Tangled limbs surrounded Natalya as she fought her way through the sea of people. Being small had its advantage and she was able to slip between the closely packed bodies, hopeful that it would slow Sasha down enough to give her a good head start.

Finally free of the crowd, she began her sprint across the square. Natalya's heartbeat drummed in her ears as her feet pounded the floor. She knew that Sasha would be chasing her, but she had to make it home. She had to get to Ekaterina.

Metallic saliva clung to her tongue, her chest tight as she made it onto the main shopping street once more. She had hoped there would be more people to cloak her here too, but it was still too early in the day. No matter. She would not stop.

Bodies collided with hers as she pushed forward, Natalya barging them aside. She ignored their grumbled complaints, focusing only on Ekaterina. It was time for Sasha to answer for his actions and this time, she refused to be trapped in the middle. Contempt had clearly clouded his judgement. He would say anything to get her to comply. Really, her trust in Sasha had withered such a long time ago.

There was a scuffle behind her, a shrill female voice crying out in complaint. Had Sasha caused it? Had it stopped him? Without turning, Natalya would have no idea how close he was. But she couldn't afford herself that time.

Nearing her home, she slipped from the main street and scurried along a back road that led to the apartment block. Aching limbs began to slow her momentum, her resolve the only thing driving her. In the smaller, quieter space, Natalya was aware of the thunderous footfall behind her.

A somewhat distant voice carried to her. 'Natalya, please!'

The street opened to the courtyard of her apartment complex, a new wave of energy surging through her. Tearing open the front door, Natalya began her ascent up the stairs. She was entirely grateful that they only lived on the first floor. Anything more and she would have faltered. Time did not allow her to fiddle for her keys. Natalya simply collapsed against her front door and pounded her fists against the wood.

'Grandmother!' Her voice was hoarse and desperate. The door downstairs flew open again, clattering against the wall to herald her husband's arrival. 'Hurry!'

'Natalya!' It was a low, guttural growl. Sasha was clearly as exhausted and angry as she was.

The door opened, Ekaterina's full scowl aimed at her. Just as Sasha made it to the landing, Natalya tumbled into the apartment and slammed the door shut. Natalya's trembling fingers fiddled to fix all of the locks, her wheezing breath stunted and pained.

Sasha slammed into the other side of the door so that it rattled in its frame. Depleted, Natalya sank to the floor. Ekaterina bent and gripped Natalya's shoulders and dragged her back as knock after thunderous knock was delivered.

Silence fell.

'Liya,' asked Ekaterina. 'What is going on?'

'Should I tell her?' rasped Sasha, both women startled. He'd always had the ears of a hawk.

Natalya finally pushed to her feet. 'Tell her what?' she spat through the door. 'That you're a stupid idealist that has had a target on his back for months?'

Another silence.

'Should I tell her what we did?' His reply was cold and biting, anything to take another chunk from her. 'To Micha and Yelena.'

'Shut up!' Natalya slammed a flat palm against the door as though it was Sasha himself. Ignoring the sharp tingle in her hand, she glanced at her grandmother whose brow had knotted.

'You're part of this as much as I am,' reminded Sasha.

Ignoring him, she watched her grandmother as Ekaterina tried to figure out what he meant. Her face twisted with confusion, her old wise eyes filled with misplaced naivety.

'Grandmother,' managed Natalya. 'It was an accident. I would never have hurt them on purpose.'

Natalya's gut contorted under the weight of her worry. Would her grandmother discard her, just as her father had done? She never had before. Ekaterina was her only constant. But she was a noble, upstanding woman. Maybe she wouldn't forgive her. Could she not see how the guilt suffocated her granddaughter? That Natalya would give anything to trade places with her lost best friend.

There was a beat before Ekaterina replied. 'I know. I know you wouldn't.' She strode forward, letting Natalya collapse into her arms.

'I'm so sorry.' Natalya buried her face in Ekaterina's neck, inhaling the comforting soft florals of her grandmother's perfume.

'It's going to be all right my darling,' she promised as she kissed her cheek. 'It's over now.'

'It isn't,' said Sasha.

'You need to go,' instructed Ekaterina. 'I'm ashamed that I ever encouraged your reconciliation.'

'Ekaterina-'

'No,' she barked. 'You have never been fit for my granddaughter, Alexander. I have always known it.' Natalya nestled further into her grandmother, in need of her strength. 'You have hurt her enough. Just go.'

'Liya,' came Sasha's voice, far softer this time. Ekaterina gripped her granddaughter even tighter. 'I'm really trying to look after you.'

That regained Natalya's attention. Her back slumped against the door out of her grandmother's embrace, her fingernails digging into the wood as her cheek turned towards her husband. 'Why now?'

'All of this is my fault. I know that. The fire made me see it.'

Sorrow swelled in Natalya's throat, and she tried her best to swallow it.

'Please.' The word was laboured with defeat; it was something all too familiar from Sasha lips. 'Please krasotka. Just let me in.'

Natalya considered the locks. 'And if I do?'

'Then we can talk.'

If she opened the door, it would feel like she was admitting her own guilt. That Sasha was right. But something was willing her to. Was it simply sentiment? Did she really still cling to any trace of love she felt for him? As was her way, she began to fiddle, her gaze focused on every crease in her hands as she massaged down the length of her fingers and up again.

'I'm not coming with you. I want you to go and forget about me.'

Sasha sighed heavily. 'I can't do that. You're not safe here.'

'Lies,' interjected Ekaterina. 'She has me.'

His bitter laugh was muffled by the door. 'You can't protect her from what's coming.'

'And you can?'

'Better than you, yes.'

'I don't need protection from either of you,' reminded Natalya. 'And given a choice Sasha, why would I choose you?'

