12 Years ago, Vdivostok, Russia:

  "Hey there Katya. Looking hot as always." Two boys approached the blonde from behind.

  "What do you want?" Her response flippant and dismissive. Both boys, well-groomed hair with tall and nky frames; had eyes on Katya. Only 17, she was the star attra for all boys to focus their attention upon.

  "We are going too-"

  "No thank you." Shutting them down. Waving a hand in a dismissive, shooing motion.

  However, one of the boys had an audacity to grasp a hand on Katya's shoulder. "Hold up."

  "We just want to talk." Those words rang from the shorter boy’s mouth. Their iions were not kind. Katya always knew of predators that lingered in schools. Holding tight onto the boy’s hand.

  "You have some nerve." Rolling her voice. Hand grasping tight, and harder until a yelp came from the boy. A rge step forwards; the sed boy attempted to save his friend; however, he fell backwards like a house of cards. Tripping over one another in panic.

  "You bitch. You will-" Interrupted. The boys’ eyes loto something behind Katya. Fright g into his eyes, skin paler than normal. Mouth a gap.

  Behind stood Danya; t over all three. No lohe fat child but now a boulder of muscle. Katya was no small girl, breag 6ft herself. But here younger brother made her tiny in parison. Standing 6ft 7 inches with only 14 years of age. Eyes like daggers; peing through the boys.

  "Shit." Both boys scrambled away on hands and knees, shivering in their coats. Danya couldn't care less, despite his scary, monstrous demeanour, he still cked ce.

  "Thank you. Little brother."

  "M-Mom is waiting." Ever shy and meek, no matter how much Danya grew.

  At st, no longer was he a fat and easy target; instead, it became the other way around. Whenever Danya attempted to front a bully. All the past children with big mouths, scampered and ran away; not wishing to repeat Boris's mistake. A gift and a curse.

  "Hey, you there!" An older man approached. Fur overcoat, fedora hiding thin bck hair and gsses. Tinted of course to hide his eyes.

  "What do you want?" Katya harsh as the winter shoot. Any roached her in such fashio only trouble.

  "Your brother is quite the boy. Strong like a bear, big too."

  "e along Danya, mother awaits." Holding tight, she led her brother aig up the pace. Yet this did not deter the persistent man, walking at pace with them, following just behind.

  "My name is Leonid Ivanov. A business opportunity." Hand offered in good will. Both siblings halted with one another. Eyeing suspiciously and he eyes the pair back just the same. Danya gripped tight of his sister's arm, cautious and always wary.

  "Danya is too young to work. Find someone else." Katya ftly refused.

  "Don't worry about that dear girl. The pay is good, and all you must do is stand around and look tough. Let that muscle to do its work, keeping all the unlikable types at bay." Leonid's face with all smiles, ohat anyone could fiive.

  "Here, take my card." Digging into his inner pockets. Produg a regur, red card. Bck text imprinted on the face. Tapping it forwards to take it.

  "I look forward to hearing from you, my boy." Spinning on his heels. Marg down the snow-covered path.

  on Katya's face, as Danya looked over the card.

  "e along now. Mother is cooking your favourite meal tonight. We shouldn't keep her waiting." Words that drew his attention away from the card. Anything for his mother’s cooking.

  At the table Danya patiently waited for his mother’s specialty: Beef Stroganoff. Her mushroom sauce, was the greatest treasure; it made people drool, it made Danya warm. Never was Danya picky, especially with his mother’s cooking. He savoured every bite like it would be his st. Every meal prepared, love and care with it.

  *Sm*

  Farther stumbled into the kit, his dark hair that reviously ly groomed, now tousled, and untamed. Anger riddled face smothered with beer.

  "They fired me. Bastards." An angry father at his lowest, a bitter soul drunk.

  "Sergey!" Valeriya dashed from the pot.

  "We will get through this Sergey." Arms ed around her bitter drunk. "There are always other options."

  "...Always other options eh." Taking a seat o Danya and Katya. Smming his bottle down hard, alcohol sloshing side to side, within its bottle.

  'The card. I help my family'

  "I help." Sergey, looked towards his you son. Almost disregarding his words.

  "Here..." the card to his parents. Sergey took one, long and slow, deliberate gre. Hands snapping up the card.

  "Boy! You would dare associate with these low lives. Don't you dare bring shame to our house!" Rising to his feet, flipping the table in his druupor. The beef stroganoff flopped to the ground with a soft thud.

  Without a moment's hesitation, Danya stood up. T over his farther; falling backwards in drunken clumsiness. Arm filled eyes repced drunken fury. Feet scampering backwards, just like a bully fleeing with its tail between its legs.

  "S-Sorry..." Danya retreated upstairs. Head hanging low with shoulders sagging. Smming his door closed; Danya felt tears well. Sobs escaped as he held at his stomach.

  There was only ever one real way to cry for him. Digging his fato pillows that blocked out all sights and sounds.

  "Am I worthless?" Fear swelled in the darkness; voices whispered of insults.

  *Knock* *Knock*

  "Danya. I e in?" Valeriya's voice cooed through the door. Slowly twisting the handle and closing. On the bed she sat, hand cradling her son's head. Rubbing and caressing his soft face, in motherly fort.

  "I love you, Danya. Always. No matter what. Remember that. Remember."

