SOVIET HELLSCAPE

Written and illustrated by the white devil

The inside was horrible to be lenient, everything was claustrophobic and pitch black. The air was hard to breathe because of the radioactive ash and blue asbestos. Our gas masks saved us, however, it makes it harder to communicate. Frost formed around the glass lenses of my gas mask, an old GP-5 gas mask. Rat droppings were frozen to the floor, that's if you can see them under all of the rubble. I climbed over a pile of roofing tiles and metal scrap. A pipe stuck out between the piles of scrap and tiles. I entered a room through a dilapidated entryway, the frame barely standing. The sight before me made my heart leap into my mouth.

A cramped room with a kitchen and bathroom, the walls of the bathroom were destroyed entirely. Now only piles of rubble organized peculiarly. The bathtub was filled with bricks and panels, the kitchen window was broken completely allowing snow to come in. Pots and pans were piled up in the sink and on top of the salvaged oven. Against the wall were a refrigerator and a rickety table.

The refrigerator had long since been out of commission. Rust and grime created an all-natural paint job, hiding the former pearl white. The door hung wide open revealing its near barren interior, say for a can of condensed milk. Which I so humbly snatched up as if someone may kill me for it. Resting on top was a broken antenna TV, the glass smashed to pieces. My hands gripped the handles and threw open the cupboard doors. A tin of stewed beef, a bottle of vodka, and a bag of buckwheat. The tin of stewed beef rested in my palm, just barely the size it. I laughed at the idea of anyone eating this, but I can get drunk tonight at least. Cossack vodka is my favorite brand of vodka.

I turned on my flashlight and checked it one last time. I missed a few things, a toolbox, two cans of coffee, a box of matches, and a small orange case.
My interest was piqued by the small orange case, could that be what I think it is? I thought. Only one way to find out.

I examined the orange case, it was pretty thin like a cheese slice. The front of the case had the words 'АПТЕЧКА' engraved in Russian. So this is what I thought it was, I opened the case and looked inside. A syrette of an unknown substance, five red pill bottles, three blue pill bottles, and one long green vial. Instructions were on top of the other side. A civil-defense first aid kit, a kit given and required for every Soviet citizen. Drugs to heal burns, infections, radiation poisoning, and even protection.

I put the case in my bag, then I opened the toolbox. A dirty medium bundle of rope, four rolls of insulating tape, a box of nails & screws, some steel wire, a tube of superglue, and a few basic tools. A pair of rusty pliers, a hammer, and a screwdriver. Wasn't a bad find if I do say so myself.

I didn't find much of anything in the other apartments. Found an Addis tracksuit and old running shoes. Some old glass bottles I filled with dirty water. A carton of Russian-made marlboro cigarettes. A jar of pickles, even a gallon of petrol.

I traveled downwards to the fourth story, my boots thumping against the frozen concrete staircase. Grygoriy was behind me, Ulyanov stayed on the roof because he couldn't fit inside.

"That damned coward can't even do his job," Grygoriy said "You can say that again," I mumbled.

We both froze in place after we saw what the fourth floor had in store, the entire story was practically caved in. Walls of debris and junk actively tried to impede our voyage.

"What the hell happened to this place?" Grygoriy asked, "probably a cave-in," I pondered.

"Maybe," Grygoriy replied, mulling over the gigantic shitshow.

I walked into an open room to my left, leaning in the doorway slightly, rifle in hand. "Think we'll find anything useful in here?" I asked looking over my shoulder to see my partner clearing a path.

"I doubt it, but you never know what you'll find in a khrushchyovka. You did find a medical kit after all." Grygoriy responded. "And a toolbox filled with spare parts," I said holding up the metal container, he gave me a thumbs up.

The room was near identical to the last, except for some exceptions for how it collapses. The kitchen window had a table near it that was completely covered in snow. And the countertop was frozen over while the refrigerator lay on the floor. The bathroom was still intact so I choose to search it first.
The door to the bathroom was locked, however, a quick kick under the doorknob solved that.

This bathroom was different from the last, it was almost perfectly preserved, there was even a skeleton on the toilet. An array of cosmetic and personal hygiene products were balanced on a shelf above the sink. And a glass mirror and medicine cabinet bellow it. A broken radiator was bolted to the crumbling wall, next to a mostly intact bathtub. I took off my gas mask and helmet for just a moment and looked into the mirror. What I saw revolted me.

