Instead of a present, Masha got a shot in her back and fell flat on the damp asphalt at her house gates. She thought she’d faint from pain, but shock kept her awake and still as someone bent over her rag-doll body, searched her pockets, yanked at her clothes, then kicked her in the hip before going.
She bided her time, listening to his subsiding steps, and slowly crawled across the road. Every move gave her a jolt of pain, and she stopped to pant into the dust. "There are only a few meters left," Masha told herself, "You scored ten out of twelve in PE last term, ten out of twelve." Her Granddad’s car shimmered in the distance. She could see him crouching beside it and waving at her desperately.
She pushed once more and wormed her way along. Leaving a scarlet trace behind her, gasping for air, Masha couldn’t help feeling a little bit sorry for the Russian soldier. Because all he fought for was her smartphone and silver cross. All she fought for was life.
She bided her time, listening to his subsiding steps, and slowly crawled across the road. Every move gave her a jolt of pain, and she stopped to pant into the dust. "There are only a few meters left," Masha told herself, "You scored ten out of twelve in PE last term, ten out of twelve." Her Granddad’s car shimmered in the distance. She could see him crouching beside it and waving at her desperately.
She pushed once more and wormed her way along. Leaving a scarlet trace behind her, gasping for air, Masha couldn’t help feeling a little bit sorry for the Russian soldier. Because all he fought for was her smartphone and silver cross. All she fought for was life.
