Chapter CXXVI: Serenity

 Mark switched a pair of new batteries into the old PDA of his friend, Theo Restless. The machine beeped lazily, then lit up and revealed a small message written on it. Boris raised his eyebrow at Mark, and the hunter sighed, beginning to read the message:

" Despite all I did, all I suffered through, I could not stop the Zone. I could not get my revenge. The Zone turned me into a monster, a creature that had to hide behind a gasmask. My face was worse than that of zombies, my body a wretched mess. The Clear Sky stalkers fished me out of that rancid swamp after the failed raid on the military base. But I wished I would've died there, I wished for it so much. To be released from the misery.

But such was not granted to me. I hid behind my armour, helped my rescuers out and fought the degenerates camping in the northern parts of the swamp. My mercenary training still kept me going, and I flattened every bandit, renegade or military asshole who crossed my path. But it gave me no satisfaction, I just wanted to get back at the Zone, destroy the source of emissions. Cold helped me in this, and for that I am grateful. Although I still think it was mostly to get me out of the camp, the Clear Sky camp, the rookies especially seemed disturbed by my looks, the pseudodog was my only real companion there.

I wish I could say I found peace in the north. But that would be a lie. There was no peace in the Zone. I met Mark, my most loyal companion and the only person who did not judge my scars, both mental and physical. I've never met a man with his character, such utter loyalty yet with such ferocity as well. We made it to the Sarcophagus, yet it was all for nothing. The Wish Granter, curse it, still stands. Monolith got me bad. At least Mark made it out alive. I crawled up here after at least a dozen of those wretched lunatics lay dead, but I know this will be my last morning. Yet I do not feel regret. I always knew my journey would end in death. Subconciously I knew the Zone could not be beaten. It does not care for us. We are like microbes to a human, insignificant alone to it.

Yet, I sit here, bleeding from far too many wounds, only the morphine dulling my pains. And I feel like I did something. I did not accept this insignificance. I fought back. It may have been useless in the end, but when all had been taken from me, I had at least one purpose, one goal. Vengeance.

May you live well, Mark. You were my brother to the end, and I hope your end will not be that of mine. All I have left is the rising sun, radiating warmth on my face for the one last time. I have found serenity. The Zone took everything from me, but it cannot take this, this last morning sunrise.

Goodbye, and thank you, one last time. May your life be more than mine,

Theo Restless"

Mark lowered the PDA and swept his tears. Boris did not know how to react, he struggled to find words that would not ring hollow. But Mark turned to him and gave a faint smile.

• It is over. I now know what became of Theo. He found a sliver of peace, and sometimes that is all we can find, Mark said in a somber tone.

• Indeed. Theo was a good stalker. Do you mind if I say a prayer for him?, Boris asked.

• Theo wasn't religious, but go ahead. I don't think he'd blame you for it, Mark replied and Boris recited a small funeral prayer.

• Where did you learn that one?, Mark asked when Boris had finished.

• Lena's funeral. My girlfriend's, that is, Boris said, in equally somber tone to Mark's earlier remark.

• I see, no wonder it sounded quite personal. I wanted to bury Theo at first, but this place feels more appropriate. Like he wanted to remain here somehow.

• I agree. Let's leave him be.

And as the morning sun rose over the Chernobyl area, coating the ground in light and illuminating the lone corpse, belonging to one of its greatest warriors, the two stalkers visiting his grave gazed into the horizon. And for one moment, Mark and Boris too felt the serenity of the moment. The moment the Zone could not take from them.