A man in his fifties, with stone grey hair and a beard that looked like it belonged to God. Pale greyish skin that must have been ripped off a corpse. A Dead lifeless eye, the other missing. Only a deep crimson hole remained as a mark of its existence.

My facial expression was emotionless, I felt horrible, revulsion and fear suffocating me. The sight was almost too much to handle. I wanted to vomit until I couldn't anymore. But my face refused to show any emotion. That chilled me to the bone, still does quite frankly. Even after all I saw. Is that why I don't feel anything or at least show it? Was I that far gone? Plenty of questions but not enough answers, the only thing I could do was stare into my cold grey iris. Almost as frozen and cold as the nuclear winter outside.

I put my mask and helmet back on and prayed to God that I forget this. To distract myself I searched the medicine cabinet, the flimsy door creaked when I opened it. A bottle of rubbing alcohol, bandages, a needle & thread, cotton balls, a tube of toothpaste, gold star balm, painkillers, and antibiotics. Score two for me. I closed the medicine cabinet back up, it gave me a parting squeak as the door fell off. The thing fell on my bare head and smashed on the floor. The corner of it smashed into my head killing me. The end. Relax I'm fucking with you. I forgot to put the helmet on! goddamnit!

Removing the cap from the bottle of rubbing alcohol, I poured some into a gauze pad. Using a roll of bandages I tightly secured the gauze on my wound. Can't take any chances. I put my gas mask and helmet back on, slightly adjusted the helmet's straps, and checked my mask. To make sure it's air-tight, I placed the palm of my hand over the filter and breathed in. thankfully no unfiltered air can penetrate the mask.

I opened the cabinets below the sink, inside were various cleaning supplies and chemicals. Bleach, toilet cleaner, motor oil, window cleaner, bars of laundry soap, shampoo, regular soap, all kinds of stuff. Opening up my backpack, I carefully crammed as much inside as I could. I closed up my backpack and exited the room.
Walking into the kitchen, I had a peek into the cabinets though sadly, they were barren. I remember that the bedroom was blocked by rubble. So I exited the apartment and went to see how Grygoriy was doing.

Walking out of the apartment, I saw him resting against the wall. His scoped AK-74 resting against some rubble. I glanced over at the wall of debris, no progress has been made.

"What the hell Grygoriy, I thought you said the hallway would be cleared by now?" I said as my frustration grew.

"What the fuck do you expect me to do? Look at the fucking blockage man! How in Mose's godamn beard am I going to clear that shit with my bare hands!" he yelled at me.

"I have eyes you know... There under my EYEBROWS!!" I roared clenching my teeth and pointing at my eyes. My eyebrows furrowed and my face contorted in anger.

"Well fuck me! I thought you were blind there, patchy the bargain bin pirate!" "Fuck you too grygoriy!"

"No fuck you!" He said, "No fuck YOU!"

"Oh, Suck a dick you fucking carpetbagger," Grygoriy screamed "At least I have one you dickless fuck, maybe that's why I suck'em" I bellowed at the bald man.

"At least I have a godamn girlfriend,"

"You mean that fucking bitch that sells her dirty swamp ass on the street corner? You two fuckbags go together like peas in a godamn pod. However, I'm Afraid the only pea and pod she gets is real man's cock and balls!" Yeah, that got him going,

"You know what? Suck a clit you old f-" My fist connected with his jaw sending him flying into the wall. He cracked his head on a piece of rebar. His helmet barely protected him from the force of my fist and the wall. The visor was down which is why several teeth were knocked out. "Uuhaagh..." He groaned.

"Oh shit Greg you alright man, holy fucking shit I-! what the fuck was that?" A long moan came from the wall of shit, I stopped my ranting and looked at the wall.

Greg fixed his jaw, relocating the jaw bone with the skull. He still was missing three molars. "Aggh, godamn! you sumabitch" He stomped forward.

"Woah chill the fuck out man I helped you save on dental insurance! You should be grateful!" I said smartly. Haymaker punch. Save 15% or more on dental insurance!

My joke wasn't received as well as I hoped because he kicked me in my solar plexus. "There's you're fucking gratitude asshole!" I fell on my knees and gripped my chest. My lungs stopped receiving air as he knocked it out of me, literally.

