Page 2 of Devotion

I’ve never been one to back down from a little fear. A little pissed pants.

So I take a step back, take a deep breath…

And feel a nice, comfy boot slam right in between my shoulder blades from behind.

Good timing. I was about to chickenshit out of jumping.

The impact launches me forward, into what I’m sure is a graceful, slow-motion swan dive the likes of which the Olympic team would be envious. Headfirst into oblivion!

I can just make out the rungs of a ladder on my way down. Cool.

It’s about a ten-foot drop. I barely even feel the impact.

Roll. Bounce.

On my feet in a heartbeat. Not dazed at all.

And running into the unknown ahead of me. Smack dab into a wall.

“Monkey in a Tonka truck!” I yelp, grabbing my bloody nose.

No time to waste indulging a little agony on my entire face. I can feel pain later.

Shoving off the wall, I scramble after where I think I hear Matvey’s footsteps to my left and pick up my pace. This place is a fucking maze. Throwback to the Cold War, cement and freezing winter-worn walls. Cozy.

Great aesthetic. Really an “as advertised” feel for a Russian death camp.

Dark tunnels.

Torches instead of electric light.

But only when the power’s off, which seems to be more often than it’s on.

Dungeon vibes. Really moody.

Could use a little heat instead of freezing, brutal temperatures. Guess that’s just the only flavor on the menu in Russia. Like ice cream, but shitty.

I call it my nightly dessert at the Goulash. And this is only night two!

“It’s called the Gulag, you fuckwit,”Ero’s voice echoes in my head. Brings a little snicker to my lips.

I miss that smug bastard.

Wish the manky twit was with me in here. We’d show these cold-brewed asshats a thing or two. Right before we burn the place to the ground.

As it stands, they haven’t caught me yet.

Oho, they tried last night. It takes a quick wit and an even quicker step to catch me off guard.

They might wear me down, though. The lack of sleep is getting to me.

Naps in tight spaces don’t count. So I hatched my plan to square myself away a nice corner of authority in this place by kicking Crovak’s ass.

“This way!” I hear the whisper ahead and double down on my pace.

I should have noticed the tone in Matvey’s voice, the waver, the strangled tightness.

An arm takes me at the neck as I round another corner and I go down hard on my back, knocking the wind from me. Stars explode behind my eyes simultaneously, putting on a dazzling show in my skull.

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