Snijeg je padao nemilosrdno.

The snow was falling mercilessly.

Zagreb, nekad živahan grad, sada je bio pokriven bijelim pokrivačem.

Zagreb, once a lively city, was now covered with a white blanket.

Ostatci nekad grandioznih zgrada sada su bili samo hladne ruševine.

The remains of once grand buildings were now just cold ruins.

Ostaci božićnih lampica ležali su ispod hrpa snijega, svjedočivši o prošlim sretnim vremenima.

Remnants of Christmas lights lay beneath piles of snow, bearing witness to happier times past.

Ivana, Boris i Matej gazili su kroz ovaj snježni pokrivač. Tražili su sklonište za dolazeću oluju.

Ivana, Boris, and Matej trudged through this snowy cover, searching for shelter from the coming storm.

Ivana je vodila svog mlađeg brata Mateja kroz hladne ulice.

Ivana led her younger brother, Matej, through the cold streets.

Boris, njihov vodič, šutljivo je hodao s njima.

Boris, their guide, walked silently with them.

Ivana je znala da Boris nije sasvim iskren.

Ivana knew that Boris wasn't completely honest.

Njegove oči uvijek su govorile više od njegovih riječi.

His eyes always spoke more than his words.

No, trebala ga je.

But she needed him.

Poznavao je grad bolje nego itko drugi.

He knew the city better than anyone else.

Prošlost joj je bila teška.

The past was hard on her.

Uspomene na obitelj koju je izgubila bile su poput sjene, pratili su je na svakom koraku.

Memories of the family she had lost were like shadows, following her every step.

Ali sada je morala misliti na Mateja.

But now she had to think of Matej.

Njegova budućnost bila je njena odgovornost.

His future was her responsibility.

"Hoćemo li stići na vrijeme?" upitao je Matej.

"Will we make it on time?" Matej asked.

Njegova nada bila je nevjerojatna u ovim vremenima.

His hope was incredible in these times.

Ivana mu se osmjehnula, iako je bila zabrinuta.

Ivana smiled at him, although she was worried.

"Da, braco.

"Yes, little brother.

Naći ćemo sklonište," rekla je, iako nije bila posve sigurna.

We will find shelter," she said, even though she wasn't entirely sure.

Boris ih je iznenada odveo s uobičajenog puta.

Boris suddenly led them off the usual path.

"Zašto ovamo?" upitala je Ivana, sumnjajući u njegovo vodstvo.

"Why this way?" asked Ivana, doubting his guidance.

"Kraći put," odgovorio je Boris bez okolišanja.

"Shortcut," replied Boris without hesitation.

Njegov ton nije ostavljao prostora za rasprave.

His tone left no room for arguments.

Snijeg je postajao sve gušći.

The snow was getting thicker.

Vjetar je zavijao između ruševina, hladan i nemilosrdan.

The wind howled among the ruins, cold and merciless.

Na kraju puta ugledali su staru, zahrđalu vrata.

At the end of the path, they saw an old, rusty gate.

„To je to!” uzviknuo je Boris.

"This is it!" shouted Boris.

Iza tih vrata bila je podzemna skrovište o kojoj su čuli.

Behind those gates was the underground shelter they had heard about.

Ali vrata su bila zaključana.

But the gate was locked.

Ivana je prepoznala paniku u Matejevim očima dok su udarali o željezna vrata.

Ivana recognized the panic in Matej's eyes as they pounded on the iron gate.

Onda je vidjela Borisa kako nešto skriva.

Then she saw Boris hiding something.

Ključ.

A key.

Imao je ključ.

He had the key.

"Zašto nisi rekao da imaš ključ?" upitala je Ivana oštro.

"Why didn't you say you had the key?" Ivana asked sharply.

Boris je oklijevao.

Boris hesitated.

"Htio sam pregovarati," priznao je.

"I wanted to negotiate," he admitted.

"Trebam vašu pomoć kad se ova oluja smiri."

"I need your help when this storm settles."

Ivana je razumjela.

Ivana understood.

Svijet u kojem su sada živjeli zahtijevao je takve dogovore.

The world they now lived in required such agreements.

Pruža ruku Boris, Ivana je uzela ključ.

Extending her hand to Boris, Ivana took the key.

Otvorila je vrata jer im je sklonište bila potrebna sada više nego ikad.

She opened the gate because they needed the shelter now more than ever.

Unutra je bilo hladno i mračno, ali sigurno.

Inside, it was cold and dark, but safe.

Skromno je namjestila kutak za Mateja.

She modestly set up a corner for Matej.

Dok su sjedili zajedno ispijajući rijetko topli čaj, Ivana je osjetila da njezina kaznena šutnja predstavlja novi početak povjerenja, iako krhkog.

As they sat together sipping what little warm tea they had, Ivana felt that her cautious silence marked a new beginning of trust, however fragile.

Taj Božić Ivana je shvatila važnost savezništva, čak i s ljudima koji nisu uvijek pouzdani.

That Christmas, Ivana realized the importance of alliances, even with people who aren't always reliable.

Za preživljavanje u ovom novom svijetu, trebala je pronaći ravnotežu između opreza i povjerenja.

To survive in this new world, she needed to find a balance between caution and trust.

Oluja je divljala vani, ali unutra su bili zajedno, pripravljeni se suočiti s izazovima koji slijede.

The storm raged outside, but inside they were together, ready to face the challenges ahead.