Natalya had never been more aware of how loud she breathed as she hurried along the shaft. Every breath was in time to her scurrying footsteps, her heart pounding as she delved deeper and deeper below the surface. Squinting into the dim lamp light, she kept her hands stretched out to the rough walls, just as Jolanta had shown her. Mapping her route through touch was far more reassuring than relying on the pin prick of light she had been handed.

As the sound of trickling water reached her, Natalya slowed her pace. Just past the gush from the ceiling, there was a dip in the path. Forgetting that had earned her a badly grazed knee in her first week, though her overly large boots hadn't helped. Lucky then, that Kaleena had found her a pair that actually fit. At least once she was past the drip, she would be able to hear the work from the gallery; that was an easy target. Once she was through the flimsy entrance and into the open workspace, she was relatively safe again.

Two weeks Natalya had been at Vorkuta, and according to Jolanta, she was adapting rather well. Starikan's training had certainly proved useful. Where most new workers fell easily to dehydration and fatigue, Natalya kept going. She was used to water being dangled in front of her and not given; helping to haul coal up and down the shaft on occasion was no different to logs from the woods. At least underground, she was slightly more protected from the cold. Though, she preferred her whittling tools to a pickaxe.

Sheltering herself as best she could below her arm, Natalya stepped carefully through the water, then pressed herself up against the left wall to avoid the dip. Satisfied she was clear, Natalya continued her descent.

The clang of tools against stone mingled with the roar of barked instructions and carried up the final passage to her. Her work here certainly wasn't comforting like in Pikhtovka. It hadn't taken her long to find value in her time with Yakov, but in the bowels of the earth, there was no serenity. Always loud and dirty, Natalya was constantly overwhelmed by the frenzied urgency of production. She missed the silence of the woods, the isolation and magic of her wilderness so far out of her grasp. The only peace she found in Vorkuta was right in the middle of this cursed tunnel, when she was far away enough from the earth not to hear the above ground activities, and too close to the water to listen to the gallery. And who wants to linger in a dank, dirty tunnel just to find a moment of quiet?

At least she had Jolanta here. Despite spending very little one on one time with the big woman, her presence always brought a smile to Natalya's face. Jolanta was a force to be reckoned with when she was amongst the rock. Where she seemed almost unsure around people, she was completely at ease below ground. It was nice to see that someone had found happiness here.

It peaked Natalya's curiosity as to why Jolanta was here at all. She seemed to follow rules so readily; never spoke a word against anyone. Other than the men. Their sordid machinations certainly seemed to disgust her. Yet there was something in her eyes that hinted at rebellion. It was small, no more than a passing glimmer. But it was definitely there. Natalya had never asked though. In the end, it didn't really matter.

Finally, Natalya saw the ebbing glow from the gallery ahead. Barrelling through the tunnel, she passed as quickly as possible under the beam of the entrance way. She was ever mistrustful of it collapsing. Jolanta had been very careful not to share too many horror stories of that happening, but Andros had been more forthcoming with that information.

'Kwiatuszek!' called Jolanta, hailing her over from the middle of the gallery.

Darting over, Natalya waited until she reached the makeshift foreman's desk before she pulled the message from her pocket. It was just an upturned crate with an additional lamp set on it. 'Here you are, silachka. Andros says to keep up the good work.'

Jolanta grabbed the note, holding it up to her lamp before she cursed under her breath. 'You Moskals all write the same. I can't understand it.'

Natalya hung over her shoulder, following the words with her finger. 'We're third most productive this week. Volodya fell to fifth.'

Cackling, Jolanta clapped her hands, coal dust swirling in a large puff. 'Best thing I've heard in weeks! And when do I get the blaster?'

The blaster, the paid worker that was hired to carry the explosives, was a surprisingly quiet man. It was probably better that he was calm, given that he blew things up for a living, but it still shocked Natalya that he had very little zest for life.

'He'll come tomorrow,' explained Natalya, highlighting that portion of Andros' scrawling. 'He's tied up with seven at the moment. Apparently he didn't bring enough to get through the back wall so its delayed him a day.'

'Idiot,' sighed Jolanta.

