​Sparks in the Ashes

Ten years ago, eight-year-old Nikolai watched his world burn in the silence of a hallway closet. He didn't just witness the brutal destruction of his mother, Elena, by the hands of his abusive, alcohol-fueled father, Vasily-he was molded by it. Now, at eighteen, Nikolai (Niko) lives as a ghost in a city that doesn't care whether he breathes or suffocates.

​Living entirely alone in a cramped, rented apartment, Niko navigates his final year of high school with his headphones on and his eyes down. He doesn't want friends, warmth, or pity. His days are a calculated battle against hunger and eviction, while his nights belong to the recurring, sweat-inducing nightmares of his childhood.

​Desperate for financial survival, Niko's search for a job leads him to the glass-and-steel monolith of a massive, multi-billion-dollar corporation. But stepping into the world of the ultra-wealthy elite forces Niko out of the shadows. To keep his independence, he must face a world where power is absolute, predators wear expensive suits, and the darkness inside him might be the only weapon sharp enough to keep him alive.