The truth About cypher ✓

the pit

October 3rd, 3:49 pm

Laila was exhausted. Sweat dripped from her forehead, a grey patch forming on her t-shirt's back. She was breathing heavy, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she lay on her back. The floor was not cold anymore, the room felt hot and heavy. Her eyelids fluttered open and close from the sun hurting her eyes.

"Are you willing to do what they already did and much more?" "Yes".

"Blyad" Laila murmured under her breath. The images from last night were resurfacing after much resistance. Laila did not know why she said yes so easily. She was scared, fuck she was fidgeting under the table like a wet cat but she pretended. She pretended so well to know what she wanted. In reality, Laila had fucked up and she knew that.

Brutus sensed how uncomfortable her body turned when Igor held his hand for a handshake after agreeing to take her under his guidance. Laila was sure the boy wasn't ready just yet to start training either but he pushed himself into it so that the girl wasn't alone. Laila never understood Brutus.

The boy was so judgmental on their first day of college. He had annoyed Laila on several occasions by using his shrewdness and wits. Hell! He pushed her into the pit of initiation. That night wasn't just the initiation of Laila in the coding club. It was the initiation of Laila's biggest mistake; getting on the wrong side of Haidar. But Brutus then changed. He trusted her when Kazan didn't. He helped her get proof, he took her home when she was exhausted and he sat beside her comforting her when all Laila wanted to do was run away.

Laila doesn't understand Brutus and maybe she never will.

The knock on the door got her to her feet. She was behind the golden door. The door from where Igor had stepped out of last night. As pretty and shiny it looked from the other side of Proshchay, this side wasn't the same.

The pit was grey. Its walls weren't lined with wallpaper, they were whitewashed. The scent of alcohol and drugs stopped behind the door. The ring had a hint of sweat and cheap cologne in its air. A metallic and ashy taste lingered on the tip of your tongue every time you tried to talk or exhale. There was a brawling stage set in the center, a few gym items spread on its side at an irregular distance. The walls seemed soundproof, with a few cracks on the edges. Some other people were working out beside Laila. A woman in her early twenties, two men taking a smoke, not older than 25-26, and a seventeen-year-old boy practicing boxing.

Igor walked in with a duffel bag. He had a huge smile plastered on his face. His clothes were different. Unlike last night, he had changed into gym shorts and a sleeveless top revealing his toned muscles.

"Darling, your teacher dropped off fresh clothes for you." He said watching the girl straightened her back. Laila nodded in response, taking the bag and looking for a fresh pair of bra and underwear. The one she was wearing was drenched in sweat.

"How do you like the pit so far?" Igor asked with a smudge smile.

"It's okay I guess...hadn't imagined it to be fresh but alright," Laila responded while taking a sip of water. The trainer sat beside her, watching the rest. Laila was busy discerning the seventeen-year-old boy boxing. He was quite good at it.

"Why is he here?" Laila asked Igor softly, still breathing unevenly.

"He was bought here. He wanted to be here. Said his brother ran away and there was no other way to complete his education and earn at the same time."

"Wait you guys send him to school?" Laila asked curiously.

"Of course we do. Everyone has a right to education, isn't it? We have our ties with some schools and colleges. They are hospitable in letting people get a degree if they choose to. He joined young, so getting a high school diploma is a must." Laila stayed silent after that. Stretching up a little bit, she was ready to start practicing again.

She got up, making her way towards the treadmill. Igor joined her, changing the speed after a few minutes. He switched her up for pull-ups, crunches, and light high kicks. Laila was flexible from all the athletics and aerobics classes Ali Raza had signed her up for. For the first time, she felt thankful towards the times Abu practically dragged her out of bed for her workout sessions. Or else she would've been dehydrated on her first day along with muscle damage.

"You have an admirer by the way."

Igor breathed in between sit-up which made Laila tumble down.

"Pardon?"

"Chill Darling, I mean a group who might be interested in taking you in." He said while smirking. He helped the girl get up.

"Already? I mean, I haven't even seen the pit completely and some people want me?" Laila arched her eyebrows, wondering if her trainer was just messing with her. They hadn't even introduced her officially as a part of Proshchay trainers yet. To be quite honest, Laila had seen enough movies to know in such situations the girl is either kidnapped, raped, or murdered.

"The way you carried yourself last night was impressive. So I am not shocked people were asking me about you. "Laila sucked a breath before looking back at Igor. The man rubbed her back gently, noticing her mixed emotions. Igor was ruthless when it came to business. But down here in the pit, these kids were his trainees and he took care of each one of them. He quickly changed the topic, narrating Laila about how Brutus hurt himself by falling off the treadmill and how the boy took showers almost thrice since last night. Laila started smiling a little bit, her shoulders easing up.

"So who are they? The people who want me, are they strong?" Igor sighed out loud before speaking, 

"The Keres is a group of strong females. They're led by the mother. They deal with narcotics in the Sovetsky city district. But you won't like them. They're tough and smart. They know everything about everyone. You won't settle in quite well." He paused to take a sip of water.

"The moshchnost, like their name, they're highly powerful. They have their dens everywhere in Kazan. They deal with weapons alongside some dealers in China and eastern Europe. They're the best in their game but had to face some major losses over the year, so they're out of runners." Laila gulped loud, which was a hint enough; she did not want to roam the streets with gunpowder in her Saint Laurent bag.

"The last ones want runners and keepers. They deal cuts around Novo- Savinovskiy rayon, Savinovskiy Rayon, and parts of the undercity. They've expanded quite well in Moscow too but they're desperate for young blood."

Desperate. The word ringed in Laila's ears. Dimitri had told them, "That's how you survive in the underworld. You find someone who is desperate and make them your bitch." This was it. She knew a bit about drugs and narcotics. She could always use her studies. She'd fit in well. She just hoped it wasn't Cypher. Besides, these were just simple tests. If you performed well for the first, the place is yours. Just like her Unit test back at the Kazan University, she had to excel here to secure her spot.

"What are they called?" Laila asked swallowing hard, praying it wasn't cypher. Anything but cypher.

"Agoniya; Literal meaning excruciating pain. You sure you want to go with them? They have some torture cells built-in too. I don't know where they'll assign you." Igor spoke in clear sentences. He did not deny the girl as he did with the Keres, he did not move to someone else as he did with the moshchnost. He was concerned, but not afraid.

"One thing, I won't be the only one. Brutus goes with me." Igor laughed at this statement.

"Dimitri took care of it Darling, stated you were a pair. Not one without the other, so that's what everyone took a notice of too."

Laila nodded, sighing heavily. Dimitri had taken care of everything. She thought to herself. Igor brought his hand in front. The girl shook it firmly, looking in his eyes straight.

"You better train well then. They'll meet you tomorrow. Don't ruin my image Darling." He said smirking.

Agoniya, she could do this. How fucked up could it be.