He was about to kick me in the face before we heard even more moaning coming from the rubble. We both stared wide-eyed in the direction of the noise. "Holy sweet mother..." He looked in the crack, his jaw dropped and he froze. His hairs stood on their ends and goosebumps appeared on his skin. "Fuck..."

The city below was a damned hellscape. Frozen skeletons and rusted-out husks of old military vehicles crowded the tight streets. Snow and frost covered every single thing in these damned streets. Piles of rust and rubble piled up on what little space the cramped streets had left. Many buildings had either been collapsed, loot-
ed, or barricaded. Even entire buildings had collapsed onto the streets, however, I was able to scale the ruble. Much to my friend's frustration. Though Eugene didn't mind it as he was a marine paratrooper.

My boots made sickening crunching and tearing sounds whilst I traversed this dreadful husk. The frozen bones shattered into millions of pieces under the weight of my boots. Whereas the snow sounded like tearing paper whilst I moved through it. My terror mounted with every step and dread twisted inside my guts. Whilst every drop of blood in my veins turned to ice.

The respirator mask was glued to my face by frost and sweat. Each breath of toxic air burnt my lungs and sapped what little stamina I had left. The world was like a big frozen television inside this mask. A giant restrictive scope that devastated my field of view and breathing.

A loud anguished, ear-piercing shriek punctured the draconian darkness with its howl of pain. Another beast roared with predatorial delight and excitement, but also sadistic hunger. The sound caused my hands to shiver under the repressive icy touch of dread and panic. Every fiber of my ancient being screamed for me to stand and fight. Whereas my brain was yelling at me to retreat, that whatever fight I could muster would prove frivolous.

That I was a goner...

The wounded beast screamed as it ran in my direction, leaping over an abandoned American M48 Patton tank. It collided with the cold hard earth, falling onto an injured American soldier. Somehow I didn't see the man, however, he died an incredibly embarrassing death. Under the crushing might of a mutant deer's hindquarters landing onto his head. This world works in mysterious ways sometimes, it is truly a soviet hellscape.

Then, when shit couldn't get weird than a soldier dying via a five-headed deer's mighty ass. (I mean, that ass crushed a skull donning a PASGT helmet. What do you want me to call it?).

A gigantic human bat creature soared through the pitch-black sky. The mutant donned eighteen heads and snippets of KLMK and woodland camouflage. This implies that it was the cross between a bunch of VDV and U.S paratroopers that mutated with a pterodactyl. And maybe one of those multi-headed Dragons that regenerate every time you cut its head off.
The beast roared with predatorial pleasure as it sank its dagger-like claws and teeth into the deer.

The mutated deer howled in agony as large chunks of fur and flesh were ripped off its body. Blood splattered and coated everything, small drops even landed onto the lenses of my mask. The deer struggled valiantly though sadly its fight would end as the bat ripped its head off.

The deer's blood blinded me as it covered my lenses. Then the bat beast turned to me and roared with territorial rage. My vision turned red and my heart leaped out of my chest. I turned in the other direction and bolted, the beast bellowed with fury and soared after me.

My adrenaline was pumping into my veins, I dropped my flashlight in the midst of fleeing. Leaving me in this suffocating darkness with a psychotic nocturnal multi-headed predator chasing me. Thankfully, however, I still had my old bullet lighter in my pocket. Giving me a small source of light, I also had a few candles too. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I fleed the scene, blindly firing an old Makarov handgun behind me. The beast's pained howls of agony were my only way of knowing whether they hit or not.

A sudden burst of sharp pain erupted behind me, the beast had finally struck me with its claws. Tearing through my thick clothing and lacerating my back. It tried to tackle me however I slammed my elbow into its throat. And struck it in the chest with my knee, hitting its solar plexus which caused it to collapse. Taking out my hatchet I prepared to finish it but before I could bring the blade down. It leaped forward, slamming its body into me.

I staggered from shock and pain, it used this opportunity to slash at my throat. But I anticipated this and ducked, performing a counterattack with my axe. Tearing into the gap between his neck and shoulder. Generating a massive wound that slashed open the branchial and carotid arteries.

The beast howled as it used the current its massive wings generated. And spray a thick cloud of dust and debris to blind me. Basically, this asshole used dale gribble's pocket sand move. Instead of using the debris to flee, the beast grabbed a fucking cinderblock and hurled it into my chest. I nearly keeled over from the force of the impact. My anger caused me to pull out my handgun and empty the magazine into its face. Ripping huge chunks in its fragile face. The Beast was blinded, but it was still very much enraged, though now in severe pain and heavily wounded.

