Chapter 4

Chapter

Four

"Be anything but normal."

― Dan Pearce

Sofiya

Each tick of the clock pounded in my ears, making it hard to focus. I needed answers—an explanation.

Who were they?

My ragged breaths, heated veins, and racing thoughts made me nauseous as I desperately sought clarity. My mama was an only child, and both of her parents had passed away before I was born—she didn't have any family left in Russia.

Years ago, on a wintry night as she tucked me into bed, kissing my cheeks with her cold, rosy lips, I had asked her about my papa's family. That night, a flood of questions erupted, though only a few escaped my lips. Did I have cousins? Aunties and uncles? Grandparents? Did she miss Russia? Would we ever go back?

Disappointment filled me when she simply shook her head, sadness clouding her eyes. The guilt that followed made my heart sink as I realized my questions had only stirred up painful memories she was trying to forget.

Suddenly, my mom straightened up, relaxed her shoulders, and began picking up papers, documents, and other items from the floor. Unsure of what to do or say, I helped her until her office was as clean as possible. We ignored the broken glass scattered across the wooden floor, much like the sharp tears that had fallen moments before. Everything felt surreal, as if nothing significant had happened except for an unfortunate, clumsy accident that had splashed water everywhere.

Then she grabbed her purse and trench coat and headed for the door.

I stood there, bewildered, expecting some kind of explanation or, at the very least, a clue about what was happening.

But she was already gone.

I quickly grabbed the small piece of paper from her desk and stuffed it into my hoodie pocket. I rushed after her, catching up just as she was about to drive off. I jumped into the car, where she started the engine without bothering with her seatbelt. Her driving was so erratic that it nearly made me sick.

"Mama, please! What's going on? Who were those people? Do you know them? Were they from Russia?" My voice was shaky, filled with desperation.

She shifted gears roughly, her grip on the steering wheel turning white. Her eyes darted nervously, and I could see her trying to maintain control. I was afraid she might have a panic attack, just like I was on the verge of.

"Mama, please," I whispered, feeling utterly drained.

I placed a hand on hers, but she abruptly slammed on the brakes, jumped out of the car, and left me alone. The breeze rustled the branches of our apple tree and whipped her hair around as she rushed to the door.

I hadn't realized we were home until Dasha knocked frantically on my door. When I stepped out, she pulled me into a tight embrace, her pulse racing against me. She murmured something in a language I didn't understand.

"Da khranit tebya bog moya dorogaya! May God protect you, my dear!"

Confused, I tried to break free, but she took my hand and led me inside. We found my mom frantically packing clothes, shoes, a hand brush, toiletries, a black briefcase, her favorite mug, and a large suitcase. Dasha joined in, folding clothes that seemed too big for the suitcase.

"STOP IT NOW! BOTH OF YOU!"

They stopped and looked at me, startled.

"Please, tell me what's going on! I'm begging you," I pleaded, my breathing quickening. My heart felt like it was about to burst.

"We have to leave now, Sofiya. If we stay here tonight, we'll be dead by morning. Trust me," my mom said, meeting my gaze with a fierce intensity. "The men you saw this morning are dangerous. Far from good."

"What?"

"I'm giving you five minutes to pack. If you're not ready by the time we've loaded the car, I'll leave you here with the wolves," she snapped. "And I won't look back."

Her words crawled over my skin like icy spiders, sending shivers down my spine.

?

Packing was easy for me. We moved so often that I never allowed myself to own too many personal items. My most cherished possession was a small gold bracelet with a heart engraved with "S all I wanted was to find the restroom. We headed into the small convenience store next to it.

I made a beeline for the candy aisle, craving chocolate.

From a distance, I spotted Mama and Dasha grabbing water bottles, cans of Coke, sandwiches, and chips. Reese's was my go-to choice.

Asking an old man with missing teeth about the restrooms, he pointed to a door at the back, asking for twenty pennies. Mama urged me to hurry and join them as soon as I was done.

Rushing to the back, I found a narrow hallway leading to two closed doors.

After using the restroom, I washed my hands and stole a quick glance at myself in the mirror. Dark circles, blank brown eyes, dry pink lips, and pale skin from lack of sleep stared back at me. I looked like a walking zombie.

Letting out a tired sigh, I splashed my neck with water, feeling the cold droplets trickle down and vanish under my top.

Just as I reached for the filthy cloth nearby to dry my hands, a voice shattered the silence, startling me from my daze.

"I wouldn't touch that if I were you," a man's voice spoke, his warm breath tickling my skin.

I turned to find him standing there, his eyes locking onto mine.

My heart skipped a beat.

What the hell?

It was the man from the park, the one who had vanished into thin air.

"What? I mean, yeah, no, I don't want that!" I babbled, hastily drying my hands on my jeans.

His eyes followed my movement slowly, then he glanced at me from head to toe, lingering on my neck where he could surely see my pulse racing.

He then calmly advanced, narrowing the space between us.

Heat surged up my cheeks and down my neck as he took another step closer. Our chests brushed lightly. He glanced down and smirked.

After what seemed like an eternity, he leaned in, his lips close to my right ear.

I held my breath.

"I wanna wash my hands too."

Embarrassed, I quickly stepped aside to let him wash his hands. His presence made me behave oddly, in a way I had never acted before. Realizing how foolish I must seem, I pretended to cough and turned to leave. Just as I reached for the door, a strong hand appeared above my head, keeping it closed. His scent filled my nostrils, and I found myself inhaling deeply, fighting the sudden urge to turn around and bury my head in his neck.

