Page 12 of Shadows of the Past
I see the tremble in my hands, and he notices it too. His breathing changes.
“Nothing. But he mustn't know that. Look, Julia, normally I wouldn't have come back for you. But since I have, they’ll expect me to deliver you broken, physically and emotionally. That’s what they want from me.”
Every word is laced with weight, making me struggle to understand what he’s trying to say. What does he mean he won’t do anything to me? Why is he here with these people then?
I have so many questions for him, but the only one I manage to articulate is, “What’s your name?”
He looks at me as if trying to grasp the relevance of this information before answering, “Maksim.”
I like his name.
“How old are you?”
His brow furrows at the question. “Nineteen.”
“Okay. Just a year apart. You look older.”
I don’t understand why I can’t keep my mouth shut.
“Lucky for you, they prefer younger ones,” he murmurs. A thread of fear seeps into my veins.
“Maksim, do I have any chance of escaping from here?” Normally, I wouldn’t voice my plans, but he did check the room for microphones.
He told me he wouldn’t hurt me and wants to deceive the old man from earlier. That means he doesn’t trust these people, and he’s probably the best ally I have here. His eyebrows rise slightly, seemingly surprised by my directness, but my heart is constricted as I think about the twins alone in an unfamiliar city without me or our parents. I know our uncle will take care ofthem, but they're at an age where they understand things. They understand what it means to lose your family overnight.
“None,” he says, and my heart is crushed outright.
I believe him. It’s a certainty when he says it, and I know I have no way to escape from here.
I feel all the exhaustion and trauma from the last few days weighing on me, and my legs give out. In a moment, Maksim is by my side, supporting me around the waist.
“Hey, Julia. When did you last eat?” he asks.
I don’t know. I don’t even remember the last time I drank water, por el amor de Dios.After Martin put me on that boat that brought me here, all I could think about was escaping. And now I have no way to.
He pulls a pack of cream-filled vanilla sandwich cookies from a drawer, opens it, and hands it to me.
I inhale the first two. They’re the first things I’ve eaten in a while. I split each cookie in half and eat the cream first. It’s something I used to do with my sisters at home, and somehow, it makes me feel closer to them now.
A small laugh escapes him, and I look at him to see what’s so funny. He looks at me too.
“Something amusing?” I ask, the sarcasm in my voice evident.
He shakes his head.
“You look like a wildcat,” he says, and I freeze again. Because the voice in my head keeps telling me how much I like it when he smiles.
I finish the cookies and feel a little better. Sugar does wonders for anyone.
“Julia, you need to stay in this room when you’re not with me until I say otherwise. When we go out, keep your head down.They need to think you’re scared of me. We’ll find a way to fake some bruises on your arms and neck so they believe I’m rough with you.”
I nod along.
I don’t know what relationship he has with these people, but it’s clear it’s not a good one. All I know is that if I want to get to the girls, my only chance is to stick with Maksim. There must be an opportunity. There must be a way.
A sudden thought makes my stomach churn as I try to voice my request to Maksim.
“Maksim, can I ask you something?” My voice is steady though, inside, revulsion is twisting my gut.
