𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗮

Chapter Nine

Milana Alyona Vasiliev
Paranoid by I Prevail
November 16th, 2023

People mingle together with loud voices and enthusiastic laughter. My eyes take everything in with curiosity, I've never been in such a big place and with so many people. My heart races as realization settles into my chest like a heavy weight.

The fact is, wanting or not, Emilia and I know too much about our captors. We know their faces and we know each word they said. The walls were thin and our nights, most of the time, weren't spent sleeping. They shared secrets because they assumed we would never leave but here we are. I want to trust my brothers will protect me, but I know what my captors are capable of.

I breathe through the irrational panic and concentrate on the now. Ivan's voice catches my attention and I turn to look at his excited face. "Where do you want to go first?" He asks Emilia and I, his voice loud and pitchy.

I look at Emilia for help but she shrugs and I look at Ivan helplessly.

"How about we start with clothes?" Adrik asks, trying to be helpful. I was surprised when he offered to come with us. More so when he told Dmitri he was taking the day off.

I nod and so does Emilia. Ivan starts to lead the way, his steps eager. Dominik follows him at a much more calm pace. Adrik and Emilia are both on my sides, the first giving me more personal space. The silence between us is not comfortable but not unwelcome either.

We enter a big store and I'm instantly surprised by how many different clothes it has. My eyes scan through every item and my heart races. It's so many choices and I have no idea what suits me. I don't even know what I actually like.

"You can pick whatever you want, then we can go to the changing rooms and you can try it on. If you like it we will get it, okay?" Adrik tells me with a low and soothing tone and I nod my head.

We each go different ways but still stay close to each other. I can see Emilia a few feet away from me looking around. I gathered a few clothes that I think will look nice on me. It isn't much since I don't want them to spend a lot of money on me. The changing rooms are small and a little tight but I manage to try all of the clothes I chose. A few looked how I imagined but some looked terrible.

When I get out with the chosen pieces, all of my brothers are sitting on a small couch. Dominik and Ivan talk enthusiastically while Adrik scrolls through his phone. My footsteps aren't loud but he hears me approaching and instantly puts his phone away. Adrik's smile is soft and comforting, and his eyes are warm. "Did you like anything?"

"Yes."

"Emilia already got a few clothes of her liking too. How about we go pay for them and we can get a few other items?"

"I guess so." I follow him and find Emilia looking through some other things. She gives my brother a small smile as we approach. Dominik and Ivan walked behind me.

Emilia hooks her arm around mine, instantly calming me. Her other arm has a few clothes on them. Her style is not so different from mine from what I can see, still she chooses more riskier colors than I did.

The cashier gives us a small smile as she scans through all of our items. When Adrik goes to pay it I feel instantly bad for the final price but he insists that it is alright and that's just a small amount of all the things I should have. He then pays for everything and forces Dominik and Ivan to carry the bags. I start to feel bad once again as they all have their hands full, but Adrik assures me that Emilia and I can carry the next ones.

The next store is just as overwhelming and a lot of things I didn't even know I needed are bought. All of my brothers say that I should buy them and I just assume they are right since I honestly have no idea what a girl needs other than the bare minimum. A few more stores come after but I end up zoning out and just agreeing with what my brothers say.