A simple Kirov journalist, Alexei Gorin, did not even suspect how the next working day would end. In an instant, he himself becomes the character of a sensational article about a living nightmare. Before our eyes, our hometown is turning into one large Anomalous Zone. Here, hell opens its doors: bloodthirsty creatures devour everyone, anomalies incinerate cars, and the military shoots at civilians, trying to hold the Perimeter. But Alexey still doesn’t know that his worst nightmare lies ahead: he must lose the most precious thing he has in order to stay in the Zone forever. Become the Guardian of this place.