One week later

"Come and join us for zavtrak before you leave!" the hostel owner, a woman in her sixties, calls Yemisi to the kitchen in her coarse accent, She is setting the table with dishes. The dishes are Beef Stroganoff and a Russian beetroot soup known as Borscht.

Yemisi knew immediately that the woman was calling her for breakfast because the woman used the word zavtrak a lot which was the Russian word for breakfast.

The Beef Stroganoff dish looks appetizing. It consisted of sautéed pieces of beef served in a sauce with smetana known as sour cream, and the beetroot soup had dozens of ingredients: meat, sautéed vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, onions, and potatoes.

Yemisi and Ebun had spent one week at Hostel Pavlov, Moscow, Russia, and it was one hell of an experience. First, its location was suspicious. It was a six-store building hidden between the hills after a long drive through a narrow road. The dunes by the sides were a brick red color with cactus plants all around.

Strange. It wasn't a place anyone would like to tread upon as it looked like a journey to hell, so Yemisi was courageous enough to have sojourned that far. The hostel being the end product of her search, looking pleasing on the exterior. The interior was okay for an average hostel. Probably a bit impressive, but the rooms, especially the rooms allocated to Yemisi and Ebunoluwa on the sixth floor, were in horrendous conditions.

Aside from the fact that there were no elevators and had to carry their luggage single-handedly to the sixth floor, the empty rooms had gigantic cobwebs and dusty furniture.

In addition to that mess, the sockets available were not working, so they had to go all the way downstairs to charge their phones. The window panes were stiff, and the glass shattered when they tried to open it for cleaning.

The straw that broke the camel's hind limbs (as the camel's back isn't the most befitting idiom to describe the condition) was the clogged toilets.  Yemisi paid the hostel owner additional bucks to secure a better room, but those were the only two rooms available in that hostel.

Yemisi and Ebun didn't have a choice but to clean up their temporary rooms to the best of their abilities. More importantly, Yemisi had to fulfill her mission of staying in Russia for a week, so each day, she strolled around the neighborhood and asked random people the strangest questions. She asked about who drove by the streets often and even enquired for names of famous people, both good and bad.

Yemisi walked around and searched for hidden avenues. She journeyed through abandoned storehouses, empty amusement parks, and even churches under construction. Places that have felt Ebun was likely to be in either as a victim or as a perpetrator. She gave her phone number to people who lived around those places, so they could reach her if they found Ebun around those places and got a suspicious vibe.

Yemisi provided descriptions of her sister as well, so it would be easy for the people to know Ebun. Yemisi knew her actions might not be completely safe as the people she conversed with might be evil-doers themselves, so she tried using money to buy the loyalty of a few with hopes that it wouldn't backfire on her.

Thankfully, most of these people were English-speaking Russians because they were educated and had learned English. In situations where she encountered someone that spoke bits of the Russian language in their sentences, there was always someone nearby to translate what it meant. Moreover, Yemisi learned bits of the language fast because the hostel owner's daughter was always translating every Russian word her mother said.

Yemisi even thought of taking the hostel owner's daughter everywhere with her for translation purposes if she met people who only spoke Russian but figured that something might go wrong. It was best she knew nothing because there was a tendency she might become friends with Ebun.

Once Yemisi was sure she had several eyes monitoring Ebun around the neighborhood and beyond, Yemisi was sure she could leave Russia. Ebun was not wholly ignorant of her sister's moves either. Although she didn't know what Yemisi was doing, she attempted to scheme ways with Sean so she would never get stranded or caught at any point.

How about we meet at open places? Ebun texted after imagining multiple scenarios in her head.

We don't need to do that. Sean replied. Just be patient till we meet at school.

The hostel owner had a twenty-year-old brunette as a daughter. Ebun hadn't related much with the girl, but Ebun seemed to like her after witnessing the brunette kill a goat effortlessly.  Ebun knew she would have to associate with the girl one day, but she didn't know how.