'You chose me once before-'

'And look where that has left us. Having a conversation through a door whilst the are out looking for you.'

Raised voices carried up to the apartment through the open window, both women aware of it.

'Don't do anything,' urged Ekaterina as she darted to the window.

'Fuck,' breathed Sasha.

'What?'

'I'm out of time.'

'It's the militsiya,' said Ekaterina.

'How-' began Natalya.

'If I'm not at home or work, this would be the only other place to find out information,' said Sasha, his words choked.

There was a small pause, and the voices grew louder.

'Come away from the door,' instructed Ekaterina.

'Wait,' called Sasha. 'Liya, you need to know that I wasn't lying. I really was going to look after you.'

Heart thrumming, Natalya tried to stay stalwart. 'Sasha-'

'I'm sorry I wasn't able to prove it to you.'

Before she fully realised what she was doing, Natalya tore open the locks in a race against the impending arrival of the militsiya. She ignored her grandmother's protestation as she threw the door open and flung herself into Sasha's embrace.

Sasha pulled her into him and hugged her close to his chest. He smelt of the sweat of a troubled sleep, mingled with his usual tobacco and cheap spirit. The rough wool of his coat scratched her cheek, and his heart sang to her from his chest. It had been so long since he held her like this, the sensation of his arms around her bizarre and alien... and final.

'I'm sorry too,' she whispered, kissing his unkempt jaw.

The march of a sequenced formation broke their last moment.

Squeezing her a final time, Sasha released her and shoved her back into her grandmother's arms. He looked so frightened, and Natalya couldn't bare it. In this moment, he wasn't the man that had cost her everything. He was simply Sasha, the young man she had fallen in love with eleven long years ago. What a stupid, naive fifteen year old she had been. She was no better now.

Her gaze fell to the approaching officers. There were four of them, a tight structure of smart, blue uniforms that contrasted the washed out grey walls. A lone, superior officer strode at the front, his outer coat long and heavy. He had a protruding chin and broad shoulders, his entire demeanour arrogant and yet worn through.

Head held high in defiance, Sasha turned his back on Natalya and Ekaterina.

'Alexander Vikentyevich ?' asked the officer.

'That's me,' he said, his voice hard and clear.

'Just who we're looking for. I am Commander Potapov.' Potapov stepped closer to Sasha as his thin lips enjoyed every word they uttered, as though doing so rejuvenated his very life force. 'We have a warrant for your arrest.' He handed Sasha the papers. 'You are to come with us immediately.'

'As if I have any choice in the matter,' relented Sasha. Two officers came forward, grabbing Sasha by his arms. He didn't fight them.

'Sasha.' His name tumbled from Natalya's mouth before she could stop it. Her grandmother attempted to pull her further into the apartment.

'It's all right,' promised Sasha, though it was clearly a lie.

Potapov stepped past Sasha to stand in front of Natalya. 'And might you be Natalya Dmitryevna Pavlishcheva?' Closer inspection of this man showed her an unwashed uniform covered in ash stains. Bags lingered beneath his eyes, his chin covered by a greying stubble. He was hanging on by a thread.

'Who else would he be stupid enough to visit other than his wife?' Natalya retorted.

'Forgive my granddaughter,' garbled Ekaterina quickly. 'She is clearly distressed-'

'Clearly,' replied Potapov, undeterred.

Sasha interrupted them. 'My wife has done nothing wrong! I simply wanted to say goodbye.'

His sudden defiance provoked amusement from Potapov. 'Of course not. But I do have some questions for her.'

'She isn't involved!' insisted Sasha.

'Don't you worry,' assured Potapov. 'I'll be gentle with her.' His eyes darted to Natalya again before they landed on Sasha once more. There was a glimmer of menace that hadn't been there before. 'At first.'

Unable to contain himself, Sasha lunged at Potapov. The two officers in charge of him just managed to grab him and fight Sasha into submission.

Potapov beckoned Natalya closer with a crook of his finger, as though this was a small scolding for a petulant child.

Ekaterina cleared her throat. 'I beg of you, Commander Potapov, my granddaughter knows nothing.'

'Nothing of what?' countered Potapov, his head tilted slightly in feigned confusion.

'His treachery.' Ekaterina's tone was iced with accusation.

'So you know it's treachery?'

'She's a smart woman,' snapped Natalya. 'It's not hard to put two and two together.'

'Liya!' gasped Ekaterina.

Natalya ignored her. 'What on earth could you learn from me anyway?'

'Come now, Natalya Dmitryevna, I don't want to have to use force on you.'

'She doesn't know anything!' countered Sasha again. An officer struck him across the face.

Natalya tried to run to him, but Ekaterina held her in place. 'Don't you dare hurt him!'

'Why?'

'He's just trying to look after me! Have you no heart?'

Potapov let out a long, frustrated sigh. Any enjoyment he had just found had clearly dissipated again. 'Come with me. You will only make it worse for him by resisting.'

Sasha's head hung in shame. He really had tried to warn her.

Natalya tried to stand taller. 'Just me? Not my grandmother.'

'I suppose that depends on how helpful you are.'

Natalya didn't know why she fought against it all... it was hopeless.

'All right,' she relented. Before Ekaterina could begin the protest, Natalya turned and hugged her close. 'I'll be home soon, I promise.'

Her grandmother said nothing. They both realised that it wasn't a promise she could necessarily keep.

A hand gripped Natalya's shoulder and tugged her back.

'Be gentle with her.' Ekaterina's voice was strangled, the emotion seemingly repressed.

Potapov said nothing, his fingers dug into Natalya as he turned her towards the stairs. Sasha wouldn't look at her, any comfort she sought in him completely denied. They began their descent to the courtyard, every step tearing Natalya further away from the last traces of her former life.