Song By Unreality

Chapter 23

"What can upset you to tears?"

"Goodbyes."

(from Rina's interview for the program 'Everyone is Dancing')

Where they had barely gotten out of, twilight reigned, which, in contrast to the bright day, seemed infernally dark. Will he be able to forget what he saw? Unlikely. Nikolai still remembered the fetid breath of the creature approaching him and the wave of icy cold down his back at the moment when he realized his finale.

He involuntarily shuddered and glanced sideways at Rina, who was quiet in the next seat. She didn't say a word the whole way, didn't even ask where they were going. Either she trusted him unconditionally, or she was so weak after the experience that she didn't care anymore. Rina wrapped herself in his jacket, but could not get warm in any way. Nikolai sighed and turned up the temperature, even though he himself felt unbearably hot from the stove turned on. This time he drove the car very carefully. The only reason he didn't feel sleepy was because his hand was very sore. Moreover, the strong coffee brought by Vitaly cheered me up.

Traffic jams were expected at the entrance to Moscow. Nikolai took advantage of the moment and sent Lev a message. Rina emerged from her slumber, turned around and looked at Nikolai with eyes glistening from the temperature

"You have blood all over your hand," she remarked.

"And your temperature is rising," he retorted. "Therefore, now we are going to a doctor who doesn't ask unnecessary questions."

Rina said nothing, but continued to look at him, and under her gaze Nikolai felt uncomfortable. Now he was afraid of questions to which he had no answers. They were going to the doctor now, and he didn't know where to go after that. Nikolai couldn't promise Rina that everything would be fine - as usual and calmly, either. Because it won't be familiar anymore, it's unlikely to be calm. But Rina, fortunately, didn't ask anything and remained silent the rest of the way.

Lev was already waiting for them at the clinic. Rina was sent to the doctor first. She just walked into the office, wrapped in a man's jacket and plunging her nose into the collar.

"It's like you've come back from the war," Jaguar grumbled when the door closed behind Rina.

"You could say that," Nikolai replied without a smile.

Lev leaned his lower back against the windowsill, crossed his arms on his chest and raised his eyebrows, making it clear that he was listening.

He listened to the story of his adventures in the amusement park in the same pose, never interrupting. Only when Nikolai fell silent, he sighed loudly.

"You will not have a normal life now. And it's not Lebedev you need to be afraid of.

"I understand," Nikolai replied calmly, although everything inside was boiling with rage at Lebedev: what had he managed to do with Rina? She was silent, and Nikolai did not question her. However, he secretly asked the doctor to examine whether there were traces of bullying on her body.

"Lebedev will be drowned," Lev confidently declared, as if in response to his thoughts. "Violet's family will not forgive threats against his granddaughters. Svetakov's wife, Natasha, is preparing material about illegal transactions, the disappearance of three businessmen and the abduction of Rina. But, most importantly, those who are at the top, it is not profitable for such a young and greyhound to get into politics, so all the dogs will hang on him. Lebedev will be destroyed. But you and Rina are also on the 'fly'."

Nikolai nodded. Lev didn't need to explain anything, everything was so clear. Only inside everything was bubbling because of injustice: Rina was dragged into all this against her will. They ruined the girl's life, staged a 'witch hunt'. She got out of the fire and into the flames!