Today was the day for Yemisi to leave, and she couldn't afford to miss her flight, but she knew the sixty-year-old woman had spent nearly three hours preparing those meals altogether, so she concluded to take a few bites to show respect and gratitude. Once she got done adjusting the cufflinks on her sleeves, she joined Ebun, the sixty-year-old hostel owner, and her brunette daughter at the dining table.

***

Breakfast went by fast and surprisingly void of every atom of awkwardness and unease. It seems like everyone was in a hurry, and Yemisi is the first to confirm that. She stands up from the table after a few spoons and wipes the sides of her lips curtly with the table serviette.

"Can I have a word with you, ma'am?" Yemisi leans towards the hostel owner and asks the question in a whisper seconds after Ebun left to wash her plate in the kitchen.

"Tyere's no need to khave a word vit me. I vill keep your seester safe. You've discussed it vit me many times and even gave me extra bucks. I vasn't able to get you a good room but I can protect your sister. Ne volnuysya," the woman waves her hand dismissively as she sips her bowl of beetroot soup after reassuring Yemisi.

Yemisi has no idea what those last words meant but she heaves a sigh and decides to let go and trust the woman. "Thank you, ma'am. For the food and your promise. I have to go now."

"You should see your sister off!" The woman calls out to Ebun without mentioning her name as pronunciations for foreign ethical words were a hassle. English is already a complex language for her to speak.

Ebun follows her sister to the main door and assists in carrying her luggage out of the hostel.

Before Yemisi leaves, she gives Ebun extra cash in Russian rubles. It is an addition to the allowance their father and brothers had given her. Although Yemisi is skeptical and displeased with Ebun, she still loved her younger sister dearly, which was why she went to extreme lengths to ensure her safety despite her busy schedule and personal tribulations.

So, she gives Ebun a short hug and bids her farewell afterward. Ebun watches Yemisi hail a taxi and zoom out of sight before going back to the hostel. She expects to be happy that her sister has finally left her alone but a pang of pain stings at the walls of her heart. She is alone now and far away from every trace of home. The reality of it hits her suddenly.

***

A few hours later, the hostel owner, Mrs. Mariyah, heads out to the market to buy foodstuff for the hostel inhabitants. Ebun is alone in her rusty scented room with her phone next to her. She knows she can easily text Sean, but she has no question to ask since he's reassured her of protection and safety.

Strangely, Ebun realizes that the simple idea of texting Sean is exciting, and why is that so? They didn't have any conversations outside arrangements with coming to Russia, so why does the thought tickle a fancy in her?

Was it because Sean was the first person she would ever text? No. Texting was no fun. Maybe it's because he's good at making you feel at ease?

Pfft. Whatever. I am strong girl who needs no assistance in checking any form of anxiety. Unimportant conversations would be a waste of wifi and screentime.

Hmm. So what am I supposed to do with my free time right now?

Quickly, she remembers Mrs. Mariyah's daughter. The brunette. Now might be a good time to talk to her. Ebun doesn't know if the girl is at home, and this was her first time approaching someone to be friends. She didn't know how it was going to turn out. Still, she decided to check if the brunette was in her room.

She remembered her room from the first day she lodged in. The brunette showed Ebun her room and told her to stop by if she needed anything, so Ebun stops by. After a few knocks at the thick oak door, a shrill voice permits her to step in, and Ebun yields after opening the door.

Her room looks special as expected of a room of the hostel owner's daughter to look. Her bed is ten times wider than Ebun's. The window panes are in good condition. The floors and ceilings are sparkling. The brunette is seated comfortably on her bed with her laptop. She looks up at Ebun with a smile that reached her eyes.

"Have a seat! Your name is Ebun, right?"

"Yes. But that's not the right way to pronounce my name, " Ebun pointed out. "The 'E' in my name is the same way you pronounce the 'e' in 'egg,' but the 'BUN' in my name is not the same way you pronounce the 'bun' in 'bunny.' The 'U' in 'BUN' is more of an 'oo' sound. I know my explanation sucks, but that's the only way I can put it, " Ebun explains as she sits on the comfy bed.