  "I-I do." Trying to stifle away those tears. Wiping away with his pillow.

  "Here, it's not your favourite. But, it's your sed favourite." Pierogi; stuffed dumplings, held tight on a pte. Each golden brown, small fkes breaking apart.

  "Have ce Danya, always ce."

  ---

  Three days passed and Sergey had yet to find another job, zing about. Tossing about with numerous vodka bottles. Wallowing in his self-pity.

  Danya decided to do it. Look after his family. Sneaking out that night, from his upstairs window, and heading into the crete jungle of the city. Tall shadowed buildings and spindling twists.

  A bar that matched the cards logo. 'Red lion bar.' Nothing stood out except the sign. Stone facade and barred windows, not too dissimir to those surrounding it. With little hesitation he knocked.

  "Ehhh, what do we have here?" A man answered, through a peephole.

  "You’re a big bastard ain't ya." The man wasn't wrong.

  "I have this." Slipping through the bars.

  "Leonid? Leonid! There is a kid at the front door, saying you offered him work." Danya nervously fidgeted with his hands. Waiting as Leonid shuffled forwards.

  "Ah, my boy. Gd to see you took up my offer. Here, e inside."

  The bar was nothing special, just an ordinary affair with a tertop and tables. However, images of women in the most sdalous of lingerie covered the walls. Posing in promiscuous, eye dy for the bar men.

  No pce for a boy just starting puberty.

  "Here take a seat." At the furthest table, Leonid poio the sofa, cushioned, well worn, dirty white. Danya sat down and another man sat opposite of him; oool, feet on the seat.

  "So, the boss got a kid in the door. The boss was right. You're built like a fug bull." Patting a hand on Leonid's shoulders.

  "Danya, was it? Correct?" Earning a nod.

  "So, boy. The job is simple. Look tough. There are people that walk in and think they own the pce. Leonid tells me that your eyes are just as lethal as any khis made him smile.

  "4 nights a week, 35000 rubles. You up for the work?" This made Danya's eyes brighten. That was a lot of money. More than enough to keep his family afloat.

  A handshake between both ted the deal. "My name is Yefim. Wele aboard."

  Months flew by in a blink of an eye; nights of standing, making sure eyes said all they o. Looking dangerous, putting people on guard, a more in trol bodyguard then he initially was. Danya saeople that frequehe bar. Tired faces and even familiar faces of friends. One person was the local doctor: Evgeniy, always arriving exhausted aoo drunk to stand.

  Women sometimes would touch him. Feeling up his muscles, calling him by many names, wanting to sleep with him. Whispers of raunchy stories that perked Danya's ears to their wicked adventures. Still though, for a boy barley a man. Many thoughts had his heart and mind rag. As did the whispers. Too shy and fearful to ever speak to these women.

  However, whilst he earned a living, te nights meaime for school. Often, he was told off for sleeping in css. Even his mrew ed as she would sometimes not see Danya until long past the suill, money appeared in their ats. Turning a blind eye, torween using the money or keeping her son safe. Sometimes hard deust be made.

  All good things must e to an end, for darker elements began to lurk. Men would e in, make deals with Yefim and Leonid. There were whispers that this was a gang's bar, however which gang was unclear, as multiple visited; exging cash and suspicious bags.

  Danya looked away; the money he is maki away the whispers.

  One day, a group that regurly frequehe bar brought with them a girl.

  Danya circled around; wanting to see the girls face better. His eyes. Widen at the realization. It was Olesia Ivanov a friend of Katya. She had dropped out of school around a year ago. Everyone heard rumours of what had happeo her. But to see her now all but firmed it.

  Their eyes matched and she spoke to him through eyes. Disquiet and despair. More of her body was revealed. Bruised bd blue with e discoloration and yellow on her chest. Heavy heart rag.

  Danya felt a fire brew from within. Like when he fought those bullies it didn't subside. It built up.

  Then that girl went away with Yefim. Wheurears flooded her red eyes. Pain from red cheeks.

  Danya stopped them from departing. Pulling one of the men's coats. All were clearly uneasy at Danya's stand.

  "Kid?" Leonid said calmly, trying to calm a raging bull.

  "Danya. Stand aside."

  "No." The booming voice. Danya never spoke loudly.

  *Bang* *Crash* *Thud*

  What followed was a haze; loud sounds, crashing furniture, gunshots. Nothing brought Danya from his trance.

  When he finally regained his sehere was blood all over. Bodies strewn about, toppled furniture and riddled bullet holes. Yefim y dead with a hole inside his head. Leonid Clutched at a wounded shoulder. Three more men, riddled with holes through their abdomens, soaking the ground red.

  Olesia also y dead. A singur hole on her side, a fatal act.

  "Danya." Leonid gasped for air. "Y-You o go before..."

  *Bang*

  Armed police crashed in. Surrounding the giant before them. "Drop to your knees and hands where we see them." At this Danya, kneeled slowly, as he was told. Hands rising by his head.

  Handcuffs enclosed around his wrist. He couldn't remember anything he did. Tears dripped on the crimson stained floor.

  "I didn't mean it."

  Cops looked upon him with anger. "Didn't mean to? Boy, you sughtered a room. You're never gonhe light of day again."

  It was over. Tears fell. In those moments he wished he had his mother with him.