Rogue Shadow

Chapter 5 - Mother Russia

Chapter 5 – Mother Russia

03:54 Monday, 19th May 2008

"Danya," an ombre-haired girl turned to her friend, determination on her face. "Run!" the urgent whisper was lost through the crowded streets. With a quick nod of understanding, a mess of dirty, dark red hair took off, waves bouncing off her shoulders as she ran; weaving in and out of any and all pedestrians who blocked the path to her destination.

Knowing where the nearest ally way was; she headed in the opposite direction to Danya, she clambered up a run-down building, travelling by rooftop to stay out of sight. A bird; feathers black as night flew above her as she ran. The first rays of sunlight making the blond streaks in her hair glisten and shone in the chilled breeze.

Scanning the crowd for the assassin who had been following her and Danya since before dawn, she watched from her vantage point as the eight-year-old led him to another alley, this one with only one exit. She watched as the raven landed near her sister, watching with a calculation stare as the young girl froze, waiting for her to take this man out - permanently.

Hatred clouded her deep blue eyes. She didn't even give the man a chance to speak before she flipped down from her perch and landed on top of him, plunging her dagger into his neck as she went. His body dropped to the ground; limp and lifeless. He lay unmoving as the young girls conversed above him. Blood slowly seeping out and staining the old street.

"You good?" the question was directed towards the younger of the two girls.

"Alive and unarmed, Lexi," came the reply. A gently Russian accent lifting the English words. Danya could see Lex was more worried than she let on – they had known each other their whole lives after all – she was concerned as well.

"Where's Anatoly when you need him?" Alexei glanced at the ever-fading stars, rapidly disappearing in the early morning light.

Lexi gave the younger girl a once over. Seemingly satisfied that her little sister was unharmed, she pulled the man to the side of the street, dropping his body near a large pile of rotting trash. An eye-watering smell wafted over her. It was disgusting. This place was an absolute dump. 

Lexi was growing increasingly more worried with each tome another assassin found them, and it showed. Maybe not to a stranger, but Danya had known Alexios her life. Her adopted sister was barely a year older than herself. Lexi stood by her when they were taken away by strange men in masks and never left her side. Her sister always did everything she could to protect and raise her the way their parents had wanted.

Danya had seen the look on her sister's face many times before. The worst time had been when she and Lexi were taken into science lab looking rooms; Danya had been knocked out as soon as she was laid on a table, so she couldn't remember anything (apart from an ear-piercing scream that Danya was convinced came from her sister), but Alexei had told her that she was awake the whole time. She refused to tell her anything though, other than that it was painful. Although, Danya was convinced it had hurt more than she let on.

This was the third person her and Lexi had found stalking them in the past week. Lexi had resorted to killing the spies before they could report their location, in fear of being taken back. The streets were no place for young children to live, let alone in Russia.

"Let's go." The two girls made their way back out into the open street, sticking close together. Alexei was not going to lose her sister again. It was too painful. No, she wouldn't let it happen. She would do whatever it took to protect Danika Melodiya Amare Volk, her sister in everything but blood.