"Curiosity is one of the forms of feminine bravery."
Victor Hugo
A long time ago, in the dead of the night, there was a cry. The cry of an infant child, born into a world of luxury, and comfort. Little did the child's parents know that she would one day become, what is now one of the most intriguing mysteries of history, it is also one of the saddest and most heart wrenching tales of Imperial Russia. Her name means of the resurrection, or in brief, Anastasia.
She was a beautiful baby, but little did she know what was to come.
Saturday December 24 1910 St. Petersburg, Russia
"Maria, hurry up you slow pig" Anastasia said to her sister. They were in their room wearing long woolen trench coats and newsboy caps.
"We shouldn't be doing this Anastasia, it's dangerous" her sister explained. Her sister Maria was always looking out for her sister, they were often referred to as the 'little pair' because they were always together, and Maria felt it was her duty to take care of her little sister.
"Well, what better way to celebrate?" Anastasia said lively.
"You know, you're supposed to celebrate Christmas with your family" Maria said climbing on to the roof through a boarded up window in the palace "not running through the city" she said as she tried not to slip "and acting like a scoundrel" she finished.
"Hurry up we'll miss it" Anastasia pleaded, paying no mind to her worried sister. They ran to the black iron gates that surrounded the property and snuck past the guards, blending into the busy crowd, rushed with the thrill of Christmas.
"Wow, look at the snow Maria" Anastasia said as it started to fall, then she ran off in the direction of the Дедушка Мороз (Santa, pronounced). He was telling a story about enchanted dolls and the magical staff that he uses to travel all over the world in one night. And when he had finished he handed each of the children a small chocolate square which they all put into their mouths before any of the guards could see, because chocolate was a very rare thing since the threat of war was lingering in the snow filled air that surrounded each one of them.
"Anya we have to be going now" Maria said while pulling her little sister out from the crowd.
"Maria did you hear what he said, he said that he just waves his staff and all the presents magically poofed under the tree" Anastasia said with amazement.
"Yes, well if we want anything we had better hurry up and get home" Maria explained trying to get her sister to go home, without having to be dragged like last time.
"Fine" Anastasia whined.
"Besides we are going to meet Babushka tonight we don't want to be late." So they crept under the fence and crawled back through their room window. They didn't go unnoticed though.
"Where were you" Tatiana said "you could have been hurt or shot or killed"
"What did you see" Olga said "is it really that fascinating out there" she said with excitedness.
Then Anastasia held out her piece of chocolate and the girls gasped.
"Where did you get that" Tatiana gasped
"From Дедушка Мороз, he handed them out to the children" Anastasia said and she broke the square into four pieces, but being her mischievous self she ran off into the hall and down into the parlor. Her sisters ran after, naturally, wanting to taste a sweet but bitter, creamy piece melt in their mouths.
Anastasia ran into the parlor, but ran into her father when she opened the door. He looked down on her with curiosity and confusion, but pure bare sternnes.
"Anastasia, what are you doing running about in the palace" he said sternly "an imperial highness should not be… what is that in your hand" he said softly.
"Um…" she was cut off by the sound of gunshots outside in the palace square.
"Oh my God" he said. "Girls, run to the cellar, Olga find your mother and lead her to safety" he said. "Tell Alexei to meet me in the chart room, I'll be there waiting for him."
Maria and Anastasia ran off to the cellar, while Olga went to find her mother and Tatiana went off to get Alexei.
Anastasia ran in the other direction.