A small crash sounded behind them, production halting as everyone instinctively looked around.

One of the young girls that had just been assigned here was on her knees, hurriedly piling coal back into the toboggan she had seemingly just loaded.

A rush of Polish expletives ran from Jolanta's mouth as she darted over. 'Stupid girl! Why you do this alone? Where is your partner?'

'Hospital,' choked out the girl, not even looking Jolanta in the eye. She didn't look that old, perhaps her late teens. Poor thing was shaking underneath her foreman's shadow.

Natalya's heart panged, something odd prickling down her spine. Pity?

'And you not tell me? You set our whole day back now!' More Polish tumbled free as Jolanta pushed her aside and began piling the coal back up again.

'I'll do it,' said Natalya as she made her way over and knelt beside Jolanta.

'This not your job,' huffed Jolanta, glaring at the cowering girl.

'Or yours. I don't have any more messages for now. I'll do it.'

Grumbling, Jolanta pushed to her feet and gave Natalya another one of her signature thumps on the back before she went back to work. She was still complaining as she sat back at her crate.

Looking up at her new partner, Natalya beckoned her over. 'Come on. She'll stay angry if she thinks you're being lazy.'

Nodding, the young woman joined her, hurriedly piling the coal too fast so that it simply tumbled back down again.

Rolling her eyes, Natalya grabbed her hand, pulling her to look at her. 'Calm down. It's going to take twice as long if you keep doing this.' In the gloom, Natalya could just make out tears glistening in the girls eyes. 'What's your name?'

'Anastasia.'

'Natalya.'

'I know who you are,' said the girl, avoiding her gaze. 'Everyone knows who you are.'

'Oh do they?'

'We all know to watch out for bunkhouse one.'

Shaking her head, Natalya went back to piling the coal. 'Just get on with it so we can get this out of the way.'

Together, they created a steady, sturdy rhythm, the floor pile clearing relatively quickly.

Everyone's reactions to the bunkhouse one women were wildly different. There was a certain level of respect there, particularly when Kaleena was mentioned. The men seemed tired of their privilege or just generally grumpy about how much sway Kaleena had. The women, however, ranged from hatred to awe to terror. Anastasia seemed to fall on the scared side.

Eventually, the toboggan was filled again, and ready to be dragged up the shaft.

Natalya turned to Jolanta, waving to get her attention. 'Hey, silachka. I'll help take this up top. You need anything?'

'Tell Andros I want my damn blaster on time.'

'I'll do my best.' Natalya grabbed one of the front ropes, gesturing to Anastasia to do the same. Together, they began to drag it up the track to the surface.

Natalya was infinitely grateful that she only had to do this on occasion. The sound of random coal pieces tumbling from the carefully constructed mass and onto the ground was so frustrating. At this rate, half the sled load would be gone by the time they got up top. That, and it was exhausting. Yakov had certainly prepared her for endurance work, but her current partner was nowhere near ready for such a task.

Seeking her out in the dark, Natalya tried to secretly check on Anastasia. Even through the dirt on her face, she could tell her cheeks were flushed.

'Keep going,' Natalya said to her, her own words a huff. 'It's worse if you stop.'

'Fine,' managed Anastasia, even one word too much for her.

Pulling just ahead, Natalya took the brunt of the effort. Jolanta would skin this girl alive if she went back and couldn't do any more work. Why Natalya cared, she didn't know. This girl was nothing to her. What did it matter if Jolanta chastised her?

Again, those pin pricks spattered down her back.

If this was starikan telling her to be a better person, she really didn't appreciate it. He was a grumpy hermit, why couldn't she live that way too?

At last the glaring sunshine seared the mineshaft opening. Digging her feet into the ground, Natalya heaved a little more to pull it the final leg of the way. The two women stumbled onto the grubby ground, sliding their load just past the entrance before they finally let it go. Anastasia collapsed to her knees, leaning against the sled.

Natalya doubled over, resting her hands above her knees as she sucked in breaths. Then she shut off her lamp; it was easy to forget it was on out here in the brightness. She tugged her hat off, in need of the biting air against her sweaty brow. For the first time, she was glad of her lack of hair.

