*******************
Drops of dark red contrasted against her skin, the red blood matched with the purple bruises which covered her body, dirt and blood were matted into her hair, a deep gash cut across her stomach. She lay collapsed in the corner of the room, her body bent as though completely broken, the shadows hiding her face. At first glance Katya could have sworn she was dead, but then she saw the slow rise and fall in her chest, she was breathing. KatyaÕs eyes quickly scanned the room to make sure the attacker was not still there then she rushed over to the fallen Irina. The room itself was relatively clean, nothing was broken, there were no signs of there being any struggle here, which meant one of two things, either IrinaÕs attacker had brought her back here or Irina had had enough strength to find her way home before she collapsed.
Katya ran to the bathroom and returned with clean bandages. Gently she cleaned the wounds and bandaged them with the skill of someone who had done this many times before. Luckily, nothing appeared to be broken. Upon closer inspection Katya noticed that Irina was holding something in her closed fist. She pried back her fingers to reveal a necklace with an oddly shaped pendent. She recognized it immediately.
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Òbut Daddy, thatÕs MY necklace!Ó protested the 7 year old child. The stern looking man took no notice of this, his eyes were fixated on the pendent, his fingers tracing the familiar symbol in the center. ÒGive it back!Ó shouted the young girl. ÒShut up IrinaÓ the man yelled back. ÒNo!Ó Irina refused to be quiet, the necklace had been a gift and she wanted it back. Her fatherÕs anger got the better of him and he grabbed for by the neck and threw her against the wall. Her brown hair fell in her face and she pushed part of it back behind her ear, she was crying.
She watched her father hand the necklace over to another man, who inspected it thoroughly. When he was sure of itÕs authenticity he looked back at Irina with wide eyes and surprise on his face, then he turned his attention back to her father.
ÒTell me Agent Derevko, how is it that a seven year old came into possession of RambaldiÕs Key of Life?Ó
ÒIt was an anonymous giftÓ
ÒInterestingÓ
Irina did not like the way the man looked at her. It made her feel uncomfortable, She tried to maintain her composure, tears still streaming down her cheeks. She hated the people her father worked with almost as much as she hated her father.
ÒShe will make a fine agent when sheÕs olderÓ said the man, still looking at Irina. Òa bit defiant, but that of course can be taken care ofÓ
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Drops of dark red contrasted against her skin, the red blood matched with the purple bruises which covered her body, dirt and blood were matted into her hair, a deep gash cut across her stomach. She lay collapsed in the corner of the room, her body bent as though completely broken, the shadows hiding her face. At first glance Katya could have sworn she was dead, but then she saw the slow rise and fall in her chest, she was breathing. KatyaÕs eyes quickly scanned the room to make sure the attacker was not still there then she rushed over to the fallen Irina. The room itself was relatively clean, nothing was broken, there were no signs of there being any struggle here, which meant one of two things, either IrinaÕs attacker had brought her back here or Irina had had enough strength to find her way home before she collapsed.
Katya ran to the bathroom and returned with clean bandages. Gently she cleaned the wounds and bandaged them with the skill of someone who had done this many times before. Luckily, nothing appeared to be broken. Upon closer inspection Katya noticed that Irina was holding something in her closed fist. She pried back her fingers to reveal a necklace with an oddly shaped pendent. She recognized it immediately.
*******************
Òbut Daddy, thatÕs MY necklace!Ó protested the 7 year old child. The stern looking man took no notice of this, his eyes were fixated on the pendent, his fingers tracing the familiar symbol in the center. ÒGive it back!Ó shouted the young girl. ÒShut up IrinaÓ the man yelled back. ÒNo!Ó Irina refused to be quiet, the necklace had been a gift and she wanted it back. Her fatherÕs anger got the better of him and he grabbed for by the neck and threw her against the wall. Her brown hair fell in her face and she pushed part of it back behind her ear, she was crying.
She watched her father hand the necklace over to another man, who inspected it thoroughly. When he was sure of itÕs authenticity he looked back at Irina with wide eyes and surprise on his face, then he turned his attention back to her father.
ÒTell me Agent Derevko, how is it that a seven year old came into possession of RambaldiÕs Key of Life?Ó
ÒIt was an anonymous giftÓ
ÒInterestingÓ
Irina did not like the way the man looked at her. It made her feel uncomfortable, She tried to maintain her composure, tears still streaming down her cheeks. She hated the people her father worked with almost as much as she hated her father.
ÒShe will make a fine agent when sheÕs olderÓ said the man, still looking at Irina. Òa bit defiant, but that of course can be taken care ofÓ
************************