Kiss Of Death: A Dark Mafia Romance

2

“Everything in life is temporary.” – Unknown.

I stare at the crack that runs across the old tile floor. My heart is beating fast and I cling to Anna’s hand in an attempt to stop myself from shaking. The other children are lined up either side of us, each one wishing a hole in the ground would open up and swallow them. Anything to escape notice. Their shallow, panicked breaths only remind me that I’m not safe, that we’re not safe. Anna’s nails bite into my palm, and sweat slicks her skin, making her tighten her hold on my hand. I try to block out the sound of heavy footsteps as a pair of boots slowly cut into view, disrupting the small patch of tile I’m focused on. I swallow heavily and squeeze my eyes shut, praying to any god that might listen that he’ll keep walking. As always, my prayers are met with a mocking silence. I flinch when cool fingers touch my chin.

“Open your eyes, girl.” I bite back the whimper trying to make its way up my throat and open my eyes. The face in front of me is one that is branded into my mind, the nightmare that every child here at the home wakes up screaming to in the middle of the night. I know him only as volynshchik, it’s from a children’s story. The Volynshcik is a man who would lure children from their parents using a magical pipe. Only this man doesn’t lure children from their parents and he needs no pipe. He takes the children who have no parents, the abandoned and the unwanted, the desperate and the neglected. But no amount of neglect could possibly be more frightening than the whispers of his name, the tales of what happens to the children he takes…well, buys. Because the matron not only starves and beats children, she also sells them.

On the outside The Volynshcik looks like any other man, short cropped hair, slightly greying, a face that isn’t particularly memorable, but it’s his eyes that have me shaking in fear. His eyes are completely void of life, more animal than human.

“This one’s pretty.” He says with a sick smile, never taking those icy eyes off me. “How much?”

The matron steps forward, her hands folded behind her back. She narrows her eyes at me before addressing him. “She’s no good as a whore.”

He snaps his gaze to her and she recoils, dropping her head. “I didn’t ask if she was.”

She glances at me out of the corner of her eye. “She’s unruly. She can’t be broken.” She presses her lips together. “We tried.” I glare at her and hatred crawls over my skin like insects. I rub my free hand over my left arm, hiding the burn marks she branded into my skin only a few days ago.

A twisted smile pulls at his lips as he turns to me. His eyes drag over my body in a way that makes me feel sick to my stomach. “How old?”

“Thirteen.” The matron replies.

He grips my jaw tight enough that I know it will leave a bruise. Those cold eyes bare into mine and despite the debilitating fear gnawing at my gut I stare right back at him. He laughs, startling me. “I’ll take her.” No, no, no, no. He leans in close, blowing vodka scented breath over my face. “And I will break you, child.” He presses his lips against mine so softly and it’s more terrifying than if he’d struck me. I slam my eyes closed again, fighting tears. “I promise.”

All I can hear is the frantic pounding of my own pulse in my ears. This can’t be happening. Anna wraps her arms around me, the sound of her sobs muted to an agonising moan as she buries her little face in my chest. Her tears soak through my shirt, wetting my skin. I can’t think. All I can do is hold onto her tightly and hope that something or someone will save me, save her. I’m not scared for myself, I’m scared for my baby sister, alone in this place, alone in the world. She’s only ten years old. She needs me.

A rough hand lands on my shoulder, yanking me back away from her grasp. “No!” I shout.

The matron stands behind Anna, holding her in place as she reaches for me, her cries becoming so tortured that I feel my heart breaking. The image of her becomes blurred as the tears fill my eyes.

“Let go!” I thrash against the man but he applies more pressure on my shoulder until it feels as though my bones may physically crumble under his grip. “Anna.” I sob. I fight him every step of the way, refusing to go quietly. An arm wraps around my throat and I tuck my chin, sinking my teeth into his forearm.

“Fuck!” He releases me and I fall forward onto my hands and knees. I’ll crawl to her if I have to. A scream makes its way up my throat when strong fingers wrap around my ankle. I catch sight of my sister, her sweet face red and tear stained. Then something hits the back of my head and everything goes black.