Peering over at Anastasia, Natalya cleared her throat. 'Turn your lamp off. We're low on fuel as it is.'

Anastasia did as she was told without looking over at her.

Her lungs sufficiently filled, Natalya stood up, spitting out the metallic saliva that coated her tongue. 'I'm going to find Andros.'

Anastasia made no effort to move.

'Don't get up,' Natalya muttered as she stalked off to the guard's watchtower by mine fifteen.

Andros was leant against its base, smoking his obligatory cigarette with his gun slung lazily over his shoulder. He was certainly the most relaxed of the guards Natalya had come across. Happy to go by his first name alone, Andros commanded respect from his workforce just by not being a complete tyrant. He still wasn't afraid of punishment though; that's why it was probably better that Anastasia stayed slumped by the coal for now.

'Just the girl I was looking for,' he called to her.

Brow furrowed, Natalya's pace towards him didn't drop. 'Me? I'm no one.'

Laughing, Andros took another long drag. 'Apparently you are. The great Dmitri Ivanovich came looking for you.'

Why would he want to see her? She hadn't even met him yet. He'd not been to visit Kaleena at all in the two weeks since Natalya's arrival. Apparently he was like that; either it was constantly or not at all. But that ruled out Kaleena sending him.

'Well aren't I honoured,' sighed Natalya as she stopped in front of Andros, trying her best to sound nonchalant. 'Did he say what he wanted?'

'Just asked about the tiny Natalya his wife is so fond of,' said Andros with a shrug. 'He waited for you for a while after he snuck that Masha into the watchtower, but you took too long. He's not known for his patience.'

'Urgh,' Natalya spluttered. 'Did you have to tell me about him fucking that suka?'

'At least you didn't have to listen to it,' said Andros, distain evident in every fibre of his being. 'Girl's a moaner.'

Natalya shuddered, though that thought was preferable to the other in her mind. Dmitri's surprise presence could only mean he was spying for Grigori, and what the big man himself wanted with her, she had no idea.  Perhaps he was only checking that she had finally fallen into line. That was the hope, anyway. 'I was helping pull the toboggan up. The usual girl's work partner is in hospital.'

'Bet that got silachka riled.'

'Well of course. The big woman hates slackers.'

Grinning, Andros ducked into the tower quickly, and checked his charter. 'Yeah, says she got a nasty gash in her leg.' Clouds of smoke burst out as he laughed. 'Bet she did it to herself, the sneaky koketka.'

'You think she'd be that desperate?' Natalya asked.

'They very rarely take to it like you have,' he pointed out. 'What do you want anyway?'

'Jolanta wants the blaster on time. She won't wait another day.'

'She'll get him when she gets him,' he replied curtly.

Supressing a much needed eye roll, Natalya continued. 'Can you please get someone to pick up the coal sled outside nine?'

'And you can't take it to the pile because?'

'Because my partner is one exertion away from collapse.'

'Fine,' he said, waving his hand dismissively. 'Seeing as you said please.'

'Thank you.' Natalya turned to leave.

'How's Kaleena?' he asked in a flurry of garbled words.

Turning back, Natalya raised an eyebrow. Every opportunity he got, Andros would ask after Natalya's bunkmate. He couldn't be more obvious if he tried. 'Why?'

'Just...' He searched for a good response. 'Just wondered.'

Holding back her smile, Natalya faced him fully. She shouldn't tease him like that. He did seem to genuinely care for Kaleena, even if it was rather random in choice. 'She's fine,' Natalya said, eyeing him up. 'Same as always.'

'Good. Good. And you haven't caused her any trouble?'

'Not that I know of.'

'Good. Good,' he repeated, nodding his head again.

'Any more messages?' Natalya asked, breaking his thoughts.

'Hmm? No. No messages.'

'All right,' said Natalya, wandering back to mine nine.

Now the wind was beginning to bite, so she shoved her hat back on her head and pulled the sleeves of her coat down. It never took long for the cold to seep in.

'Hey kytsunya,' called an unwelcome voice from the entrance to mine eleven.

