Page 93 of Viparious

What will happen if I’m not allowed to fight.

Len, Anika, Piotr.

They all have different names, but they all smell the same as the day I woke up thinking I was dying.

He drops me and takes a step forward, punching into my stomach before I can fill my lungs with air. Anika rubs his back like he’s a boy and they both step back. I straighten instantly, my shoulders back and chin up. Having my air cut off turns my voice harsh, like it was a year ago when I made them stop.

“She needs a doctor.”

I didn’t want Vanya to be ashamed of me or to see what they do. The drugs don’t work as well anymore, I’d have to see her face. I’ll make sure of it that she’s never ashamed of her papa. She won’t call me Vlad — she’ll call me papa and I can’t wait to hear her say it.

Anika moves away and her smile is the sick one she’d have after putting cream on my bum as she says, “Let’s see how sick she is.”

She keeps walking towards my door, it’s locked but I don’t trust them. She’s angry because of the money she’s lost and having to move from Moscow where they could get power. They’ll hurt her and she’s already sick.

“Don’t go near her.”

She stops at my voice, then slowly turns.

I plant my feet, knowing what she’s going to do as she charges at me, and her ring cuts my lip when she backhands me.Her nails dig into my cheek as she grips my face and shouts, “You are the child. You do not tell me what to do!”

My hands don’t move.

Why don’t they ever fucking move? I’ve fought grown men, but I can’t do it with my parents. Both of them stand opposite me, no weapons. I could kill them. I’ve done it before.

But my arms stay down.

I use my voice instead and it’s deadly because of the topic.

“I am Vanya’s parent, go near her and I will killeveryone.”

It’s the only thing I can talk back on since I don’t care what they do to me. No one will touch her, or even look at her. She knows I’ll do it. They’ve had to clean up the other bodies when I lose control. It’s why Len has put me in the death matches because he knows I’ll win, or he hopes they kill me.

He steps forward and his fist hits my bruised ribs as he smirks.He knows. Grabbing my face, the blood on my lip is pushed into my mouth and he smiles because he fucking knows.

“You will fight tonight to pay for the doctor you want.”

Death match.

My death.

Digging his fingers in harder, he presses into my ribs to feel for any scream I try to hide.

“The Pakhan and hisfamilywill be there. Even his sister.”

No. Not Galya, she’ll take Vanya from me.She always lies and says that Vanya is her daughter, but she’s mine. It doesn’t mean anything that she’s the one who gave birth, Vanya doesn’t have a mother, she doesn’t need one.

I nod once so he knows I’ll do it, and he lets me go. I can do it, for Vanya. She needs a doctor, or she won’t get better. The doctor I met at the last fight told me he’d be able to see her, but the bitch next door ruined everything. Keeping my steps normal, I go to my room and unlock my door. I don’t let anything show on my face as I open it enough only for my body to fit through the gap and quickly slide the bolt once I’m inside. My brothers are both sleeping. They’ll be waking up from their naps soon.Vanya is still sleeping too. At least she’s stopped coughing and crying.

My back slips down against the door and I bring my knees up, watching all three of them. I count them, making sure they’re still in front of me. My brothers are on my bed, and I don’t want to disturb any of them, so I keep counting. My fingertips touch my knees with each pattern of saying their names in my head.

Valyusha.Tap.Vitya.Tap.Vanya.Tap.

They’ll be okay. They’re not coughing. I won’t die.

Valyusha.Tap.Vitya.Tap.Vanya.Tap.

I’ll get the money. Take Vanya to the doctor. I can’t die.

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