Our Flame

lvi

NADIA

My eyes open at the feeling of water on my cheek, my body moves away seeing who it is. "Relax, дочь." He speaks. I move as far as the chain allows me to.

translation: daughter

He continues to use the rag in his hand to wipe my cheek. "Now you feel empathetic?" I scoff. "You've left me unconscious in a cell with men outside the door who can't wait to touch me."

"You used to be my favorite, Nadia." He sits on the ground. The chain hits the wall as I continue to move back. "You didn't argue with me when I trained you as a child, you just did what you were told." He tells me.

"Because I was afraid of being beaten." I remind. The wet towel in his hand continues to wipe the dried blood from my face. "You don't see your potential." He shakes his head.

"Work alongside me, we'd be unstoppable. You just need to forget the family you think you have." He tells me. "Let go of them, for the chance to have everything." This time I shake my head.

"Get out." I mumble.

"The file- get out." I shout, interrupting him. His calm face morphs into a look of anger. It's always scared me how fast his emotions could change.

His hands grip my hair, pulling my face closer to his. "I'll only offer so many times before I do what I wish to do." He speaks directly in my face. He lets go of my hair, my head harshly hitting the wall behind me.

As the door closes, I bite my lip at the pain spreading through my head. My eyes find their way to the handprint on my inner thigh, fear spreads through my body.

It's almost as if I stopped breathing while I continue to look at it. I don't know what's more nauseating- the fact that I was unconscious the whole day or the fact that I don't know what happened and how far it went.

Before I know it, I'm crying. I've cried many times in the short time that I've been here. I've cried for my family, I've cried for myself. Now I'm crying and I can't seem to stop.

I've never been an emotional person, yet emotions are rushing through me right now. My breath gets caught in my throat as my cries get heavier.

"Nadia, what's happening?" Oscar kneels down at my side. Through my cries, I couldn't even hear the door open. I point to my thigh, not having the words to speak.

Tears continue to stream down my face, "D-Did they.." I can't finish my sentence as my breath gets caught in my throat at the word.

"I- I don't know." Oscar whispers. "I don't work down here at night." He tells. Another cry escapes me at the fact that the one person who seems genuine, has no clue about what happened either.

"I'll try to get on nights, just please stop crying." Oscar pleads. "I'm really bad with tears." Oscar speaks again. I chuckle through my tears.

"Once Olivia was crying and I told her to shut up, by accident." He tells me. I wipe my eyes with my one free hand, "It wasn't an accident, was it?"

"No." He laughs. I listen to Oscar talk about Olivia, but my mind is somewhere else. What if I was raped? The question holds my focus.

EZRA

I watch as Nadia's brother continues on with his rant, "Fuck this. How are you okay with sitting around like this? Our sister is with a man who despises us, what do you think is happening right now?"

Aleksi sighs, "I didn't- You didn't fucking think. Do you ever?" Nikolai interrupts him.

I stand from the chair I was sitting in, "No, Ezra. Sit." Gianna tells me. I roll my eyes, "We all want Nadia back, we can't sit here and argue. Yes, okay she's probably hurt but how can we help her if you two don't stop bickering?" She huffs.

Three days ago, I came here wanting to see my girl. Days later, I'm wishing I came sooner. I'm wishing I protected her like I should've.

I should've protected her like I promised.

"If Alek did more- Niko, please." Gianna interrupts Nadia's twin. Aleksi stands with an unreadable look on his face. The door ringing causes all of our heads to turn.

Luka stands first, opening the door. He waves around the yellow folder before he opens it. His jaw clenches as he holds a picture in his hands.

He turns it to us, the picture is of Nadia in a cell. Dried blood resting under her lip. I turn away, not looking at it for any longer.

Not only was there blood on her face, she looks to have bruises all over. The thought of what she's going through sends fear throughout my body. I don't think I've ever been scared before but I am right now.

I watch as her older brothers stare at the picture I can't decide if it's shock, fear, anger coursing through them right now. For me- it's all of the above.

"Ezra, please keep my little brothers from fighting each other. Or don't." Vadim points to me, I shake my head. "Viktor, we need to talk." He leaves the room with his twin.

VIKTOR

"What?" My voice comes out harsher than I intended to. "Aleksi seems...calm." Vadim tells me. I listen to what he has to say, "Too calm, especially when our little sister is missing."

"We can't accuse him, V." I rub my head. "He's family., our little brother." I remind. Vadim sighs, "He didn't even flinch when he saw that picture, he wasn't shocked." He continues.

"Alek is our brother, he wouldn't do that." I disagree. Vadim walks away, leaving me there. I let out a breath when he comes back with Aleksi.

"What?" He asks the same question as me. "Do you know anything about Nadia being gone?" Vadim stares at him.

Aleksi scoffs, "If you're accusing me of what I think you are, I'm leaving. And I swear, you will never see me again."

"Alek." I sigh, "We just- so you are accusing me?" He interrupts me. "Despite the fights that Nadia and I have, she is still my baby sister who I'd do anything to protect." Aleksi practically shouts.

"Fuck it, I'm done." He speaks again, "Find her yourself."

And just like that I lost my little brother too.

**
word count: 1100
writing about Nadia's kidnapping makes me so sad. time jump?