Siberia in summer can actually reach temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, but that's typically in the more southern regions. Within the Arctic Circle, it remains cold enough that venturing outside still requires winter clothing. However, for those accustomed to the climate, long sleeves and pants are often sufficient.
A group of young people, recently returned from the city, walked through a newly abandoned Siberian research base. The base wasn't large, and they managed to explore it thoroughly in just over an hour.
Teapots, teacups, gas stoves, desk lamps, table lamps, searchlights—these items made it evident that the former occupants had evacuated in a hurry, taking only essential belongings. All other everyday necessities were left behind.
While these items might seem insignificant to a manufacturing powerhouse like the Red Empire, they were incredibly valuable to the young people's small, resource-scarce village within the Siberian Arctic Circle. For them, every pot, cup, or stove could be repurposed or traded.
They also found filing cabinets, wardrobes, and cupboards—mostly wooden, though a few were made of iron. The sturdy wooden ones could replace older furniture at home. The worn-out pieces could be chopped into firewood for the long winters. The metal cabinets, on the other hand, could be disassembled and reused.
To their surprise, they even discovered a few rifles and shotguns, as well as a jeep—though the vehicle wouldn't start. Most astonishing of all, however, was the discovery of a food storage warehouse. Although not fully stocked, it was still half-filled with flour, canned goods, and other supplies.
Even more promising was the fact that the base's internal power and heating systems were still functional. Just the infrastructure itself, even without the leftover supplies, was incredibly valuable to the group. Unfortunately, they found no documents—no logs, no folders, nothing. It was as though every record had been deliberately removed.
If it weren't for the chaos and signs of ransacking inside the base, one might even believe the staff had only left temporarily and might return at any moment. These signs sparked curiosity in the young people's minds, shifting their focus from scavenging supplies to understanding what had occurred.
As their search took them deeper into the facility, they stumbled upon a peculiar door. Unlike others, this one had no warning signs or red-lettered alerts. That gave them some assurance that there wasn't anything dangerous behind it.
They exchanged uncertain glances but decided to open it. The door had a rotary valve, apparently part of the locking mechanism. They turned the valve, which smoothly moved several locking bolts. The base hadn't been abandoned for long, so the metal had yet to rust. The mechanism turned easily.
When all the bolts had retracted, the heavy iron door creaked open with a sharp, piercing sound. What greeted them was a brightly lit room, pristine and sterile, with a white floor and no blind spots. The most prominent fixtures were a steel washbasin and a toilet with a shiny iron-gray finish.
And in the center of the room… was a person lying motionless on the floor.
"How could someone still be here?" one of them exclaimed.
"Are they dead or alive?" another asked.
Countless questions sprang up, but nobody had an answer.
Their unease was understandable. Discovering a person in a base believed to be long-abandoned would make anyone nervous. The endless questions served more to mask their fear than to find real answers.
Eventually, when their questioning led nowhere, the group fell silent. They all looked at each other. Finally, the boldest among them stepped forward to examine the person on the floor.
The figure appeared tall, but emaciated—clearly malnourished. The skin was pale, almost bloodless. The hair was sparse and black, with patches of the scalp showing. The eyes had rolled back, showing only the whites. The chest didn't appear to move.
Despite the eerie appearance, there was no foul odor, which was usually expected from a corpse.
The bold youth checked for breath and then searched for a pulse along the neck. After a few tense seconds, he silently shook his head.
That simple gesture told everyone what they needed to know—the person was dead.
"What should we do? Just leave him here?" someone asked uncertainly.
Several members of the group frowned, clearly disturbed by the idea. "I was thinking we could turn this place into a secret base," one of them said. "Leave a corpse inside? That's too creepy."
After a short debate, the group leader—also the boldest among them—made the decision. "Come help me. Let's carry him out and bury him. At least that way, we've taken care of things here."
In Russian and Western cultures, the idea of 'rest in peace' isn't always emphasized, but the most practical and hygienic way to dispose of a body is burial. Cremation requires collecting and consuming valuable fuel, and building a coffin or special tomb requires too much effort and material. Digging a hole and burying someone is the most efficient method.
Simply discarding the corpse would be dangerous. With modern hygiene standards, it could attract wild animals or cause disease. Besides, in a world filled with rumors of mutants, vampires, werewolves, and zombies, the dead are considered the least terrifying—as long as they stay dead.
So, with a decision made, none of the young people objected. Two took the corpse by the hands, two by the feet, and two more supported the waist. Together, they carefully carried the body out in search of a burial spot.
Luckily, they had digging tools on hand. Though there weren't enough shovels for everyone, digging one grave wasn't too difficult. The main concern was how deep to go. Too shallow, and wild animals might dig it up; too deep, and they'd waste precious energy.
Surprisingly, the corpse was heavier than expected. Even with six strong people carrying it, they were panting by the time they emerged from the underground base. Exhausted, they didn't notice the slight change occurring in the body once exposed to the summer sun.
In Siberia, summer sunlight is rare but cherished—it brings warmth and comfort. The group didn't avoid the sunlight as they made their way toward a wooded area beyond the base.
The entire base had been disguised to appear like a regular rural settlement. From the air, it was indistinguishable from any other village. Military trucks and suspicious equipment were never used here. Vehicles were ordinary. The layout even included a small church and a cemetery—like any real village.
The young people planned to bury the body in that cemetery. Even if government officials eventually returned, no one would likely notice one extra grave. It wasn't worth the trouble to count.
However, what the young explorers didn't know was that under the intense yellow sunlight, the lifeless body in their hands was beginning to change.
Subtle shifts in the skin. Almost imperceptible twitches in the fingers. Warmth returning to the limbs.
What they believed to be a corpse… was slowly coming back to life.