Shadow of the Vladimir

Splash." The icy water hit her face, jolting her awake. Galina gasped, her body jerking involuntarily. Her eyes snapped open, but the world was a blurry, disoriented mess. "You are the last one here; time to move," A harsh female voice echoed in her ears, sending shivers down her spine. She blinked, her vision slowly clearing; she looked around; the cramped room, barely large enough for a bed and a small nightstand, swam into focus. The walls are painted a garish, almost bruised purple, seemed to press in on her suffocating her. The air was thick with the cloying sweetness of perfume, an overpowering scent that stung her nostrils and made her stomach churn. Confusion and fear warred within her. " You are the last one" the sharp voice echoed, impatient, "we don't have all day". Galina looked up to see a woman, roughly foot seven, dressed in a tailored pencil skirt and crisp white shirt, a cigarette perched between her lips. Galina tried to stand but stumbled, her body heavy and numb. Two days of sedation had left her weak and unsteady. "Escort her out" the lady commanded, settling into the sole chair in the room. Galina, her head tilting, observed two imposing bodyguards their muscular frames encased on tailored uniforms, standing silently before the doorway, awaiting instructions. Upon receiving the orders, the bodyguards moved with practiced speed, gripping Galina's arms and causing her to exhale sharply. As they moved to the exit room, Galina croaked, "Before we go, may I know my location and purposes here?". Galina's gaze remained on the lady, casually smoking in the armchair. The small room quickly filled with smoke, which Galina tolerated. The lady gave Galina a contemptuous look, extinguishing her cigarettes in the ashtray on the lamp table. " You are bought and brought to Russia," she explained, her tone slow and deliberate. "Your role is to attend to our prestigious clients." A flash of icy indifference crossed her eyes. On hearing the lady, her mind raced back to when she was in Italy. She remembered her friend, Ava, telling her to escort her to a bar. While waiting outside, she was struck in the back of her head. Ava.... Ava? The name echoed a cruel mockery. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her breath seized, and she felt suffocated. Sold? The thought ricocheted in her mind. Her knees went weak, and her entire body dissolved; if not for the guards holding her, she would have fallen. 'Her friend sold her, and she was shipped to Russia from Italy to become a p********e?' she thought, the words a venomous whisper in her mind. Her eyes shimmered in tears, and she bit her lip, not just to stop the tears, but to stop the scream of anguish that threatened to rip through her throat. Struggling to suppress her tears, Galina asked in a hoarse voice, " Won't my disappearance be noticed in Italy? I have a family there, surely, an investigation would follow, potentially leading back to you?" A ripple of amused laughter escaped the lady's lips. " Such innocence," she remarked. "Since you're so curious, I'll explain. " She tapped a rhythmic beat on the tabletop. " Your death was stage the instant you were sold; your family believes you are gone; how could they possibly link your disappearance to us?" A smile, sharp and knowing, settled on her face. The lady, getting impatient and growing bored, waved her hand, and the guards took Galina out of the room. They entered a long hallway, completely different from the room they had just left. Galina, with widened eyes, stared at the hallway before her; a vista of polished marble and dark mahogany crystal chandelier, dripping with prism, cast a warm, shimmering glow, illuminating the intricate mosaic floor. It was a space designed to impress, a testament to the owner's wealth and refined taste, a private sanctuary reserved for the privileged few. As she was complimenting the interior design of the hallway, her thoughts drifted to the purpose of her being here. 'Mother...how is she going to cope with her disappearance'. Her thoughts turned to her mother, now condemned to solitude by her disappearance. As her only daughter, Galina knew that her absence would leave a profound void. Compounding her sorrow was the memory of her father, who had abandoned them for a wealthier marriage, and now, her own forced relocation to Russia. With gritted teeth, she scanned the room, seeking an exit. A desperate plan sparked in her mind, and her eyes gleamed with a newfound hope. ' freedom or death,' she determined. The thoughts surged through her, infusing her with a renewed energy and unwavering resolute. Galina cleared her throat, her voice regaining strength. " I can walk in unassisted," she stated, her tone firm. " I feel as though I am being treated as a criminal." The guards paused, their grip loosening. Sensing their hesitation, she continued," This is a casino; what possible harm could a new, physically weakened woman pose?" Her words sowed doubts in the guard's minds, convincing them she posed no threat, as they released her, their guard lowered, Galina feigned a stumble, collapsing on the floor. Before they could react, she surged to her feet, sprinting away with speed like a cheetah, leaving the guards in stunned disbelief. The guards chased after her, but Galina kept running, fear creeping through her. She turned and saw that the guards were nearly upon her. Her heart was pounding louder, and she could hear her heartbeat thumping. Her eyes darted around, and she finally saw a staircase exit. She was only a few steps to the exit, but a guard's hand was inches from her back. Her next step made th e guards freeze, their eyes wide, staring at Galina.