Otkroveniye Complex // Book 1 of the Takaryev Series

Chapter 51

Mild language warning. 

It was the middle of the night when Artem heard the doorbell ring. 

He knew something was wrong, so he stayed curled up on the couch with Ravil, trying to keep as still as possible. Maybe they'd leave if they thought no one was home? 

Then the doorbell rang again. 

Ravil opened his eyes and squirmed a little. "Who is that, and-" 

Artem tightened his grip around Ravil's chest and pulled him closer. "Shh." 

The doorbell rang a third time. Artem cursed mentally, but stayed still. 

Whoever was at the door was clearly getting irritated. The doorbell started to ring incessantly.

"Ravil?" Artem asked, his voice taking the form of a mere whisper. 

"Go hide in the back of the house, escape out of a window if things get too serious. Get to a neighbor's house, call 911, whatever. I'll take care of this." He lifted his arms away from Ravil, who disappeared down the hallway. 

Artem stood and collected himself, then approached the door, taking a moment to verify that his pocket knife was indeed still in his pocket, then opened the door. 

Two masked men stood there, staring at him. 

"What the hell do you want?" Artem growled. 

"Is Ravil Galkin home?" one of them asked.

"Who the hell are you talking about? My wife and kids are trying to sleep, and you come disturb us at two in the morning?" Artem snapped, trying to sound convincing, and hoping that his accent wouldn't give too much away. "Get off my property!"

"We're looking for Ravil." said the second man. "We know he's here."

"I don't even know who you're talking about! Leave now or I will call the police!" Artem replied, reaching for his pocket knife.  

"Let us in!" said the first man, stepping towards the door. 

Artem slammed the door shut and lunged for his phone, which sat on the edge of the couch. Heart pounding violently against his ribs, he dialed 911, but not before the two men had kicked down the door. 

"Hey!" Artem barked, leaving the phone behind. He leapt after the closest man, revealing his pocket knife and stabbing at him. The man kicked him in the gut and ran, headed straight down the hallway. 

Ravil. 

Artem shouted and pursued them, managing to trip one, but he found Ravil cornered by the other one. 

Ravil was trying in vain to open the window. "Freaking noodle arms!" His voice was laced with frustration and panic. 

"Ravil!" Artem screamed. 

The remaining masked man grabbed Ravil and cracked open the window, jumping out with Ravil in his grasp. Artem went after him, but the masked man pulled the window shut. Right onto Artem's wiry fingers.

He heard Ravil scream out in Russian. "Ya lyublyu tebya, Artem!" 

Artem ran as quickly as he could to the front door. 

Both men, and any evidence of their presence, had vanished. And they'd taken Ravil, too. 

Artem screamed in fury and slammed a fist against the wall. Pain racked his hand, and he took a glance at it to see that his knuckles were bleeding. He wiped them onto his shirt and crumpled by the door, sobbing.

Ravil was gone.