Sighing, Natalya turned his way. The call of 'kitten' had been persistent since her first day in the mines, and one particular person was always the loudest.

Volodya summoned her over, waving at her amongst a group of other miners on their short break.

Natalya remained obstinately in place. 'What?'

'I have a message for Jolanta. Come here and I'll whisper it to you.'

The others around him all laughed, nudging one another in amusement.

Picturing the mineshaft caving in on him was the only thing calming Natalya enough to not bite back. 'I can hear fine from here.'

'Shame,' he laughed, getting up from the crowd. 'You got yourself a husband yet, kytsunya?'

'Sure. He's standing right next to me! Can't you see him?' Natalya spat, then turned around and stalked off.

'I'm coming to find you in a couple of weeks pretty girl. Just you wait and see,' he called.

Pressing on, Natalya ignored him and the rapid pace of her heart. A few weeks' time held the thing all women collectively loathed; the monthly visit.

It was the day all of the bunk house one women had warned Natalya about from the beginning; the day when all of the men with the 'privilege' went in search of a belly warmer for the evening. She'd just managed to miss the previous one by the skin of her teeth. Kaleena had promised she'd talk to Dmitri about keeping the wolves at bay for a while, but she hadn't seen him. Not that Natalya held out any hope that he would help her; there was nothing in it for him.

She really should be trying to find herself a husband, but it seemed easier to live in abject denial; at least for a little while.

When she reached mine nine, Anastasia was being comforted by a few other women. One of them Natalya recognised instantly; Masha. Dmitri's little side piece.

Natalya couldn't understand the appeal herself. The girl always had a sneer planted on her face and didn't come close to Kaleena in any respect. Though men were stupid; they'd fuck anything with a pulse.

Masha had seemed to make it her personal project to be rude to Natalya the moment she realised who she was to Kaleena. It was probably just a way to get at Dmitri's wife indirectly. Masha seemed like a jealous little fool, with no real wit or strength of character. Maybe Dmitri just needed a quick easy fuck.

Approaching them, Natalya noticed that their whispers cut out. 'Ready to head back down?' she asked Anastasia.

'Give her a moment,' snapped Masha. 'Can't you see she's exhausted?'

'She's had one,' said Natalya as she fiddled with her lamp. 'You want to have Jolanta on her tail?'

'It's fine Masha,' assured Anastasia. 'I'm all right.'

'How could you be when this  gives you no rest?'

Natalya scoffed. 'I'm not sure I'm the prostitutka, given that I wasn't the one spreading my legs in the watch tower.'

Masha's face flushed a deep red.

'Or were you bent over? I certainly don't want to look at that face, so why would Dmitri Ivanovich?'

'You don't scare me,' said Masha, squaring up to Natalya despite Anastasia and the other's trying to pull her back. 'You or Kaleena.'

Laughing, Natalya looked up at her. Masha was much taller than her, but scrawny. All bark and no bite. One swift kick to the shin would probably crumple her. 'You don't matter enough to warrant threatening.' She looked past her to Anastasia. 'I'm just telling truths about Jolanta. You know I'm right.'

Gratefully, Anastasia nodded and tugged on Masha's arm. 'She's nice, Masha, it's okay!'

Masha turned back to her friend. 'Only a fool trusts the lot from bunkhouse one.' She pulled her arm free and stormed back to her position at the main coal stack, smacking her shoulder into Natalya's for good measure.

'I thought sex usually put people in a good mood?' called Natalya.

Spinning, Masha quickly threw her the fig, then stormed off, her lackies in tow.

'Charming,' said Natalya, then turned to Anastasia. 'You're sure you'll be all right?'

'Yes, thank you. I've got my breath back.'

Nodding, Natalya switched on her lamp. 'If Jolanta will let me, I'll give you a hand until your partner comes back.'

'Really?' said Anastasia, brightening.

'Of course,' smiled Natalya. It did feel nice to help people out. Though it felt even better to know it would irritate Masha.

'Thank you.'

'Come on,' said Natalya, leading the way. 'We've dawdled long enough.'

Her comrade close behind, the two women returned into the belly of the beast.