"I saw her last in our apartment…we had gone to bed for the night and I got up at one point because I couldn't sleep. I didn't want to wake her so I just went out to read in our living room. When I returned, she was gone. The person that took her had left the window open and a syringe behind. I was too late though." Dmitry explained to Maksim during their morning meeting.
"So you believe that she was kidnapped and didn't run away on her own choosing?" Maksim questioned.
"She wouldn't do that. It's not like her…I question every day why she chose me over a life that would resemble what she had before…but she never showed any sign of doubt. If there's one thing she is, it's honest and loyal." Dmitry said confidently.
"How romantically touching." Maksim response bored. "Who would hold a grudge against you then? Maybe Darya? She was the last girl you had such an intimate connection to. Jealousy can do crazy things." He suggested. "I keep track of everyone I know. You can find her just a few towns over." He said, sliding an address over. Dmitry pocketed it.
"I'll look into it and let you know what I find." He said rising to leave. "Thanks for this Maksim…I know we parted on awkward terms but I'm grateful that you could understand my reasoning for giving it up." Maksim just smiled at him with a small nod.
"Of course Dmitry, anything at all for you." He said, guiding him on his way out the door. Maksim locked the front door once he was gone, going down to the basement where Anya was expectedly glaring at him. He lowered the gag from her mouth that he had placed as a precaution for Dmitry's visit, holding a cup of water to her mouth. "Drink, I'm sure you're thirsty."
"I'm sure I can handle drinking myself." She snapped.
"That would require untying you though, I don't trust you with that power just yet." He shoved the cup into her mouth, tipping it back to let her drink until she started coughing on the water. She spit half of what she took back at his face. Maksim calmly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his face before he grabbed her jaw violently and slapped her. "You want to play that way? Disrespectful and tough?" He released her face and pulled a knife from his pocket, poking her randomly before jabbing her shoulder, cupping her mouth to muffle her cry of pain as he did so.
"I can do so much worse to you if you keep this up. I need you alive but you don't have to be unharmed." He threatened, pressing the knife to her stomach which caused Anya to immediately bite his hand to get him away. Maksim gripped his hand in pain before lifting the gag off of her neck to force back between her teeth, as well as using his own scarf to blindfold her.
"I meant it, Anya. I have some visitors coming to see you tonight and you'll need to be on your best behavior for them, I expect only the most proper attitude." He said sternly before walking away to return upstairs and prepare for his guests.