Chapter 8: Horrors of Reality

[Erin]

The girl smiled at my reaction. My mouth literally dropped when she said that she was going to be my personal maid.

I expected to be treated as a slave or something, but I never imagined that Nikolai would appoint someone to look after my personal needs.

But on second thought, was this his initiative?

My head turned towards the bathroom door where Akim emerged, he was holding a white towel in his hand when he got out, and his gaze immediately went to Micah, then he smiled.

My heart drops.

The most dashing smile I have ever seen coming from a huge man. I don’t know why, but I think my heart wasn’t beating fast because I was still scared. I think Akim’s gentleness on me, even though his wrestler-like appearance, is what makes me nervous.

Am I still normal?

Oh, gracious goodness! Have I been drug without my notice?

Gosh, Erin, what are you thinking?

Swallowing all of this strangeness down to the very depths of my soul, I maintain my poker face and continue to stare at him nonchalantly.

“Hey Micah, I see that you are already here. I hope you and…” he said, trying to introduce me to Micah on my behalf, but then he scratches the side of his head when he realizes that I haven’t told him my name.

“I’m sorry, you haven’t told me your name yet.” He grimaced, and I had to bite back my inner cheek to keep myself from laughing. Instead, I cleared my throat and told him my name.

“Erin, you can call me Erin.”

“Yeah, right. Micah, this is Erin.” He nodded, motioning me while he addressed her.

“I hope you both will get along well. Boss wants you to take care of his newest possession.”

Just like that, my heart shrunk in pain with his spearheaded statement. It serves to remind me of why I'm in this place. I felt foolish for mistaking his gentleness towards me as kindness when in reality, he’s not.

I am a possession. I am not a person. A harsh reminder coming directly from the man I thought I could trust in this grandeur hellhole.

“Yes, sir. I’ll be here when she needs me.” Micah bent to her waist, just like the Asian culture I have seen on documentaries. Akim only nodded his head to her and shifted his attention to me, but I chose to ignore him and found myself playing with my nails.

I hate it. I hate here. I despise the fact that I am vulnerable and that there is nothing I can do in this situation other than sit and be a damned pretty decoration.

“Alright. It’s been a tough day for you. Have a good rest.” He said, clapping his hands and then left.

Only then do I lift my head to look at his image fade as he closes the door behind him, leaving only me and Micah in this room.

No one spoke. Micah sat down on the bed, easing the invisible creases in her apron with her lips pressed tightly together, while I was fidgeting my fingers with the coat’s sleeves.

Now that Akim has left, the silence is uncomfortable. I roam my gaze around the spacious room and then sigh loudly.

“How old are you?” I inquired, breaking the glass of silence that had previously parted us.

Micah lifted her head and looked at me, then responded with my query. At first glance at her, I know that our ages couldn’t be that much of a difference.

“Twenty.”

And I am right. We are of the same age.

“Great! We have the same age.” I exclaimed enthusiastically, genuinely delighted that we were both born in the same year. “Where are you from?” I pondered once again.

I know she’s Asian, but I am curious about which country she was in.

“I’m from Japan.” Her face fell at the mention of her origins. She looked down and started playing with her apron.

I kind of felt sorry for asking, but curiosity bested me off, “How did you end up in this place?” and before I could stop myself, my mouth opened without my prior consent. And I would like to smack my head on the wall.

“Sorry, I am in no place to ask you that. You don’t have to answer.” I immediately said, trying to get back my question, but Micah only gave me a subtle shake of her head and a timid smile.

“No, it’s okay. I am a victim of Human trafficking.”

My eyes grew wide again for another revelation I learned from her.

“What?! You’re being sold too?” I was shock, I didn’t even realize that my voice went high pitch, pretty sure going off more than the average decibels.

We’re not just the same age. We have both been deprived of our liberty and removed from our home. Finally, recovering from bewilderment, Micah spoke again, redirecting my attention to her face.

“Well, I was about to, but Master Nikolai and Sir Akim commandeered the container van that was transporting us to the dealer. Some fled when the fight broke out, while I was caught in the middle of it. I could have been dead by now if it wasn’t for Sir Akim.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said somberly, and now that we are talking about her past, I didn’t hesitate this time to ask her how they took her from Japan. I mean, her country is pretty far from Russia. And it honestly took me off guard when she said that she chose to go with Akim and Nikolai instead of setting herself free. Well, if I were in the same situation as her, I could have fled and gone with the other. Starting a new life somewhere else. Away from these wretched people.

