"Thailand? I'm going on a plane? We're leaving Russia?"

I still couldn't believe it. I was leaving Russia for the first time, even though the circumstances weren't ideal.

"Yes, yes and yes," Viktor said nonchalantly.

Marlene set her tea down. "Your name will be Tiana Zima for the next week or so."

Zima? Wait, what? Why do I have to-

"Looks like you are going to be my 'daughter' for however long that we are in Thailand," Viktor did the air quotation as he said that.

"Why not 'niece' instead? That would be more believable," I questioned.

"That might cause some issues since you're half Asian. We would definitely get questioned by security officers at the airport and the last thing we need is attention on us."

I narrowed my eyes at him. He can't possibly pull this off. "But you think a thirty-one-year-old with a seventeen-year-old daughter is more believable?"

Viktor stopped to think. "They're people having kids at the age of fourteen... I think."

The next thing I knew, laughter filled the room. I hadn't laughed since that night with Zari. Amidst everything that was going on, I was glad that I was still able to share some laughter with the people who have helped me through the last two days. I honestly didn't know how I would be without them.

"Viktor is also dying his hair to an auburn colour to match yours," Marlene said in between her peals of laughter.

The next two days passed pretty quickly as I spent most of it shopping for new clothes. For the clothes, I had to buy t-shirts and shorts to suit the appropriate season in Thailand, but they do not experience the four seasons so it's pretty much around thirty-degree Celsius all year long.

Viktor spent the two days using his connections to try and get my passport ready in the next forty-eight hours. Marlene said there were loads of screaming over the phone. Predicted as much.

Marlene spent the two days sorting out the aftermath of the havoc at the restaurant. Giving a statement to the press on what happened, receiving phone calls from half the employees that they wish to resign effective immediately and dealing with bombarding questions from the police once again.

Adequate Dining had to be closed for two weeks while the police were still trying to gather any fingerprints of evidence left behind to hopefully close the case. Viktor also wanted some new renovations to be done so it looks 'cleansed from the shooting'. However, from the looks of it, it might take a few months for this whole thing to be settled. He also transferred the ownership of the diner to Marlene for the meantime.

That night, after dinner, Marlene brought the plates into the kitchen and I helped her clean the table. It felt good, to feel placid for the first time in days, to be normal, having a proper meal and people who care about me.

"So our main objective is to get information on the flight details. Not some bullshit they gave me when I asked them over the phone the last time."

"How exactly are we going to do that? Seven trained killers were sent to kill you, let me remind you," I simply stated.

"We are going to get help from your parents' friend, Anton. Remember I told you he was running their hotels now? There is still a hotel in Thailand, and I've done some research and I'm positive that he's there right now."

I nodded and as I was about to head to my room, Viktor took something out of his pocket.

"I think it's about time that you have this... well you're living in the twenty-first century after all." He chuckled as he handed me a smartphone.

I never had a smartphone before, or any type of phone for that matter. They were freaking expensive and not a necessity for people living in the streets. I took the phone from Viktor and closely examined it. It had a gold casing, and when I pressed the button at the bottom, the screen lit up. There was a display of the date and time, with an aesthetic wallpaper of a sunset.

"I hope you like it, it's an old model from a few years ago but I think that it will suffice-" Viktor starts rambling.

"I love it, thank you." I looked up from the phone and smiled at him.

I could see him visibly relax a little. "Well, I didn't have time to buy a phone cover for you, but there are a lot of nice ones in Thailand and you can have your pick."

"Yes, so now you should take a shower and get ready for bed. Both of you need to wake up early for tomorrow's flight," Marlene's voice travelled from the kitchen.

"Noted!" Viktor and I said in unison.

"Oh, and you know not to be on those social media platforms, right?" Viktor said it with seriousness in his voice.

"Yep," I said it and popped the 'p', walking to my room.

"Naughty girl, very naughty girl. Look at what you've done! Look! You clumsy piece of shit!"

Daddy's mad at me. Really mad. I've broken his favourite vase.

"I'm... I'm sorry daddy... I'm really sorry."

Tears were already rolling down from my eyes and now dripping from my chin. I closed my eyes as I hear a slap across my face.

It hurt extremely bad.

Just keep up with it until he's calmed down, I told myself.

He slapped me another time. And another. And once more. I can feel my face swelling up. The pain is excruciating.

"You! Useless! Stupid! Child!"

"Adrian! Stop it!" Nikita screamed and pulled me closer to her.

No. No. No. He's going to hurt Mommy now.

"I'm teaching her a lesson here Nikita, now get out!" he yelled.

"Hitting and teaching are two different things, Adrian!"

I can see his fists turning white from clenching it so hard.

"Go back to your room sweetie, Mommy will handle this, okay?" her voice was broke.

She was staying strong for me, so I have to stay strong for her.

I quickly ran up the stairs as fast as I could and locked my door. I didn't know how long I had been crying at the corner of my room, but I heard a knock on my door.

"Sweetie, you can come out now, it's okay."

I didn't want to see how badly Mommy had been hurt.

I opened the door slowly. Her hair was all messed up, there was blood on her lips and her eye was already starting to swell up.

"Come on, let's get you something to help with your face." Her cold finger touched my face and it stung a little.

After placing an ice pack on my cheek, I asked softly "Why does he always hurt us?"

She stayed silent before replying, "He's just mad at other things... but he takes the anger out on us."

"Will he stop hurting us?"

"Once he's not angry at the other things anymore... then he will. Now, let's make your favourite chicken soup for dinner." A small smile forms on her face.

"Yay!"

"Okay, so help mommy to wash the pot first, Alveanea."

What?

"Alveanea!"

"Ugh... five more minutes please," I responded as I covered my face with a pillow.

"No, we have to leave in half an hour!" Viktor practically screamed.

My eyes started closing again.

"Alveanea!"

"Ok!" I crawled out of my bed and walked like a zombie into the bathroom.

"Stay safe. Please," Marlene's voice cracked as she said that.

"Yes, we'll try to come back alive. Come here," Viktor said as he pulled Marlene in for a hug.

Apparently, none of the security officers questioned how Viktor can have a kid at fourteen. I was super mesmerised by how the airport security works even though I had seen them in movies.

Two hours later, the plane took off and I was staring out of the window the entire time, in awe of the view. Now, this is a view I'd never thought I would see. The flight was about six hours long. During that time frame, I watched Titanic and The Fault in Our Stars, as it was in the most recommended section. I still couldn't get over the fact that Jack could have been on the door as well. I also bawled my eyes out at the end of The Fault in Our Stars, totally ignoring the woman who was sitting beside me, looking at me.

By the time we reached it was already eight at night in Thailand, so we decided to straight away go to the hotel and call it a night.

"That's the hotel. Gloria hotel," Viktor whispered to me when we were in the taxi.

I turned to look at the tall building, at least forty stories high. Rainbow lights illuminated from the windows and the words 'GLORIA HOTEL' were written at the top.

We arrived at the hotel, a twenty-story building painted pale blue, which looked pretty basic on the outside. As I walked inside the reception area, I looked at my surroundings; just some basic couches at the side with some cheap paintings hanging on the brick wall. After Viktor checked in and got the room key, we got into the lift and pressed the tenth floor.

"Hold the door please!" a man said as he rushed towards the closing door.

I pressed the 'open' button and he flashed me a smile before that smile turned into pure shock.

"Wh-what..." he stuttered.

I knew I didn't look the best right then but did I look that bad? I looked over to Viktor, who apparently seemed to understand what was happening.

"Alveanea, this is Anton."