Harvesting Hope: Surviving the Climate Shift. Climate Fiction Novel. Sergey Rybnikov

would be fraught with peril, that countless obstacles lay in wait. Yet, they were left with no alternative. Atheria was their sole beacon of hope. Or at least, that’s what they believed. As they stared out at the immense, unyielding ocean, a chilling premonition washed over them. They sailed towards a realm cloaked in enigma, a place where legends and horrors merged. Their journey led them to Atheria, yet the unknown future held both promise and trepidation. The island rose before them, a jagged outline against the darkening twilight, a far cry from the lush paradise depicted in her father’s journal. Instead, they encountered a desolate, wind-battered outcrop, its surface ravaged and empty, a testament to the storm’s relentless wrath. Jonas skillfully guided the diving bell through the perilous currents, the metal shell protesting with every groan under the immense pressure. Although weakened, the storm persisted, its wind a ceaseless wail, its waves an unending onslaught.

      «Land in sight,» Jonas declared, his voice strained, a blend of relief and worry evident in its tone. They both understood that this island offered only a fleeting sanctuary. The Collective remained a constant threat, relentlessly pursuing them, their shadow an ever-present menace across the devastated terrain.

      Elara gazed out the viewport, her gaze sweeping across the coastline. She saw nothing but the emptiness of nature, no twinkling lights of a city, no indication of any living presence. Only the harsh, unyielding rock, sculpted by the relentless forces of the sea, stood alone as a solitary guardian in the immensity of the ocean.

      «Seems like a warm welcome isn’t in the cards,» Kai grumbled, his tone dripping with his trademark pessimism. He was spot on. This island felt desolate, neglected. A place where optimism had simply disappeared, swallowed by the sea.

      Jonas secured the bell against a jagged rock formation, its metal hull grating against the encrusted barnacles. As the hatch released with a hiss, Elara emerged into the wind, the ocean’s spray chilling her skin. The air was thick with the scent of salt and rot, a somber testament to the world they now called home.

      The island was diminutive, scarcely spanning a mile in width, its landscape a blend of rugged rock and sparse vegetation. Scattered across its surface were several dilapidated structures, vestiges of a former fishing village, now abandoned. Their roofs had collapsed, and their walls were in decay, providing meager shelter, yet still preferable to exposure.

      «Let’s take a look at those buildings,» Elara suggested, her words nearly lost in the wind. «We might find something helpful there.»

      With trepidation, they approached the closest building, a rundown shack that teetered dangerously off balance. Its door swung open, groaning in the breeze, an unspoken welcome to step inside.

      The shack’s interior was shrouded in darkness and dampness, the air heavy with the musty scent of decay. Dust and clutter blanketed every surface, a palpable testament to years of abandonment and neglect. Elara’s flashlight pierced the gloom, illuminating the faded vestiges of a life once lived within its walls – a splintered chair, a corroded cooking pot, a child’s forgotten plaything lying forlornly in a corner.

      The house stood as a spectral remnant, a vestige of an era preceding the floods, an era before the world’s irrevocable transformation. Elara was overcome by a bittersweet ache, a tide of longing for a life vanished, a world irrevocably lost.

      Their search of the shack was fueled by a desperate hope, a yearning to discover anything that could offer assistance. Food, water, even basic supplies – anything to bolster their chances of survival. Yet, their efforts yielded nothing but emptiness. Only dust, decay, silence, and the mournful whisper of the wind remained.

      Their journey continued to the subsequent building, a more substantial structure that had formerly housed the village’s store. While in a marginally improved state compared to the shack, it remained a dilapidated ruin. Empty shelves, shattered windows, and a partially caved-in roof attested to its decay.

      The interior revealed a continuation of the same desolate scene: dust, rubble, and a haunting scent of decay. Their search through the building yielded nothing but emptiness. Only the remnants of the past lingered, echoing softly in the breeze.

      Just as they prepared to depart, Elara spotted something on the ground – a diminutive metal box, partially concealed by dust. She lifted it, her touch met with the chill of the metal; it was secured with a lock.

      «Perhaps we’ll find something helpful here,» Kai remarked, a glimmer of optimism in his voice.

      Elara’s attempts to open the box proved futile; it was firmly sealed. Determined, she scrutinized the box, hoping to discover a way to unlock it. Nestled on the side, she spotted a tiny keyhole.

      «Locating a crucial key is essential,» she stated.

      They meticulously combed the building, their gazes sweeping across every inch, leaving no corner unexplored. In the end, Elara discovered it – a tiny, corroded key, concealed beneath a warped floorboard.

      She turned the key in the lock, and a satisfying click announced its opening. She lifted the lid of the box and looked inside. To her surprise, it was completely empty except for a single, creased piece of paper.

      Elara carefully unfurled the paper, a wave of disappointment washing over her. It was a map, depicting the island in its entirety. However, it was unlike any map she had encountered before; its surface was adorned with enigmatic symbols and markings, utterly foreign to her.

      «What’s this all about?» Kai inquired, his tone laced with curiosity.

      Elara studied the map, her face creased with thought. «I’m not sure,» she murmured, «but I believe… I believe it could be a hint.»

      The symbols bore a striking resemblance to those found within her father’s journal. Could there be a link to Atheria? Might these symbols hold the answer to uncovering the location of the secret valley?

      While examining the map, a noise caught her attention – the distinct whir of helicopters drawing closer. She quickly went to the window and spotted two helicopters heading for the island, their beams illuminating the night.

      «They’ve arrived,» she breathed, her words laced with terror. «They’ve discovered our location.»

      As helicopters touched down on the sandy shore, shadowy figures emerged, their features hidden in the gloom, yet their weaponry shimmered under the pale moonlight.

      The journal was their target, and Elara was certain the pursuit wouldn’t cease until it was in their hands. Stranded on this barren island, they were relentlessly pursued by a merciless organization, their destiny hanging in the balance. Atheria was their destination, but what they’d find there remained a mystery. One thing, however, was clear: time was slipping away.

      Chapter 5: The Exodus Begins

      The first pale light of dawn, a sickly yellow hue piercing the smoke-filled atmosphere, cast the sky in shades of wounded orange and purple, marking a somber sunrise over the destroyed terrain. What was once a delicate sanctuary, the refugee camp, now stood in devastation, a stark reminder of the raiders’ cruelty. Broken tents slumped like weary warriors, their fabric shredded and torn, fluttering aimlessly in the breeze. The air was thick with the sickly sweetness of charred flesh and the biting smell of ash, a haunting echo of the recent brutality, a scent Elara knew would forever be etched in her memory. She found a small, finely carved wooden bird, a gift she had presented to a little girl in the camp only a few days prior. Now, it lay coated in dust and dirt, its wing shattered. A surge of sorrow overwhelmed her, a sudden, intense pain that caused her to gasp. She gripped the shattered toy, her fingers squeezing tighter, and realized they had taken it all. Everything.

      Zara