Innocence
Prologue
**************** Russia - 1957 ****************
The sun beats down warmly on a small secluded house, inside is a picture of happiness and love. Young Tatiana, plays enthusiastically with her doll, weaving a crown of flowers. Her baby brother naps contentedly clutching his prized stuffed bear and her mother works at preparing lunch, all the while smiling contentedly at the image of her two children.
ÒMommy, can I go play outside?Ó inquires the young girl having run out of flowers.
ÒSure sweetheart, but donÕt wander off, IÕll call you when lunch is readyÓ
ÒYes mommyÓ says the child, a skip in her step as she leaves the house.
She sits down on the warm grass by a patch of wild flowers and begins expertly intertwining them into her dolls hair.
She does not notice the two men who watch her intently from the safety of the shadows.
ÒIs that her?Ó one whispers to the other.
ÒyesÓ replies the second shadowed figure pulling out a photograph of the girl and passing it to his partner.
A tranquilizer dart is sent silently through the air, hitting the girl on the back of her neck. ItÕs poison works fast and within seconds she blacks out and falls limply to the ground dropping her doll beside her.
The two hunters move fast to collect their prize then make their getaway.
TatianaÕs doll is left behind in the grass, itÕs glass eyes staring unblinking into the void.
No more than a minute later, her mother opens the door and calls for her daughter.
ÒTatiana, lunch is ready.Ó
There is no answer.
She steps out into the front yard, scanning the landscape for her daughter.
ÒTatiana!Ó she calls louder.
Still she is greeted only by silence.
She sees TatianaÕs doll laying discarded on the ground and instantly feels a her heart shatter with fear for her child.
She screams once again, hoping to see her little girl running back towards her. But once again she is answered by silence.
Prologue
**************** Russia - 1957 ****************
The sun beats down warmly on a small secluded house, inside is a picture of happiness and love. Young Tatiana, plays enthusiastically with her doll, weaving a crown of flowers. Her baby brother naps contentedly clutching his prized stuffed bear and her mother works at preparing lunch, all the while smiling contentedly at the image of her two children.
ÒMommy, can I go play outside?Ó inquires the young girl having run out of flowers.
ÒSure sweetheart, but donÕt wander off, IÕll call you when lunch is readyÓ
ÒYes mommyÓ says the child, a skip in her step as she leaves the house.
She sits down on the warm grass by a patch of wild flowers and begins expertly intertwining them into her dolls hair.
She does not notice the two men who watch her intently from the safety of the shadows.
ÒIs that her?Ó one whispers to the other.
ÒyesÓ replies the second shadowed figure pulling out a photograph of the girl and passing it to his partner.
A tranquilizer dart is sent silently through the air, hitting the girl on the back of her neck. ItÕs poison works fast and within seconds she blacks out and falls limply to the ground dropping her doll beside her.
The two hunters move fast to collect their prize then make their getaway.
TatianaÕs doll is left behind in the grass, itÕs glass eyes staring unblinking into the void.
No more than a minute later, her mother opens the door and calls for her daughter.
ÒTatiana, lunch is ready.Ó
There is no answer.
She steps out into the front yard, scanning the landscape for her daughter.
ÒTatiana!Ó she calls louder.
Still she is greeted only by silence.
She sees TatianaÕs doll laying discarded on the ground and instantly feels a her heart shatter with fear for her child.
She screams once again, hoping to see her little girl running back towards her. But once again she is answered by silence.