Page 70 of Beaten

“How was I supposed to know that you can’t swim?”

“It’s still not a nice thing to push someone into a pool. I’m leaving. Alek is the one who can let you out. Not me.”

“So where’s Alek?”

“At work. I don’t know when he’ll be back.”

I start to walk away when Susanna calls out to me. “Katya. Wait.” I think it’s the first time she’s ever used my actual name.

“What?” I ask, not bothering to hide the exasperation in my voice.

“If I apologize, will you actually let us out?”

“Only if you mean it.”

Susanna goes quiet for a moment before she sighs. “Fine. I am sorry for pushing you into the pool. I honestly didn’t know you couldn’t swim. I am sorry for that.”

I can’t tell if she’s being honest with me or just telling me what I want to hear. But I know what it’s like to be locked up and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

“Thank you,” I say. “For apologizing. Maybe we could start again.”

“If you let us out first.”

“Alek should really be the one to do it.”

“Does he own you? No? Because you can make your own decisions.”

“Please let us out,” Nina adds. “Please. It’s been a whole day. We’re getting tired. Alek only let us out to use the bathroom and gave us food before putting us right back in here.”

“I don’t want you to be prisoners.”

“So let us out,” Susanna says. Desperation is in her voice. It makes me hesitate, unsure if I can trust her. But I know if I don’t let them out, they’ll hate me even more and maybe this is a chance for us to build a bridge between us. I gave Alek my body which was a sign that I plan on staying with him.

I need to try with Nina and Susanna.

“All right,” I say. “I’ll let you out.” I unlock the door and Susanna rips it open. Both she and her sister surge through the door, clearly desperate to get out of the room. They’re the opposite of me: they didn’t find any comfort being stuck in that room all day.

“Thank you,” Nina says, sounding like she means it.

But it’s Susanna who turns her head to the side, ignoring me. Nina nudges her but Susanna still doesn’t do anything.

“You’re welcome,” I say. “You can leave now. I won’t stop you.”

“Thank god,” Susanna mutters. They head for the foyer when they stop. Looking past them, I see that Alek has returned from work. Work that includes taking my brother down, which is still something I can’t contemplate.

“What are you two doing out?” Alek asks in a low voice.

“Katya let us out,” Nina explains.

Alek shoots me a look and I duck my chin. I thought I was doing the right thing. “I didn’t give you two the right to leave.”

“They apologized,” I say, trying to intervene before things get out of hand. “They apologized. So we’re on better terms now.”

“Is this true?” Alek asks them. Both of the girls nod. “You promise to never hurt Katya again?”

“Yes,” Nina says right away while Susanna hesitates.

“Susanna,” Alek says in a hard tone.