Standing beneath that sky was a cathedral so whimsical it looked like a dwelling for fairies. Staring at its vibrant, multi-colored domes, one half-expected Alice and the White Rabbit to come charging out of Wonderland at any moment.
Tourists from every corner of the globe crowded the space, snapping photos to tether themselves to the memory of the square. Cutting through the thick of them was Natasha. She ran toward the government administration building, her bag clutched tightly against her chest.
To her, there was nothing new left to see. Having crossed it a thousand times, Red Square had long since faded into the background of her daily life.
The ground was frozen over like a sheet of glass in the biting cold. A single slip in concentration would mean a nasty fall, but Natasha didn't care. Her block heels provided a solid, grounded grip—and more importantly, the government press conference was about to start.
She couldn't be late. Not today.
Moments later, a female government spokesperson stepped before the microphones. Her expression was a mask of iron. With an unwavering posture and a voice that rang clear and calm, she began to speak.
She addressed the series of incidents unfolding on the front lines, defining them as the dawn of a national security crisis.
"Though we have faced no direct physical assault," she explained, "the psychological warfare and digital incursions we are enduring are, in essence, a demand for our surrender."
After a heavy silence, she spoke with iron resolve.
"There will be no surrender. We will fight."
From the sea of reporters, Natasha’s hand shot up.
"Spokesperson, you just mentioned digital hacking," Natasha said, catching her breath before continuing. "How extensive is this breach, exactly? Is it reversible? And can you confirm if it is causing a genuine crisis in our national defense?"
The spokesperson adjusted her dark brown Prada glasses with a flick of her finger, staring directly at Natasha. Behind the lenses, her eyes were devoid of anything resembling emotion.
"The details are a matter of national security. I cannot disclose them," she clipped. "However, most modern warfare equipment operates on digital systems. When a hack occurs, the ripple effect is substantial. Currently, parts of our fighter jets, antennas, military communications, and command systems are non-functional. We are exerting our maximum effort toward recovery. Next question."
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Questions erupted from the other reporters like a crashing wave. Natasha flipped open her laptop and typed furiously, recording the spokesperson’s words. Her fingers moved with mechanical speed, but a cold, unexplainable dread was slowly seeping into her chest.
It was then.
Buzz... buzz...
Her phone vibrated subtly. A text message. It was a reply to the message she had sent first.
[Natasha, it’s Vadim. Long time no see. As expected, I’m at the front.]
Natasha stole a glance around the room before quickly typing back.
[Vadim, hey. Sorry for the sudden ask. It’s an emergency. I’m so sorry, but... is there any change with the aircraft at the front? You know I’m a reporter.]
A long moment passed.
[………]
No answer. Natasha bit her lip and applied a bit of pressure.
[Everything is already leaking on YouTube anyway.]
A reply finally flashed on the screen.
[I can see lettering on the underside of the aircraft: 'RED SQUARE 16:00'.]
The moment she read it, Natasha’s fingers froze. Her heart skipped a beat.
[Ah... thanks. Stay in touch.]
The press conference was winding down. The spokesperson gathered her documents, preparing to close the session. Natasha raised her hand again, her voice clear and piercing.
"I have information that an aircraft will appear over the Square at 4:00 PM today," she said firmly. "Are you aware of this fact?"
The spokesperson’s face stiffened almost imperceptibly. She locked eyes with Natasha for a heartbeat, then turned away from the microphone.
"Sufficient troops have already been deployed around the Square."
With those final words, she stepped down from the podium.
In reality, covert positions were already being established atop every high-rise surrounding Red Square. Special military units were stationed there, aiming their weapons at the sky to prepare for an infiltration or an aerial strike.
But this was no longer what one would call modern warfare. This was a fight where eyes and ears were being severed—a Stone Age war fought with the broken remnants of civilization.
Natasha stepped out of the briefing room and instinctively glanced at her watch.
15:50
Reporters had already begun to gather in the square, one by one. Everyone was looking up at the sky in silence. No one knew for sure if something would actually appear or if it was just another hollow rumor—they waited in a state of restless doubt.
Then, a sharp chime rang from her phone.
[Natasha, all the aircraft at the front have disappeared. My unit is moving toward the capital now. To defend the Square...]
Natasha stared at the screen for a moment before sending a brief reply.
[I... I see. Understood.]
The moment the message was sent, an indescribable fear pooled deep in her chest. Are they really coming to attack us?
She looked up at the sky again. It was a cloudless, piercingly clear blue. The sheer tranquility of it felt ominous.
16:00
A sharp gasp escaped Natasha’s lips.
Suddenly, a high-pitched, ear-splitting roar tore through the air and slammed into the ground. Her body lost its balance, reeling from the shock. It was impossible to stay upright.
The reporters who had been staring at the sky, the tourists who had filled the square—everyone, without exception, began to scream and bolt toward the exits.
In a heartbeat, Red Square was stained with the color of terror.