'What did he mean?'
I lay awake in bed, my eyes wide open. These questions had been running in my head ever since Alexander left me the note.
A week and some had passed already, but still, I had no idea what to do.
'What did he need help with?'
'Why was he asking my fake self, Katerina Parfenova, instead of his wife, Maria Vasilievna?'
'Is this why he asked for me to be left behind with the gang instead of brought home?'
'Shut up Maria! Sleep! You can solve this tomorrow. Or the day after that...'
My stomach growled in response to my command.
Perfect. Now I was hungry.
I stood up and slowly trudged through the messy floor to the door. Yes, the floor was messy because my belly was getting bigger and so was my laziness.
I walked through the hallways until I reached the little cafe. Thank God it worked all night long.
I bought myself some pelmeni and sat at a table to begin my meal.
I folded my hands and closed my eyes and whispered, "God, thank you for... a message from Alexander. I don't know what it means or what I'm to do, but I am still thankful for it. Please, keep him safe. And me. And our baby."
I begin to eat my pelmeni when a horrible thought hit me.
'What if it wasn't Alexander who sent it? But someone just wanted to screw with my head and so they left me the note?'
I groaned. Great. Now I had to also consider that fact. Thank you brain for coming up with these ridiculous ideas.
'Although this idea isn't that ridiculous. It's actually less ridiculous than Alexander himself receiving it. Darn.'
I thought back to the time I saw Alexander at St. Basils. Okay, I guess it wasn't too ridiculous if he stuck around for a while and then delivered the note at Kremlin Palace.
Suddenly a pair hand came around my eyes.
'Alexader?'
'No, stupid,' My brain reminded me, 'He would never do such childish things.'
But a certain gentleman that's a part of a Russian gang would...
"Misha?"
The hands came off and a voice mumbled. "Wonderful. You know me pretty well. So," he came around and sat across from me, but only after stealing a pelmen, "why are you up?"
I nodded at my food. "Isn't it obvious?"
"No. Usually, you don't get up in the middle of the night to eat."
I squinted my eyes at him for a second. Darn, he knew me too well. "Well, as you know, this baby is getting bigger and that means I'm getting fatter. And, as you know, as I get fatter I need more food to help me stay that way."
He laughed. "Okay fine. How long are you know?"
"Six months."
"Alright. I suppose it's normal for pregnant women, especially at six months, to be up at," He glanced at his watch, "three forty-five in the morning eating pelmeni."
I gave a short nod and continued to eat my wonderful food.
"You seem distracted lately."
"Really? Why is that?"
He laughed again. "That's what I'm asking you, my love."
"Oh. I didn't notice that I was distracted lately, so I can't answer the reason."
He laughed and then got up. "Very well. I'll be here when you finally want to tell me."
I looked up at him. "Of course."
He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. The sudden contact of his lips against my skin caused a little butterfly to escape my stomach.
'Get back in! Stop flying around in there. Oh, stop it stop it stop it!'
"I'm here for you, always, Maria."
Why did that make me smile inside? Why did that release another butterfly? And why was the spot he kissed me still tingling with a little fire even after he left the room?
I gave myself a very firm slap. Mentally, of course.
I quickly slurped up the last of my meal and then hurried to bed. I didn't want any more surprising encounters for tonight. I only had a few hours left to sleep before we had to go somewhere.
I crawled into bed and forced my eyes to close and my brain to shut up so I could sleep.
Thank God it worked.
"Maria. Get up. Goodness, did you not sleep last night? Get up, I said! You're wasting time!"
Ah. The kind voice of Stephan and his encouraging words was the best way to get up in the morning.
"I'm up, stop yelling. I'll be ready soon." I grumbled, in a very hoarse and tired voice.
"Good. Pack all your stuff, we're leaving Moscow."
I shot up in bed. "We're done here?"
He nodded.
A very sad weight enveloped my heart and it sunk to my heels. Leaving Moscow? I loved this city so much. I had fallen in love with it; more than I could ever fall in love with even my own home.
My culture was there, and there was still so many things I wanted to see here. How could we ever leave?
I wanted to ask Stephan where we were going, but I knew that he didn't care. I was still a hostage to them, and they wouldn't like me asking extra questions.
"We're leaving to St. Petersburg."
I looked up. Had he really said that? Without me asking him?
Yes. Yes, he did.
I nodded. "Thank you."
He left the room and I began to slowly pack my messy room. Slowly, too slowly, my room became less of a pig's pen and more of a beautiful hotel room.
Finally, the last of my clothes were packed away and I had taken all the mini shampoos and conditioners that I could.
I threw on a quick outfit- Eugene had come in later and told me to look good. I don't think he knew what that meant to a woman, but I still decided to try and follow whatever 'good' means.
I guess my version of good is a sheer white blouse with large pink flowers and leaves, beige, or just very light pink business pants and a light peach trench coat to keep me away from the cold Russian November. Of course, good has to include some heels, and so I put some matching heels on with a sigh.
I turned to leave but glanced back briefly.
No, I couldn't leave yet. I still had to do one more thing.
I rushed to the drawer and pulled out a piece of paper. I searched the room for a pen until finally, I found one. I threw off the cap and began to write a little note.
I placed it underneath a lamp so it wouldn't fall off.
I stared at the words. Hopefully, it wouldn't give anything away to the wrong people.
AV-
Who are you?
What do you need help with?
-KP
Subtle, yes? But not subtle enough for the person who might receive it.