However, that was her decision, not mine, and I respect that. She must have a legitimate reason for doing so, and by far, she is so fluent with our language that I couldn't even detect a hint of her oriental accent.

“But how did the traffickers get you?” I needled out, probing a little bit of information.

“I was recruited with someone. He offered me work here in Russia. I thought I could trust him, and then things went horribly wrong.”

Well, that was sad. I can’t imagine the stress and trauma she went through from being shipped from one country to another, having no idea what would happen next with her life.

“How about you?” Micah tilted her head to the side, studying my feature as she asked me the same question on how I came to this place.

“My father got killed by some loan sharks connected with the syndicates. They took me as a payment and killed my father in front of me. I was sold at auction, and in behalf of Akim, Nikolai was the winning bidder.” I narrated as briefly as possible, ignoring the sharp pang that lances through my chest as the gunshot recalled at the back of my memories, watching the bullet pass through my father’s forehead. His eyes were wide with terror.

Cold shivers ran down my spine rekindling the agony from a terrible memory, spiking up the pain that my own father chose me to be his debt payment.

“I have been staying here for five years now, but so far, they treated me well.” Micah must have seen the sorrow flashing on my face to have her shifting to another topic in which I highly doubt.

“I doubt that. Your master pointed a gun on my head the first time we met and referred to me as a damaged package.” My face contorted from sorrowful into disagreement, not entirely comprehending in which part Nikolai had been good.

Yes, I only met the man for more than thirty minutes, yet he managed to scare the living daylights out of me. I honestly believed for a split second that he was going to pull the trigger and kill me.

I don’t know what he sees in me, but whatever it is that made him otherwise was a blessing in disguise. To say the least, I could still live for another day, or week, month, or year. Depending on when he’ll get enough of me, and decided to finally end my life.

“He’s cold, ruthless, and ill-tempered, but he’s never done anything to hurt me. Though I have been here for all these years, I think he only said two to three things to me. Sir Akim, on the other hand, is a bit friendly.”

Well, she’s right, Akim is a bit friendly, but that man is insensitive. He didn't pay attention to the meaning of his words and was completely unaware that what he was saying was hurtful.

“I notice that, but that doesn’t make him any less than his boss.” I snort and cross my arms across my chest to show my displeasure.

Akim’s coat that I am still wearing slid down to the side. Exposing my bare skin. I have entirely forgotten that I am almost naked.

Micah only nodded at what I said.

Thick silence blanketed us once again until she spoke.

“Are you hungry?”

Now that she mentioned it, my stomach grumbled loudly to remind me that I hadn't eaten anything else since the time I was still in the auction house.

“Why don’t you take a bath first and change into some decent clothes while I prepare your food?” Micah prompted, suppressing her giggles upon hearing my grumbling belly. Though it was somewhat embarrassing, I only smiled at her and nodded.

I was about to get up, but then pain erupted in my knee.

“My knee, I can’t get up.” Gasping, my rear fall back on the sofa, cursing myself internally for forgetting that I am injured at the moment.

Micah immediately shot to her knees and went to my side, “Easy there, I didn’t notice you were injured. Don’t worry, I’ll help you settle in the bathroom first and put everything you need there, then you can take a quick bath. Do you want me to clean you?” She suggested, which I instantly declined.

“No, no. I think I can manage. Thank you.”

“Okay,” She took one of my arms and swung it around her shoulders. Good thing that we are at the same height as well.

She walks me across the room towards the bathroom and puts me on the tub, ensuring that I won’t exert too much force on my knee. She also took off my coat and hung it on the rack mounted on the wall, then turned on the faucet, setting the water temperature to lukewarm, and allowing it to run to fill the tub I was currently in

“I’ll be back with your food.” She said, standing straight. I only nodded with her and closed my eyes. Feeling the warm water slowly engulfing my entire body.

I didn’t know what would come. Next, the only thing I realized was that I had fallen asleep. For all that happened this day, for the first time, I felt content.

And for a fleeting moment, I wish never to wake up and face the horrors of reality.