Kristen’s sock-covered feet barely cushioned the sting of the icy Moscow streets as she ran through the maze of alleyways, each breath coming out in sharp clouds. The thin fabric was soaked and nearly torn through, but it was all she had left—just her socks, a threadbare coat, and the will to keep going. She hadn’t slept in days, and her legs trembled with exhaustion, but the fear burned hotter than fatigue. Kristen had never spoken a word in her life—raised in silence, hidden away by people who saw her as property, not a person. Now she was running from them—from the mafia that had kept her caged, and for some reason, wanted her back. Maybe she’d seen too much. Maybe she’d escaped something she wasn’t supposed to. All she knew was their cars were still out there, their men shouting orders, their eyes scanning every corner. A flickering streetlamp cast her shadow long and thin on the wall as she slipped into an alley, pressing herself against the cold bricks, praying her heartbeat didn’t give her away. The city around her was massive and unforgiving, but Kristen kept moving, mute and terrified, chasing a freedom she’d never known but suddenly needed more than anything.