Page 4 of Hidden Truths

“Just one more,” I say.

“You put enough of that shit to blow up the whole damn street. Leave it and come here. The door is jammed.”

I roll out from under the truck and walk to the back where Mikhail is holding the cargo door open with the crowbar.

“Just keep it there, I’ll get the girl,” I say, turn on my phone’s flashlight, and jump up into the truck.

I walk around the boxes, moving them around as I pass, but I can’t see the girl.

“Is she there?” Mikhail asks.

“I can’t find her. Are you sure she’s...”

There is something in the corner, but I can’t see what it is. I round a pile of crates and direct my light down. “Oh, fuck!”

I move the boxes so I can get closer and crouch in front of a curled-up body. The girl’s face is hidden under her arm. Her extremely thin arm. A night eight years ago surges through my mind, and I close my eyes trying to suppress the images of another girl, her thin body covered in dirt. The flashback passes.

I reach out to check the girl’s pulse, absolutely positive I won’t find one when she stirs and removes her arm. Two impossibly dark eyes, so dark they look black in the light from my phone, stare at me.

“It’s okay,” I whisper. “You’re safe.”

The girl blinks, then coughs, and those magnificent eyes roll up and flutter closed. She’s fainted. I prop the phone on the box next to me, the light shining on her, and slide my arms under her frail body. My throat tightens as I lift her.

Dear God, she can’t weigh more than ninety pounds.

“Sergei?” Mikhail calls from the door.

“I’ve got her! Shit, she’s in bad shape.” I take my phone and, using it to light the way through the maze of boxes, carry her out. “I’ve got you,” I say into her ear, then look at Mikhail. “Hold that door.”

I jump down from the truck and head toward Mikhail’s car.

“I’ll call Varya and tell her to bring the doc.” Mikhail lets the truck door crash back down. “We can meet them at the safe house.”

“No,” I bark and pull the small body to my chest. “I’m taking her to my place.”

“What? Are you crazy?”

I stop and turn toward him. “I said I’m taking her with me.”

Mikhail stares at me, then shakes his head. “Whatever. Get her into the car, blow the truck, and let’s get out of here.”

I open the door and duck into the backseat, holding the girl securely in my arms, then bend and try to listen for her breathing. It’s shallow, but she’s alive. For now.

“Ready?” Mikhail asks from the driver’s seat, but I ignore him. “Jesus, Sergei! Get that fucking remote and blow the fucking truck already.”

I look up at him, debating if I should clock him upside the head for interrupting me, and decide against it. That wife of his must be crazy in love with him and his grumpy personality. She wouldn’t be happy if he came home with a lump on the side of his head and his ear looking like a hamburger.

I probably wouldn’t end up in a much better state. Mikhail is one strong motherfucker. I once witnessed him in a fight withthree guys his size. It was fun to watch. I don’t remember for sure, but I think he was the only one who came out of that fight alive. I wonder how he lost his right eye as his left eye zeros in on me in the rearview mirror. I smirk, reach for the remote in my pocket, and press the button.

The epic boom pierces the night.

Dark. Only dark. Suddenly, a strong light blinds me. Hushed words. Then, a big fat nothing for quite some time.

Light. Weightlessness. More hushed words, but I can’t decipher their meaning. Glaring light again. Dog barking. Voices. Three male. One female.

Weightlessness again. Water. Warm. On my body, and then in my hair. I sigh and feel myself drifting away. The water disappears, and suddenly I am so, so cold. Shivering. I try opening my eyes but fail. Something soft and warm envelops my body, then weightlessness again. Arms, big and strong, cradling me. Where am I? Who is carrying me? Adrift on the waves. To where?

The rocking stops, but the arms are still there. I’m cold again, trembling once more. The arms tighten around me and pull me into something warm and solid.

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