The salty, pine-scented air of Ordu was the only thing that kept me grounded, but today, that air was tainted by the bitter smell of car exhaust and the finality of packed boxes. I stood in the middle of our living room—a room that used to be filled with laughter but was now echoing with the hollow sound of my own defiance. My arms were crossed tightly over my chest as I stared at the three large suitcases lined up by the door like silent intruders.
"I said no, Eda! I am not going, and you can't make me!" My voice cracked from the sheer volume of my frustration. My turquoise eyes were burning, fixed on my older sister who stood near the window.
Eda sighed heavily, her hand instinctively reaching down to rub her prominent, seven-month pregnant belly. She looked pale, the dark circles under her eyes telling the story of a high-risk pregnancy. Beside her stood Demir, her husband. He was holding a stack of passports and three one-way tickets to Moscow, his expression unreadable but firm.
"Aurelia, please don't start this again," Eda pleaded. "The specialist in Moscow is the only one Demir's company trusts for this procedure. It's the best medical care in the world. We can't just stay here and hope for the best."
"Then you go! You and Demir go to Russia, and I'll stay here," I snapped, my blonde hair whipping around my face. "I have my school, my friends, my entire life here in Ordu. I'm seventeen years old! I'm not a child. I can cook, I can clean, and the neighbors are right next door if I need anything."
Demir stepped forward, the floorboards creaking under his weight. "Aurelia, it's not just about cooking. We are moving to a different country for at least six months. We are not leaving a seventeen-year-old girl alone in a house this size. What if something happens? Eda would spend every second worrying about you instead of focusing on the baby."
"I don't need a babysitter, Demir!" I shouted, feeling the hot sting of tears. "You're not my father. You're just taking me because you don't want the burden of worrying. You're dragging me to a place where I don't speak the language, where it's freezing, and where I don't know a soul!"
"We are a family," Eda said, her voice gaining strength. "And family stays together. We need you, Aurelia. I need you. What if I have to stay in the hospital for weeks? Who is going to be there for me while Demir is at work? You're my sister, my best friend. Please, don't make this harder."
That was the low blow. Eda knew that I couldn't say no to her when she played the 'sister' card. I looked at her tired face, the fear in her eyes about her unborn child, and my heart sank. My anger turned into a heavy, suffocating weight. I didn't say another word. I just grabbed my backpack and walked out to the car, slamming the door so hard the windows rattled.
The drive to the airport was a blur of green mountains—the beautiful scenery of Turkey that I was sure I would never see again. I kept my headphones on, the volume turned up to the maximum, drowning out the sound of Demir and Eda discussing their plans for the new apartment in Moscow. I felt like a prisoner being escorted to an unknown fate.
The flight was four hours of being trapped, moving further and further away from everything I loved. When the pilot announced our descent, I looked out the window and gasped. It wasn't just snow; it was a white, frozen wasteland. The sky was a bruised shade of gray, and the sun was nowhere to be seen.
The moment we stepped out of the airport, the cold hit me like a physical assault. It wasn't the kind of cold we had in Ordu; it was a bone-chilling, dry ice that seemed to freeze the very breath in my lungs. My thin stylish coat, which was perfect for a Turkish autumn, felt like paper against the Russian wind.
"Welcome to Moscow," Demir murmured, shivering as he signaled for a black, tinted SUV.
As the car sped through the city, I realized that Moscow was a city of giants. The buildings were massive, towering over us like silent monsters. There were no colorful houses here. Everything felt expensive, cold, and dangerous.
"The hospital is our first stop," Demir said, checking his watch. "The Director himself is expecting us. This place is incredibly exclusive, Aurelia. Most people can't even get past the front gate."
"I'd rather be in a tent in Ordu," I muttered, leaning my forehead against the freezing glass.
Eda didn't respond. She was leaning back, her breathing coming in short, ragged gasps. I noticed her hand clutching her stomach tighter. "Eda? Are you okay?" I asked, my frustration giving way to genuine concern.
"I... I have a sharp pain," she whispered, her face turning gray. "Demir, hurry!"
Demir barked an order to the driver, and the SUV surged forward. We turned into a private district where the streets were lined with high black iron fences and security cameras. We reached a massive gate guarded by men in military-style uniforms. They checked Demir's ID and waved us through.
The hospital was a fortress of black glass and white marble. As the car stopped, Demir swept Eda into his arms. I ran after them, my boots slipping on the icy pavement. We burst through the heavy glass doors into a lobby that was terrifyingly silent. The floors were polished to a mirror shine, reflecting the dim glow of crystal chandeliers.
Suddenly, Eda let out a scream that tore through the quiet. She collapsed from Demir's arms onto the marble floor. My eyes widened in horror as I saw a dark crimson stain spreading rapidly across her dress and onto the white floor.
"Help! Someone help us!" I screamed, my voice echoing off the high ceilings. "My sister! Please!"
The sound of footsteps thundered through the hall. Not doctors, but men in black suits. They surrounded us in seconds, their hands moving toward their holsters. I stood over my sister, my heart hammering in my ears.
Then, the main elevator opened.
A man walked out, and the entire room seemed to freeze. He wasn't just tall; he had an aura of absolute power that made the air feel heavy. His eyes were as dark as a winter night and just as cold. The guards immediately stepped back, bowing their heads in pure fear and respect.
"Who gave these peasants permission to bleed on my floor?" the man's voice was a deep, smooth silk, but it carried a threat that made my skin crawl.
He didn't look at Eda or Demir. He walked straight toward me, his expensive leather shoes clicking rhythmically. He stopped just inches away, his shadow completely engulfing me.
"This is a private sanctuary for the elite," he whispered, leaning down. "In this city, I am the law. And I own everything my shadow touches."
He reached out with a gloved hand, his fingers gripping my chin with a firm strength, forcing me to look up into his terrifying eyes.
"Your sister might live," he said, a slow, predatory smirk forming on his lips. "But you... you just walked into a cage you will never leave, little bird. Welcome to my world."
I stared back at him, my turquoise eyes filled with a fire I didn't know I had. "I'm not a bird. And I'm not yours."
The man laughed, a sound that was devoid of any joy. "We shall see, Aurelia. We shall see."