"Oh, your explanation is perfect because I get it now, " the brunette smiles enthusiastically as the information seems to thrill her. "So it's EH-BOON like the way you pronounce 'Boom' in 'Mills and 'BOOM."

Ebun let's out a short, genuine laugh. "Yes, it's obvious you're having way too much fun seeing that you're comparing the pronunciation of my name to a pornographic magazine, but it's okay so long as you're saying it the right way."

"Thank you for correcting me, " the girl laughs shyly. "I'll make a conscious effort to master the correct pronunciation of your name. You'd have to pardon me, a poor Russian."

"It's okay, " Ebun smiles. Associating with people was not that difficult after all. The brunette was so polite. "Anyway, I was just bored and thought I could stop by and chat with you, but you seem busy."

"Oh, " the brunette gives that shy laugh again as she closes her laptop. "I'm not that busy. I was playing a game before you walked in."

"Oh, I see. Very well then. I loved the way you beheaded that goat the other day. It gave me the sexy villain vibes, " Ebun notices the sticker on the brunette's system. It looks familiar, but she doesn't know how to question it, so she decides to comment on something else.

"Oh, that! It was nothing at all. I'm used to it. I kill a goat every weekend when I'm not in school. Some of the guests in our hostel love to eat goat meat. So I assist my mum."

"That's so cool! I heard you mention 'school' in your reply, and it made me know why the sticker on your laptop looks familiar. Do you attend First Moscow Medical State University?"

"Yes. I study orthopedics, " Viktoriya answers but with a forced smile like she doesn't enjoy answering that question.

"Pardon my non-existent manners as I forgot to enquire your name now that we are deep in conversation."

"My name's Viktoriya."

"It suits you. I enrolled at the same school to study Dentistry. That's why I know the logo."

"That's an elite course! Now I understand why your sister seemed so overprotective and doubtful during her stay here, but I think she should trust you and be rest assured that you'd do a great job at school."

There is silence from Ebun's end. She is contemplating a reply to give. Then, she makes a decision. Viktoriya has proved to be reliable within the few minutes they've conversed, so she is going to tell her the harsh truth.

"No, I won't. My sister didn't come all the way here to make me promise that I would get good grades."

"What did she come here for then?" Viktoriya looked a lot more serious now because the conversation was gradually escalating into something else.

Ebun contemplates again before answering that question. She makes the same decision - to tell the blunt truth, and this time, she figures Viktoriya might be of help because Ebun is beginning to have an idea of how she thinks Vik might be of help.

"I'm here to kill."

"WHAT?!" Vik gasps and takes in a sharp breath. Then she quickly covers her mouth with her hands to avoid attention from the hostel inhabitants.

"Shh, " Ebun urges. "I'm here to kill, and my sister followed me to Russia to make sure I don't do anything dangerous. She doesn't know of my truest intentions, but she suspects me enough to come all the way here. She's a lawyer with the sharpest of instincts."

"Who are you here to kill?" Vik asks, but not out of fear this time around. There is a hint of understanding in her question instead. Like she trusts Ebun to have a valid reason. Like she knows too well that there is nothing new under the sun.

"Rapists, " Ebun answers. "You see, I'd be nineteen years old in a few months, but I'm no girly girl. I'm not even a girl. You see this scar?" Ebun touched her lips. "I know it makes me look ugly. I obtained it from fighting for my life. Six men raped me at the age of twelve. I'm sure you know how the trauma goes for a rape victim, especially a girl child, so I'll save you the remaining details. How I managed to get here from Nigeria despite my family's opposition is another story I would love to share with you, but I can't. I'm here for revenge, not school."

