*Natalia*

I woke to the sound of unfamiliar voices speaking Russian around me. My shoulders screamed in pain as I regained consciousness; my arms were tied tightly behind me and my legs were cuffed to the legs of the chair I was sitting in. My throat hurt terribly and I could tell it was swollen and bruised from being choked out by my captors.

I tried to ignore the pain, but it felt like sparks were shooting down my shoulders and the rope they’d used to ...