Scared

Chapter 7: Heartless winter

Right after Sofia leaves I go back home. I'm shocked. I have to find out who this man is and why he is being a trouble to the Usyk's. Soon, I decide to finish my school work.

It's about 6 and my mom and dad are back from work. I go downstairs to see them. Should I tell them what happened? I decide not to, they seem tired anyways. "Hey sweetie, how's your day been?" asks my mom. "It's been okay..." I begin saying but suddenly someone hastily starts ringing our doorbell. We all get startled and flinch. My dad opens the door and it's the Usyk's, all three of them. Aleksandr and Sofia are shivering and sweating, when it's 40 degrees F outside. "Ph..Please..we need to...we..." Aleksandr says panting. "Get it, get in it's freezing outside!" my dad says and lets them in.  Viktor looks weak and fatigued. He can barely keep his eyes open. They come in and sit on our couch. My mom asks them what's wrong and what happened. I quickly get them some water. "Can we just wait here for some time? We will go very soon, we just can't go right now...Please allow us. We will explain later, I'm sorry but, we cannot say anything right now...Please let us wait here for some time," says Sofia, begging my parents, on the verge of tears. "Yes, absolutely. It's alright, no problem," my mom says as she takes a seat next to Sofia. Sofia and Aleksandr let out a sigh of relief and Viktor has already fallen asleep. My parents insist that they have dinner with us, and they do. 

Dinner time is very awkward. No one can get out of their mind what just happened. My parents try their best to talk about other things. After dinner, Aleksandr is peering out the window looking at his own house. He whispers something in Ukrainian to Sofia, and then says out loud "Thank you so much for your help, you don't know how much we owe you. But I think we will have to leave now, thank you once again." "It's no problem Aleksandr, you don't need to thank us. Just take care and remember, you can ask us for any help you want, at any time," says my dad. Aleksandr shyly nods and my dad pats his shoulder. My mom gives Sofia a brief hug, and they leave. My mom closes the door behind them and silently looks at my dad, letting out a sigh.  "I don't understand what's going on with them," says my dad. "Dad, do you think it's related to what I told you about the other day? You know, about Sofia's brother?" I ask. "Oh right, there probably is a connection," he says in deep thought.  "They are a mystery, but I hope this was nothing serious. They were frightened when they came and rang our bell," my mom says. 

***

The next day it's finally Friday. My day at school was pretty good, which is a whole other story. I come back home, and as instructed by my mother, I take the basket of cookies she kept ready to the Usyk's. I get to their front door and ring their bell. Sofia opens the door, looking shy and a little embarrassed. "Hi," I say calmly, smiling. "Come in,"  she says. "I brought you some soft cookies if you don't mind," I say. "Oh, thank you so much, you didn't have to," she says, rather sheepishly. "No, it's fine. I hope you like them," I say. "Do you want anything to drink? I can make you some hot chocolate, it's very cold outside," she says. "No, Sofia. It's okay, I'm good. But thanks for asking" I say. We pause a little awkwardly and I debate wether to ask her anything about last night. I blurt it out anyways, because I can't keep it in "Sofia, I know I shouldn't be asking this, but what happened last night?" She looks at me a little shocked, and out of words. She quickly changes her expression and puts on a fake smile "Oh nothing, nothing at all. We, uh...we couldn't... We just had to take care of something," she says. I let out a sigh and try to get more comfortable. "Sofia, I know you don't owe me any explanation as to what happened to you, or what has been happening. I'm just your neighbor. But what I do know is that something has happened to Viktor. I'm not going to sugar coat it, but he has been acting very different lately. He isn't as fun and playful anymore." She looks uneasy and fidgety. "And the other day, when I saw him on my front porch..." "Janani.. I uh.. I..." she tries to explain, nervously. "Please, Sofia. Just listen to me," I continue "He was sitting there quietly, all alone, and as I began talking to him he started crying," and I explain the whole incident to her. She looks stunned, "I..I just want to apologize...uh for my brother. He..he is private and uh...that's why he must have done that." "Then why did he threaten my safety, Sofia? Tell me, just be honest, is everything okay or not?" I ask. She looks at me blankly. What was I thinking, why would she answer me? "Let me tell you something Janani, please take my advice on this. Try your best to stay away from my brother. He..he is not someone with morals," she says and then pauses, staring at me. What does that mean? I give her a serious look and say "Sofia, if this man is jeopardizing my safety, and after what I've seen before, I could easily go to the cops with this..." "No!" she exclaims out of fear, "please, please don't do that." "Then you need to tell me Sofia. What exactly is happening? Please tell me. You can trust me, I'm very worried about Viktor. I really care about all of you," I say. She ponders for a while and says "Come here, let's sit," we sit and she continues "My brother is part of a dangerous mob in Ukraine." I furrow my eyebrows in astonishment. She continues "But I am not. Don't worry, I left Ukraine just because I wanted to get away from all that. That's why I keep saying, stay away from him. What they do back in Ukraine is terrible, absolutely terrible. And please don't go to the cops, because if they find out that I am the daughter of a notorious mob leader, they will deport us all," and she finishes with that. "Sofia, you don't have to worry about that, but it doesn't explain anything. What is he doing to you that is causing you so much distress?" I ask. "I'm sorry, I can't tell you any more. I just can't..." she says trying to hold back tears. I decide not to pester her any more and say "Okay Sofia. I'm sorry I bothered you. I'll stay out of your way. Take care okay? I should leave now." She slowly nods her head in response and walks me to the door. As I step out she says "Please, do not tell your parents." "Okay, I won't." I get back home. 

*** 

On Saturday afternoon, Sofia drops of Viktor again at our house. Just as I hear her talk to my parents at the door, I look out the window to see if the large man's car is there. Thankfully it isn't. I over hear her saying something about Viktor throwing a tantrum and insisting on coming to see me. Soon I hear him come up the stairs, but without the usual enthusiasm. "Hey Viktor!" I say playfully. He smiles back in response; it's a small, sad-looking smile. He comes in and sits on my bed next to me. "Hey, Vikky, tell me what's wrong?" I say softly. He shakes his head no. "Come on, don't you want to tell me? Aren't we best buds?" I've never seen him this serious before. It's giving me chills, seeing such a spark of joy dull out into nothing. "Is it..Is there something you want to tell me about your uncle?" I ask, slowly. He looks up at me, frightened, and then gives me a tight hug. I feel him shivering. "It's okay, it's okay, it's just me here," I say patting his back. He doesn't cry, but looks terrified. "He..he says...he said he will kill anyone I tell," he says softly. His heart is beating very fast, I feel it as I look down at him. "It's fine Viktor, just tell me. What did he do?" "He...he took me somewhere...and he..he.." he's choking up, and tears begin to fall down his face. I hold him closer to my side and he continues "There was a man...with a camera... and my uncle..he did something. It wasn't good...and I was screaming...but he put his hand on my mouth..." he starts crying even more. Oh my god. What has this man done? "Shh.. it's fine I'm right here, don't worry," I say. "Go on, just tell me," I say softly. "I..I don't know what he was doing...he..he took my clothes off..and he was touching me..." he can't finish his sentence. I don't want him to. I'm stunned, in shock, out of words, disgusted in my own existence. I tightly hold him close to me. My face is blank and I don't know what to think. Soon the doorbell rings and it's Aleksandr. He came to pick his son up. I'm utterly disgusted to know that Sofia and Aleksandr let that bastard do what he did. How could they not have protected him? What kind of parents are they? As soon as Viktor leaves I begin to cry. I'm balling my eyes out, I feel like a criminal for not being able to protect him soon enough. I don't know what to do.