Wait, what?

What is wrong with me?!

I then felt his hand gently rest on my hip as his body pressed against mine. He moved his hand from the door, brushing my hair aside and letting his fingers lightly graze my neck. His lips brushed against my left ear.

"You don't remember me, do you?"

I turned to face him, my brows knitting together in confusion. "N-No, I'm sorry."

He took a step back, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. "We met at the club. You mentioned wanting me to be your first kiss."

My cheeks flushed bright red as memories came rushing back: the awkward dancing, his hands on my hips, and how I nearly threw up on him.

The embarrassment was so intense, I wanted to dig a hole and hide in it until the end of time.

"Oh yeah, that was you," I stuttered, laughing nervously. "Hi, funny running into you… here."

He chuckled. "Yeah, that was me."

I blushed. "I?—"

"So, where are you off to in such a hurry?"

I chuckled, feeling a bit flustered. "Just … running errands, you know, the usual mundane stuff," I lied, holding up my Reese's as if it were my alibi.

"Ah, the classic candy aisle errand. Very important stuff."

I couldn't help but grin sheepishly. "Yep, you caught me. Chocolate emergency. "

He leaned in a little closer, his voice softening. "What about that first kiss you were planning? Was it on your errand list too?"

I felt my chest grow hot, nervousness bubbling up inside me. "Um, I… I didn't exactly plan on it happening today."

A playful smirk tugged at his lips. "Well, neither did I, but sometimes the best things happen unexpectedly. Guess it's your lucky day."

"I—I suppose so."

He reached out and gently brushed his fingers against mine. "So… Can I kiss you, Sofiya?"

My stomach fluttered nervously, and I couldn't help but glance at his lips.

Instinctively, I licked mine.

Without waiting for an answer, he closed the space between us, his body pressing gently against mine. His eyes stayed locked on mine as his lips traced a slow path across my cheek, his hands resting softly on my hips.

"Wait," I managed as his lips brushed my cheek. "What's your name?"

He chuckled, his lips still so close to mine that I could feel his breath. "Wow, you must've been really tipsy. First, you forget my face, then my name?"

Before I could respond, he leaned in and pressed his lips softly against mine. The kiss was sweet and tender, sending a warm rush through me.

In my nervousness, I dropped my Reese's, the candy slipping from my hand. I melted into the kiss, my hands shyly resting on his shoulders as everything else seemed to blur away.

When he finally pulled back, he searched my eyes with a content smile.

"Good?" he asked softly .

I blushed and nodded, unable to hide my smile. But then a wave of reality hit me—I remembered my mama waiting for me.

"Well, thanks," I said, cheeks still flushed. "I really have to go."

As I reached for the door handle, a strong hand appeared above my head, keeping it firmly closed. Anticipation fluttered inside me as I felt his warmth pressing against my back. His scent filled my nostrils, and I found myself breathing him in deeply, almost wishing to turn around and bury my face in his neck.

His hand rested gently on my hip, and his body pressed slowly against mine. He moved his hand from the door, brushing my hair aside and letting his fingers lightly graze my neck. His lips brushed against my left ear.

"Where are you going, Sofiya? This is just the beginning."

I frowned, confused. "What is?"

" Vash koshmar, Your nightmare," he whispered, his breath warm as he gently bit my ear.

He's Russian?

"I don't… speak Russian."

Without warning, he spun me around and pressed me against the door.

"You don't need to understand to enjoy what I'm about to do," he murmured against my lips.

I gasped as his lips crashed onto mine. He kissed me forcefully, sucking, licking, and nibbling at my bottom lip, his hands gripping my buttocks through my jeans. Overwhelmed by his taste, I braced myself against the door and tried to follow his lead.

He tasted like mint, coffee, and a hint of strawberries. I wanted more, so I bit his lower lip, urging him to open his mouth. Our tongues met, tangled, and fought for dominance.

He tasted divine. I savored every moment, licking inside his mouth and pulling gently on his long hair.

This was the perfect first kiss I had always dreamed of. He pulled back to breathe, and I sighed contentedly.

But his expression quickly turned cold and distant. He adjusted his tie, ran a hand through his hair, and wiped a smirk off his face.

The realization hit me hard—I had just kissed and almost made out with a total stranger.

"Damn, I didn't expect you to be that easy. What else can I make you do, huh?" He chuckled, his eyes half-lidded. "Wanna suck my dick now?"

I froze, as if doused with ice-cold water.

What in the world am I doing here with a total stranger?

Panic surged through me, and I glared at him through tear-filled eyes. The burning in my throat and lungs intensified, and his mocking laughter echoed in my head.

I nearly gagged as I looked around and saw spiders and cockroaches on the floor.

"I have to go." I tried to move toward the door, but he blocked my way.

Looking up, I noticed his flawless skin, dotted with a few beauty marks. His straight nose, sharp jawline, and subtle dark beard gave him a model-like appearance. It was no wonder my heart had raced when I first saw him.

But as I mustered my courage and met his cold, empty gaze, I knew I had to escape.

I didn't dare look back as I reached for the door handle.

Just then, he grabbed a handful of my hair and slammed the door shut. A scream escaped my lips as I felt a syringe pierce my neck .

I struggled to fight back, but he clamped his hand over my mouth, muffling my cries until I was drained of all energy.

I closed my eyes and let darkness take over. The last thing I heard, chilling my blood and heart, was his distant voice:

"Dobro pozhalovat' v ad, printsessa. Welcome to hell, princess."