The city square was full of life, buzzing with the sounds of people talking, cars honking and street vendors shouting about their goods. It was a loud and busy place, but right in the middle of it all was Sera Mikhailov. She was a quiet girl who didn’t stand out much, like one of her flowers soft, gentle and easy to overlook in the chaos around her.

Sera was crouched next to her small wooden cart, carefully arranging the fresh flowers she had picked early in the morning at the market. There were roses, daisies and lilacs, each one special in its own way. As she worked, she whispered little stories about the flowers to herself. These flowers weren’t just her livelihood, they were her escape, her way of hiding from the harsh world she lived in.

"Miss, how much for these roses?" a woman asked, her voice rushed.

"Fifty for a dozen," Sera replied, her voice soft but clear.

The woman handed over the money and grabbed the bouquet without saying another word. Sera slipped the bills into the pocket of her old, worn-out dress and let out a small sigh. Every rupee she made went toward a debt that wasn’t even hers. It was her brother Nikolai money he had borrowed from some dangerous people and never paid back. After his sudden death in a car accident, the responsibility fell on her and the weight of it only seemed to get heavier as time went on.

But what could she do? She had no choice. Nikolai had been her only family before he was gone and now it was just her and her aging grandmother. The thought of letting them down even Nikolai, despite everything was what kept her going.

○●○

The day dragged on and Sera barely made enough to get by. As the sun started to set, turning the sky shades of orange and pink, she packed up her cart and began the long walk home. Her feet were sore from standing all day, but the thought of her grandmother waiting with a warm bowl of soup kept her moving.

Her tiny apartment was in an old, run-down building on the edge of the city. The paint on the walls was peeling and there were cracks everywhere, but it was still home. As soon as she stepped inside, the comforting smell of boiled lentils greeted her.

“Ah, you’re home, dear,” her grandmother, Elena, said from the tiny kitchen. Her frail frame was bent over the stove, stirring a pot.

“Sit down, Grandma. I’ll take over,” Sera said, setting her basket of unsold flowers on the counter.

“You work all day, Sera. Let me help,” Elena kept insisting, but the slight shake in her hands gave her away.

Sera gently took the spoon from her. “You’ve done enough for me. Let me do this.”

Elena smiled, her face showing the years of hardship she had been through, but it was still warm. “You’re too good for this world,” she said softly.

Sera didn’t say anything. She didn’t feel good, she just felt tired. Tired of all the struggles, tired of living in fear. But she pushed those thoughts away and focused on the meal in front of her. They ate together quietly, without saying another word.

○●○

That night, Sera lay in bed, staring at the cracked ceiling. She tried to sleep, but her mind wouldn’t stop racing. All she could think about was how she’d manage to pay the next installment of Nikolai’s debt. The men her brother had borrowed from weren’t the kind to negotiate or show any mercy, and time was running out fast.

A loud knock at the door snapped her out of her thoughts. It was late way too late for anyone to show up. Her heart started pounding as she grabbed a shawl and tiptoed to the door, trying to stay as quiet as possible.

“Who is it?” she called out, her voice shaking.

No answer.

The knock came again, louder this time.

Sera’s fingers trembled as she unlocked the door. When she opened it, her breath caught in her throat.

Three men in black suits stood there, their faces cold and unreadable. The one in the middle, taller and broader than the others, stepped forward.

“Are you Sera Mikhailov?” he asked, his voice deep and commanding.

“Yes,” she whispered.

He handed her an envelope. “This is from Dimitri Volkov. You have one week to pay the remaining debt. If you fail…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but the threat was clear in his tone.

Before she could respond, the men turned and walked away, disappearing into the night.

Sera closed the door, her hands trembling as she tore open the envelope. Inside was a piece of paper with the amount she owed an amount so huge it felt impossible for someone like her to ever pay off. Tears welled up in her eyes and she sank to the floor, clutching the letter tightly.

She had heard of Dimitri Volkov. Everyone had. He was the kind of man mothers warned their kids about the one who controlled the city from the shadows. Ruthless, powerful and completely untouchable. And now, he had his sights set on her.

○●○

The next morning, Sera went to work like she always did, but her mind was somewhere else. Every customer blurred together and each transaction felt automatic, like she was just going through the motions. By the end of the day, she had barely made a scratch in the debt.

As she pushed her cart down the street on her way home, a sleek black car slowly pulled up beside her. The window rolled down and she instantly recognized one of the men from the night before.

“Get in,” he ordered.

Sera froze. “I… I have nothing to give you.”

“We’re not here to collect. Dimitri Volkov wants to see you.”

Her heart stopped. “Why?”

“You’ll find out soon enough. Now get in.”

Sera looked around, hoping someone would intervene, but the street was empty. With no other choice, she climbed into the car, clutching her shawl tightly.

The ride was quiet, the kind of silence that felt heavy and suffocating. The men didn’t say a single word as they drove her to a mansion on the edge of the city. When the gates opened, they revealed a massive estate surrounded by high walls and armed guards patrolling the grounds.

Sera felt her knees go weak as they led her inside. The mansion was stunning, but it didn’t feel warm it felt cold and intimidating, with its marble floors and fancy chandeliers. She was taken to a huge office, where a man sat behind an oversized desk.

Dimitri Volkov.

He was younger than she had imagined, but there was something about him that sent a chill down her spine. His sharp features and piercing blue eyes made it seem like he could see straight through her. He wore a black suit, sitting back in his chair with an air of control that was both calm and terrifying.

“Miss Mikhailov,” he said, his voice smooth but laced with danger. “Do you know why you’re here?”

Sera swallowed hard. “The debt…”

“Yes, the debt.” Dimitri stood and walked around the desk, his movements slow and deliberate. “Your brother owed me a lot of money. Money that he never intended to repay. And now, that responsibility falls to you.”

“I’m trying,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I sell flowers every day—”

“Flowers?” Dimitri interrupted, a hint of amusement in his tone. “Do you really think selling flowers will be enough to pay off what you owe?”

Sera lowered her gaze, tears stinging her eyes.

Dimitri’s expression hardened. “I don’t have time for excuses. You have one week to come up with the money. If you fail…” He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “You’ll wish you hadn’t.”

Sera’s chest tightened with fear. “Please, I’ll do anything. Just give me more time.”

Dimitri studied her for a moment, his eyes cold and calculating. “Anything?”

She nodded, desperation overriding her caution.

A cruel smile spread across his face. “We’ll see about that.”

With a wave of his hand, he dismissed her and the men escorted her back to the car. As they drove her home, Sera felt like her world was crumbling around her.

Little did she know, this was only the beginning.