"Oh my God!" Vik removes her glasses as she exclaims. "I guess it's okay for me to share my story with you too, " she sighs, then swallows thickly. The the brunette isn't okay with sharing. Ebun wants to tell her that she doesn't have to feel obligated to share, but Ebun figures Vik's story might be a tool of help, so she watches her gather momentum.

"I experienced something similar recently. It was a year ago. There was this handsome thirty-five-year-old man that attended my school for a postgraduate degree. He was a rapist with a fetish for lace panties, but he was a lovely man.

He was hitting on me. I knew it was wrong for me to accept his gestures. I was only nineteen then, and he was way older, but I needed money for sustenance. My mom went bankrupt last year. I agreed to date him, but we both decided that I wouldn't go to his house on the weekend since I had to be at the hostel.

Foolish of me to think I was the only girl he was dating. He bought me a red lace pantie for Valentine, and he told me to wear it on a particular day. I didn't yield. I knew he wanted to have sex by making that move, but I wasn't ready. I just needed money.

The day came, and he knew I wasn't wearing the pant he bought me. The psycho knew even though my pant line wasn't showing because I wore a flared skirt. He became furious that I disobeyed him, so he raped me after school that day and forced me to wear the lace pantie.

My world came crashing down after then. I wanted to leave the school, but I was already in my fourth year, so I had to start attending school from home."

Vik wipes her wholesome tears after telling her story. Ebun is annoyed.

"You know I can't console you, right? I can't even show you that I feel your pain, even if I do. Heck, I'm a deranged psychopath who has refused therapy, so I believe you are indirectly asking for my help by sharing your story because I can't offer you empathy."

"No, " Vik answers with slight irritation in her voice. "As you can see, I've managed to become happy."

"But you haven't healed. You just finished wiping bitter tears away from your eyes. You want the pedophile dead wherever he is right now. I can bet that."

"That's not true. I have part of the blame in the story, and I resent myself for it every day."

"Sure, sure. It's part of the trauma that comes with being a rape victim. You blame yourself for getting raped. I did the same thing, too, but you're only wasting your time if you continue thinking like that. It was entirely the fault of your rapist for the evil act. Not you.

If the man were sensible and responsible, he wouldn't have picked interest in a young girl like you. It's easy for innocent girls with a particular need to fall prey to the hands of friendly, wealthy predators like him, and you happened to be one of those victims. In as much as you hate yourself, I know you wish the man never came your way to set that trap."

"Yes. You are right, " Vik admits with all realness.

"Now, what do you feel like doing to him for setting such a trap for you?"

"I feel like...revenging. I feel like doing the same thing but even worse, " Vik looks up at Ebun with a mutual kind of understanding and realization of Ebun's point of view.

"That's right, " Ebun decides that now is the perfect moment to push her agenda. "I can find him for you and give him the punishment he deserves." Ebun wanted to flatly say that she would kill the man if she found him but figured that Viktoriya might not like that as the girl seemed to have a good heart, and the last thing she needed was Vik declining.

"You can? Wow. Truthfully, I'll be glad, but what about you? Won't you be hurt? You are a fighter, but he might defeat you."

"Don't worry about that. I never lose."

"What are you going to do about your elder sister, though?"

"Now that's where I need you to help me in return." Ebun grins shamelessly. "Now that you know of my mission, it's clear that I would barely spend the nights in this hostel, and in return for helping you get revenge which is going to take some time, you have to protect me from your mom and make reasonable excuses for me during the nights that I would be away."

***

I'm sorry this update took a while. I'm sure it left you satisfied and intrigued as always. You might consider some of the details I added to this chapter as unnecessary. Still, I deemed it fit to portray some things I regarded as important in this chapter, especially with the pronunciation of names.

I know many foreigners have a problem with pronouncing ethnical names. Still, like Viktoriya, you can make a conscious effort to call people by the names they want to be called without any silly kinds of abbreviations or nicknames just because you don't know how to pronounce their names.

Also, with the Russian food, I just added those extra details to make it feel like a Russian setting, plus the character's names, too, of course! I hope I did a great job.