red moscow

Chapter 3127 Time-Space Distortion
When the smell of disinfectant in the ward pierced his nostrils, it carried a familiar chill. Sokov suddenly opened his eyes, as if he had been pulled back to reality from an abyss.

What came into view was a snow-white ceiling, intricately carved with patterns. A beautiful tapestry hung to one side, depicting a classic hunting scene. Heavy, dark red curtains hung down, blocking out some of the light, while a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling swayed gently in the breeze, refracting dappled light... After a brief moment of astonishment, Sokov's mind raced, and he came to a conclusion: this was not a frontline field hospital; the luxury here was worlds apart from the simple wooden hut.

Sokov tried to sit up, but a tearing pain shot through his chest, like a dull knife churning inside him, causing him to gasp. This pain instantly triggered a flood of memories—New Year's Day, 1942, at their post outside Moscow, the wind howled, and snow covered their simple wooden huts. Kopalova had accompanied the comfort team to her brigade headquarters for an interview. After the written interview, she suggested taking some photos in the village to publish in the newspapers, saying, "These images will allow people in the rear to feel your courage more truly."

Considering his special relationship with Kopalova, Sokov readily agreed to her request and took two guards and Kopalova outside to take photos. The village was quiet, the dilapidated houses and snow-covered ground forming a stark contrast. Kopalova skillfully adjusted her camera, capturing the soldiers' everyday moments.

After filming in the village, Kopalova suggested that it would be better to take photos at a battlefield where a battle had recently taken place, as this would make the photos more authentic and impactful. Sokov hesitated for a moment, but out of trust in her and support for the propaganda work, he agreed. The group trudged through the snow towards an abandoned fortification outside the village.

Just as he entered the fortification, Sokov accidentally stepped on a buried landmine. He was instantly thrown into the air by a huge blast wave, the world turning upside down in an instant, flames and dirt flying everywhere. In the moments before losing consciousness, he clearly saw the terror on Kopalova's face and heard her scream, a sound that pierced the sky and echoed for a long time in the cold air.

Footsteps approached from outside the door, echoing in the empty corridor, causing Sokov to unconsciously turn his head towards the doorway. He felt a wave of weakness, but still forced himself to see the person's face clearly and to find out where he was.

The door was gently pushed open, and a young nurse entered carrying a tray. The tray held medicine bottles and some medical equipment, which clattered softly. When she saw Sokov lying on the bed, staring at her with wide eyes, she paused, nearly dropping the tray. After a brief moment of surprise, a bright smile spread across her face, her eyes sparkling with joy: "Comrade General, you're finally awake!"

Sokov was stunned when he heard the title. He clearly remembered that when he was blown away by a landmine, he was just the commander of an infantry brigade with the rank of lieutenant colonel. When did he become a general? This sudden change in status left him completely bewildered.

The nurse seemed oblivious to the confusion on Sokov's face. She quickly walked to the bedside, placed the tray on the bedside table, and turned to run out. Sokov hurriedly called out to her, "Comrade Nurse!"

Hearing Sokov's shout, the nurse stopped, turned around, and asked cautiously, "Comrade General, is there anything you need?"

Sokov hesitated for a moment, then stammered, "That...the woman who was with me, where...where is she now?"

"A woman?" The nurse seemed puzzled, then suddenly realized, "General, are you referring to Army Doctor Asiya?"

The nurse's words left Sokov completely bewildered. What was going on? He woke up injured to find himself not only in a luxurious hospital room, but also with his wife Asiya from his previous life. In this timeline, he had no chance to even meet Asiya!
Seeing that Sokov remained silent, the nurse tentatively asked, "Comrade General, may I leave now?" Seemingly worried that Sokov wouldn't let her go, she added, "You've finally woken up, and I must immediately tell your attending physician and Army Doctor Asiya this good news."

Sokov's mind was a complete mess; he had no idea what was going on. He could only wave to the nurse, signaling that she could leave.

A few minutes later, a flurry of footsteps sounded outside, and a group of medical staff in white coats rushed into the ward. Leading the way was Asya, who threw herself at Sokov's bedside, knelt down, and tightly grasped his hand. Her eyes were moist, and her voice choked with emotion: "Misha, you're finally awake!"

Seeing Asiya appear before him, Sokov was once again filled with confusion. Asiya was clearly his wife from his previous life, so how could she be in this one? What was going on?

Before Sokov could ask any questions, a doctor gently patted Asya's shoulder, his tone polite yet urgent: "Asya, please step aside. We need to give Comrade General a thorough examination to see if his awakening is temporary or a sign of improvement in his injuries." Hearing the doctor's words, Asya reluctantly released Sokov's hand, slowly stood up, and stepped aside, allowing her colleagues to conduct a detailed examination of Sokov.

After half an hour of examination, the leading doctor finally smiled and said to Asiya, "Asiya, the general's health is gradually improving, and I believe he will be able to recover and be discharged from the hospital soon."

After saying that, the doctor called the other medical staff to leave the ward, leaving the space to Asya and Sokov.

Once they were alone in the ward, Sokov asked impatiently, "Asya, tell me first, what's the date today?"

Asia paused for a moment, but still answered honestly, "June 22nd."

"which year?"

“1946!” Asya said, then added, “You are now in the special care ward of the Odessa Military District, arranged personally by Marshal Zhukov.”

Sokov's pupils contracted sharply. June 1946? Odessa Military Hospital? So, the landmine not only injured him but also transported him back to his previous life. What about Victoria, Bakharov, and Braun, trapped in 1942? Without his help, would they still have a chance to return to the future? A deep unease and anxiety welled up within Sokov at this thought.

……

On New Year's Day, 1942, in Moscow, a biting wind howled and snowflakes drifted down, the city shrouded in the shadow of war. Victoria finished her day's duty and dragged her weary body back to her simple lodgings.

As soon as she opened the door, she felt a wave of dizziness, as if the whole world was shaking. She then fell heavily to the ground, the cold floor hitting her body, and she immediately lost consciousness, her consciousness fading into darkness.

After an unknown amount of time, Victoria slowly awoke to find herself lying in a damp, narrow pit, surrounded by darkness, with only the strong smell of earth and mold in the air. Her head was buzzing as she tried to recall what had happened. She groped her way to sit up, her fingers touching the cold, rough soil, and then unexpectedly touched something familiar—upon closer inspection, it was the old flashlight she had brought with her when she entered the underground of Hoflin Hospital, still covered in a little dirt.

She switched on her flashlight, the beam drawing a faint streak in the darkness. Looking around, she found herself in a pit about two meters deep, its walls steep and covered in claw marks. Recognizing her surroundings, she remembered falling into a similar pit before her time travel to the Great Patriotic War. Had she unknowingly returned to the modern era? This thought made her heart race, a mixture of hope and fear.

Thinking of this, she suddenly stood up, ignoring the soreness in her body, and shouted loudly in all directions, "Misha! Misha!! Where are you?" Her voice echoed in the enclosed space, but she only heard her own echo and no one else's response. The silence was suffocating.

Just as her heart sank to the bottom and despair began to spread, a familiar voice suddenly came from afar, faint yet clear: "Is that Victoria?" The voice carried a hint of uncertainty, as if it came from the depths of her memory, making her tremble.

(End of this chapter)