Page 124 of Velvet Chains
The man grunts in acknowledgment, grabbing me roughly by the arm and hauling me to my feet. I clutch Eli to my chest, my mind reeling, my heart shattering.
As we’re dragged away, Ivan’s laughter echoes behind us, a sound that will haunt my nightmares for the rest of my life.
Victor, what should I do now?
I see Victor standing in the distance, a small bundle cradled in his arms. As I move closer, I realize it’s our son—a beautiful, perfect little boy with his father’s piercing gray eyes and my thick hair.
“Victor,” I call out, my voice filled with love and wonder. “You were right. It’s a boy, our little boy.”
Victor looks up at me, a smile spreading across his face. He beckons me closer, holding our son out for me to see.
I take a step forward, my heart swelling with joy. But as I do, I feel something pulling at my legs, holding me back. I look down and see dark, sticky mud clinging to my feet, dragging me down.
“Victor!” I cry out, panic rising in my throat. “Victor, help me!”
But he doesn’t seem to hear me. He just keeps smiling, walking further and further away with our son in his arms.
“No… no… don’t leave me here…” I whimper, my voice hoarse and raw. I struggle against the mud, but it only pulls me down deeper, the darkness swallowing me whole.
“Tetya Laura! Tetya Laura!” A small, familiar voice cuts through the haze of my nightmare, and I blink, trying to orient myself. Slowly, the memories come rushing back—the kidnapping, Dimitry’s betrayal, Ivan Vasiliev’s cruel laughter.
Oh God, it wasn’t a dream. It’s real, it’s all real.
I sit up, my eyes adjusting to the dimly lit room. It’s small and dingy, with a single bed that smells of stale sweat and something darker, more ominous. The walls are stained and peeling, and there’s a tiny, grimy ventilation fan set high in the wall.
“Eli, are you okay?” I ask frantically, reaching for the little girl. I run my hands over her head, her arms, her back, checking for any signs of injury.
“Don’t worry, I am okay,” she says bravely, rubbing a small bump on her forehead.
I pull her into a tight hug, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. She’s so young, so innocent. She doesn’t deserve any of this.
Eli gently pushes me away, her small face set with a determined expression that looks out of place on her childish features.
“Tetya Laura, that bad guy is really stupid,” she says matter-of-factly. “He thinks he can scare us, but he can’t. We’re not afraid of him, right?”
I stare at her, marveling at her courage, her resilience. “Right,” I agree, forcing a smile. “We’re not afraid. And your mama and Dyadya are going to come for us; I know they will.”
Eli nods, her eyes shining with faith. “I know. Mama and Dyadya are going to come and kill that bad man. They’ll save us, Tetya Laura. They always do.”
My heart clenches at her words, at the unwavering trust in her voice.
Oh, Eli. I hope you’re right. I hope they find us in time.
“Tetya Laura,” Eli says softly, her small hand reaching for mine. “I need to tell you something.”
I squeeze her hand, bracing myself. “What is it, sweetheart?”
Eli takes a deep breath, her lower lip trembling. “When the bad men came… they hurt Nana. She was trying to protect me, hitting them and screaming. But they… they punched her really hard. And then she fell down and didn’t get up again.”
Tears well in her eyes, and she buries her face in my chest. “I think they killed her, Tetya Laura. I think Nana’s dead.”
I hold her close, my own tears falling silently into her hair.
Oh, you poor baby. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry you had to see that.
“Shh,” I soothe, rocking her gently. “It’s okay, Eli. It’s going to be okay. Nana loved you very much, and she would be so proud of how brave you’re being.”
Eli sniffles, her small body shaking with sobs. “I want to go home,” she whispers, her voice muffled against my shirt. “Papa was there. Papa, he… let them take me.” She sounds so small and broken.
