Take our place on the shit list

"We're so fucked." I whisper to Artyom as we walk along.

"We're definitely on the shit list."

"No. It's worse."

"What do you mean?" He asks me.

"If he tells Fedorov, we're both dead! What are we going to do?"

"Kill him?"

"No."

"Run away?"

"Where?"

"Maybe you could tell Fedorov that Smirnov was coming onto you. He'd probably shoot him within an hour."

"I don't think I'm that evil. Would he take his word over ours?"

"I don't know."

"Maybe I could threaten to tell that to Fedorov." I suggest.

"I don't know about that, Tatya. I think for now we need to keep him comfortable. He has the advantage over us, but the smug bastard likes that. It makes him happy that he can bitch us around, and I don't think he'd throw that away. What good would it do him to turn us in?"

"He'd probably get promoted."

"We'll think of something."

I see Dadonov coming back towards us from ahead. He halts the column.

"I need to speak to the two of you. Now!"

He leads us off the path and away from the others. I'm shivering in fear.

"Smirnov tells me that the two of you snuck off together for uh... nefarious reasons." It's apparent in his voice that he is uncomfortable. "Is this true?"

Artyom and I look at one another.

"Is it true?"

"Yes." Artyom mutters.

"It's true." I say, my throat burning.

"Congratulations, you've both made the shit list. Such behavior is unacceptable!"

"Please don't tell the commissar!" I beg, tears in my eyes. "He'll kill us!"

"I won't, but what you did was wrong!"

"Is it wrong to be in love?" I ask him, the tears now rolling down my cheeks.

"I guess not. I know how close the two of you are." He says. "But don't you ever do that again while you're on duty! This is serious and you put everyone's lives at risk. Promise me!"

"I promise." I say with a sniffle.

"Me too. I promise."

"Good. Now let's not waste any more time."

We follow him back to the others and carry on. The sun begins to rise, and soon the familiar house of the old couple comes into view.