I ducked as it tried to blind me with its razor, dagger-like claws. I whirled around and sprinted in the other direction with an enraged beast hauling ass towards me. My adrenaline and ability to sweat were a huge advantage over the bat creature. However, it was nocturnal and had night vision whilst my eyes couldn't see jackshit.

But God would finally get tired of ramrodding my asshole like a carnival ride. And threw me a shitty bone in the form of a ruined building that was barricaded. But, there was a hole in the brick wall next to a boarded-up window. That had a white peace sign spray painted onto the boards. Thankfully the hole was just big enough for me to fit inside.

Running up the hole, I threw my gear into a broken window to make it available for when I get inside. I barely managed to fit inside the hole and make it onto the other side. Before the large beast rammed one of its muscular arms through the hole. I grabbed my grenade launcher and ran over to the broken window. Somehow, the beast had gotten itself stuck, it stood right in front of several soviet military vehicles. Three convoy trucks, a BDRM-2, and two APCs. And the vehicles were all bunched up. Aiming my grenade launcher towards the back of a convoy truck, my eyes picked up several crates of dynamite and barrels of petrol. Suddenly, a very cheeky idea popped into my mind.

"Cheeki breeki!" I yelled, excited at the absolute shitshow that was about to occur. And I was right. The moment the grenade struck the TNT, a massive boom erupted. My ears exploded with a stream of blood at the sound. The Beast was rendered into a cloud of gore, coating the walls with gore.

Many more explosions rang out in a huge domino effect of destruction and chaos. The many ruined husks of once-function vehicles were still filled with oil and petrol.
Causing many explosions from gasoline, motor oil, military dynamite, and armed artillery shells. The building shook under the force of these explosions. My ears popped and I went deaf from the sound.
Everything was on fire, the flames of the ancient world burning with great vengeance and furious anger.

What I couldn't hear was a massive 10 story apartment building crumbling from the power of the chaos. Then the building finally collapsed, it fell forward, right onto the building I was situated in. My heart dropped into my stomach at the sight. An inevitable force filled my heart with dread.
The massive structure smashed into my shelter. Large chunks of rubble and debris smashed through the ceiling, effectively collapsing half the building. My shelter.
A large chunk of rebar almost caved in my skull. Smashing into the floor right next to me, my heart nearly leaped through my ribs at the sight.

My lungs burned as ash, asbestos, lead paint, and dust filled the sacs of flesh. I fell onto my hands and knees, coughing and hacking as my flesh burned. My eyes were burning from all the dust that filled my sockets. Everything hurt like hell.

Even though none of the shrapnel penetrated the flak jacket, the force from a chunk of rebar and concrete slammed into my chest. Causing horrific dark black and purple bruising that felt like several thousand daggers piercing my skin. Need-
less to say, the pain was atrocious and very agonizing.

My skull throbbed like a piston engine, spears of pain stabbing through the bone and brain. Even the thick bulletproof plate I had installed years ago. The throbbing sounded like a heartbeat almost. That would be the case if my ears would stop ringing. Blood poured out of my ears and nose and my lungs, my eyes were burning like a thousand suns of sheer anguish.

"Holy-Agkuh! SHIT!" I choked, wheezing and coughing as my lungs attempted to commit suicide. I attempted to stand, but I just fell back down.

"Where is everypony?" Twilight muttered to herself. Ironically, the princess of frien-
dship had been abandoned by her new friends. Her armored hooves clopped against the frozen asphalt, her heart ached with the realization that she had been abandoned. Tricked into believing they were her friends but she still held hope that it was just a paranoia-fueled fallacy. Her clothing and armor barely stood up against the harsh environment.

Her heart was heavy from sadness and fear, the realization that she may have been abandoned. By her new friends, was an incredibly painful experience. Her view of the world had been shattered with a whimper and not a sacrificial bang.
She was alone in the dark frigid broken remains of the world. And the ruins of human civilization.

The skies cried tears of pain and howled with winds of frigid deathly screams of tortured souls. They had been forsaken by those they trust, just like she had. The rain slightly burned her lilac coat and skin, though the acid didn't do much harm.

It was difficult to travel the ruins, all of the rubble and debris. It was staggering how much destruction a single bomb could do, almost awe-inspiring.