Children's Games: A Story of Modern Punishment

Chapter 45 - Nadia

~Nadia~

Zhenya was the only person who still talked to Nadia.

Everyone else avoided her. Scared by the knives she had strapped to her ribs, or by the rumours which described her as a failure. It was a blessing and a curse. She now could do the majority of her duties alone. But it also meant that she was alone.

But among everyone, the person Nadia wanted to talk to the least was Zhenya. She talked too much, always in codes, and it was impossible to know which side she was on. It was always the same things she talked about as her vibrant pink hair paraded them through each shift. It made them stick out and would make them a target if anyone was trying to fix their grievances with the government by throwing smelly things at them.

"Have you thought about what I've said?"

This was the most direct thing Zhenya had said since she spoke to her that first time during the Parliament house riot. Nadia had cut off her ear before too much was said, realising that she should not say another word to her again. Ever. Nadia leaned against the brick wall of an abandoned building and thought about smashing her head against it. Zhenya joined her of course, a fake thoughtful expression on her face.

"Thought so. Did you happen to think about what the point of all this is, Nadia?"

I have not. She glanced at Zhenya's pink hair but remained silent.

"Well. What we fight for... might not be clear to someone afraid. Maybe just looking at it from a different angle will help."

What do you mean by 'we'? I know you're not talking about the Russian Military.

"I'm just saying that sometimes, the path we're on isn't the only one. And just because that path isn't held by the government doesn't mean that it is wrong."

Their conversations had become increasingly more dangerous. She knew she needed to report her. But each trip she made to a superior began in silence and ended when she'd stormed away a coward when they stared at her the wrong way. So, each time Zhenya went off in a tangent, Nadia did the same thing and remained silent.

"Especially since they're not giving us the full picture about what we're doing, about the rest of the world."

Zhenya didn't have the bandage over her ear anymore. It was now oddly shaped and topped with an ugly black scab. The absence of her gold helix earring downgraded her rich-girl appearance. Now the only thing to show for her wealth was a massive gold and diamond ring on her middle finger. It was shaped in a lion, closed mouth and growling.

"I know that you're listening to me. Tell me what you really think about that monster and what he's made you done. "

Nadia pushed off the wall and continued down the dark, empty alleyway, biting her tongue and stuffing her fists deep into her pockets. The brick and cement walls were covered in rebellious graffiti artworks piled on top of each other and replaced each time they were painted over. Each painting was unfavourable towards the government in power, and each one seemed to be more daring than the last. The military were the villains in each one.

"Nadia!" she said sternly, grabbing her hand, annoyed at being ignored. "There's no time!-"

Nadia came swinging with her hand in a fist, but Zhenya caught her wrist before it came in contact with Zhenya's cheekbone. Nadia's eyes flicked to Zhenya's hand curled around her fist, and she saw spray paint staining the fingers, faded and splotchy as if it had been scrubbed at. She shoved out of her grip and continued down the alley.

"Orders and battles are one way to serve. The other is to listen to what the people actually want. What you and I want."

"You're talking a bunch of fucking crap," Nadia seethed, turning a corner and stopping as she saw people at the other end. She turned and was face to face with Zhenya.