I hurried out of the room with my suitcase and closed the door tightly. I didn't want any of the boys to come in and search the room. So I just leaned against the hallway and waited patiently.
The door flew open and the men piled out.
Misha grinned at me. "Glad to see you're done."
He was the only one grinning. Eugene had a blank look on his face, hinted with annoyance and extreme disappointment; Shurik seemed to be annoyed as well and looking at the smoking device in his hand, that explained a lot; and Stephan, well, Stephan was very mad. A growl was plastered across his face and he could explode at any minute.
"C'mon, darling. We have to hurry, Stephan isn't in a good mood, as you can tell, and we need to get out of here as fast as we can. We'll be late for the meeting in St. Petersburg if we don't!"
He grabbed my hand in one hand, and my suitcase with another. We ran across the hallways trying to catch up with Stephan.
Ah, what an exciting life it is, being kidnapped!
~ ~ ~
Finally, the beautiful city of St. Petersburg. Although it didn't seem that beautiful.
Mostly, because my arm was already numb from Misha's strong grip but his constant cheerful and prankful self made up for it. Besides, he was the only one I could talk to.
Stephan threw every single person we met dirty looks and that caused us to get here much faster than if he tried to be a gentleman about it.
Shurik just kept working on his gadget. It made weird noises throughout the entire journey and we constantly had to stop and hurry him along. Of course, this put Stephan in a much worse mood which put the rest of us, except Misha of course, in a worse mood as well.
And good Eugene did nothing. Occasionally he muttered an entire paragraph of curse words, but who could blame him? Misha's pranks were indeed awful and poor Eugene was the only one who received them.
I knew that this was the time that I had to shut my butt and not say anything. Especially not to Stephan. And especially not ask questions. He hated that.
The only thing that I did was pee. All the time. It was just part of this pregnancy. I needed to use the restroom all the time, no matter how much water I would drink.
Thankfully, Misha was a real gentleman and he would distract the crowd for a few moments while I used the restroom so that Stephan wouldn't be mad at me, but at Misha.
If I didn't already say thank you God for Misha, then thank you, God!
That man was such an angel to me, and I knew that none of us wanted to face the wrath of Stephan but he still did it anyway. I loved that man more than I wanted to admit. He was the only reason my heart still hadn't shattered.
We reached another simple, but very comfortable hotel. Stephan threw a key at me and thankfully Misha caught it before it landed in the middle of my forehead.
It was so good to finally be alone after such a busy night.
It was also very good to be alone so I could think. Think about my note and if someone saw it.
What were the chances that it was actually Alexander?
And if it was truly Alexander, what were the chances that he knew exactly where I had lived in Moscow, and when we had left?
I did remember that Stephan, or was it Eugene, that said Alexander had some people around the globe, more than they accounted for. Maybe it was possible that he would know every single step I made.
I groaned as I stared at the clock. Exactly 0:00. Time to go empty my bladder for the one hundred fifty-fifth time today. I pulled open the covers and let the cold air wash over me before stepping out of the comfortable hotel bed and making my way towards the bathroom.
On my way back, I was half-asleep so I definitely imagined the knock.
'Gotta make sure, just in case, Maria.'
I groaned softly and went to the door. I carefully opened it so the noise wouldn't somehow wake up the very delicate ears of Misha.
I frowned.
'See. Told ya there was no one there. Stupid, you could have already been in the warm bed by now. But no.'
I closed the door and turned around.
'Wait. What was that?'
I turned to look down at the thin and papery object I had stepped on. I slowly knelt down to pick it up.
I blinked a few times.
'What the...?'
I adore my Allison; love, encouragement, x-ray, admirable, never defeating, exciting, ravenous, valentine, awesome, so intelligent, lovely, incredible, elegant, vibrant.
She takes everything pink, happy, alluring, normal, and not dreadful- your own umbrella, right for igniting a nice, courageous, exciting- everyone keeps note of wonderful messages exactly.
True, her empire, yellow, has a very entertaining mindset- your wit interested for energy.
I must not order two scary urchins, rarely exist why- here exactly rays exert so horrible energy- indeed so. Ordinary rumors have one way to help everything your great owl took hustle extreme radiance. Ordinary rumors will hurt your self hindering energy super without interesting titles hustling the humorous television houses- example me.
I dearly own not two, even vendors even not, keep notes only without wisdom- here empires roar everywhere they hate enemies- you are rescuing enemies- keep everything enabled principally interesting not gone, here English reduces because under the internet no energy exerts death- hold everyone racing because actually, cross black.
Perfect, listen everyone about so exciting keys- attack the energy to hide interest so islands survive very entertaining, ravenous, young, indicators marking places ordinary right to a new treat.
Desire, oh, not to take examples leaving loss- this hurts endurance meaning anyone needs your truth hunting in nice grace- price love ending actually send elements into big energy grills, you own universe.
I stared at the first few words again. Then I skipped down across the lines.
Was I drunk? That was the only explanation for me reading these words so wrong... listen about exciting keys? I must not order two scary urchins? Your wit interested for energy?
I crumpled up the paper before throwing it away.
This was probably another one of Misha's stupid and pointless pranks. At least this one didn't scream and scare me.
I finally flopped back into bed.
Ah. See, you could have been here for a few more minutes if you didn't open that stupid door and read that very confusing and completely silly note.
I didn't even notice myself drifting off to sleep, thinking about notes and scary urchins.