Val’s POV

Kazakhstan

I continued to hug Klyushka to me. The chains were nothing to me and my hockey stick was the only thing that mattered at the moment. It was my favorite item I owned and I had almost lost it to the ruthless kidnappers. But out of luck, I got it back and I’d never lose it again.

Klyushka was life.

Klyushka was love.

Klyushka was a part of me.

Klyushka was my best friend.

After a few hours of sitting in the near-darkness of the small hut, where I was being held prisoner, I decided to investigate and look around. I had to try to escape somehow. I pulled my right arm and tried to snap the chain off, but it was tough. I looked up, seeing all of the tiny holes in the wood walls of the place. Then I looked down at my arms and noticed the red marks from the metal restraining me when I had tried to get Klyushka back.

Shockingly, I didn’t feel any pain and I could luckily move about, though in a more limited style. I couldn’t go past a certain point and I could only move my arms to a set point too. After a few minutes of exploring my options and my surroundings, I hugged my knees to me, as I ultimately chose to just stay in place and conserve my energy. I might need it later on. I stared at the door, where Brad and his posse had left. I wondered if they would be back. They had to be though.

I didn’t think they’d just lock me in here and forget about me. They had to check up on me and...as much as I hated the thought, I figured they’d come and torment or torture me. I didn’t like the thought much, but I knew it was true. I had to try to prepare myself mentally if the time came for the assault.

Sure enough, Brad’s helper - Alexander, the translator - came back and he released me from the chains. I tightly gripped Klyushka in my hands. He wasn’t taking my stick! Not this time! He bound my wrists again with the rope, ignoring the stick and then led me out of the building. I blinked in the bright sunlight outside.

“Куда вы меня везете? (Where are you taking me?)”

“Заткнись! У меня нет с тобой поговорить. (Shut up! I don't have to talk to you.)”

I bit my lip and ignored the questions swarming my head. They weren’t going to be answered apparently. He forced me toward the main house, which was similar to something out of a Western movie or a prison-western, where Brad and Abdul stood. Abdul was chatting with Brad kindly. Brad seemed to be nodding. Alexander shoved me roughly into the middle area of the trio.

I caught my footing and stood, looking at Brad, who was smirking at me. I was shaking, but somehow still able to be on the defense. He stepped toward me. I could run. I could knock them out, but would I be quick enough to outrun them? I couldn’t move anyway.

“Still clinging to hope, are we, Valeri?” Brad sneered. “Pitiful.”

Alexander spat out the translation, from his spot behind me. I was gripping my hockey stick so tightly that my knuckles were turning a bright purple color. But I wasn’t about to let go and have it taken from me again. I couldn’t.

I managed to croak out, “Отпусти меня. Пожалуйста. Почему вы хотите меня? Кто Тайлер и Джейми? (Let me go. Please. Why do you want me? Who are Tyler and Jamie?)”

Brad kicked the dust under his feet and rounded me like a shark. His lips curled backward. “You wanna know, sweetie? I’ll let you know. Come, follow me. and I’ll let you know.” That was translated back to me. I nodded, curious and also anxious. Finally some answers. The small rat men signaled to his men to stay behind. Then he grabbed my arm and forced me to walk with him.

As we headed away from the two men, a sudden thought occurred to me, how was he expecting to talk to me? He hadn’t brought Alexander to translate and I couldn’t understand him at all. I had a bad feeling all of the sudden. It was like an old dog getting tricked into thinking they were going to the park...when in reality...it was the vet.

I was led toward an open field and that didn’t sit well with me. It wasn’t exactly reassuring. Then Brad slew-footed me and I fell to my knees. I stayed there, afraid to move, kneeling in the gravel and grass.

The small guy walked around and stood before me. He put his hands on his hips and looked to the sky. “Why’d they have to pick a Russian? Of all rookies. Of all possible nationalities. It had to be a Russian!”

I looked at him, still trembling. What was going on? What had he said now? What was he going to do? Why had he taken me here of all places? We were alone and I could run if I wanted to. I could run and save myself. And I had to try. It was now or never. That I was sure.

He continued on in his foreign tongue, looking down at me. “It’s not that I hate the Russians or Russia...it’s just, it’s too easy! I thought you’d be more like Evgeni Malkin or Alexander Ovechkin, not a scrawny little shy kid!?” He sighed, rolling his eyes and finally turned his back on me.

That’s when I made my move. I got to my feet, gripping the handle of Klyushka in my fingers and took a swing at him. I clobbered the shocked man over the head and made sure that he was out cold. I wasn’t looking to murder him, I just needed to buy some time. Luckily, he didn’t fight back, mostly because I made sure that he didn’t. I hit him over and over again. Not giving up.

When I was sure he was out of it, I took off running. I wasn’t sure where I was or where to go, but I had to run and find someone. I had to get help. I ran for the trees on the other side of the clearing where I had been forced to. I didn’t dare to look back. And untying the rope from my wrists was the least of my worries. I could figure that out later. I didn’t need my hands free to run.

I made it safely into the trees and I zigged and zagged just in case, dodging around the trunks, until I burst from the other side. I finally looked back, over my shoulder. I hadn’t been followed. They didn’t know where I was.

But I had to continue on. I spun around and halted immediately in my progress.

Notes

YAY VAL ESCAPED!!!! :DDDD GO BABY RUSSIAN GO!! :P
I can't believe Brad was gonna kill Nichy???? But he'd never get to! I wouldn't let him! ;)


Next up: Nichy's Sochi Friend! :D