, was now just a concrete and steel skeleton filled with debris. The ceilings were high, adorned with giant cobwebs that shimmered faintly in the morning light filtering through cracks in the walls. The sturdy supporting beams and intact floor indicated its structural resilience, something that immediately drew the architect in Kai. Nevertheless, broken glass, piles of rusted metal, and shadows dancing in its corners made the warehouse feel like a cold womb of a dead world.

After the thrilling escape from the hospital, their breaths came in ragged gasps, chests heaving with hearts still pounding violently. Exhaustion was a thick blanket wrapping each team member, yet there was also a faint spark of relief, like dew clinging to a leaf in the middle of a desert. They were safe. For now.

"Elias, let me see your wound," Aris immediately acted, dropping her medical bag onto a relatively clean pile of empty sacks. Her movements were efficient, without fuss. The desperation in her eyes at the hospital had been replaced by the focus of a professional. "Luna, Rima, please find some clean cloth or anything we can use as additional bandages. Kai, can you find the nearest water source? We need to sterilize this."

Elias sat leaning against the cold concrete wall, his face pale. "It's better, Sis. Just a scratch."

"An infected scratch can kill you faster than a Stalker, Elias," Aris retorted sharply, carefully pushing aside Elias's jacket. The wound on his shoulder, though not deep, looked reddish and had begun to swell. Aris sighed. "We're lucky it's not too bad, but we have to clean it properly. We also need antibiotics, Aris. My stock is almost gone."

Luna and Rima were already moving. Luna with light steps, her eyes scanning every corner, searching for anything usable. Rima, on the other hand, moved with heavier but deliberate footsteps, her hand already on her machete, checking every dark corner of the warehouse with a sharp gaze, eliminating potential threats, no matter how small. She found several relatively clean used tarpaulins and handed them to Aris.

While Aris tended to Elias, Kai began his task as an architect. He stepped through the debris, his eyes scanning the building's structure. The walls, a meter thick, tall windows, mostly broken but mendable, and the single main gate made of thick, rusted iron. The ground floor was spacious enough to accommodate several functional areas: a temporary resting place, a medical area, and perhaps even storage. There was a metal staircase leading to the second and third floors, and from above, he could see a partially intact roof, offering a 360-degree view of the ruined city.

"Potential," Kai murmured to himself, his fingers tracing the rough concrete surface. This warehouse was a blank canvas marred by damage, but with the right touch, it could become a fortress. The biggest challenges were the severely damaged main gate and several large holes in the walls, clearly made by Golems in the past.

Not long after, Aris finished cleaning and bandaging Elias's wound. "Luckily we had some medical alcohol. This will help, but we need to keep it clean. We also need more antibiotics, Aris. My stock is almost gone," she said, her voice tinged with worry.

Rima returned from her quick patrol in and around the warehouse. "Area's mostly clear. There are a few small Stalker nests in the surrounding ruins, but they don't seem interested in this place. Maybe it's too open for their taste, or too much metal."

"Water source?" Kai asked, approaching the group.

"There's a broken pipe over there," Luna pointed with her chin, her voice hoarse. "Looks like a main water line. But the water... doesn't look clean."

"Of course not," Aris sighed. "We need a filtration system. Otherwise, diarrhea will kill us faster than a Stalker."

The issue of resources was their top priority. They had only brought a small amount of leftover rations from their escape, and it wouldn't last long. Energy was also a major problem. Aris's generator was too noisy and attracted attention.

"Alright, let's gather," Kai said, drawing everyone's attention. He sat on a pile of wooden pallets, picked up a piece of chalk he found, and began sketching roughly on the dusty concrete floor. "This is our temporary base. This warehouse has a sturdy structure, good height for observation, and it's far from the Golem-infested city center."

He pointed to the sketch. "First priority: security. The main gate must be repaired or permanently barricaded. The holes in the ground floor walls too. Rima, Luna, you're experts at this. Can we use the surrounding rubble to build emergency barricades?"

Rima nodded. "We can. But it will take time and effort. And maybe tools."

"That's the second priority," Kai continued. "Resources. Clean water, food, fuel, and tools. We can't stay here forever without them." He looked at Aris and Elias. "Aris, can you make a list of your most urgent medical needs? Elias, can you assess Aris's generator and see if we can make it more efficient or quieter? Or perhaps find alternative energy sources around here?"

Elias nodded, his eyes sparkling. "I can do that. I saw some broken solar panels on the roof of the building next door. Maybe they can be repaired."

Aris also nodded. "I need antibiotics, sterile bandages, more disinfectant, and basic surgical tools. And definitely a proper water filtration system."

"Rima, Luna," Kai continued, "for now, we'll have to do a scavenging mission. We need water, canned food, and tools we can find in the surrounding ruins. Luna, you're an expert at tracking and moving silently. Rima, you're the best protector we have. You two are best suited for this mission."

Rima crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't like the idea of splitting the team. Too risky. But if we must, I'll go."

Luna looked at Kai, her blue eyes bright. "I'll lead. I know some routes that aren't too frequently used by Stalkers in this district."

"Good," Kai sighed with relief. "We'll leave after noon. Get some rest first. I'll prepare a priority list."

The sun had begun to dip towards the west when Kai, Luna, and Rima left the warehouse, their shadows stretching long among the piles of rubble. Elias and Aris were guarding their temporary stronghold. Kai carried a large, almost empty backpack, Luna a smaller one with navigation gear and a knife, while Rima only carried her machete, strapped tightly to her hip, and her fully loaded energy pistol.

"We're heading towards the old supermarket over there," Luna whispered, pointing to a large, prominent skeletal building in the distance, surrounded by smaller, ruined structures. "According to my map, it's one of the biggest in this district. And rarely visited by Stalkers because it's too open."

"Too open means too many threats from the air, or snipers," Rima corrected, her eyes scanning the surrounding rooftops. "We need to be vigilant."